 
THE BOOKS OF DANIEL & REVELATION UNVEILED

By

Liliane Binnyuy

TEXT COPYRIGHT 2017 Liliane Binnyuy

http://lilianel.home.blog

Permission is granted to reproduce portions of this book so long as it not meant for any profitable sale or any other financial gain. No part of this book may be modified or combined into any other work that yields financial gain of any amount. In using any portion of this book, its message must not be distorted.

Unless otherwise quoted, all Bible verses are drawn from the International Standard Version (ISV). Bible verses are italicized.

For other titles, see end of book

### Table of Contents

Foreword

Chapter I: The Book of Daniel:

Introduction

The First Three Visions of Daniel

The Vision of Seventy Weeks

The Vision of the Kings of North & South and the Last Days

Chapter II: The Book of Revelation

Introduction

The Dragon

The First Four Seals

The Leopard

The Ram

The Mark of the Beast

The Fifth Seal

The First Five Trumpets of the 7th seal

The sixth trumpet

The two witnesses

The beast from the Bottomless Pit

Babylon and the Beast

The Day of Retribution

The sixth seal

The Seventh Trumpet of the 7th Seal

The Rapture and first Resurrection

The 7 bowls of God's anger

The marriage supper

The war of Armageddon (Gog and Magog)

The reward of the saints and the start of the millennial Reign

The Final events

Chapter III: Luke 21 & Mathew 24

Chapter IV: The Seven Churches

Chapter V: The History of the Church

Chapter VI: Islam

Chapter VII: Last Words

References

# Foreword

The book of Daniel contains prophetic future events that impacted the land of Israel. These events spanned from the time of their Babylonian captivity to the verge of the last days.

The book of Revelation reveals prophetic future events that will impact the church and the world during the last days. These events span from the time of the death of Christ to his return and the end of the world.

The prophetic events concerning Israel were revealed to Daniel when he was serving the King of Babylon during the Israelite exile. The prophetic events concerning the church was revealed to Apostle John when he was on the Island of Patmos on exile.

The book of Revelation is continuity to the book of Daniel. A clear understanding of the book of Daniel is primary to unravelling some of the mysteries in the book of Revelation.

This book is divided into seven chapters:

1. The book of Daniel

2. The book of Revelation (Chap. 4-22)

3. Luke 21 & Mathew 24

4. The seven churches (Rev. 1-3)

5. The History of the Church

6. Islam

7. Final words.

" _I pray Lord Jesus that the readers of this book will see the light and turn unto you for salvation. All glory and honor to the King of Kings, Jesus Christ, who has chosen to make known to his servants the things that are still to come. Amen"_
CHAPTER ONE

The BOOK of DANIEL

# Introduction

Daniel saw five visions about the fate of Israel prior to the last days. These visions are recorded in Daniel chapter 2 and chapters 7-12. These visions were given at different times but they all relate to the same prophetic events.

Daniel, in chapter 8, wrote, _"I, Daniel, saw a vision after the earlier vision that had appeared to me._ " In Daniel 10, the angel tells Daniel, " _For here is a new vision about those days._ " Each new vision gives more light on the same prophetic events.

The human statue and the stone in Daniel 2 is a revelation of five kingdoms. The four beasts and the Son of Man in Daniel 7 is a revelation of the same five kingdoms in Daniel 2, except that, in Daniel 7, more information is given on these five kingdoms. The vision in Daniel 8 is a revelation of the same five kingdoms but emphasis is laid on three of the five kingdoms (the second, third and fourth). The visions in Daniel 10-12 gives more information on the third, fourth and fifth kingdoms but lays more emphasis on the fourth.

# The First Three Visions of Daniel

# (Chapter 2, 7 & 8)

The Human Statue & the Stone in Nebuchadnezzar's Dream (Daniel 2)

"Your majesty, while you were watching, you observed an enormous statue. This magnificent statue stood before you with extraordinary brilliance. Its appearance was terrifying. That statue had a head made of pure gold, with its chest and arms made of silver, its abdomen and thighs made of bronze, its legs made of iron, and its feet made partly of iron and partly of clay.

"As you were watching, a rock was quarried—but not with human hands—and it struck the iron and clay feet of the statue, breaking them to pieces.

Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were broken in pieces together and became like chaff from a summer threshing floor that the breeze carries away without leaving a trace. Then the rock that struck the statue grew into a huge mountain and filled the entire earth.

"This was the dream, and we'll now relate its meaning to the king.

You, your majesty, king of kings—to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength, and the glory, so that wherever people, wild animals, or birds of the sky live, he has placed them under your control, giving you dominion over them all—you're that head of gold.

"After you, another kingdom will arise that is inferior to yours, and then a third kingdom of bronze will arise to rule all the earth. Then there will be a fourth kingdom, as strong as iron. Just as all things are broken to pieces and shattered by iron, so it will shatter and crush everything. "The feet and toes that you saw, made partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, represent a divided kingdom. It will still have the strength of iron, in that you saw iron mixed with clay. Just as their toes and feet are part iron and part clay, so will the kingdom be both strong and brittle. Just as you saw iron mixed with clay, so they will mix themselves with human offspring. Furthermore, they won't remain together, just as iron doesn't mix with clay.

"During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor its sovereignty left in the hands of another people. It will shatter and crush all of these kingdoms, and it will stand forever. Now, just as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without human hands—and that it crushed the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold to pieces—so also the great God has revealed to the king what will take place after this. Your dream will come true, and its meaning will prove trustworthy (Daniel 2.31-45).

The Four Beasts and the Son of Man (Daniel 7)

In the first year of the reign of King Belshazzar of Babylon, Daniel dreamed a dream, receiving visions in his mind while in bed, after which he recorded the dream, relating this summary of events. Daniel said, "I observed the vision during the night. Look! The four winds of the skies were stirring up the Mediterranean Sea.

Four magnificent animals were rising from the sea, each different from the other.

The first resembled a lion, but it had eagles' wings. I continued to watch until its wings were plucked off, it was lifted up off the ground, and it was forced to stand on two feet like a man. A human soul was imparted to it.

Then look!—a second animal resembling a bear followed it. It was raised up on one side, with three ribs held between the teeth in its mouth. Therefore people kept telling it, 'Get up and devour lots of meat!'

After this I continued to watch—and look!—there was another one, resembling a leopard with four birds' wings on its back. The animal also had four heads, and authority was imparted to it.

"After this, I continued to observe the night visions. And look!—there was a fourth awe-inspiring, terrifying, and viciously strong animal! It had large, iron teeth. It devoured and crushed things, and trampled under its feet whatever remained. Different from all of the other previous animals, it had ten horns. While I was thinking about the horns—look—another horn, this time a little one, grew up among them. Three of the first horns were yanked up by their roots right in front of it. Look! It had eyes like those of a human being and a mouth that boasted with audacious claims."

"I kept on watching until the Ancient of Days was seated. His clothes were white, like snow, and the hair on his head was like pure wool. His throne burned with flaming fire, and its wheels burned with fire. A river of fire flowed out from before him. Thousands upon thousands were serving him, with millions upon millions waiting before him. The court sat in judgment, and record books were unsealed.

"I continued watching because of the audacious words that the horn was speaking. I kept observing until the animal was killed and its body destroyed and given over to burning fire. Now as to the other animals, their authority was removed, but they were granted a reprieve from execution for an appointed period of time."

"I continued to observe the night vision—and look!—someone like the Son of Man was coming, accompanied by heavenly clouds. He approached the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. To him dominion was bestowed, along with glory and a kingdom, so that all peoples, nations, and languages are to serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion—it will never pass away—and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed."

"Now as for me, Daniel, I was emotionally troubled, and what I had seen in the visions kept alarming me. So I approached one of those who were standing nearby and began to ask the meaning of all of this. He spoke to me and caused me to understand the interpretation of these things.

He said, 'These four great animals are four kings who will rise to power from the earth. But the saints of the Highest will receive the kingdom forever, inheriting it forever and ever.

"I wanted to learn the precise significance of the fourth animal that was different from all the others, extremely awe-inspiring, with iron teeth and bronze claws, and that had devoured and crushed things, trampling under its feet whatever remained. Also, I wanted to learn the significance of the ten horns on its head and the other horn that had arisen, before which three of them had fallen—that is, the horn with eyes and a mouth that uttered magnificent things and which was greater in appearance than its fellows.

"As I continued to watch, that same horn waged war against the saints, and was prevailing against them until the Ancient of Days arrived to pass judgment in favor of the saints of the Highest One and the time came for the saints to take possession of the kingdom.

So he said: 'The fourth animal will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, different from all the kingdoms. It will devour the entire earth, trampling it down and crushing it. Now as to the ten horns, ten kings will rise to power from this kingdom, and another king will rise to power after them. He will be different from the previous kings, and will defeat three kings. He'll speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One. He'll attempt to alter times and laws, and they'll be given into his control for a time, times, and half a time. Nevertheless, the court will convene, and his authority will be removed, annulled, and destroyed forever. Then the kingdom, authority, and magnificence of all nations of the earth will be given to the people who are the saints of the Highest One. His kingdom will endure forever, and all authorities will serve him and obey him.'

"At this point the vision ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts continued to alarm me, and I lost my natural color, but I kept quiet about the matter."

The Ram and the Goat (Daniel 8)

"During the third year of King Belshazzar's reign, I, Daniel, saw a vision after the earlier vision that had appeared to me. As I observed the vision, I looked around the citadel of Susa in Elam Province. While I watched, I found myself beside the Ulai Canal.

"Then I turned my head to look—and behold!—a two-horned ram was standing beside the canal. The two horns grew long, the first one growing longer than the second, with the longer one springing up last. I watched the ram charging westward, northward, and southward. No animal could stand before him, nor was there anyone who could deliver from his control. He did as he pleased and exalted himself.

"As I watched and wondered, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the entire earth without touching the ground. The goat had a distinctive horn between its eyes. It approached the ram with the two horns that I had observed while standing beside the canal, and charged at him, out of control with rage. I saw it approach the ram, overflowing with fury at him, and run into him with the full force of its strength. The goat shattered the ram's two horns, and the ram could not oppose it. So the goat threw him to the ground and trampled him. No one could rescue the ram from its control.

Then the goat grew extremely great, but when it was strong, its great horn was shattered. In its place, four distinctive horns grew out in all directions." "A somewhat insignificant horn emerged from one of them. It moved rapidly against the south, against the east, and against the Glory.

Then it moved against the heavenly army. It persuaded some of the army to fall to the earth, along with some of the stars, and it trampled them. Then it set itself as great as the Prince of the army, from whom the daily ritual was abolished, in order to bring low his sanctuary. Because of the transgression, the army will be given over, along with the daily ritual, and the horn will cast truth to the ground, prospering while it continues to act."

"Then I heard one holy person speaking, and another holy person addressed the one who was speaking: 'In the vision about the daily ritual, how much time elapses while the desecration terrifies and both the Holy Place and the army are trampled?' He told me, 'For 2,300 days. Then what is holy will be restored.'"

"After I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I tried to understand it. All of a sudden, there was standing in front of me one who appeared to be valiant. I heard the voice of a man calling out from the Ulai Canal, 'Gabriel, interpret what that fellow has been seeing.' "As he approached where I was standing, I became terrified and fell on my face. But he told me, 'Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end.' "While he had been speaking with me, I had fainted on my face, but he touched me and enabled me to stand upright on my feet. Then he said, 'Pay attention! I'm going to brief you about what will happen at the end of the period of wrath, because its end is appointed.

The ram that you saw with a pair of horns are the kings of Media and Persia. The demonic goat is the king of Greece, and the great horn between its eyes is its first king. The shattered horn and the four that took its place are four kingdoms that will come from his nation, but they will not have his strength.

Toward the end of their rule, as the desecrations proceed, an insolent king will arise, proficient at deception. Mighty will be his skills, but not from his own abilities. He'll be remarkably destructive, will succeed, and will do whatever he wants, destroying mighty men and the holy people. Through his skill he'll cause deceit to prosper under his leadership. He'll promote himself and will destroy many while they are secure. He'll take a stand against the Prince of Princes, yet he'll be crushed without human help.

The vision about the twilights and dawnings that has been related is trustworthy, but keep its vision secret, because it pertains to the distant future.'

Then I, Daniel, was exhausted and ill for days, but afterward I got up and went about the king's business. Nevertheless, I was astonished by the vision, and could not understand it."

### Explanation of the three Visions

The human statue and the stone in Daniel 2 represent five kingdoms. The four beasts and the Son of Man in Daniel 7 represents the same five kingdoms in Daniel 2 but provides new information that was not revealed in Daniel 2. The vision in Daniel 8 gives new details about three of the five kingdoms (the second, third and fourth) that was not revealed in Daniel 2 and 7.

The first four kingdoms are earthly kingdoms. The fifth kingdom is a heavenly kingdom belonging to the Son of Man. The fifth kingdom (the stone from heaven) will overthrow the four earthly kingdoms by striking the fourth kingdom. The fourth kingdom is the embodiment of the first three kingdoms. The fourth kingdom is the feet carrying the other three kingdoms.

1st Kingdom: The Kingdom of Babylon

Babylon is the winged Lion (Chapter 7). The wings represent Babylon's worldwide sphere of influence. The wings of the Lion were cut off would mean that the power of influence of Babylon were reduced. The Lion is made to stand as a man after its wings are cut off. Babylon (the lion) becomes a man with four identifiable parts (the head, the breast with two arms, the belly with two thighs & two legs and the feet with ten toes). The four identifiable parts are four kingdoms. Babylon is the kingdom from which all the other kingdoms will rise to power. For any kingdom to rise to power, it must acquire the kingdom of Babylon.

Babylon is the head of the lion man (chapter 7) and the head of gold of the human statue (chapter 2). The lion man (chapter 7) is the same revelation as the human statue (Daniel 2). Each part of the man represents four kingdoms. Each kingdom is identified with human body parts (chapter 2) and different animals (chapter 7). Babylon is both the lion man and the head.

2nd Kingdom: The Kingdom of Mede and Persia

The kingdom of Mede and Persia overthrew the kingdom of Babylon. Mede and Persia is the Breast with two arms of silver (chapter 2), the Bear (chapter 7) and the Ram (Chapter 8). In Daniel 2, the next kingdom that succeeded the head of gold is the breast with two arms of silver. Mede and Persia is one kingdom (breast) with two arms of government (Mede and Persia). In Daniel 7, the next kingdom that succeeded the winged Lion is the bear which was raised on one side. _"It was raised up on one side, with three ribs held between the teeth in its mouth"._ This means that the kingdom has two arms of government but one arm of government is stronger than the other. Persia was stronger than Mede. The three ribs refer to the three kings that were to rise in Persia. In Daniel 8, the kingdom of Mede and Persia is described as a Ram with two horns with second horn higher than the first. _"...the first one growing longer than the second"_. Persia, even though it came second in power, was stronger than Mede. To identify himself as the ram, the King of Persia wore a jeweled ram's head of gold instead of a diadem. Hebrew for ram springs from the same root as Elam/Persia.

3rd Kingdom: The Kingdom of Greece

The Belly of Brass (chapter 2), and He-Goat (chapter 8) is the Kingdom of Greece. The huge horn on the he-goat refers to a single man who rules a vast empire (Greece). The huge horn is Alexander the Great who almost conquered the entire world in 12years. The he-goat is Greece which came under Alexander's rule. The-goat ran over the two horned Ram. The Grecian empire overthrew the kingdom of the Mede and Persians. Alexander was king of Graeco-Macedonia when he began his world conquest. Caranus, the first king of Graeco-Macedonia, was led by goats to Edessa, the seat of his kingdom, which he called aege, that is, "goat city".

" _Then the goat grew extremely great, but when it was strong, its great horn was shattered. In its place, four distinctive horns grew out in all directions"_ : At the height of Alexander's conquest, he died. At Alexander's death, his kingdom was divided into four kingdoms. The two thighs of brass and two legs of Iron (chapter 2), the Leopard with four heads (chapter 7) and the He-Goat with four horns (chapter 8) are the four kingdoms of Greece. Alexander was succeeded by four of his generals instead of his sons. He is the huge horn. His generals are the four horns. The four horns of the he-goat in Daniel 8 are the four heads of the Leopard Beast in Daniel 7. The four wings of fowl indicate that the kingdom is spread to the four points of the compass across the world. The two legs of iron were stronger than the two thighs of bronze. The north and south kingdoms were stronger than the east and west kingdoms of the Grecian empire.

4th Kingdom: The Seleucid Grecian Empire

The two feet with ten toes (chapter 2) and the beast with ten horns (Chapter 7) is the Seleucid Grecian Empire. The fourth kingdom is one of the four kingdoms of the Grecian Empire that gained dominion to become an independent powerful kingdom. Alexander's kingdom was initially divided into four to the East, West, North and South. The North later took control over the East and the West. With the East and West absorbed by the North, the Grecian Empire was now made of only two kingdoms (The North and South). The Northern kingdom was powerful and thus became an independent kingdom. The North was called Seleucid while the South was called Ptolemy.

_"A somewhat insignificant horn emerged from one of them.... Toward the end of their rule, as the desecrations proceed, an insolent king will arise..." (Daniel 8):_ Different kings ruled the two separate kingdoms. After a long time, a small horn (a king) arose from one of them. The little horn which rose in the latter kingdom of the Greece (Seleucid) in Daniel 8 is the same little horn in the fourth beast in Daniel 7. After seven kings had ruled In the Seleucid Empire, the 8th king rose to power after bringing down three potential kings (horns).

The 8th king who rose to power is Antiochus IV Epiphanes. He is the little horn.

Antiochus IV Epiphanes

Antiochus IV Epiphanes called himself the god Zeus made manifest. Antiochus Epiphanes means "god manifest". He was the Greek king of Seleucid Empire from 175BC until his death in 164BC. This man has been recorded down in the history of Israel as the worst king that has ever ruled Israel. The Jews called him, Antiochus Epimanes which means, "The mad One". Rabbinical sources refer to him as _harasha_ meaning "the wicked".

" _Different from all of the other previous animals, it had ten horns. While I was thinking about the horns—look—another horn, this time a little one, grew up among them: Three of the first horns were yanked up by their roots right in front of it":_ Antiochus Epiphanes rose as the 8th king of the Grecian-Seleucid Empire. He was raised in Rome. He was not the rightful heir to the throne but gained kingship by trickery. He came to power only after getting rid of three rightful rival claimants; Seleucus IV and his two sons (Demetrius and the young Antiochus).

" _that same horn waged war against the saints, and was prevailing against them.... He'll attempt to alter times and laws (Chapter7) "destroying mighty men and the holy people" (Chapter 8):_ Antiochus IV Epiphanes persecuted Jews for keeping the Law of Moses. A man could not keep the Sabbath or celebrate the traditional feasts, nor even admit that he was a Jew. A decree was issued ordering the neighboring Greeks to act in the same way against the Jews. They obliged them to partake of the Grecian sacrifices, and put to death those who would not consent to adopt the customs of the Greeks (Daniel 7.21 & 25). Many Jews were slain to death. Others were given to the flames for death. Events of the reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes are recorded in the book of Maccabees (2 Maccabees 7; 2 Maccabees 5.11-27).

_they'll be given into his control for a time, times, and half a time:_ Antiochus IV Epiphanes persecuted the Jews for three and a half years.

_Then it set itself as great as the Prince of the army, from whom the daily ritual was abolished, in order to bring low his sanctuary. Because of the transgression, the army will be given over, along with the daily ritual, and the horn will cast truth to the ground, prospering while it continues to act":_ He killed Onias III, the high Priest (the prince of the army). Then, he stopped the cereal and animal sacrifices in the temple. He profaned the temple in Jerusalem by bringing into the temple, things that were forbidden, so that the altar was covered with abominable offerings prohibited by the law. He dedicated the temple to Olympian Zeus and the temple on Mount Gerizim to Zeus, the hospitable. He trampled on all the saints of Israel.

_He'll take a stand against the Prince of Princes, yet he'll be crushed without human help_ : Antiochus IV Epiphanes who had thought himself to be a god, suffered and died without being hit by any human. God stroke him (2 Maccabees 9.4-10).

_"Then I heard one holy person speaking, and another holy person addressed the one who was speaking: 'In the vision about the daily ritual, how much time elapses while the desecration terrifies and both the Holy Place and the army are trampled?' He told me, 'For 2,300 days. Then what is holy will be restored'"(Daniel 8.13-14)_ ": The ban on the lawful temple sacrifices, the desecration of the temple and persecution of the saints had to last for 2300days (6.4yrs), almost 7years. Within the seven years, the Jews were persecuted for three and a half years (Daniel 7). The desecration of the temple began by midweek (mid of the seven years) (Daniel 9.27). The desecration lasted for 1290 days (about 3.5 years) (Daniel 12.11). The seven years' period began in 171BC after the death of Onias III (2 Maccabees 4.33-38). Afterwards, Antiochus IV collaborated with the Hellenized Jews to implement non-Jewish laws. By midweek, i.e. after three and a half years, in 168BC, the cruelty of Antiochus IV grew and he set his heart completely against God and his temple. He stopped the sacrificial and cereal offerings and dedicated the temple to Zeus Olympios. The desecration of the temple by Antiochus Epiphanes ended on the Chislev 25, 165BC. Fortunate were those who entered the season after the purification of the temple (Daniel 12.11-12).

_"As I continued to watch, that same horn waged war against the saints, and was prevailing against them until the Ancient of Days arrived to pass judgment in favor of the saints of the Highest One and the time came for the saints to take possession of the kingdom (Daniel 7.21-22):_ Antiochus IV Epiphanes succeeded in all his activities against the kingdom of Israel until the time came for God's holy ones to take over the kingdom. Antiochus Epiphanes was stripped of his royal authority over Israel, and Israel enjoyed independence under the rule of the Hasmoneans (the Jewish family that had started the rebellion against the Seleucid rule). The holy ones were those who were faithful to God in keeping the Old Covenant laws even in the face of death. By their trials and death, they were purified and counted worthy to assume kingship over Israel (Daniel 11.33-35). Some of them (Judas Maccabaeus and his followers) made war against the tyrants. They defeated Antiochus IV Epiphanes and took Judea away from Seleucid rule. The family of Judas Maccabaeus (the Hasmoneans) ruled Judea until the time of the Romans. Octavian Augustus and Mark Anthony took Judea away completely from the control of the Hasmoneans in 37BC. Even at the time that the Hasmoneans were ruling over Judea, the Jews living in the other Seleucid territories were still being persecuted till the time of the end (Daniel 12.7). When Jesus established the heavenly kingdom by his death on the cross, many of God's holy people came to life. I believe that these faithful saints who suffered under the little horn were resurrected.

_"A somewhat insignificant horn emerged from one of them. It moved rapidly against the south, against the east, and against the Glory. Then it moved against the heavenly army. It persuaded some of the army to fall to the earth, along with some of the stars, and it trampled them. Then it set itself as great as the Prince of the army:_ The stars represent the anointed ones (the priests and prophets) in Israel. The stars also represent those who teach others the law of God. The little horn made war against the teachers and the anointed ones in Israel. It killed the Prince of the army (the high priest) and the saints (the army).

5th Kingdom: The Kingdom of the Son of Man

The stone which grew to become a mountain and filled the whole earth (chapter 2) and the Son of Man (chapter 7) is Jesus Christ. During earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, he identified himself as the Son of Man (Mat. 11.19; 12.32) and the chief corner stone (Eph. 2.20). He is the stone on which many will stumble and grinds to powder anyone it falls on (1Pe 2.6; Mat 21. 42-44). He is the living stone on which many other stones will be built. He is the first among many brothers. The kingdom of the Son of Man was established in his death and resurrection. Many people are forcing their way into the kingdom. One day, this kingdom will be the only kingdom on the earth.

Nebuchadnezzar in his dream, saw a stone fall from heaven and dash a human statue at its feet and shattered it into pieces. The feet of the statue was the Seleucid dynasty. Though Judas Maccabeus and his followers had succeeded to overthrow the Seleucid reign in Judea, Seleucid still ruled in many other territories till the time of the Romans. When Augustus Caesar of Rome rose to power, he took control of the land of Israel and overthrew the Seleucid dynasty. The Lord Jesus was born during the reign of Caesar Augustus. Caesar Augustus laid the foundations that transformed Roman Republic into an Empire. The Seleucid Empire was the last empire before the arrival of Jesus Christ. The Roman Empire (the Leopard Beast in Rev. 13) rose to power only after the Lord's departure from the earth.

The kingdom of the Son of Man, though it looked small like a mustard seed, is growing very big to rule the whole earth. His kingdom is just like yeast which leavens the whole batch of flour. In the future, the Lord Jesus will rule the whole earth.

# The Vision of Seventy Weeks

# (Daniel 9)

"In the first year of the reign of Darius son of Ahasuerus, a descendant of the Medes, who was made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans,— in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, noted in the Scripture the total years that were assigned by the message from the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet for the completion of the desolations of Jerusalem: 70 years. "So I turned my attention to the Lord God, seeking him in prayer and supplication, accompanied with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

I prayed to the LORD my God, confessing and saying:...........

"While I was still speaking in prayer, confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel and placing my request in the presence of the LORD my God on behalf of the holy mountain of God—while I was still speaking, Gabriel the man of God whom I had seen in the previous vision, appeared to me about the time of the evening offering. He gave instructions, and this is what he spoke to me:

'Daniel, I've now come to give you insight and understanding. Because you're highly regarded, the answer was issued when you began your prayer, and I've come to tell you. Pay attention to my message and you'll understand the vision.

The Seventy Weeks

Seventy weeks have been decreed concerning your people and your holy city: to restrain transgression, to put an end to sin, to make atonement for lawlessness, to establish everlasting righteousness, to conclude vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.

So be informed and discern that seven weeks and 62 weeks will elapse from the issuance of the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the anointed commander. The street will be rebuilt, along with the wall, though in troubled times.

Then after the 62 weeks, the anointed one will be cut off, and will have no successor. Then the people of the coming commander will destroy both the city and the Sanctuary. Its ending will come like a flood, and until the end there will be war, with desolations having been decreed.

He will make a binding covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he will pause both the sacrifice and grain offerings. Destructive people will cause desolation on the pinnacle until it is complete and what has been decreed is poured out on the desolator.'"

### Explanation of the vision

Daniel is concerned about Jeremiah's prophecy regarding Israel's exile to Babylon. He is contemplating the years of their captivity and the time of their liberation. From the time of the besieging of Jerusalem, it was almost 70years and the liberation seemed not to be forthcoming. He begins to pray for the forgiveness of the sins of the people of Israel and for their return to their homeland. As Daniel was trying to understand the seventy years of Jeremiah's prophecy, Angel Gabriel brings to him its revelation.

Jeremiah gave out two prophecies of seventy years of captivity.

" _and this nation shall serve the king of Babylon for seventy years and it shall come to pass when seventy years are accomplished that I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation...and make it an everlasting desolation" (Jeremiah 25:11-12)._

" _After 70years are accomplished to Babylon I will take heed of you and perform My good word towards you in causing you to return to this place" (Jeremiah 29:10)._

While they were still in Jerusalem, Jeremiah gave the Jews the word of Babylon captivity. Daniel gave the first prophecy before Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem. In the first prophecy, Israel will suffer for 70 years and at the end of the seventy years, the king of Babylon will be punished and Babylon will be made desolate.

Daniel gave the second prophecy following the deportation of the Jews to Babylon. In the second prophecy, after seventy years, God will cause them to return and rebuild Jerusalem.

### The second prophecy of seventy years

This second prophecy was given to inform them of their time of return from Babylonian exile. After seventy years of Babylonian captivity, they would return to their homeland. The seventy years began from the initial subjugation of Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon 19years before the destruction of Jerusalem and subsequent deportation of Jews. Nebuchadnezzar began to subjugate Jerusalem in the first year of his rule (Daniel 1.1; Jeremiah 25.1).

The 70 years' captivity covered a period of 19 years of Israel's subjugation by the Babylonians starting from 605BC to 586BC and a period of 49 years of exile after the deportation of 10,000 Jews (their finest men and princes) to Babylon from 586-537BC). After 18years of subjugation, in 586BC, Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed (Jeremiah 52:12-13) and the remaining Jews were deported to Babylon (2 Chronicles 36.20).

Scriptures indicate that Jeremiah's second prophecy of seventy years was fulfilled with the advent of Cyrus the king of the Persian Empire (Ezra 1:1-3; 2 Chron. 36:22-23).

From the destruction and desolation of the Jerusalem in 586BC to the rise of Cyrus in 537BC is 49 years. Adding the previous 19 years of subjugation makes a total of 68years. Cyrus was God's anointed one (Isaiah 45.1). The two remaining years is probably the time between when the decree was passed and the eventual settlement of the Jews in their homeland. The second seventy years' prophesy of "return and rebuild" covers:

\--19years of initial subjugation of Israel by Babylon in 605

\--49years of exile in Babylon

\--2years return and settlement to rebuild of the temple in Israel.

### The first prophecy of seventy years

" _and this nation shall serve the king of Babylon for seventy years and it shall come to pass when seventy years are accomplished that I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation...and make it an everlasting desolation" (Jeremiah 25:11-12)._

Jeremiah gave this word while the Jews were still in Jerusalem before the coming of Nebuchadnezzar. In the expiration of the seventy years' period, the king of Babylon will be punished and Babylon will be laid waste.

As seen earlier, Babylon transformed from a winged lion to a standing man. The standing man comprised four kingdoms (Babylon, Mede and Persia, Greece, and Seleucid Greece). Seleucid Greece was the last and dreadful kingdoms of all and from it, arose a peculiar king called Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Antiochus IV Epiphanes is the king of Babylon. His reign marks the expiration of the first prophecy. The King of Babylon is neither Nebuchadnezzar nor Cyrus. Nebuchadnezzar was punished for self-exaltation way before the expiration of seventy years. Cyrus, God's anointed one, was the reigning king during the expiration of seventy years but he was never punished.

When Daniel was contemplating Jeremiah's prophecy, angel Gabriel gave Daniel a revelation of Jeremiah's first prophecy of seventy years.

" _Seventy weeks of years are predestined to let wrong doing be complete and sin come to its full limit, and for the clearing away of evil doing and the coming in of eternal righteousness"_

The first prophecy of seventy years is a prophecy of seventy weeks of years (70*7=490years).

Israel will be punished for 490years as atonement for her sins. The prophets of old warned Israel of her idolatry but she continued in her sin. Israel will not only suffer seventy years as Daniel thought but seventy weeks of years (490 years) of Babylonian captivity (Babylon, Mede and Persia, Greece and Seleucid Greece). Babylon will rule Israel for 490years. 490 years are decreed for Israel to atone for her iniquities. The retribution will purge the land of idols and usher in everlasting righteousness (the purification of some Jews whose faith was tried in fire by their death).

The 490 years are divided into three prophetic seasons: 7 weeks (49years) in a 62 weeks (434years) and 1 week (7years).

_Have then the certain knowledge that from the going out of the word for the building again of Jerusalem till the coming of a prince, on whom the holy oil has been put, will be seven weeks:_ _in_ _sixty-two weeks its building will be complete, with square and earthwork (BBE)_

_From the time the order to rebuild Jerusalem was given until an anointed leader comes, there shall be seven weeks._ _Then_ _in sixty-two weeks squares and walls will be rebuilt, but in a difficult time. (Catholic Bible)_

From the time that the second prophetic word of Jeremiah was spoken to the rise of King Cyrus (the one on whom the holy oil is put) will be seven weeks. From the time, Jeremiah gave his word (he spoke when the Jews were deported) to the rise of King Cyrus was seven weeks (49years).

The verse, _"From the time.... there shall be seven weeks. Then in sixty-two weeks.",_ would mean, "When the seven weeks of Jewish Babylonian exile has ended with the rise of Cyrus, then the sixty weeks' period will continue".

The sixty-two weeks and seven weeks are two distinct prophetic periods but both run concurrently. Both periods are of one prophecy (the first prophecy) even though the seven weeks was included in the second prophecy because it marked the expiration of the exile. Both periods flow simultaneously. The periods are prophetic and so, they must not flow consecutively. If 69 weeks were to be said in the Hebrew language, it will be sixty and nine weeks rather than seven weeks and 62 weeks. The word, "In" and "then", shows an inclusion of one in the other.

Both the first and second prophecies began in 605BC but the 49 years' period began in 586BC. The second prophetic season ended in 535BC but the first prophecy continued to 164BC.

\--586BC to 537BC = 49 years of Jewish exile

\--605BC to 171BC = 434 years of Israel being subjugated to Babylon (Babylon, Mede-Persia, Greece, and Seleucid Greece).

\--171BC to 164BC = 7 years of sufferings under the king of Babylon (Antiochus IV Epiphanes).

Many people have failed to interpret these days because they have mistaken the seventy weeks of years as calendar years. They have failed to see the simultaneous flow of the two prophetic eras (seven weeks and sixty-two weeks).

The first period: Sixty-Two Weeks

This period began from the time Israel was besieged by Nebuzaradan (Nebuchadnezzar's official). It marked the beginning of the two prophecies of Daniel. Babylon (Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece) ruled Israel during these 62 weeks. Within this period, the temple was rebuilt even though in trouble times.

The trouble times refers to the foreign dominion of the Persian and Grecian Empire. It was built with plaza and moat. Though they had returned from Babylon captivity, they were still "slaves" in their own land. The books of Nehemiah and Ezra record some interruptions and difficulties they faced in rebuilding the temple. They were building with swords in their hands and at other times, the work was interrupted (Nehemiah 4.11-12; Ezra 4.24). The temple was rebuilt by 515BC and Ezra, the Priest-Scribe, taught the people the law (Nehemiah 8.9). The walls were built later during the reign of Artaxerxes I in December 446BC. Artaxerxes I reigned from 464BC - 423BC with Esther (Ezra 4.12). Even after the walls were rebuilt, the city was still in ruins because many houses had not yet been rebuilt. It took several years for the entire city to be rebuilt. Nehemiah served as Governor of Judean province.

The death of the anointed one (Onias III) who succeeded Theod., marked the end of the 62 weeks and the beginning of the last prophetic era. He was deposed and assassinated by the followers of Antiochus Epiphanes in 171BC. 605BC – 434years (62 weeks) = 171BC. This date corresponds exactly to the date of the death of Onias III.

The Second Period – The Seven Weeks

The second period of seven weeks (49 years) began from the year of the deportation of the Jews after the utter destruction of Jerusalem in 586BC to the rise of Cyrus as King in 537BC. King Cyrus passed a decree which ended 49 years of exile. The seven weeks' period flows simultaneously with the 62 weeks i.e. 586BC – 537BC is in 605BC – 171BC.

The Third Period – One Week

" _Then after the 62 weeks, the anointed one will be cut off, and will have no successor."_

The third period began with the death of Onias III. He was killed by one of Antiochus IV Epiphanes' followers. Onias III was the high priest at that time. The high priest was God's anointed one in the land of Israel. A person called into high priesthood was anointed with oil before taking office.

After the death of Onias III, Antiochus IV Epiphanes began selling the office of the high priest to the highest bidder. Antiochus IV Epiphanes was the king of the Seleucid Greece at that time. He appointed as High Priest anyone who could buy it. Jason was appointed high priest, then later, Menelaus.

"... _He will make a binding covenant with many for one week...":_ Antiochus IV Epiphanes collaborated with the Hellenized Jews. The Hellenized Jews no longer wanted the Jewish customs but rather preferred Greek customs. Antiochus IV Epiphanes favored and spared the Hellenizing faction of the Jews and supported their projects. The Hellenized Jews worked against God and the holy covenant. They attempted at changing temple practices and Jason even built a gymnasium below the sanctuary citadel. Antiochus IV sold the priesthood to the Hellenized Jason who did terrible things to his fellow men, making attempts at changing their laws. The Hellenized Jews wanted a change of Hebrew customs. They had one mind with Antiochus IV. They with the support of Antiochus began to impose their Hellenizing views on the Jews.

"... _for half of the week he will pause both the sacrifice and grain offerings. Destructive people will cause desolation on the pinnacle until it is complete and what has been decreed is poured out on the desolator":_ After three and a half years, Antiochus Epiphanes turned his heart against the holy covenant. He abolished the sacrifices made to God and the offerings. In 167BC, he installed iniquity by installing Zeus Olympios and forcing the Jews to worship it. He even slaughtered a swine on the altar of God. The desecration of the temple lasted for a period of about three years. He also persecuted the faithful Jews for a period of three and half years. His army massacred the people and desecrated the temple. Some of his officials even brought to the temple prostitutes and had sex with them there.

Antiochus IV Epiphanes suffered and died without being hit by any human hand. He was punished for all the atrocity he had committed.

" _But the sentence of Heaven was already hanging over him. In his pride, he had said, "When I reach Jerusalem, I shall turn it into a mass grave for the Jews." But the all-seeing Lord, the God of Israel, struck him with an incurable and unseen complaint. The words were hardly out of his mouth when he was seized with an incurable pain in his bowels and with excruciating internal torture; and this was only right since he had inflicted many barbaric tortures on the bowels of others. Even so, he in no way diminished his arrogance; still bursting with pride, breathing fire in his wrath against the Jews, he was in the act of ordering an even keener pace when the chariot gave a sudden lurch and out he fell and, in this serious fall, was dragged along, every joint of his body wrenched out of place. He who only a little while before had thought in his superhuman boastfulness he could command the waves of the sea, he who had imagined he could weigh mountain peaks in a balance, found himself flat on the ground and then being carried in a litter, a visible demonstration to all mighty power of God, in that the very eyes of this godless man teemed with worms and his flesh rotted away while he lingered on in agonizing pain, and the stench of his decay sickened the whole army. A short while before, he had thought to grasp the stars of heavens now no one could bring himself to act as his bearer, for the stench was unbearable (2 Maccabees 9.4-10)._

The prophecy of Daniel does NOT relate to the 70AD temple destruction. "There is no evidence that the altar that stood before the temple was similarly desecrated in Jesus' time. After the temple was destroyed in 70 C.E., however, Roman soldiers celebrated their victory by raising their standards, which bore the image of the emperor, on the holy place." (Robert W. Funk, Roy W. Hoover, and the Jesus Seminar, the Five Gospels). Apart from these, no other sign or desecration was done on the temple in 70AD. Caligula, who had tried to desecrate the temple by asking for his statue to put in the holy place for worship failed.

Jewish antiquity of Josephus regarding the abomination of desolation

So on the five and twentieth day of the month of Chislev, which the Macedonians call Apellaios, they lit the lamps that were on the lampstand, and offered incense upon the altar [of incense], and laid the loaves upon the table [of showbread], and offered burnt offerings upon the new altar [of burnt offering]. Now it so happened, that these things were done on the very same day on which their divine worship had stopped, and was reduced to a profane and common use, after three years' time; for so it was, that the temple was made desolate by Antiochus, and so continued for three years. This desolation happened to the temple in the hundred forty and fifth year, on the twenty-fifth day of the month of Apellaios, and on the hundred fifty and third Olympiad: but it was dedicated anew, on the same day, the twenty-fifth of the month of Apellaios, on the hundred and forty-eighth year, and on the hundred and fifty-fourth Olympiad. And this desolation came to pass according to the prophecy of Daniel, which was given four hundred and eight years before; for he declared that the Macedonians would stop that worship [for some time]...... And from that time to this we celebrate this festival, and call it Lights (Antiquities of the Jews 12:319-326.)

Daniel wrote that he saw these visions in the plain of Susa; and he has informed us that God interpreted the appearance of this vision after the following manner..... And that from among them there should arise a certain king that should overcome our nation and their laws, and should take away their political government, and should spoil the temple, and forbid the sacrifices to be offered for three years' time." And indeed it so came to pass, that our nation suffered these things under Antiochus Epiphanes, according to Daniel's vision, and what he wrote many years before they came to pass. In the very same manner Daniel also wrote concerning the Roman government, and that our country should be made desolate by them (Antiquities of the Jews 10:272-276).

He also spoiled the temple, and put a stop to the constant practice of offering a daily sacrifice of expiation, for three years and six months (The Jewish War 1:32).

# The Vision of the Kings of the North & South and the Last Days

# (Chapter 10, 11, & 12)

Daniel 10: The apparition of the angel

"'Don't be afraid, Daniel," he told me, "because from the first day that you committed yourself to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I've come in answer to your prayers. However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for 21 days. Then—look!—Michael, one of the chief angels, came to assist me. I had been detained there near the kings of Persia. Now I've come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the days to come, because the vision pertains to those days.' "After he had spoken to me like this, I bowed my face to the ground, unable to speak. But all of a sudden someone who resembled a human being touched my lips, so I opened my mouth and spoke, addressing the one who was standing in front of me: 'Sir, I'm overwhelmed with anguish by this vision. I have no strength left. So how can a servant of my lord talk with someone like you, sir? And as for me, there's no strength left in me, and I can hardly breathe.' "Then this person who looked like a man touched me again and strengthened me and said, 'Don't be afraid, man highly regarded. Be at peace, and be strong.' "As soon as he spoke to me, I gained strength and replied, 'Sir, please speak, now that you've strengthened me.' "Then he said, 'Do you understand why I came to you? Soon I'll return to fight the prince of Persia. I'm going forth to war—and take note—the prince of Greece is coming. I'll inform you about what has been recorded in the Book of Truth. No one stands firmly with me against these opponents, except Michael your prince (Daniel 10.12-21).

Daniel received a revelation of a great conflict between two kingdoms. He could grasp the meaning but could not fully understand. He began to pray and fast that the Lord God would give him insight. After 21 days of fast, an angel visits him to give him the full understanding of the revelation. The revelation is explained to him in a vision. This vision is recorded in chapters 11 and 12. The angel arrives 21 days late because the enemy (the prince of Persia) was resisting him from coming to Daniel. The angel fights the prince of Persia with the strength and support from angel Michael. Michael and Jesus is the same person. The Lord is the first born of the angels and men (Col 1:15-20). As a man, he is called Jesus and as an angel, he is called Michael.

Babylon (Babylon, Persia and Greece) is ruled by the devil. Each of the kingdoms of Babylon is ruled by a prince. When the king of Persia fell, another prince arose, the prince of Greece. Antiochus IV Epiphanes was the prince of the kingdom of Seleucid Greece.

Daniel 11 gives highlights on the second kingdom of Babylon (Persia) but lays emphasis on the third and fourth kingdom of Babylon (Greece and Seleucid Greece). It recounts the activities of the little horn and of another coming king.

Daniel 12 explains the fifth kingdom, the kingdom of the Son of Man.

Daniel 11 – the Seleucids and Ptolemies Conflict

Now I'll tell you the truth: Look! Three more kings will arise in Persia. Then a fourth will gain more than them all. As soon as he gains power by means of his wealth, he'll stir up everyone against the Grecian kingdoms. A mighty king will come to power, and he'll rule with awesome energy, doing whatever he pleases. However, after he has come to power, his kingdom will be broken and parceled out in all directions. It will not go to his succeeding descendants, nor will its power match how he ruled, because his sovereignty will be uprooted and given to successors besides them (V2-4):

Daniel received this vision at the time, Cyrus the great, was king of Persia. The angel foretold the coming of three more kings; Cambyses II, Darius I, and Xerxes I. Cyrus was the first and Xerxes I was the fourth. Xerxes I was wealthy and he could gather a great army to war on the entire Greece.

1. Cyrus the Great (539-530 BC)

2. Cambyses (529-522BC)

3. Darius I (522-486BC)

4. Xerxes I (486-465BC)

The mighty king that came to power is Alexander the Great. Alexander, the son of Philip of Macedonia, came to power in 335BC. He fought many battles: The battle of the Granicus River, the Battle of Issus, the fall of the city of Tyre, the Battle of Gaugmela etc. Alexander was unstoppable. In Just four years he had conquered all the Greek states, all of Egypt, and the entire Persian Empire, including Syria and Palestine. Alexander turned his attention to Russia & India, and conquered much of both countries.

Alexander the Great died after 12 years of reign in 323 BC and he left no heir to the throne. His four generals began fighting over the control of the vast empire. Finally, it was decided to divide the kingdom four ways among the top four generals. These four generals were known as the Diadochi, which in Greek means "Successors." They were:

1. Ptolemy Lagi: He ruled over Egypt, Palestine, Arabia, and Peterea. He was assisted by a general named Seleucus, who had originally been given Babylon, but who was later forced out by Antigonus.

2. Antigonus: He controlled Syria, Babylonia, and central Asia.

3. Cassander: He ruled over Macedonia and Greece.

4. Lysimachus: He ruled over Thrace and Bythinia.

Even though the kingdom had been divided between them, these "Diadochi" continued to fight one another. There were frequent outbursts of violence as they sought to gain each other's territory. Antigonus was probably the worst of the generals. The others finally allied themselves together and drove him out in 312 BC. Members of his family managed to flee to Macedonia where they set up a small kingdom. General Seleucus seized this opportunity and took back the territory which had originally been given to him. Ptolemy Lagi extended his boundaries northward from Egypt to include the area occupied by the Jews. Thus, the Jews came under the rule of the Ptolemies, which rule, they held until 198 BC.

_The southern king will become strong, along with one of his officials, who will become stronger than he and rule over his own realm with great power (V 5):_ When Antigonus, (Seleucus' official) had usurped Seleucus' position and authority, Seleucus fled to Egypt. While in Egypt, he gave his full support to Ptolemy I Soter in 316 B.C. Later, Antigonus was defeated. Seleucus seized the opportunity to regain his territory. Syria and Babylonia now became the Seleucid Dynasty. Seleucus is the Prince who became more powerful, for after leaving Ptolemy in the south, he not only regained his northern territory but expanded it. After the Battle of Ipsus (301 BC), Seleucus succeeded in taking all the territory previously held by Antigonus. The kingdom of Lysimachus was also absorbed into the Seleucid Dynasty. Thus, except for the small Macedonian kingdom, the entire empire of Alexander was now controlled by the Seleucids in the North and the Ptolemy in the South. The Seleucid Empire became a kingdom of its own and it is the fourth beast of Daniel 7. It is a kingdom which sprung from the four kingdoms of Greece.

_After a number of years, they'll become allies and the daughter of the southern king will go to the northern king in order to craft alliances. But she won't remain in power, nor will he retain his power. Instead, she'll be surrendered, along with her entourage, the one who fathered her, and the one who supported her at that time (V 6):_ Upon the death of the first two kings; Ptolemy I and Antiochus I, the two empires began fighting themselves especially over the control of Palestine. In 250 B.C, Antiochus II Theos and Ptolemy II Philadelphus agreed to a peace treaty by an arranged marriage. The marriage was between Ptolemy II's teenage daughter Bernice and Antiochus II. To ratify this treaty, Antiochus II divorced his wife Laodice to marry Bernice. After four years, Ptolemy II died. Then, Antiochus II divorced Bernice and remarried Laodice, who in revenge poisoned Antiochus II ( _nor will he retain his power_ ), and asked her son to murder Bernice and those who came with her from Egypt ( _she won't remain in power_ ). With the deaths of the Ptolemy II, Antiochus II, Bernice and her son, the treaty became invalid.

_One of her family line will replace him. He'll come against the army and enter the fortress of the northern king, conquering them and becoming victorious. He'll also take their gods, their molten images, and their valuable vessels of silver and gold into Egypt as hostages. He'll avoid the northern king for a number of years. Then he'll come against the realm of the southern king and then return to his own territory (V 7-9):_ Bernice's brother, Ptolemy III Eugeretes ( _one of her family line_ ) who became the new pharaoh of Egypt decides to avenge his sister's death. He invaded Seleucid territory and murdered Laodice. He captured Syria for Egypt and took away with him back to Egypt so much wealth and the Egyptian gods which had been taken away by Cambyses the Persian. For the great return of their gods, the Egyptians called him Eugeretes (the benefactor). Some years later, in response to the disgraceful defeat by Ptolemy III Eugeretes, Seleucus II Callinicus on regaining control of Syria, attempted to enter Egypt, but was unsuccessful. He died in 227 B.C.

_His sons will prepare for war, assembling an army of considerable force. One of them will come on forcefully, overflowing, passing through, and waging war up to his own fortress (V10):_ Seleucus II Callinicus had two sons named Seleucus III Ceraunus and Antiochus III the Great. Seleucus III Ceraunus, the first son, ruled as king for only four years and died in battle in Asia Minor. Antiochus III, the second son, gathered a great army and matched against Egypt. Egyptian control had extended up to the Seleucid Empire including all of Palestine. He could recapture the fortress at Raphia in 219 B.C. During 212-205 B.C. Antiochus III greatly expanded his empire into the Caspian Sea and to the border of India. That is the reason he was called Antiochus the Great.

_The southern king will fly into a rage and march out to fight the northern king. He'll gather a large army, but that army will be handed over to him. When that army has been defeated, he'll become overconfident and slaughter many thousands, but he won't succeed. The northern king will return and raise a greater army than before. After a few years he'll advance with a great force and with a vast amount of armaments (V 11-13):_ Ptolemy IV Philopator met Antiochus III the Great at the battle of Raphia in 217BC. Antiochus III had a great army but the small army of Ptolemy IV defeated him. After Ptolemy IV's victory at Raphia (Gaza), he quickly hurried home without settling some administrative matters. The Egyptian troops rebelled against his rule in Egypt. They succeeded to achieve total independence in the Southern part of Egypt. After the death of Ptolemy IV in 204BC, Antiochus III gathered his army and attacked the kingdom of the South. Antiochus III regained his previously held territories.

_During those years, many will rebel against the southern king. The more violent ones among your people will rebel in order to fulfill this vision, but they will fail (V 14):_ When the thirty-five-year-old Ptolemy IV Philopator and his wife died and their four-year-old son, Ptolemy V Epiphanes, was the new king, Antiochus III made attempts to claim the throne of Egypt. He joined force with Philip V of Macedonia, and together they brought their armies against Egypt. Some Jews, who did not like the Ptolemy rule, had attempted to help Antiochus III defeat the Egyptians, but they were defeated.

_Then the northern king will come, erect a siege ramp, and capture a fortified city. The southern forces won't prevail—not even with their best troops—and they'll have no strength to take a stand (V 15):_ After the battle at Panias, the Egyptian commander Scopas led his army to Sidon but he was defeated. There, Antiochus III used siege works to capture the city.

_However, the one who invades him will do whatever he wants to do. No one will oppose him. He'll establish himself in the Beautiful Land, wielding devastating power. He'll decide to come with the full power of his kingdom, bringing with him an alliance that he'll implement. He'll give him a daughter in marriage to overthrow it, but it won't succeed or work out for him (V 16-17):_ Judea came under the control of the king of the North. The Jews in Jerusalem welcomed Antiochus III and they were glad to be free of the Egyptians. The Seleucid Empire kept control of Palestine until the Romans came in 146 B.C. Antiochus III made a secret peace treaty with Ptolemy V Epiphanes in 197 B.C. by giving his daughter's hand in marriage to Ptolemy V. The peace treaty gave some of Egypt's territories to Antiochus III. His wife was Cleopatra I of Syria. Cleopatra means the daughter of women. She was not the famous Cleopatra who was the wife of Mark Anthony and queen of Egypt. Antiochus III had hoped that his daughter would remain loyal to him, but history records that she did not. She was loyal to her husband and to Egypt ( _but it won't succeed or work out for him_ ) _._ He hoped to have control of Egypt to be stronger to wage war on Rome but his plans failed.

_Then he'll turn his attention to the coastal lands and will capture many. But a commander will put an end to his insolence, repaying him for his scorn (V 18):_ Failing to take over Egypt, Antiochus III pushed forward to Rome. He captured several Greek islands _(coastal lands)_. Hannibal from Carthage joined him and together they entered Greece. The Romans had warned him to stay out of Greece, but he ignored the warning. In 191 B.C., the Roman commander Lucius Cornelius Scipio defeated him _(But a commander will put an end to his insolence)_. As settlement, Rome demanded payment for the expense of defeating him and for security, his grandson; Demetrius I Soter was taken to Rome as hostage.

_He'll turn his attention toward the fortresses in his own territory, but he'll stumble and fall, and won't endure (V 19):_ After the Romans defeated Antiochus III, he focused on strengthening the boundaries of his own territories to prevent any invasion. Unable to pay the expenses, Antiochus III fled to Elymias. He hoped to find safety in his country but he was killed by one of his countrymen. History records that he was murdered in a Baal temple in Suasa in 187 B.C. He died trying to steal money he owed Rome. Antiochus III who was called the Great died shamefully.

_His successor will send out a tax collector for royal splendor, but in a short period of time he'll be shattered, though neither in anger nor in battle (V 20):_ Antiochus III's son, Seleucus IV Philopator, raised 1000 talents from taxes each year to redeem their debt to Rome. Notwithstanding, he was very greedy and covetous. He used to send Heliodorus to raid the Jerusalem temple for treasures (2 Maccabees 3.7; 9.23) He died after a very short time of reign. Heliodorus (his official) and Antiochus IV Epiphanes were the suspects to his murder.

_In his place there will arise a despicable person, upon whom no royal authority has been conferred, but he'll invade in a time of tranquility, taking over the kingdom through deception (V 21):_ After the death of Seleucus IV Philopator, his first son, young Demetrius, the rightful heir to the throne was not available, being held in Rome as hostage. The younger son of Seleucus IV, Antiochus (another Antiochus), claimed the throne but was murdered. All these murders were suspected to have been caused by Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Antiochus IV Epiphanes made alliances with the king of Pergamos and others in the area as well as Rome. Antiochus IV Epiphanes was not the rightful heir to the throne. Rome helped Antiochus take the throne in Antioch and become the new king over the Seleucid Empire. In his old age, Antiochus had himself represented on his coins with the features of Zeus Olympios. He saw himself as the physical manifestation of Zeus.

_Overwhelming forces will be carried away before him, along with the Commander-in-Chief of the covenant (V 22):_ Antiochus IV could defeat all the rival claimants to the throne and subdue the whole empire. Even the commander-in-chief of the covenant (prince of the covenant) came under his control. The prince of the covenant is the high priest. The high priest was highly regarded by the Jewish people. The High Priest in the above verse is Onias III. His Hellenized brother Joshua (called Jason) entered agreement with the Antiochus IV Epiphanes. He promised to pay three hundred and sixty talents of silver to Antiochus IV in exchange for the high priesthood. Antiochus IV sacked Onias III and replaced him with Jason. For the first time in Israel's history, a man controlled the priesthood.

_From the time that an alliance is made with him, he'll act deceitfully, and he will go up and take power with only a small group of nations (V 23):_ After entering an agreement with Jason, he continued to act deceitfully. Jason paid an extra hundred and fifty talents if the king will empower him to set up a gymnasium in Jerusalem. Jason later set up a gymnasium at the very feet of the citadel, and introduced new usages contrary to the law. As high Priest, he led all the rest of the priests and the young men away from the ordinance of God (2 Maccabees 4.9-15). Jason sent Menelaus to Antiochus IV Epiphanes with his tribute money in adherence to their agreement. Menelaus then added three hundred talents of silver to Jason's tribute money and gave to the king to secure the high priesthood for himself. He also promised to pay a higher tribute to the king. Antiochus accepted his offer and disposed Jason and Menelaus was put in his stead (2 Maccabees 4.23-29). Jason took refuge in Amanitas.

Antiochus IV Epiphanes pretended to be a protector of his nephew, the 14-year-old Ptolemy VI Philometor (his mother, Cleopatra I, was Antiochus IV's sister). In his pretense, Antiochus IV entered an agreement with Ptolemy VI Philometor to assist him in his reign over Egypt. But he moved through Syria and Judea into Egypt with a small army and seized Egypt for himself.

_He'll invade the most prosperous areas of the province during a time of tranquility, accomplishing what neither his predecessors nor his ancestors ever could. He'll distribute war spoils, booty, and wealth to them, and he'll plot the overthrow of fortresses, though only for a time (V 24):_ He gained control of Egypt by winning the loyalty of the people. He distributed his spoils of war with the citizens. History even records that he threw money to the citizens on the streets. Through his cunning and deceitful character, he could penetrate the strongholds of Egypt.

_He'll encourage himself against the southern king by raising a large army. As a result, the southern king will mobilize for war with a large and powerful army, but he won't succeed because they will devise elaborate schemes against him. His own security detail will undermine him, his army will be swept away, and many will fall and be killed in battle. (V 25-26):_ Through his treachery, he could raise a mighty army to fight his nephew, Ptolemy VI. His nephew was not strong enough to fight him. After taking control of Pelusium and Memphis, Antiochus IV wanted to claim Alexandria. The people of Alexandria had rejected Ptolemy VI and put his younger brother as king. Instead of reconciling the two conflicting brothers, Antiochus IV sought to destroy any existing relationship between them. Ptolemy VI's officials were not faithful to him. Antiochus had corrupted all of them with bribes. The governor of Cyrus, Ptolemy Macron deserted Ptolemy VI and had an alliance with Antiochus IV Epiphanes who made him governor of Coele Syria and Phoenicia.

_Now as for the two kings, their intentions will be evil, and they'll promote deception at their dinner table, but none of this will succeed, because the end won't have come yet (V 27):_ Ptolemy VI and Antiochus IV had several meetings together about official matters. Ptolemy VI was certain that his uncle's interest was genuine, not knowing the contrary.

_Then he'll return to his homeland with great wealth, will focus his attention against the holy covenant, and will take action as he returns to his land (V 28):_ A rumor reached the Jews that Antiochus IV had died. Jason gathered an army and made war on the Jewish people. Menelaus took refuge in the citadel. Jason killed many of his fellow Jews but he could not still assume any position of authority. When Antiochus IV heard of this, he thought Jerusalem was in revolt. He came back from Egypt. Storming on the city, he asked his soldiers to butcher everyone they encountered. It was a massacre of young and old, a slaughter of women and children, a butchery of young girls and infant. Within three days, about eighty thousand were killed. He entered the temple in Jerusalem and made away with eighteen hundred talents and hurried back to his homeland, Antioch. But he left officials behind to plague the nation.

_At the scheduled time he'll return, moving southward, but the end result won't be as before because ships will come against him from the Mediterranean islands. Disheartened, he'll return, incited to vehemence against the holy covenant, and he'll take action. As he returns, he'll show deference to those who abandon the holy covenant (V 29-30):_ About two years later in 168 B.C, Antiochus IV learned that Ptolemy VI Philometor and Ptolemy VII Eugeretes had reconciled and regained control of Egypt. They entered an alliance against him. Antiochus IV planned to attack Egypt a second time. But this time around, he was not successful as the first time. On his way into Egypt, a Roman Ambassador, Popilius Laenas, surprised him. Antiochus IV did not know that Rome had agreed to help Egypt. The Romans had arrived in ships. Antiochus came down to Egypt, and Popilius Laenas told him that he could not enter Egypt. At first Antiochus refused to go back home, so Laenas drew a circle about him and told him that he had to respond before he stepped out of the circle. Historians say that after a few moments of humiliating silence, Antiochus IV agreed and left Egypt in a rage. On his way home, he released his rage on the Jews.

_Armed forces will arise from his midst, and they'll desecrate the fortified Sanctuary, abolish the daily sacrifice, and establish the destructive desecration (V 31):_ He abolish the Jewish sacrifices. He dedicated the temple in Jerusalem to Olympian Zeus; the temple on Mount Gerizim to Zeus, the patron of strangers. A pig (forbidden by the law) was sacrificed on the altar 25 December 168BC. (Daniel 8.9-14,23; Daniel 9.27; 11.30-31; 12.11;1 Maccabees 2.54-61; 2 Maccabees 6.1-6)

_Through flattery he'll corrupt those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but people who know their God will be strong and take action (V 32):_ The Hellenized Jews received his support to abolish Jewish customs and laws. Antiochus IV passed a decree that his people should unite as one by each giving up his own customs. He also issued orders that everyone was to worship the Greek gods. Antiochus IV ordered the Jewish Scriptures (the Torah) to be destroyed. He established the death penalty for anyone who practiced circumcision, or who observed the Sabbath or any of the Jewish religious feasts and sacrifices. Through flattery, many people forsook the law for his own religion. Some Jews remain faithful to the Law and rejected Antiochus' religion. Mattathias (Judas Maccabaeus' father), Judas Maccabaeus and his companions made their way secretly among the villages and gathered as many faithful followers of the Jewish law as they could find. Then, they went into revolt and started a war against Antiochus IV and his followers. Judas Maccabaeus defeated the large army of Antiochus IV's general Apollonius. Next, he defeated Seron (commander of Syrian army) and his army. Antiochus IV was greatly angered by the exploits of Judas and his men. Because of Judas victory, he could recapture the Temple in Jerusalem.

_Insightful people will impart understanding to many, though they'll fall by sword, by fire, by captivity, and as war booty for a while (V 33):_ The faithful Jews encouraged one another to endure. Those who understood the times, enlightened others. Many of them were killed. Antiochus IV tore down the city walls and the Torah. He slaughtered many Jews. Some of them were burnt alive (e.g. the martyrdom of the seven brothers). Others were taken into slavery while some were slain to death.

_When they fall, they'll be given some relief, but many will join them by pretending to be sympathetic to their cause. Some of the insightful will fall so they may be refined, purged, and purified until the time of the end, since it will surely come about (V 34-35):_ Not all of Judas' followers were faithful. He and his followers did not receive much help from their fellow Jews. Judas Maccabaeus had taken control of Judea from the Seleucids but the Jews in the other Seleucid territories continued to face persecution and many were killed until the time of the end (the rise of Rome and Augustus Caesar).

The reign of Antiochus IV Epiphanes ended the 70 weeks of years of Daniel's prophecy. However, the beast (Seleucid Greece) continued to devour and crush the saints in the other Seleucid territories until the arrival of Augustus Caesar of Rome at the time of the end.

When Mattathias died, his son, Judas Maccabaeus took over the rebellion and defeated Antiochus IV. The Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid occurred in 164BC. This revolt marked the end of the Seleucids control over Judea. The family of Mattathias ruled Israel. The rule of the Hasmoneans (named after Mattathias' father, Asmoneus) lasted from 168BC until 37BC. The Romans overthrew the Seleucid and Ptolemy dynasty in 64BC and 31BC respectively. Israel came back under the rule of Israelite people (the Hasmoneans) (Daniel 7:25-27). The Maccabean dynasty survived for 103 years.

In 63BC, when there was a Hasmoneans civil war (between Aristobolus II and Hyrcanus II), Pompey (working for Rome) intervened but took the crown for Rome, thereby making Jerusalem a Roman colony. With the death of Pompey (48BC) and Julius Caesar (44BC), the Hasmoneans backed by the Parthian Empire attempted to regain power. But the Romans under Mark Anthony and Octavian Augustus in 37BC crushed the rebellion.

Julius Caesar and Pompey were Roman Army Generals. Pompey had conquered Asia Minor, Syria, and Judea while Julius Caesar had conquered the whole of Gaul. They started off as friends but ended up as deadly enemies. A civil war eventually broke between Pompey and Julius Caesar. Julius Caesar won and seized power. He formed the first triumvirate (one man dictatorship). He became a dictator of the Roman people and the senate lost control. He died naming his nephew, Octavian as his heir. When Octavian had gained power over Rome, he took the name Augustus Caesar. The next emperors of the Roman Empire took the title, Caesar.

The king will do as he pleases. He'll exalt and magnify himself above every god, speaking amazing things against the God of gods. He'll succeed until the indignation is completed, because what has been determined must be carried out. He'll recognize neither the gods of his ancestors nor those desired by women—he won't recognize any god, because he'll exalt himself above everything. He'll glorify the god of fortresses, a god whom his ancestors never knew, honoring him with gold, silver, valuable jewels, and treasures. He'll take action against the strongest fortresses. With the help of a foreign god, he'll recognize those who honor him, making them rule over many, and he'll parcel out the land for a profit (V 36-39):

The above verses describe a certain king that will rise after the reign of Hasmoneans. Verse 36 describes him as the "king" and not as "the king of the North or "the King of the South". Verses 21-32 describe the activities and fall of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Verses 33-35 describe the rebellion and reign of the Hasmoneans. Verses 36-39 describe the activities of "the king" after the rule of the Hasmoneans.

Israel was governed as a:

\--Seleucid vassal (140-119)

\--Kingdom under the Hasmoneans (110BC-63BC, 40BC-37BC)

\--Client state of the Roman Republic (63-40BC, 37BC-4BC)

The next king that ruled the whole of Israel after the Hasmoneans was Herod the Great. He was appointed king of Judea by Octavian and Mark Anthony. The installation of Herod the Great (part Idumean / Jewish) as king over Israel in 37BC made Israel a Roman client state and sealed the end of the Hasmoneans dynasty.

After the reign of the Hasmoneans, Herod the Great ruled over the entire Israel. After his rule, Israel was partition to his four sons who ruled together with the Roman governors.

_The king will do as he pleases. He'll exalt and magnify himself above every god, speaking amazing things against the God of gods. He'll succeed until the indignation is completed, because what has been determined must be carried out:_ Herod the Great just as Alexander the Great and Antiochus IV succeeded in achieving their goals. He was victorious over Antigonus (the Hasmonean). He forcefully rose to power. He wiped out almost the entire Hasmonean line to seal his dynasty and murdered those closest to him; his wife and three sons whom he suspected were conspiring to take his throne. He killed people as he pleased. In his desire to kill "the king of the Jews", he slew all baby boys under the age of two in the whole of Israel around the time of the birth of the Christ.

_He'll recognize neither the gods of his ancestors nor those desired by women—he won't recognize any god, because he'll exalt himself above everything:_ Though Herod was an Idumean (a descendant of Esau), his family had converted to Judaism. He was generally regarded as a Jew. Herod used the term "our fathers" to emphasize his genealogical ties to the patriarchs. Herod though regarded as a Jew, he did not recognize the God of the Jews nor did he recognize the god of women, Adonis (Tammuz) (Ezek.8.14).

_He'll glorify the god of fortresses, a god whom his ancestors never knew, honoring him with gold, silver, valuable jewels, and treasures:_ Herod promoted Roman gods. The Roman Emperors were gods of war. He built the port city of Caesarea, named after Caesar Augustus. He built a huge temple dedicated to the worship of Caesar Augustus. He built other temples to the worship of Augustus Caesar. He rebuilt the ancient Phoenician coastal fort and renamed it Caesarea in honor of Caesar Augustus. He participated in the building of the Ba'al Shamim temple at Si'a. Though he renovated the Jewish temple, he placed a huge golden Roman eagle at the main entrance. He often sent valuable gifts and money to Caesar.

During the imperial period, the state commanded the worship of the emperor. It was only abandoned after rise of Constantine I who supported Christianity. Julius Caesar permitted the creation of a statue of himself with the inscription in Latin "the unconquered god". Augustus Caesar built a temple for the divine Julius and called himself "the son of a god". Emperors who avoided this status were still given them after their death. After Hadrian, the emperors claimed divine status to their lives such that the imperial cult became an aspect of persecution of the Jews and the Christians. Loyal citizens were expected to make a periodic offering of incense to the emperor and thus received a certificate of loyalty. Loyalty test became an element of the imperial cult that was applied to Christians. The Christians regarded this as idolatry and refused to participate in this worship, so it was used to identify them ("The Time is near, vol 1A"). Caligula had the heads removed from various statues of gods and replaced with his own in some temples. It is said that he wished to be worshipped as " _Neos Helios,_ " the "New Sun". He was represented as a sun god on Egyptian coins. Augustus demanded the public to worship his spirit on occasions, but Caligula took things a step further and demanded those in Rome, including the senators, to worship him as a tangible, living god.

_He'll take action against the strongest fortresses. With the help of a foreign god, he'll recognize those who honor him, making them rule over many, and he'll parcel out the land for a profit (V 36-39):_ With the support of the Roman Emperor (a god), Herod overcame all his enemies. For his own benefit, he promoted the glory of Rome in Judea. He gave land and authority to those who supported him.

At the time of the end, the southern king will oppose him, and the northern king will overrun him with chariots, cavalry, and many ships. He'll invade countries, moving swiftly and sweeping through. He'll enter the Beautiful Land, and many will fall, even though these will escape his control: Edom, Moab, and certain Ammonite officials. He'll extend his power over other countries, and even the land of Egypt won't escape. He'll capture treasures of gold, silver, and all the treasures of Egypt, with the Libyans and Cushites at his feet. However, reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he'll march out in great anger, intending to destroy and to desolate many. When he pitches his royal pavilions between the seas facing the mountain of holy Glory, he'll come to his end, and no one will help him (V 40-45):

Verse 40 begins a new era, the time of the end. All the events from chapter11.40 to chapter 12 relates to the end time. At the time of the end, the crucial king is no longer "the king" but "the king of the North". Verse 40 -45 relates to the king of the North with a slight comment on the king of the south in verse 40. The king of the North is Augustus Octavian and the king of the South is Marc Anthony.

Julius Caesar, ruler of Judea and Seleucid territories died, willing Augustus Octavian (his adopted son) as his heir to the throne. Octavian was just 14 years of age when he became king but he faced strong opposition from Mark Anthony who controlled the late King's treasury. After a long dispute, they decided to share Rome's territories into three, giving a part to Lepidus. They formed the second Triumvirate (a dictatorship of three). After the battles at Phillipi in October 42BC, a new territorial arrangement was made among the members of the second Triumvirate. Octavian took control of the West (Gaul (includes Syria), Hispania, Italia) while Anthony took control of the east (Egypt). Lepidus was left with the province of Africa.

_At the time of the end, the southern king will oppose him:_ Mark Anthony married Octavian's sister but later took Cleopatra as a concubine and had children with her. This greatly displeased Octavian. Rome was also displeased when they heard of Anthony's "donations of Alexandria". In these donations, he ceded much of Rome's territory to Cleopatra and Caesarion (the only biological son of late Julius Caesar who was born to him by Cleopatra). Cleopatra and Caesarion were co-rulers of Egypt. Mark Anthony later married Cleopatra and divorced Octavian's sister. Laying hands on Mark Anthony's will, Octavian and the senate were shocked at its contents. Anthony recognized Caesarion as Caesar's only heir, left his possessions to his children by Cleopatra, and finally indicated his desire to be buried with Cleopatra in Alexandria instead of Rome. The Senate blamed Cleopatra instead of Anthony. The Roman Senate declared war on Cleopatra.

_And the northern king will overrun him with chariots, cavalry, and many ships:_ When Anthony heard that Rome had declared war on Cleopatra, he gave his support to Egypt. Immediately, the senate stripped Anthony of his official power and labeled him as an outlaw and traitor. The war was now between Cleopatra with Marc Anthony and Rome. The war was fought at the sea and it included so many ships. The battle is recorded in history as the Battle of Actium (September 31BC). Marc Anthony lost to Octavian. He and Cleopatra ran to Egypt and there, they both committed suicide.

_He'll enter the Beautiful Land, and many will fall, even though these will escape his control: Edom, Moab, and certain Ammonite officials:_ After his victory over Marc Anthony, Octavian passed through Syria and Judea (the glorious land) and Egypt. When Herod realized that Octavian was taking the lead in the battle, he gave him his total support and allegiance. Thus, Israel came under the control of Octavian. Octavian did not invade the lands of Edom, Moab, and Ammon. Even later efforts to invade these territories were not successful.

_He'll extend his power over other countries, and even the land of Egypt won't escape. He'll capture treasures of gold, silver, and all the treasures of Egypt, with the Libyans and Cushites at his feet_ _:_ Anthony fell on his own sword while Cleopatra killed herself with the bite of a poisonous snake. Octavian killed Caesarion. Thus, Egypt came under the rule of Octavian. Libya and Ethiopia were later conquered. At that time, the treasures of Egypt were of immense value. Octavian gained all of Egypt's treasure. Within a month, Octavian was named Pharaoh and Egypt became his personal possession. Within a few years, Octavian was named Augustus by the senate and given unprecedented powers. Octavian now Augustus, began to transform Roman Republic into an empire. He set the ground work of Rome to become an empire. Even though it was still recognized as a Republic, he changed the constitutions and ruled as though it was an empire. Rome officially became an empire in the reign of Tiberius.

_However, reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he'll march out in great anger, intending to destroy and to desolate many:_ Rome fought many battles in the east against the Parthian empire, and against the Germanic peoples such as the Goths, Visigoths, Huns, and others in the north over the next few hundreds of years. In the final centuries of BC, the empire of the Parthians progressively took control of Persia and Mesopotamia in the East. In 53 BC, they inflicted a crushing defeat on the Roman general Crassus at Carrhae, and in 36BC, they caused heavy casualties to Mark Anthony's army.

_When he pitches his royal pavilions between the seas facing the mountain of holy Glory, he'll come to his end, and no one will help him:_ This is probably the Antonia Fortress. The fortress was a military barracks built in 19BC by Herod the Great in Jerusalem to house Roman garrison. It was named after Mark Anthony. The fortress was built at the eastern end of the great wall of the city, on the northeastern side of the city between the temple mount and the pool of Bethesda. Augustus Caesar probably stayed with his soldiers in this garrison and there he came to his end.

Daniel 12 – The Son of Man and the Last Days

_At that time Michael will arise, the great prince who will stand up on behalf of your people, (V 1):_ During the time of the above King (Augustus Octavian), Michael came. He was the liberator of the people of the Israel. The Jews awaited with great expectation their coming messiah who will liberate them from the Roman rule. However, their messiah was sent to give them spiritual instead of political freedom. As first born of angels, the Lord Jesus is called Michael and as the first born of man, he is called Jesus. Christ Jesus is first born among all God's creation (Romans 8.29; Colossian 1.15-30). He is man and at the same, an angel. In Rev.12.7, the Lord Jesus after ascending to Heaven made war against Satan (a fallen angel called Lucifer). The war was between Michael (Jesus) with His army and Lucifer (Satan) with his angels.

Christ Jesus came to earth at the end of the Grecian rule to establish a kingdom that was given him by His Father in Heaven. He is the stone that fell from heaven and crushed the feet (Seleucid Greece) of Babylon. The Lord Jesus laid the foundation of his kingdom with his shed blood on the cross. During this time, the devil also came to establish a kingdom (the Roman Empire) that is still in existence till this day.

_and a time of trouble will come like there has never been since nations began until that time (V 1):_ The Jewish people suffered greatly under the Roman power and under King Herod.

_Also at that time, your people will be delivered—everyone who will have been written in the book. Many of those who are sleeping in the dust of the earth will awaken—some to life everlasting, and some to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Those who manifest wisdom will shine like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who turn many to righteousness will shine like the stars for ever and ever (V 2-3):_ At the arrival of Michael, the people of Israel would be delivered. Everyone in Israel whose name was found in the book of life would be saved. The above verses relate to the people of Israel and not the entire world. On the day of the Lord's death, many holy people of God (saints) were resurrected (Mathew 27.51-53). The blood of Christ perfected the old covenant saints and thus, they obtained the resurrection. They came to life and appeared to many in Israel.

_Now as for you, Daniel, roll up your scroll and seal your words until the time of the end. Many will rush around while knowledge increases (v 4):_ The words of Daniel were kept secret and sealed until the time of the end (the last days or the end times). The book of Daniel was sealed until the time of the last days whereas the book of Revelation was opened because the last days are closing. Daniel received the revelations much earlier to the start of the last days but John received the revelation in the last days. John received the book of Revelation around 67AD when he was thrown to the Island of Patmos by Nero Caesar, emperor of Rome. We are in the last days. The last days began when Augustus Caesar became ruler of both the North and the south kingdoms as described in Daniel 11 ( _At the time of the end, the southern king.... At that time, Michael will rise...)._ The last days will close with the second coming of Christ. The Lord Jesus was revealed at the start of the last days:

"God, who has known Christ before the world began, revealed him to you in the last days" (1 Peter 1.20).

"These things happened to them as an example, and they were written as a warning for us, as the last times come upon us" (1 Corinthians 10.11).

"Indeed, what the prophet Joel spoke about has happened: In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on every mortal" (Acts 2.16-17).

The last days also mean the end of the old covenant with Israel. God's covenant with Israel ended with the death of Christ.

The book of Daniel and Revelation was open since the beginning of last days. The Holy Spirit of Revelation can grant understanding of these two books because we are in the last days. The book of Daniel is the revelation of events that impacted Israel from the rise of Nebuchadnezzar to the beginning of the last days. The book of Revelation is the revelation of events that affects the church and the world during the last days (the first coming of Christ to his second coming).

Then I, Daniel, continued watching—and look!—two others stood there, one on this side of the river bank and the other on the other side of the river bank. One asked the man dressed in linen clothes, who was standing above the waters of the river, 'How long until the fulfillment of the wonders?' "I heard the man dressed in linen clothes, who was standing above the waters of the river as he lifted his right and left hands to heaven and swore by the one who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and a half. When the shattering of the power of the holy people has occurred, all these things will conclude (V 5-7):

Daniel wants to know from the angel the span of time (the time between the rise of Michael and the resurrection of the saints) for the wonders to be fulfilled. The angel replies that it will take place after a time, two times and half a time (three and a half years), after the crushing of the old covenant saints.

The ministry of Jesus lasted for three and a half years (time, times and half a time), ending with his death on the cross and the resurrection of the saints. The rise of Michael refers to the Lord Jesus beginning ministry. Scholars record that he began ministry in late 26AD at the age of 30 (Luke 3.23) and was crucified in 30AD.

History records that the faithful Jewish people in the other Seleucid territories were still being persecuted and killed under reign of the Hasmoneans till the coming of Rome. Daniel was told that the crushing of the saints would continue till the time of the end (Daniel 11.35). The Lord Jesus came after the tribulation of the Jews.

In his first coming, the time between his arrival and the resurrection of the saints was three and a half years. In his second coming, the time between his arrival and the resurrection and rapture of the church is immediate. The above verse applies to his first coming and not to his second coming.

I heard, but I didn't understand. So I asked, 'Sir, what happens next?' "He answered, 'Go on your way, Daniel, because these matters are wrapped up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined, though the wicked act wickedly, and none of the wicked understand. Nevertheless, the insightful will understand. There will be 1,290 days from the time the daily ritual is rescinded and the destructive desolation established. Blessed is the one who waits and reaches the 1,335 days. Now as for you, go on your way until the end—you'll rest and then rise to receive your reward at the end of the age (V 8-13):

Daniel tried to ask more about this time, but the angel did not give him any more information on the last days. The prophecy was sealed until the last days. The angel rather gave him more information on the duration of desecration of the temple.

Antiochus IV Epiphanes desecrated the temple for 1290 days (about three and a half years) and there after it was cleansed. The desecration of the temple started on 168BC, when Antiochus stopped the sacrificial offering. He later slaughtered a swine on the temple altar on 25 December 168. The temple was cleansed on the same day that the swine was slaughtered in 25 Chislev 165BC.

Blessed were those who persevered during the persecution and entered the 1335th day i.e. the day that the sanctuary was cleansed for worship to resume.

# Summary of the Book of Daniel

Israel was meant to suffer 490 years of subjugation to the four kingdoms of Babylon:

1. Babylon (ruled Israel for seventy years)

2. Mede and Persia

3. Greece: Greece was later divided into four and then later merged into two kingdoms: Ptolemy and Seleucid.

4. Seleucid Greece: Israel suffered fierce persecution from the little horn, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the 8th king of the Seleucid Grecian empire. Antiochus IV Epiphanes persecuted and killed the Jews for observing the law of God for three and a half years and desecrated God's temple for 1290days. His reign marked the end of the 490 years of punishment. The persecution of the faithful Jews was a refining fire to them. Antiochus IV Epiphanes is the little horn (Daniel 7 & 8), the prince who will desolate the temple (Daniel 9), the proud faced one (Daniel 11):

\--He shall desecrate the temple (Daniel 8.9-14,23; Daniel 9.27; 11.30-31; 12.11; 1 Maccabees 2.54-61; 2 Maccabees 6.1-6)

\--He shall change the laws (Daniel 7.25; 2 Maccabees 6.6)

\--He shall crush the saints (Daniel 7.21, 25; 8.9-13, 23-25; 11.33, 35).

\--He shall be proud and blasphemous (Daniel 7.8, 20, 24-25; 8.10-11, 25; 8.23; 11.36-39; 1 Maccabees 1.24; 2 Maccabees 5.21; 9.7-21)

\--He persecuted the saints for three and a half years and attempt to Hellenize the Jews for one week (Daniel 7.21,25; 8.9-14, 23-25; 9.27; 11.33,35)

\--The revolt/War (Daniel 11.32-33; 7.21; 9.26)

At the end of the 490 years of Babylon dominion, God's holy people will rule the kingdom of Israel. The Hasmoneans dynasty ruled Israel till the coming of the Roman Empire

The Romans cunningly took over Judea from the Hasmoneans prior to the coming of the Son of Man. Augustus Caesar, the first Roman Emperor, set the foundations for Rome to become an Empire.

The kingdom of God came to the earth through His son, Christ Jesus. When the crushing of the saints in the other Seleucid territories was accomplished (Daniel 11.35), the Lord Jesus came to the earth.

The kingdom of God was established with the death of Jesus Christ. On the day of the Lord's death, God's holy people of the old covenant came to life. The time between the start of his ministry and his resurrection of the dead was three and a half years.

CHAPTER II

THE BOOK OF REVELATIONS (4-22)

Introduction

Apostle John was on the Island of Patmos on account for witnessing to the word of God. While on exile, he saw visions about future events concerning the church and the world. These visions are recorded in the "Book of Revelations", the last book of the Bible.

The visions in the book of Revelations are not written in a timely pattern. It is not written as a continuous story starting from chapter one to the end. Insight from the Holy Spirit is needed to put the visions or chapters together to find its timeline.

The book of Revelation can be divided into three sections:

1. Revelations 1-3 (explained in chapter 4 of this book)

2. Rev. 4- 11 & Rev 12-19 (the visions about church and the world till the second return of Christ and the millennial reign).

3. Rev. 20-22 (Events after the millennial reign).

In this writing, the visions in the book of Revelation is explained in a chronological timeline.

The book of Revelation is continuity to the book of Daniel. Below is a highlight of the visions on a timeline:

1) The devil descends to the earth during the time of the birth of Christ. The Lord Jesus defeats the devil on the cross and ascends into heaven. The devil is defeated in heaven. He pours the anger of his defeat on the church

2) The Lord opens the seven seals

3) Perilous times befall the earth. The devil makes war on the saints. Various disasters befall the earth.

4) Immediately after the trouble times, the Lord Jesus returns, rewards the saints, punishes the wicked and establishes his reign.

5) After 1000years of the Lord's reign, the devil in attempting a second war, is hurled to the lake of fire. The last judgement takes place. Some are resurrected while others are killed in the lake of fire. The new heaven and new earth comes forth from God.

# THE DRAGON

_A spectacular sign appeared in the sky: a woman dressed with the sun, who had the moon under her feet and a victor's crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and was crying out from her labor pains, the agony of giving birth. Then another sign appeared in the sky: a huge red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven royal crowns on its heads. Its tail swept away one-third of the stars in the sky and knocked them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth so that it could devour her child when it was born. She gave birth to a son, a boy, who is to rule all the nations with an iron scepter. But her child was snatched away and taken to God and to his throne. Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where a place had been prepared for her by God so that she might be taken care of for 1,260 days._

Then a war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon and its angels fought back. But it was not strong enough, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The huge dragon was hurled down. That ancient serpent, called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world, was hurled down to the earth, along with its angels. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say, "Now the salvation, the power, the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah have come. For the one who accuses our brothers, who accuses them day and night in the presence of our God, has been thrown out. Our brothers conquered him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not cling to their lives even in the face of death. So be glad, heavens, and those who live in them! How terrible it is for the earth and the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, filled with rage, knowing that his time is short!"

_When the dragon saw that it had been thrown down to the earth, it pursued the woman who had given birth to the boy. However, the woman was given the two wings of a large eagle so that she could fly away from the serpent to her place in the wilderness, where she could be taken care of for a time, times, and half a time. From its mouth the serpent spewed water like a river behind the woman in order to sweep her away with the flood. But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed from its mouth. The dragon became angry with the woman and went away to do battle against the rest of her children, the ones who keep God's commandments and hold on to the testimony about Jesus. Then the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore_.

The huge red dragon is the devil. The devil took with him one third of the angels in Heaven to the earth. The woman is Israel. Israel is Yahweh's bride (Jer.3.1, 8, 14; Hos. 2.2,7,16). The twelve stars on her head represent the twelve tribes of Israel. The woman gave birth to a son. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, was born from the nation of Israel. Christ Jesus is the king of kings who is to rule the entire world with an iron scepter for all eternity.

The devil and his angels descended to the earth at the season of Jesus' birth. As it was revealed to Daniel, the fifth kingdom (the kingdom of the Son of Man) would crush the four earthly kingdoms (Babylon, Mede-Persia, Greece, and Seleucid Greece) by striking its feet (Seleucid Greece). When the time came to build the fifth kingdom, the Son of Man (Jesus Christ) came to the earth by birth.

The dragon descended to the earth around this time to kill the Son of man, once born. The devil put it in Herod's heart to kill the child. Desiring to kill "the king of the Jews", Herod massacred all babies in Israel from the age 0-2. The devil put it in the heart of the teachers of the law to kill him. He also put it in the heart of Judas Iscariot to betray the Lord. He empowered Augustus Caesar to build the Roman Empire. The Romans destroyed Jerusalem, tortured the saints, and led many to idolatry. Pilate pronounced the crucifixion verdict even after being warned by his wife who had a dream. The devil moved the people of Israel to demand the death of the Lord Jesus. They shouted, "Crucify him! His blood be on us and our children".

In the appointed time, God allowed the Lord Jesus to be tortured and killed. The Lord Jesus was crucified to death but his body did not see corruption. He was resurrected and in the presence of the disciples, caught up to God. The devil killed him but the Lord overcame death. When Satan killed Jesus Christ, he imagined that he had secured his power forever, but the Lord in his death overcame him.

When the Lord ascended into heaven as our righteous advocate, the devil with the fallen angels tried to enter back into heaven but they were refused entry. There was a war in heaven. Satan with his angels fought the Lord Jesus (Michael) with his army. The name of the Lord Jesus as an angel is Michael. Christ Jesus and his army cast the devil with his angels to the earth. This was a legitimate judgement passed on him through the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. The casting down from heaven was a sign of his ultimate defeat. This defeat was a deadly wound on the devil.

The angels in heaven rejoiced at the devil being thrown down from heaven. The angels in heaven shouted, _"Our brothers conquered him by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they did not cling to their lives even in the face of death"_. The Lord did resurrect alone from death. He came to life with a great army of saints (his brothers). Many holy people of the old covenant came back to life and were caught up to the heavens. Some of them appeared to the some in Jerusalem (Mathew 27.51-53). Some of these holy people were killed for refusing to break the OT laws. The blood of Christ obtained for them the perfection to enter life and the heavens. They overcame the devil by their testimony (bearing witness to the truth by their death) and by the blood of Christ. The prophet Isaiah had prophesied of Lucifer's fall (Isaiah 14.12-17).

_When the dragon saw that it had been thrown down to the earth, it pursued the woman who had given birth to the boy:_ As soon as the dragon was hurled back to earth in a crushing defeat, he vented his anger on Israel. In 70AD, Titus, reduced the Jewish temple and Jerusalem to rubble. On the 14th of April, Titus besieged the city and on the 10th of August, the temple was set on fire. Flavius Josephus records that over 1,100,000 million Jews died in the war. Many died from starvation during the four-year siege and the strong ones were taken into slavery.

_However, the woman was given the two wings of a large eagle so that she could fly away from the serpent to her place in the wilderness, where she could be taken care of for a time, times, and half a time:_ A group of persistent Jews (the Zealots) sought refuge on the mountain of Masada in the desert near the Dead Sea for three and a half years (a time, times and half a time or 1260 days). After 1260 days, in 74AD, the Roman army destroyed them. The word of Christ in Luke 19.43-44, 11.50-51 was fulfilled.

Masada

_From its mouth the serpent spewed water like a river behind the woman in order to sweep her away with the flood. But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed from its mouth:_ The Romans attempted to wipe out all the Israelites but some of them escaped to neighboring countries.

_The dragon became angry with the woman and went away to do battle against the rest of her children, the ones who keep God's commandments and hold on to the testimony about Jesus:_ Having failed to kill all the Jews, the devil vented his anger on the Christians, the ones who hold the testimony about Jesus.

The dragon has seven heads and ten horns. The ten horns of the dragon are ten kings who will rise to power for the war of Armageddon. The first five heads of the dragon:

-Head 1 – Babylon

-Head 2 – Medo- Persia

-Head 3 – Greece

-Head 4 – Seleucid Greece

-Head 5 – The dragon

# THE FIRST FOUR SEALS

When Christ ascended to heaven, he took from the Father's hand, a book/scroll. This scroll contained secret future events concerning the church and mankind. This book was sealed with seven seals. Only Christ Jesus could take the book and open it. He alone was worthy to open the book because he was slain and by his blood, he had purchased people for God from every tribe and tongue. The Lord Jesus revealed the contents of the book to Apostle John, so that John might show it to the Church (Rev 5).

1st Seal

Then I saw the lamb open the first of the seven seals. I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, "Go!" Then I looked, and there was a white horse! Its rider had a bow, and a victor's crown had been given to him. He went out as a conqueror to conquer (Rev. 6.1- 2):

The victor's crown represents victory in battles. The bow signifies battles and the crown signifies kingship. The white horse and its rider raise wild beasts (strong nations) to devour and conquer other nations. They serve in executing God's judgement on the nations of the earth.

In the OT, when the sins of Israel had earned punishment, God will lead them into captivity to wild beasts (Lev 26.6, 26). These wild beasts were nations that God raised to conquer Israel as punishment for their idolatry. God raised the Assyrians to deal with Northern Israel in the time of Hosea. He raised Babylon to conquer Judea. Israel became the slaves of these wild beast and they were often tortured.

God often uses the symbol of a beast to signify strong kingdoms; the four beasts of Daniel, the ram, the he-goat in the book of Daniel and the two beasts in the book of Revelations. Wild beast (strong kingdoms on the earth) cannot rise to power unless God gives them power (Daniel 2.37; John 19.11). This task of raising strong nations is carried out by the white horse and its rider.

The white horse and its rider are still raising wild beasts in our time. The world is under God's judgement for idolatry (John 16.8-11; John 12.23-32). Some nations come to power, not by their strength but because God purposed it

2nd Seal

When the lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Go!" A second horse went out. It was fiery red, and its rider was given permission to take peace away from the earth and to make people slaughter one another. So he was given a large sword (Rev. 6.3-4):

The red horse signifies blood. The sword signifies deadly fights or rivalry within a family, neighborhood. The rider sets rivalry amongst the sons of men so that they fight and kill each other.

In the OT, the Israelites committed idolatry by erecting the golden calf in the wilderness and refused to repent except for the tribe of Levi. God set them killing one another. Brother killing brother, sister killing sister. About 30,000 people died, purging the land of the sin (Exodus 32.27-28).

When king Jehoshaphat heard of a multitude (the children of Moab, the children of Ammon, and other Ammonites) coming against him in battle, he set himself to seek the Lord. They were just a small number, thus, he cried for God's justice. He appointed singers unto the Lord and they went ahead of the army. When the army reached the camp, the whole multitude was dead. For the children of Ammon and Moab stood against the inhabitants of Seir; and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, everyone helped destroy one another. The angel of war had gone ahead of them and given them the sword of war. So, they destroyed one another before Jehoshaphat and his army reached the camp (2 Chron. 1-20).

War and rumors of war is a sign of the last days. Today, civilians are killing one another; the killings in Syria with about 400000 dead, the gun violence in USA with about 440095 dead between 2001 and 2014 etc.

3rd Seal

When the lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Go!" I looked, and there was a black horse! Its rider held a scale in his hand. I heard what sounded like a voice from among the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, or three quarts of barley for a denarius. But don't damage the olive oil or the wine!" (Rev 6:5-6):

The black horse signifies sorrow. The scale is a unit of measurement. "A quart of wheat for a denarius" signifies famine. The rider is out to kill through famine. A small quantity of food is sold at a high price.

In the OT, God judge Israel by sending famine to the land (Ezek. 6.11; 4.16-17). In these last days, there is famine in different parts of the world. Many people are dying from hunger. The world is under God's judgement.

4th Seal

When the lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Go!" I looked, and there was a pale green horse! Its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. (Rev. 6.7-8):

The deathly pale horse signifies a corpse. Its rider is called death. The deathly pale horse and its rider kill through plagues. Many people die from plagues; earthquakes, drought, wild fires, flood, Tsunami (strong winds), tornados (whirlwind), landslides, volcanic eruptions, pestilence (e.g. mosquitoes), diseases etc.

In the OT, God judged Israel for their sins by sending them plagues (Deut. 28:58-62). The angel of death executes God's order in killing people by plagues. This angel destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with fire, flooded the earth in the days of Noah and smote all the first-born male of Egypt in the time of Moses. Earthquakes are signs of the last days.

The four horsemen & the four scourges

They were given authority over one-fourth of the earth to kill people using wars, famines, plagues, and the wild animals of the earth (Rev. 6.8).

These four Horsemen were sent to a quarter of the earth, and they were ordered to kill. The white horseman kills by wild beasts, the red horseman kills by the sword, the black horseman kills by famine, and the fourth horseman kills by plagues. These four horsemen are the four dreadful scourges of God on mankind. One quarter part of the world is bound to suffer from these four scourges.

When the Lord died on the cross, the world came under judgement (John 12.23-32). These four horsemen are angels in heaven who serve God about the affairs of the earth. They served during the days of the old covenant and they still serve even now.

"I stared into the night, and there was a man mounted on a red horse! The horse was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him there were red, brown, and white horses. Then I asked, "Who are these, sir?" The messenger who was talking to me answered, "I will tell you who these are." The man who stood among the myrtle trees answered, "These are the ones whom the LORD sent out to wander throughout the earth." Then they reported to the angel of the LORD who stood among the myrtle trees, "We have wandered throughout the earth—and look!—the entire earth is at rest. Everything is quiet and peaceful" Zech. 1.1-11).

Then I looked up and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains! And the mountains were made of brass! Attached to the first chariot were red horses. Attached to the second chariot were black horses. Attached to the third chariot were white horses. Attached to the fourth chariot were speckled horses and gray horses. In response, I asked the angel who had been talking with me, "Sir, what are these?" The angel told me, "These are four heavenly spirits that are going out on patrol after having presented themselves to the Lord of the whole earth. The black horses are headed into the north country, and the white ones are headed out after them. The speckled horses are headed toward the south country." Then the gray horses went out. They were eager to go out on patrol throughout the earth, so the angel said, "Go patrol the earth." So, they went out on patrol throughout the earth (Zech. 6:1-7).

The four scourges of these four horsemen were God's judgement on the land of Israel (Lev 26:21-26, Ezekiel 6:11-12, 14:13-2, 15:17, 1 Chron. 21:12).

" _...Those destined for death, to death will go; those destined for the sword, to the sword will go; and those destined for captivity, to captivity will go (Jer. 15.2)._

"This is what the Lord GOD says, 'I'm sending four of my most destructive judgments—military invasion, famine, wild animals, and pestilence—into Jerusalem to destroy both human beings and livestock in it (Ezek. 14.21).

God is full of mercy, slow to anger, and abounding in faithful love (Jonah 4:2). Notwithstanding, God is also a dreadful and terrible God (Deut. 10.17, Dan 9.4). He is fierce in His anger and judgements. He is a God to be feared. He is a Holy God who does not tolerate sin. He is a just God who leaves no sin unpunished. His punishment is very fierce and must be dreaded. People must save themselves from the wrath to come (the day of the Lord). The world has come under God's judgement because they have refused to believe in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Unbelief is sin. When Christ Jesus died, the way to God was opened for the Gentile world yet many have refuse to believe.

When Christ Jesus spoke of the signs of the end, he mentioned famine, wars, tortures, and plagues (Mathew 24. 4-5). Yet he said that these were the beginning of the signs of the end. There existed the colonial period. There are wars and famines and people are dying. God is not responsible for all the calamities befalling the whole earth, only a quarter of the earth is suffering from God's hand.

# THE LEOPARD

I saw a beast coming out of the sea. It had ten horns, seven heads, and ten royal crowns on its horns. On its heads were blasphemous names. The beast that I saw was like a leopard. Its feet were like bear's feet, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. The dragon gave it his power, his throne, and complete authority. One of the beast's heads looked like it had sustained a mortal wound, but its fatal wound was healed. Rapt with amazement, the whole world followed the beast. They worshiped the dragon because it had given authority to the beast. They also worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who can fight a war with it?" The beast was allowed to speak arrogant and blasphemous things, and it was given authority for 42 months. It uttered blasphemies against God, against his name, and against his residence, that is, against those who are living in heaven. It was allowed to wage war against the saints and to conquer them. It was also given authority over every tribe, people, languages, and nation. All those living on earth will worship it, everyone whose name is not written in the Book of Life belonging to the lamb that was slaughtered from the foundation of the world. Let everyone listen: If anyone is to be taken captive, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with a sword, with a sword he will be killed (Rev. 13.1-11).

The beast is a Leopard with the mouth of a lion and feet of a bear. The beast has all the features of the first three beasts of the book of Daniel (the lion, the bear, the Leopard). The Romans took over the Grecian empire (the Leopard). Greece had overthrown Mede and Persia (the ram). Medo-Persia had overthrown Babylon (the lion). This beast is the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire is principally Grecian with Persian and Babylonian elements.

At the time that Apostle John received the Revelations at Patmos, this beast was already in power. In Rev. 17, the angel tells John that the beast "is".

After Christ defeated the dragon, the dragon attempted to wipe out the Jews but failed. He then directed all his anger on the Christians (the descendants of the seed of the woman). The dragon gave the Leopard beast his immense authority and throne.

The beast has ten horns. These horns refer to ten kings. This beast is identifiable with the Roman imperial cult that suppressed and persecuted the early church. The early church suffered great persecution during the reign of ten kings beginning from Nero in 67AD to Diocletian in 313AD. The ten primitive persecutions against the Christians as recorded in John Fox's book of Martyrs:

1. Nero Caesar, AD 67

2. Domitian AD 81

3. Trajan AD 108

4. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus AD 162AD

5. Severus AD 192

6. Maximus AD 235

7. Decius AD 249

8. Valerian AD 257

9. Aurelian AD 274

10. Diocletian AD 303

These ten kings are the ten horns of the Leopard beast. The imperial cult demanded the worship of the Emperor as god. As a sign of loyalty, every citizen would burn incense and sacrifice to the Emperor, acknowledging his divinity. Anyone who refused to perform this act of worship was a traitor to the emperor. It was so easy to identify the Christians because they believed only in one God who is in Heaven. Refusal to worship the emperor as god led to terrible punishments and deaths.

Christians were beheaded, others were burnt alive, others were slaughtered, others imprisoned and starved to death etc. This was the time of perseverance of the saints. To captivity and to the sword they went. Tacitus records the scene in Rome when the persecution of Christians broke out: _"And their death was aggravated with mockeries, insomuch that, wrapped in the hides of wild beasts, they were torn to pieces by dogs, or fastened to the crosses to be set on fire, that when the darkness fell they might be burned to illuminate the night"._

The Roman imperial cult was subdued during the 4th century by Constantine who supported Christianity. In 330AD, the empire split into two; west and east. Constantine founded a new capital city in the eastern half of the Roman empire at Byzantium. The city was his new Rome and was later named Constantinople (the "city of Constantine"). Constantine institutionalized Christianity and made it the state religion. This stopped the persecution of the church. Constantine later introduced many pagan practices into the church. The western empire spoke Latin and was Roman Catholic. The eastern Empire spoke Greek and worshipped under the Eastern Orthodox branch of Christianity.

Overtime, the east thrived while the west declined. The western part of the Roman Empire fell in the 5th century on September 4, 476AD. The eastern part continued to exist as the Byzantium Empire for hundreds of years.

# THE RAM

I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it talked like a dragon. It uses all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and it makes the earth and those living on it worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. It performs spectacular signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people. It deceives those living on earth with the signs that it is allowed to do on behalf of the first beast, telling them to make an image for the beast who was wounded by a sword and yet lived. The second beast was allowed to impart life to the image of the first beast so that the image of the beast could talk and order the execution of those who would not worship the image of the beast. The second beast forces all people—important and unimportant, rich and poor, free and slaves—to be marked on their right hands or on their foreheads, so that no one may buy or sell unless he has the mark, which is the beast's name or the number of its name. In this case wisdom is needed: Let the person who has understanding calculate the total number of the beast, because it is a human total number, and the sum of the number is 666 (Rev. 13.13-18).

The Roman Empire controlled almost the whole of Europe and the Middle East. Though it collapsed, its culture remained in its territories. The empire covered; Europe by the line of Rhine and Danube; in Asia by the Euphrates. In Africa, it possessed Egypt and the north coast; South Britain and Dacia were afterwards added but were ultimately resigned.

The Roman Catholic Church led the west. The Byzantine Empire ruled in the East. The Catholic Church later handed the headship of the church to the popery in the 6th century.

The Arabs in the Middle East started war on the Byzantine Empire and eventually conquered in the 6th century. Mohammed founded Islam the 5th century. The religion spread very rapidly among the Middle East and northern parts of Africa and became an empire (the Ottoman Empire). The Islamic empire completely overthrew the Byzantine Empire in 1453AD.

Roman Catholism ruled in the west and Islam ruled in the East. Both religions had political power. The governments were both religious and political. They each held kingly authority. These two political religions ruled the two principal territories of the Roman Empire. The two horns of the Ram (the false prophet) are Roman Catholism and Islam. Though the Roman imperial cult was wounded with the sword, it still lives in spirit. Roman Catholism and Islam is the Roman Empire in spirit.

At that time that both religions came to power around 1000AD, people were forced to convert. In the west, it is either you are Roman Catholic or you die. in the east, it is either you convert to Islam or you die. People were crushed. You either believe in Islam or you are beheaded. You either accept the Roman Catholic doctrines or you are killed. This was the order of that time.

People were denied civil rights in Europe if they did not become Roman Catholics. You could not do public practice or own property if you were not a Roman Catholic. Protestants were expelled from all offices, trades, privileges, and employs; thereby depriving them of the means of getting their bread. They would not suffer even the midwives to officiate, but compelled their women to submit themselves in that crisis of nature to the Roman Catholics. If not, their children were taken from them to be educated by the Roman Catholics, and at seven years of age, made to embrace popery.

The false prophet made the entire world, except those whose names are written in the book of Life, to worship the statue of the beast and be branded with his mark. Even the word, "Roman" in Roman Catholic shows its roots.

The Ram is the spirit of the Leopard. The Roman Empire is no longer physical but spiritual. It has broken from its physical boundaries by becoming spirit and it has spread its wings to the whole earth.

After the 1000AD, these religions had a political power that had never been held by any human scepter. Roman Catholism united to the Germans and created the Holy Roman Empire. About 68 million saints died from the hand of the Holy Roman Empire.

Islam claimed political power directly in all its territories. Islam continued its conquest in the East. Millions too have perished from the Islamic power.

The Ram (the spirit of the Leopard beast) is still present today but it does not any longer exercise the power and authority of a king over the world. It cannot force, condemn, kill as it did before. Still, many are still receiving the mark. This mark is a spiritual mark. As Jesus is marking his servants with the name of His Father, so too, is the devil marking his worshippers.

Many people are thinking that the Ram is still to come. They speak of a coming one world religion and government. They fail to realize that the Ram has already reigned and it is still here. The two horns may seem to differ but they are one. They are of one spirit manifesting in two different ways. Rev 16 speaks of "the spirit" of the false prophet and not "spirits" of the false Prophet. It is one false prophetic spirit ruling in two different ways. The two horns do not come to become one, rather they spring up from their oneness. The world is following the beast because of the voice of the false prophet. Islam and Roman Catholism is the worship of the devil (the dragon). The devil wants to be worshipped like God. He is getting many to bow before him instead of the LORD God. To follow the Ram is to follow its doctrines and teachings.

When the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved in the 18th century, Germany and Italy, the principal nations of the Empire retaliated. In 1915, Germany and Italy (the seat of Catholism) stimulated the First World War to regain its power but failed. Due to the disgraceful defeat in WW1, Germany supported by the Ottoman Empire (the Muslim empire) triggered again WW2 but they still suffered defeat. After the WW2, the European nations were gathering to talk on the possibility of becoming one with a memorandum of Association. They were afraid to be controlled by the US and other united powers. Most of the European nations were not willing to lose their sovereignty, so the Memorandum was never signed. Eventually, a different treaty was signed and in this treaty, the individual nations still retained their autonomy. This treaty gave birth to the EU. The EU was born on the 3/11/2009. The Germans principally control the EU. The Holy Roman Empire (alliance between religion and government) is still among us even though it is no longer king.

In the Middle East, we have the Arab league wherein membership is according to the Muslim culture rather than geography. Currently in the world, the Arab league and the EU are the only union of nations apart from the UN.

The Roman Catholic Church is a false prophet. It is deceiving people to worship a false god. Roman Catholism does not follow the teachings of Christ rather it follows its dogmas. The pope claims blasphemous titles; the vicar of Christ, Holy Father, Bishop of Rome, His holiness, Supreme pastor, the rock, Father of kings, Governor of the world, Shepherd of the universal church, the infallible one etc.

Islam is a false prophet. It tells the world that Jesus is not the son of God and he never died on the cross. "Allah" is the title which the fallen proud Lucifer has taken for himself. Seeking to take the place of God, he calls himself "Allah" which means "the one true God". Islam refuses the teachings of the Jesus Christ. Their Allah is not the God of the Christians.

" _Many deceivers have gone out into the world, people who do not acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ who came in the flesh. They are impostors and antichrists. Take care of yourselves that you do not lose the fruit of your labors, but receive a perfect reward. Everyone who goes beyond and does not remain within the teaching of Christ does not have God. The one who remains in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your houses or even greet him. Even in greeting him you would become an accomplice in his wicked deeds" (2 John 1.7-11)._

The Seven Heads of the Dragon

Head 1: Lion (Babylon)

Head 2: Bear/Ram (Mede and Persia)

Head 3: He-goat/Leopard (Greece)

Head 4: Little horn beast (Seleucid Greece)

Head 5: The dragon

Head 6: The Leopard (Roman Empire)

Head 7: The Ram (Roman Catholism and Islam)

# THE MARK OF THE BEAST

There is need for shrewdness here: anyone clever may interpret the number of the beast: It is the number of a human being, the number 666 (Rev 13.18 New Jerusalem Bible).

The beast is identified with a man. "It is the number of a human being".

The beast was allowed to speak arrogant and blasphemous things, and it was given authority for 42 months (Rev. 13.5).

Nero was the first of the imperial authorities to persecute Christians. The persecution under Nero started in 64AD, and lasted until his death in June 68AD, which is about three and a half years or 42 months. Apollonius of Tyana records that Nero was called a "beast". He killed most of the apostles. John miraculously escaped from a boiling pot of oil and was later sent on exile to the island of Patmos where he wrote the book of Revelations. Per Suetonius, Nero had one boy named Sporus castrated, and then had sex with him as though he were a woman. Nero killed his wife and mother and beat his mistress to death. He started the great fire of Rome where thousands perished. His image was on every coin of the Roman Empire.

The beast is the Roman Empire. Its mark is the number of a person, the number 666. The mark of the Roman Empire is a man whose name is the number 666. The beast is an empire and at the same time it is a person.

What was commonly expressed in the ancient world during the domination of the Roman Empire is "Caesar is Rome and Rome is Caesar". This meant that a ruler and his empire were the same.

In the ancient world, there were no separate set of symbols representing number value. Letters of the alphabet carried numerical value. The 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet all had number value just as the 24 letters of the Greek alphabet each had a number equivalent.

The Greek version of the name and title transliterates into Hebrew as

 and yields a numerical value of 666, as shown:

Nro Qsr pronounced in Hebrew "Neron Kaisar"

In English language, this is pronounced as Nero Caesar.

Nero Caesar is the name with the number 666. He is the mark of the beast. All those who follow the false prophet (Roman Catholic and Islam) worship him and spiritually bear his mark (666) on their foreheads or hands.

# THE FIFTH SEAL

When the lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the word of God and the testimony they had given. They cried out in a loud voice, "Holy and true Sovereign, how long will it be before you judge and take revenge on those living on the earth who shed our blood?" Each of them was given a white robe. They were told to rest a little longer until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers was completed, who would be killed as they themselves had been: (Rev 6:9-11).

The souls under the altar are the souls of all the Christian martyrs killed during the Roman Empire (the Leopard beast) and the Holy Roman Empire (the Ram). These souls are crying to God for vengeance but they are told to wait for their fellow Christians martyrs who will soon join them. Even now, Christians are still being killed and persecuted under the false prophet. Islam Jihadist are slaying many Christians. The day of the Lord will come soon after the martyrdom of saints is complete.

The prayer of the saints beneath the altar brings the great day closer. That great and terrible day is described in the 6th seal and the 7th trumpet. The first four seals occur at once and then the 5th. The 6th and 7th seals are intertwined.

# THE FIRST FIVE TRUMPETS

# (Seventh Seal)

When the lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand in God's presence, and seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel came with a gold censer and stood at the altar. He was given a large quantity of incense to offer on the gold altar before the throne, along with the prayers of all the saints. The smoke from the incense and the prayers of the saints went up from the angel's hand to God. The angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it on the earth. Then there were peals of thunder, noises, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. The seven angels who had the seven trumpets got ready to blow them (Rev.8.1-6).

When the seventh seal is opened, the angels of God present the prayers of the saints of God on the altar which stood before the throne. The prayers of the saints bring the day of retribution closer. The angels get ready to sound the trumpets. These trumpets are warning signs to the earth of the soon return of Christ. The day of the Lord's return is a dreadful day.

The Lord's servants must first be marked out before the four angels of destruction execute the trumpets.

After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth. They were holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind could blow on the land, on the sea, or on any tree. I saw another angel coming from the east having the seal of the living God. He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been permitted to harm the land and sea, "Don't harm the land, the sea, or the trees until we have marked the servants of our God with a seal on their foreheads." I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000. Those who were sealed were from every tribe of Israel:12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad,12,000 from the tribe of Asher, 12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh,12,000 from the tribe of Simeon, 12,000 from the tribe of Levi, 12,000 from the tribe of Issachar,12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000 from the tribe of Joseph, and 12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed (Rev 7.1-8).

144000 servants of God from the new Israel are marked. The 144000 are taken from the twelve tribes of Israel. They are virgins and they have no stain. The new Israel is the entire body of Christ, the true Jews (Rev 2.8).

_Now it is not as though the word of God has failed._ _For not all Israelis truly belong to Israel, and not all of Abraham's descendants are his true descendants_ _. On the contrary, "It is through Isaac that descendants will be named for you." That is, it is not merely the children born through natural descent who were regarded as God's children, but it is the children born through the promise who were regarded as descendants (Romans 9.6-8)._

These 144000 are described as the first fruits of God (Rev. 14.4). The first fruits are gathered from the entire harvest. The word "fruits" or "crops" was often used by the Lord to refer to the saints gathered to life. The harvest of the saints began from the time the gospel was first preached (John 4.36) and it will end at the time of Jesus' return. The early harvest (the early church) contained some first fruits and the later harvest (the church at the hour Jesus' coming) will contain some first fruits. Some in the first harvest will be last fruits while some in the last harvest shall be first fruits. _"Many that are first shall become last and some that are last shall become first" (Mathew 19.16-20)._

These 144000 are form part of the bride of the Lamb (Rev 21). The bride is described as a city built on the twelve foundation stones of the twelve apostles, with twelve doors bearing the names of the twelve tribes of Israel and with a wall of 144,000 cubits high. The twelve apostles are part of the bride.

This 144000 is the church of Philadelphia. None among the 144000 will be affected by the disasters of the trumpets. None of them will suffer the great retribution, for they will be raptured (Rev. 3.10). Anyone of them present at that time of the trumpets will not be harmed by its disasters. They are protected from the trumpets and they will be raptured from facing the great and terrible day of the Lord.

FIRST TRUMPET

When the first angel blew his trumpet, hail and fire were mixed with blood and thrown on the earth. One-third of the earth was burned up, one-third of the trees was burned up, and all the green grass was burned up (Rev 8:7).

Fire and blood are symbols of war. The fire is linked to war weapons and blood to destroyed bodies. This trumpet is the sound of war. WW1 had a "scorched earth" policy where they would drop napalm and burn everything up. More than any war ever in the previous history of mankind, 8.3 million people were killed in this war. Trees and green plants were destroyed. The First World War occurred in 1915.

SECOND TRUMPET

When the second angel blew his trumpet, something like a huge mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea. One-third of the sea turned into blood, one-third of the creatures that were living in the sea died, and one-third of the ships was destroyed (Rev 8:8-9).

The fire, ships and sea may be linked to a battle fought at the sea. World war 2 had similar events of destroyed ships, mountain of fire, and destruction of sea life. The US hit Hiroshima-Japan. The bomb used has the picture of a mushroom cloud which looks like a burning mountain. Japan is an island out in the sea, so the mountain would seemed to be burning in the middle of the ocean. There is no exact number of sea creatures destroyed from the explosion and the resulting radiation but there is an exact number of destroyed ships. A total of 36, 387 out of 105,127 ships were destroyed. This is approximately one third of ships. With the millions of gallons of oil which leaked into the sea, much of marine life was destroyed. The Second World War occurred in 1945AD.

THIRD TRUMPET

When the third angel blew his trumpet, a huge star blazing like a torch fell from heaven. It fell on one-third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. One-third of the water turned into wormwood, and many people died from the water because it had turned bitter (Rev. 8.10-11).

A nuclear reactor in Russia called Chernobyl (wormwood in Russian language) blew up in 1986. Its explosion sent nuclear radiation up one mile into the atmosphere. From a couple of miles away, the fire looked like a big lamp, 10 times as much as the radiation released at Hiroshima bombing. The nuclear fire in the sky lasted for three weeks. The radiation cloud moved across Sweden, Italy, and Great Britain and all the way to East coast of America. It rained heavily incessantly for 5 days such that the water flowed into the rivers and the rivers was contaminated all the way to Europe. The radiation infected an estimate of two million people. The waters were made bitter and as such many died from it. The number of deaths and kind of diseases that erupted because of this radiation is not known.

FOURTH TRUMPET

When the fourth angel blew his trumpet, one-third of the sun, one-third of the moon, and one-third of the stars were struck so that one-third of them turned dark. One-third of the day was kept from having light, as was the night (Rev. 8.12).

In the year 2004, hundreds of instruments around the world recorded a drop in sunshine reaching the surface of earth from the late 1950's to early 90's. Satellite measurements show that the sun remains as bright as ever, but that less and less sunlight has been making it through the atmosphere to the ground.

THE FIFTH TRUMPET

_When the fifth angel blew his trumpet, I saw a star that had fallen to earth from the sky. The star was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. It opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and smoke came out of the shaft like the smoke from a large furnace. The sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. Locusts came out of the smoke onto the earth, and they were given power like that of earthly scorpions. They were told not to harm the grass on the earth, any green plant, or any tree. They could harm only the people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were not allowed to kill them, but were only allowed to torture them for five months. Their torture was like the pain of a scorpion when it stings someone. In those days people will seek death, but never find it. They will long to die, but death will escape them. The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were victor's crowns that looked like gold, and their faces were like human faces. They had hair like women's hair and teeth like lions' teeth. They had breastplates like iron, and the noise of their wings was like the roar of chariots with many horses rushing into battle. They had tails and stingers like scorpions, and they had the power to hurt people with their tails for five months. They had the angel of the bottomless pit ruling over them as king. In Hebrew he is called Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon. The first catastrophe is over. After these things there are still two more catastrophes to come (Rev. 9.1-12)._

The shapes of the locusts were like horses prepared for battle. The sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running for battle. The word "battle" is an indication of war.

This trumpet may be the Gulf war of 1991.

The _"smoke of a large furnace"_ as well as the " _sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft_ " may be linked to the Iraq bombing of Kuwait. For three months, Kuwaitis could not see the sunlight because of massive oil well fires set by Saddam Hussein's military strikes.

The _"Locust_ s" could be the military helicopters used during the war.

" _They were told not to harm the grass on the earth, any green plant, or any tree. They could harm only the people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads":_ The war was fought in the desert. In the desert of Iraq, there is no Green thing, and no Green trees. The Iraqi forces are almost 100% Muslims. There was only a little chance of finding a Christian in their midst or anyone who had the seal of God.

" _They were not allowed to kill them, but were only allowed to torture them"_ : The Coalition forces were careful not to target or damage civilian areas, unlike other wars such as WW1 & WW2.

" _Five months_ ": The Persian Gulf War or "Desert storm" took place between August 1990 and February 1991. George Bush issued the Executive order calling troops to a six months' period of service on November 12, 1990. On April 11, 1991, a cease-fire went into effect. The war was exactly five months.

" _Their torture was like the pain of a scorpion when it stings someone":_ The Military in the Gulf war used artillery ordinance using depleted uranium (BU) shells. Their bullets were radioactive. The depleted Uranium was used on the tips of the armor-piercing shells because it is denser than lead. It "self-sharpens" as it ignites and burns on impact. Consequently, these depleted Uranium shells produced an extraordinary amount of dangerous Shrapnel. The shrapnel that comes from these shells pierces like a razor-blade, and because of its radioactive nature, it stings like a scorpion.

" _In those days people will seek death, but never find it. They will long to die, but death will escape them":_ Reports and photos of the war showed entire battalions of Iraqi soldiers surrendering to Coalition forces. They were begging for their lives. They hated the war and wanted out of it.

" _They had the angel of the bottomless pit ruling over them as king. In Hebrew he is called Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon":_ The name Apollyon in Greek and Abaddon in Hebrew language means the _"destroyer"._ The name Saddam means "the destroyer". An elderly midwife who delivered Saddam Hussein, recounted the events of his birth. She recalled that Saddam's mother named him destroyer because she had such a difficult time delivering him. According to New York times (Oct 7, 2007), Saddam murdered about one million of his people, many with poison gas. He tortured, maimed and imprisoned countless more. His unprovoked invasion of Iran is estimated to have left another one million people dead. His seizure of Kuwait threw the Middle East into crises. More insidious was the psychological damage he inflicted on his own land. He created a nation of informants—friends on friends, circles within circles—making an entire population complicit on his rule.

# THE SIXTH TRUMPET

The sixth trumpet ushers in three prophetic events:

1. A war that kills one third of mankind (Rev. 9.13-21)

2. The Small scroll and the sealed thunder claps (Rev. 10)

3. The last beast and the two witnesses (Rev. 11.1-13)

The war that kills one third of mankind

When the sixth angel blew his trumpet, I heard a voice from the four horns of the gold altar in front of God. It told the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are held at the great Euphrates River." So the four angels who were ready for that hour, day, month, and year were released to kill one-third of humanity. The number of cavalry troops was 200,000,000. I heard how many there were. This was how I saw the horses in my vision: The riders wore breastplates that had the color of fire, sapphire, and sulfur. The heads of the horses were like lions' heads, and fire, smoke, and sulfur came out of their mouths. By these three plagues—the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur that came out of their mouths—one-third of humanity was killed. For the power of these horses is in their mouths and their tails. Their tails have heads like snakes, which they use to inflict pain. The rest of the people who survived these plagues did not repent from their evil actions or stop worshiping demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see, hear, or walk. They did not repent from their murders, their witchcraft, their sexual immorality, or their thefts (Rev. 9.13-21).

Since the ascension of Christ into heaven, there is no history of any event that killed one third of mankind. We are awaiting the sixth trumpet. It is yet to sound. The angels held bound at river Euphrates will soon be released. The river Euphrates flows through Asia, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and some Arab countries. These angels are being held around the Arab countries. Once they are released, they may strike from the Arab countries or elsewhere. Islam is instilling fear into the hearts of men through terrorist attacks. Islam has about 1.6 Billion adherents and about 400million "fundamentalists" (Jihadists or war-mongering types). The world population is made up of about 6 billion people. About two billion people or more (as the world's population is growing) will die from this war. This will be nothing compared to WW1 and WW2 wherein only about 60million maximum were killed in total.

The war will be fought using weapons of mass destruction; fire, smoke, and Sulphur. China, Russia, and North Korea, USA have nuclear weapons. North Korea is continuously increasing its nuclear capacity. The US is currently planning to increase its own nuclear power. A nuclear world war may come soon.

The small Scroll and the sealed seven thunder claps

Then I saw another powerful angel come down from heaven. He was dressed in a cloud, and there was a rainbow over his head. His face was like the sun, and his legs were like columns of fire. He held a small, opened scroll in his hand. Setting his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, he shouted in a loud voice as a lion roars. When he shouted, the seven thunders spoke with voices of their own. When the seven thunders spoke, I was going to write, but I heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and don't write it down." Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. He swore an oath by the one who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and everything in it, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it: "There will be no more delay. When the time approaches for the seventh angel to blow his trumpet, God's secret plan will be fulfilled, as he had announced to his servants, the prophets." Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, "Go and take the opened scroll from the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land." So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the small scroll. "Take it and eat it," he told me. "It will turn bitter in your stomach, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth." So I took the small scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, it turned bitter in my stomach. Then the seven thunders told me, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings" (Rev. 10).

A mighty angel held an opened small. The scroll contains secret information about some events that God will permit to occur. These events occur at the sound of each of the seven thunder claps. The thunder claps can only be known when they have occurred. The thunder claps indicate the closeness of the Lord's Day. The Lord's Day will begin with the seventh trumpet. Everyone will see the Lord appear in all His glory.

The two witnesses and the last beast

_Then I was given a stick like a measuring rod. I was told, "Stand up and measure the Temple of God and the altar, and count those who worship there. But don't measure the courtyard outside the Temple. Leave that out, because it is given to the nations, and they will trample the Holy City for 42 months. I will give my two witnesses who wear sackcloth the authority to prophesy for 1,260 days." These witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lamp stands standing in the presence of the Lord of the earth. And if anyone should want to hurt them, fire comes out of their mouths and burns up their enemies. If anyone wants to hurt them, he must be killed in this manner. These witnesses have authority to close the heavens in order to keep rain from falling while they are prophesying. They also have authority to turn bodies of water into blood and to strike the earth with any plague, as often as they desire. When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the bottomless pit will wage war against them, conquer them, and kill them. Their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some members of the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will look at their dead bodies and will not allow them to be placed in a tomb. Those living on earth will gloat over them, celebrate, and send gifts to each other, because these two prophets had tormented those living on earth. But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet. Those who watched them were terrified. Then the witnesses heard a loud voice from heaven calling to them, "Come up here!" So they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. At that moment a powerful earthquake struck. One-tenth of the city collapsed, 7,000 people were killed by the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second catastrophe is over. The third catastrophe is coming very soon (Rev. 11.1-13)._

Apostle John ate the small scroll. This was a symbolic gesture of the role of the two witnesses. They will speak God's word to all the nations. The two witnesses will prophesy to all mankind about the coming judgement and retribution. They will prophesy for three and a half years (1260days). The words of the two witnesses are bitter because they are words of judgement on the world. Mankind (including the outer court) will trample on (reject) the holy people of God for forty months (about three and a half years) because of their bitter words.

The sackcloth of the two witnesses shows their sorrow over the atrocities of the world and their unbelief. They will give the world many signs to activate their faith: stop the rains, turn water into blood, etc. but the world will refuse to believe and hate them. After they have prophesied for three and a half years, the beast from the abyss will kill them. Their bodies will lay in public for three and a half days. After three and a half days, the two witnesses will come back to life and before the eyes of all men, they will be caught up in the sky. There will be an earthquake that will kill 7000 people. Then immediately, the seventh trumpet will sound.

Who are the two witnesses?

The two witnesses are the Christians who worship God in spirit and truth. They are of the inner court. They are spiritual and not religious. God's spirit dwells in them. The outer court are religious Christians who do not live by the spirit of Christ. The two witnesses are, "the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth."

In Zech. 4:11-14, the two olive trees are described as the two anointed ones serving the Lord of the earth. These two anointed ones occupied the kingly, priestly, and/or prophetic offices. Prophet/Priest Samuel and king David were two anointed ones serving God on behalf of the people of Israel. Joshua and Zerubbabel were two anointed ones. In the OT, a tree is a symbol of man.

In this new covenant, Christ Jesus is the anointed one (Luke 4.18). He is the anointed head from whom oil flows to the body. His anointing flows to His church (Mathew 3.11). he made the church a line of kings and priests to serve God (Rev 5:8-12). In Rev 1:20, Jesus is walking among seven lamps (seven churches). The church of Christ is the two olive trees and to lampstand because they have the anointing of Jesus. Two is the number that makes up a church (Mathew 18:20; Mat 18:16). The two-member church have the power to bind and loose anything on the earth (Mat. 18.18-20). They bear witness to Jesus (John 15:26-27) The two witnesses refer to the faithful and spirit led Christians that will be on the earth at that appointed time.

In the old covenant, God always had his two witnesses on the earth. In the new covenant, the spirit led Christians are his two witnesses. His church will prophesy again with signs and wonders just at the verge of the second coming of Christ. They will perform far greater signs than the early church. Their deaths will seal their testimony for Jesus Christ. After the three and a half days of their corpses lying on the streets, they will come back to life, and just like Enoch, Moses, and Elijah, they will be taken into heaven while the whole world watches. Their departure brings in the Great day of the Lord which begins with the seventh trumpet.

The beast from the bottomless pit (the last and 8th head of the dragon)

_The beast that you saw existed once, but is no longer, and is going to crawl out of the bottomless pit and then proceed to its destruction. Those living on earth, whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, will be surprised when they see the beast because it was, is no longer, and will come again. This calls for a mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is sitting. They are also seven kings. Five of them have fallen, one is living, and the other has not yet come. When he comes, he must remain in power for a little while. The beast that was and is no longer is the eighth king, but it belongs with the seven kings and goes to its destruction. The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom. They will receive authority to rule as kings with the beast for one hour. They have one purpose: to give their power and authority to the beast. They will wage war against the lamb, but the lamb will conquer them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those who are called, chosen, and faithful are with him." (Rev. 17.8-14)._

In Rev 13, two beasts (the Leopard and the Ram) are revealed. These two beasts are described in Rev 17 as, "one is living" and "one has not yet come". The Leopard is the beast that "is living" and the Ram is the beast "that has not yet come" as at the time that apostle John received the revelation. The Leopard and the Ram rose from the sea but the beast described in chapter 17 is the beast that will come out from the bottomless pit only to go to perdition (Rev.20).

The beast from the bottomless pit has seven heads and ten horns. The beast itself is one of the seven heads and is going to be the eight. Out of the seven heads, "five of them are fallen, one is living and one has not yet come".

The beast has seven heads. The seven heads are seven beasts. The seven beasts are identifiable to the beast, of which he himself is one of the heads. In other words, there are seven kings who successively rule a kingdom owned by the king (the beast). The beast himself ruled as one of the seven and he is coming back to rule again as the eight. The beast was (is one of the five fallen kings), is no longer (is neither the Leopard nor Ram), and will come again (as the eight king). When he comes, he must remain only for a short while.

This beast with seven heads, of which he is one of the heads and will come again as the number 8th, is the dragon. When the dragon (the devil) comes as the 8th king, he will persecute the two witnesses and kill them. The ten horns on his heads are ten kings that will rise to power one hour with him for the war of Armageddon. He will be defeated in the war and chained in the bottomless pit. After 1000yrs, he will come out of the bottomless pit only to be thrown into the lake of fire (go to perdition). The dragon is the beast who empowers the other beasts. The eight heads of the dragon:

Babylon and the Beast

_Then one of the seven angels who held the seven bowls came and told me, "Come, I will show you how the notorious prostitute who sits on many waters will be judged. The kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and those living on earth became drunk with the wine of her immorality. "Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was controlled by blasphemy. It had seven heads and ten horns. The woman wore purple and scarlet clothes and was adorned with gold, gems, and pearls. In her hand she was holding a gold cup filled with detestable things and the impurities of her immorality. On her forehead was written a secret name: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND DETESTABLE THINGS OF THE EARTH. I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the witnesses to Jesus. I was very surprised when I saw her (Rev. 17.1-6)._

The angel also told me, "The bodies of water you saw, on which the prostitute is sitting, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. The ten horns and the beast you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her abandoned and naked. They will eat her flesh and burn her up with fire, for God has placed within them a desire to carry out his purpose by uniting to give their kingdom to the beast until God's words are fulfilled. The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth" (Rev.17.15-18)

The woman sitting on the beast is called Babylon the Great. She sits on the first seven heads of the beast. She is a great city and she rules over the kings of the earth. She is responsible for all the idolatrous practices of the earth.

In the book of Daniel, Babylon became a standing man of four kingdoms (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Seleucid Greece. The Romans conquered all the Grecian territories. Then the Holy Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire took power in all the territories of the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire or the Holy Roman Empire is still Babylon. The city of Babylon is Europe and Middle East (the territories of the Roman Empire) or better still, the city is Rome and Saudi-Arabia (the seat of the false prophet). Rome is in Europe and Saudi Arabia in the Middle East. They have corrupted the whole world by leading them to worship a false god

The dragon (the beast that is still to come from the abyss) will destroy her. Babylon does not sit on the 8th head (the beast from the abyss) but only on seven. God will cause the ten kings that will rise to power with the beast to hate her and burn her with fire. God will destroy her when he pours out his anger.

# THE DAY OF RETRIBUTION

# (The sixth seal and the seventh trumpet)

The day of retribution is the day of the Son of Man. The Lord Jesus spoke of this day:

_"Immediately after the troubles of those days, 'The sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of heaven will be shaken loose.' Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all 'the tribes of the land will mourn' when they see 'the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven' with power and great glory. He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to another" (Mat. 24. 29-31)._

The above verse reveals three prophetic events:

**The tribulation (trouble days):** in the preceding verses

**The sixth seal:** _Immediately after the troubles of those days_ **, t** _he sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of heaven will be shaken loose._

**The seventh trumpet:** _He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet blast and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to another_ **.**

Before the day of the Son of Man, there will be trouble times (wars, famine, plagues, persecution of the saints, false prophets etc.). Immediately after the trouble days, the events of the sixth seal will take place (the heavenly signs). Then after the sixth seal, the seventh trumpet will sound.

The sixth and the seventh trumpet are intertwined. They both relate to the day of retribution. The death of the two witnesses marks the end of the tribulation (days of trouble). The events of the sixth seal will occur immediately after the two witnesses are killed in the sixth trumpet. Then, the seventh trumpet comes next.

THE SIXTH SEAL

_Then I saw the lamb open the sixth seal. There was a powerful earthquake. The sun turned as black as sackcloth made of hair, and the full moon turned as red as blood. The stars in the sky fell to the earth like a fig tree drops its fruit when it is shaken by a strong wind. The sky vanished like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the important people, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and all the slaves and free people concealed themselves in caves and among the rocks in the mountains. They told the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to endure it?" (Rev. 6.12-17)._

The black sun and the red moon may refer to eclipse of the sun and the moon. The stars refer to the angels that will descend to the earth to gather the saints. When the sky will vanish away, the Son of Man will appear. These heavenly signs immediately follow the death of the two witnesses. Then the seventh trumpet quickly follows the sixth seal.

THE SEVENTH TRUMPET

_When the seventh angel blew his trumpet, there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The world's kingdom has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will rule forever and ever." Then the twenty-four elders who were sitting on their thrones in God's presence fell on their faces and worshiped God. They said, "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to rule. The nations were angry, but the time for your wrath has come. It is time for the dead to be judged—to reward your servants, the prophets, the saints, and all who fear your name, both unimportant and important, and to destroy those who destroy the earth." Then the Temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen inside his Temple. There were flashes of lightning, noises, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail (Rev. 11.15-19)._

This is the last trumpet. It will sound after the Lord Jesus Christ appears in the sky to gather his elect and punish the wicked. This trumpet ushers in some prophetic events:

**It marks the beginning of the millennial reign:** " _The world's kingdom has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will rule forever and ever." Then the twenty-four elders who were sitting on their thrones in God's presence fell on their faces and worshiped God. They said, "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to rule._

The Lord will return to take control of the earth. He and his army (the saints) will fight the war of Armageddon. The false prophet and the beast will be hurled into the lake of fire. The Lord and the saints will rule for 1000years.

**Judgement of the Righteous unto the reward of the saints and punishment of the wicked:** _It is time for the dead to be judged—to reward your servants, the prophets, the saints, and all who fear your name, both unimportant and important, and to destroy those who destroy the earth."_

The seventh trumpet signals judgement of the righteous who are dead. The righteous who are bad will be destroyed while the saints will be resurrected to life and given thrones of kingship. Fruitless believers will be cut off (John 15.2) and their names will be blotted out from the book of life (Revelation 3.5). All shall be rewarded according to the measure of their fruit. He who has, will be given more, and he who has not, even that which he thinks he has, will be taken away and given to the person who has.

The seventh trumpet ushers in five prophetic events: the rapture and the 1st resurrection, the seven bowls of anger, the wedding supper, the war of Armageddon, and the millennial reign are all events of the seventh trumpet.

The Rapture & The First Resurrection

_Not all of us will die, but all of us will be changed—in a moment, faster than an eye can blink,_ _at the sound of the last trumpet_ _. Indeed, that trumpet will sound, and then the dead will be raised never to decay, and we will be changed (1 Cor. 15.51-52)._

That's how it will be when the Son of Man comes. At that time two people will be in the field. One will be taken, and one will be left behind. Two women will be grinding grain at the mill. One will be taken, and one will be left behind (Mat. 24.40-41).

After these things I looked, and there was a crowd so large that no one was able to count it! They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language. They were standing in front of the throne and the lamb and were wearing white robes, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the lamb!" All the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell on their faces in front of the throne and worshiped God, saying, "Amen! Praise, glory, wisdom, thanks, honor, power, and strength be to our God forever and ever! Amen!"

"Who are these people wearing white robes," one of the elders asked me, "and where did they come from?" I told him, "Sir, you know." Then he told me, "These are the people who are coming out of the terrible suffering. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb. That is why: "They are in front of the throne of God and worship him night and day in his Temple. The one who sits on the throne will shelter them. They will never be hungry or thirsty again. Neither the sun nor its heat will ever beat down on them, because the lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to springs filled with the water of life, and God will wipe every tear from their eyes" (Rev. 7.1-17)

At the sound of the last trumpet, the dead saints will come to life and the living saints will be caught to the sky. They will put on immortality. Apostle John saw huge number of people in heaven. These are the resurrected and raptured saints. They are those who will come out of the great tribulation (trouble times). The 144000 saints will also be in this assemble of saints.

The seven vials of God's anger

The day of the Son of Man is the day the earth will be judged. This day will be like the day that Noah entered the Ark and the flood came. It will also be like the day of Lot, when he left Sodom and Gomorrah and the city was burnt down. In the parable of the importunate widow, the Lord Jesus assures to grant the saints justice on his return (Luke 18.3-8). The Lord wants the church not to lose faith. The wicked will not go unpunished.

As soon as the 144000 are assembled together with the multitude in heaven, an angel in heaven proclaims a message of judgement to mankind. The angel proclaims judgement on Babylon, the Beast and his image, and the followers on the beast. This judgement is executed with the six bowls of God's anger. After proclaiming this message, Heaven begins to rejoice. The multitude in heaven sings the song of Moses and of the Lamb to God. Then the seven angels get ready to pour the contents of the bowls on the earth (Rev. 14 & 15). The seven bowls of God's anger are God's judgement on Babylon, the Beast and on the worshippers of the beasts and the world (Rev. 16).

The marriage supper

_Then I heard what sounded like the voice of a large crowd, like the sound of raging waters, and like the sound of powerful thunderclaps, saying, "Hallelujah! The Lord our God, the Almighty, is reigning. Let us rejoice, be glad, and give him glory, because the marriage of the lamb has come and his bride has made herself ready. She has been given the privilege of wearing fine linen, dazzling and pure." (The fine linen represents the righteous deeds of the saints). Then the angel told me, "Write this: 'How blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the lamb!'" He also told me, "These are the true words of God (Rev. 19.6-9)._

There is going to be a marriage between Christ Jesus and his church (those who have been resurrected). They are the first fruits of the entire harvest. The marriage is a new perfect union, not like the one they had when they first believed. When the bride comes to the earth, the people of the earth will say: "Now God dwells among human beings" (Rev 21.1-3). She will radiate all the glory of God.

The battle of Armageddon

_Then I saw heaven standing open, and there was a white horse! Its rider is named Faithful and True. He administers justice and wages war righteously. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many royal crowns. He has a name written on him that nobody knows except himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. The armies of heaven, wearing fine linen, white and pure, follow him on white horses. A sharp sword comes out of his mouth to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod and tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and his thigh he has a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Then I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried out in a loud voice to all the birds flying overhead, "Come! Gather for the great supper of God. Eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of commanders, the flesh of warriors, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, both free and slaves, both unimportant and important." Then I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered to wage war against the rider on the horse and his army. The beast was captured, along with the false prophet who had performed signs on its behalf. By these signs the false prophet had deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. The rest were killed by the sword that belonged to the rider on the horse and that came from his mouth, and all the birds gorged themselves with their flesh._

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key to the bottomless pit, with a large chain in his hand. He captured the dragon, that ancient serpent, also known as the devil and Satan, and tied him up for a thousand years. He threw him into the bottomless pit, locked it, and sealed it over him to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were over. After that he must be set free for a little while (Rev.19.11-21; 20. 1-3).

This is the battle of Gog and Magog. The battle is between Christ Jesus (Word of God) with His army (the saints) and the beasts (the dragon, the Leopard, and the false Prophet) with the kings of the earth. Gog is the Dragon and Magog are the kings of the earth. Prophet Ezekiel prophesied the destruction of Gog and Magog in his time. Gog is the prince of the people, while Magog is the people (Ezekiel 39.1, 4, 17-20).

The Lord Jesus and the saints will win the battle. The Leopard and the false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire burning with brimstone while Satan (the dragon) will be bound in the bottomless pit with a great chain for 1000years. The Lord Jesus will use the sword in his mouth and slay all the kings of the earth and their army.

Reward of the resurrected saints and the millennial reign

_Then I saw thrones, and those who sat on them were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. They came back to life and ruled with the Messiah for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years were over. This is the first resurrection. How blessed and holy are those who participate in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them. They will be priests of God and the Messiah, and will rule with him for a thousand years (Rev 20:4-6)._

Christ Jesus and resurrected saints will rule the earth for 1000 years. After the death of the kings of the earth, the saints will reign over the remaining inhabitants of the earth. The reign of Christ does not necessarily mean the end of man's sinful nature. Sin will not be completely dealt away with, for men will still be in the flesh. Rather, sin will no longer be a universal power, for the flesh will no longer be seduced by Satan. He will no longer be, "the god and prince of the world" nor "will the world lie in the wicked one". The flesh will become ever more isolated and be overcome. The millennial reign will be a foretaste of the new world that is to come (Rev 20:4).

# THE FINAL EVENTS

The final events are events after the millennial reign. There are four prophetic events:

\--The attempted 2nd battle of Armageddon

\--The end of the world & the judgement of the dead

\--The second resurrection and the second death

\--The new world and new Jerusalem

The second battle of Armageddon and final defeat of the devil

After 1000 years are over, the devil will be released from his chains. He will gather an army as vast as the sand of the sea to make war on the saints (the holy city). There really won't be any war, for God will rain fire from heaven and burn them up. The devil will be thrown into the lake of fire (Rev. 20.7-10).

Now by that same word, the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire and are being kept for the day when ungodly people will be judged and destroyed (2 Peter. 3.7).

The end of the world, the judgement of the dead, the second Death & second resurrection.

Then I saw a large, white throne and the one who was sitting on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. I saw the dead, both unimportant and important, standing in front of the throne, and books were open. Another book was opened—the Book of Life. The dead were judged according to their actions, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and all were judged according to their actions. Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. (This is the second death—the lake of fire). Anyone whose name was not found written in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire (Rev. 20.11-15).

This is the last judgement of the dead. Every dead person who had lived since the foundation of the world will stand before the judgement throne except those who had already been resurrected. Everyone will be judged by his works. Those who died before the coming of Christ will be judged by their works. Those who did not get to hear the good news of salvation, will be judged by their works. Those who lived after his second return will be judged by their works. All mankind have knowledge of good and evil and thus, all shall be judged by their choice to do good or bad. Those with good works have their names in the Lamb's Book of Life. The judgement will be a simple one; if your name is not found in the book of life, you are thrown into the lake of fire where Satan, the beast and the false prophet already are. The second death is the death of the soul.

All those who have their names in the book of life will be resurrected to inhabit the new earth and new heaven. Those whose names are not found in the book of life will be thrown in the lake of fire. The lord Jesus spoke of this judgement in John 5.26-29.

New earth and new heaven

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, because the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared, and the sea was gone (Rev 21:1).

The old earth and heaven will vanish away and a new earth and a new heaven will take its place (2 Peter 3.13). God will live among the people of the earth. He shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: there will be no more deaths, and no more mourning or sadness or pain. The world of the past will be gone.

The new earth will be different from the old one;

\--There will be no marriage (Mathew 22.30)

\--There will be no seas (Rev 21.1)

\--In the new Jerusalem, there will be no night; it will be all day. There will be no need for the sun, for God's glory will be a shining light (Rev 22.5).

\--There will be no more death, pain, weeping or sufferings

New Jerusalem

I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband (Rev 21.2).

He carried me away in the Spirit to a large, high mountain and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven. The glory of God was its radiance, and its light was like a valuable gem, like jasper, as clear as crystal (Rev 21.10-11).

It had twelve gates and over the gates was written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. The city walls stood on 12 foundation stones, each one of which bore the name of one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. The radiant glory of God was light to the whole city. Thus, the city did not need moon or sunlight. The inhabitants of the earth will come to its light and the kings of the earth will bring it their treasures. Nothing unclean will enter therein, only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life and were resurrected. The throne of God will be in the city and God's servant will worship him and see him face to face. Rev 21 & 22

New Jerusalem is described as a bride and then as a city with walls and gates. The New Jerusalem is a people, the saints of God. The saints are the bride and they make up the holy city. They will become God's temple. The bride of Christ will bring to the earth the full glory of God. People will say, "now God dwells among human beings". The New Jerusalem is completely different from the old Jerusalem.

# TIMELINE OF EVENTS OF THE LAST DAYS

**1-** The dragon and the birth of Christ

**2-** The defeat of the dragon on the cross and in heaven.

**3-** The first seal: the white horse killing through wild beasts

**4-** The second seal: The red horse killing through sword

**5-** The third seal: The black horse killing by famine

**6-** The fourth seal: The grey horse killing by plagues

**7-** The Leopard (The Roman Empire) and the Ram (The Holy Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire) working for the dragon

**8-** The death of the saints (30- 1700AD)

**9-** The fifth seal: the dead saints (though alive) cry to God to avenge their death. But God tells them to wait for the other martyrs.

**10-** The first five trumpets. Before the trumpets sound, God's servants are marked.

The first trumpet- WW1 in 1915

The second trumpet-WW2 in 1945

The third trumpet-Russian Chernobyl disaster in 1985

The fourth trumpet-light of the sun is darkened in early 90s

The fifth trumpet- may be the gulf war in 1991

**11-** The Sixth trumpet- We are awaiting this trumpet. The events include;

\--One third of mankind to be killed by war

\--The small open scroll and the seven thunder claps

\--The two witnesses and the last beast

**12-** The sixth Seal: The sign of God's wrath (the red moon, the dark sun, and the fallen stars) is showed to the earth.

**13-** The Seventh trumpet:

\--Judgement of the righteous, the rapture and the first resurrection. Millions of saints are seen in heaven including the 144000. They had come out of the great tribulation.

\--The seven bowls of God's anger

\--The wedding supper

\--The war of Armageddon

\--The reward of the saints and the beginning of the millennial reign

19-Final Events after the millennial reign:

\--The attempted second battle of Armageddon and the defeat of the dragon

\--The old earth and old heaven vanishes away

\--The judgement of the dead, the second resurrection and second death

\--The new earth and new heaven

\--The New Jerusalem

CHAPTER THREE

LUKE 21 & MATHEW 24

Luke 21 and Mathew 24 recounts the events of the last days. The Lord Jesus spoke to his disciples about future events that would occur until the time of his return: There would be trouble times (the tribulation) between his departure and return. During this tribulation period, the church would suffer and perilous times would come upon the earth. The end time accounts of Luke and Mathew slightly vary. To completely understand the words of Christ, both chapters should be looked at simultaneously.

_Luke 21_.5-7: _Now while some people were talking about the Temple—how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God—he said, "As for these things that you see, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another that will not be knocked down." Then they asked him, "Teacher, when will these things take place, and what will be the sign that these things_ _are about to take place?_

_Mathew 24.1-3:_ _As Jesus left the Temple and was walking away, his disciples came up to him to point out to him the Temple buildings. But he told them, "You see all these things, don't you? I tell you with certainty, there isn't a single stone here that will be left standing on top of another. They will all be torn down." While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately and said, "Tell us, when will these things take place, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"_

The disciples wanted to know when the temple would be destroyed and what would be the signs of his second coming and the end of the world. In the subsequent verses, the Lord Jesus addresses these three questions.

Luke 21:8-19: He said, "Be careful that you are not deceived, because many will come in my name and say, 'I AM' and 'The time has come.' Don't follow them. When you hear of wars and revolutions, never be alarmed, because these sort of things must take place first, but the end won't come right away." Then he went on to say to them, "Nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes and famines and plagues in various places, and there will be fearful events and awful signs from heaven."

"But before all these things take place, people will arrest you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. It will give you an opportunity to testify. So purpose in your hearts not to prepare your defense ahead of time, because I will give you the ability to speak, along with wisdom, that none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. "You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated continuously by everyone because of my name. And yet not a hair on your head will be lost. By your endurance you will protect your lives."

Mat 24:4-13: Jesus answered them, "See to it that no one deceives you, because many will come in my name and say, 'I am the Messiah,' and they will deceive many people. You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See to it that you are not alarmed. These things must take place, but the end hasn't come yet, because nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are only the beginning of the birth pains." "Then they will hand you over to suffer and will kill you, and you will be hated by all the nations because of my name. Then many people will fall away, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people, and because lawlessness will increase, the love of many people will grow cold. But the person who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

The above verses foretell the signs of the end of the world and the fate of the disciples after the Lord's departure.

False Messiahs and false teachers would appear and deceive many. The Gnostics arose strongly during the time of the early church. The Zealots also believed to usher in the coming messiah. There are wars and various calamities on the earth but the world has not ended yet. Nations are fighting other nations. There are earthquakes, famines, plagues since the departure of Christ.

Before the above signs happen, the disciples would be persecuted, judged, and imprisoned for the sake of Christ. They would be betrayed by Parents, brothers, sisters, and friends. Many of the early church saints remained faithful even in the face of death. The apostles were persecuted from 32 to 70AD by the first emperors of Roman Empire. The persecution of the entire church started with great persecution of Nero Caesar.

Luke 21:20-24: "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then understand that its devastation is approaching. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains, those inside the city must leave it, and those in the countryside must not go into it, because these are the days of vengeance when all that is written will be fulfilled. "How terrible it will be for those women who are pregnant or who are nursing babies in those days! Because there will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be carried off as captives among all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the gentiles until the times of the gentiles are fulfilled."

Mat 24:14-28: "So when you see the destructive desecration, mentioned by the prophet Daniel, standing in the Holy Place (let the reader take note), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Anyone who's on the housetop must not come down to get what is in his house, and anyone who's in the field must not turn back to get his coat. "How terrible it will be for women who are pregnant or who are nursing babies in those days! Pray that it may not be in winter or on a Sabbath when you flee, because at that time there will be great suffering, the kind that has not happened from the beginning of the world until now and certainly will never happen again. If those days had not been limited, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be limited. "At that time, if anyone says to you, 'Look! Here is the Messiah!' or 'There he is!', don't believe it, because false messiahs and false prophets will appear and display great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Remember, I have told you this beforehand. So if they say to you, 'Look! He's in the wilderness,' don't go out looking for him. And if they say, 'Look! He's in the storeroom,' don't believe it, because just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever there's a corpse, there the vultures will gather.

The above verses predict the destruction of Jerusalem and the perilous times of the last days.

Jerusalem would be surrounded by an army (the abomination of desolation of Mathew) and the city would be destroyed. Titus besieged Jerusalem in 67AD for 3years. The city was destroyed in 70AD. During this time, Jewish people were tortured and forced to surrender to Nero's government.

This period was a period of God's retribution on Israel for rejecting their messiah (Luke 11.49-51). Many were killed by the sword and several ran off to other nations.

Mathew recounts the time of trouble that would befall the whole earth. Ever since the ascension of Christ, the world is having hard times. There are wars, earthquakes, wind disasters, famine, plagues, new kind of diseases, ship wrecks, airplane crash, terrorist attacks, gun shots, poisonous gases, poisoned waters, poverty. All kinds of calamities are reported on the news every day. False teachers are deceiving many and they shall abound at the verge of Christs' return.

Luke 21.25-27: "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and there will be distress on earth among the nations that are confused by the roaring of the sea and its waves. People will faint from fear and apprehension because of the things that are to come on the inhabited world, because the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory.

Mat 24.29-31: "Immediately after the troubles of those days, 'The sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of heaven will be shaken loose.' Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all 'the tribes of the land will mourn' when they see 'the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven' with power and great glory. He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to another."

After the time of trouble (tribulation), there will be signs in the heavens: the sun, moon and stars. The people of the earth will be in anguish. People will faint with fear for the forces of the universe will be shaken. Then, the Son of Man will appear in the clouds in all his glory.

Luke 21.28-31: "Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your deliverance is approaching." Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees. As soon as they produce leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. In the same way, when you see these things taking place, you will know that the kingdom of God is near.

_Mat 24.32:"Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches become tender and it produces leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, you will know that the Son of Man is near, right at the door_.

We must watch out for all the signs that he has given us as watch the fig tree and its season. Then, we will know when he is at the door.

Luke 21.32:"I tell you with certainty, this generation will not disappear until all these things take place.

Mat 24.33: I tell you with certainty, this generation will not disappear until these things happen.

The generation of the apostles would not pass away until Jerusalem is besieged and the time of trouble comes upon the whole world.

Luke 21.33-36: Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear." "Constantly be on your guard so that your hearts will not be loaded down with self-indulgence, drunkenness, and the worries of this life, or that day will take you by surprise like a trap, because it will come on everyone who lives on the face of the earth. So be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place and to take your stand in the presence of the Son of Man.

Mat 24.34-43: Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear." "No one knows when that day or hour will come—not the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father, because just as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be when the Son of Man comes. In those days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage right up to the day when Noah went into the ark. They were unaware of what was happening until the flood came and swept all of them away. That's how it will be when the Son of Man comes. At that time two people will be in the field. One will be taken, and one will be left behind. Two women will be grinding grain at the mill. One will be taken, and one will be left behind. "So keep on watching, because you don't know on what day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this: if the owner of the house had known when during the night the thief would be coming, he would have stayed awake and not allowed his house to be broken into. So you, too, must be ready, because at an hour you are not expecting him the Son of Man will come.

At the end of all things, the present heaven and earth will pass away but every word which the Lord has spoken must be fulfilled. The Lord admonishes everyone not to care much for self-pleasure, drunkenness, and the problems of this life, lest they are distracted. The day of his second coming is judgement for the world just as it was in the days of Noah and Lot.
CHAPTER FOUR

THE SEVEN CHURCHES

# APOSTLE JOHN'S VISION OF THE SON OF MAN

I am John, your brother and partner in the oppression, kingdom, and patience that comes because of Jesus. I was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus.

I came to be in the Spirit on the Day of the Lord, when I heard a loud voice behind me like a trumpet, saying, "Write on a scroll what you see, and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea." Then I turned to see who was talking to me, and when I turned I saw seven gold lamp stands. Among the lamp stands there was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash around his chest. His head and his hair were white like wool, in fact, as white as snow. His eyes were like flames of fire, his feet were like glowing bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of raging waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp, two-edged sword. His face was like the sun when it shines with full force.

When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. But he placed his right hand on me and said, "Stop being afraid! I am the first and the last, the living one. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever! I have the keys of Death and Hades. Therefore, write down what you have seen, what is, and what is going to happen after this. The secret meaning of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven gold lamp stands is this: the seven stars are the messengers of the seven churches, and the seven lamp stands are the seven churches" (Rev. 1.9-20).

The Lord Jesus appeared to Apostle John and gave him messages for each of the seven churches. The seven churches are called: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. These seven churches are all the believers of Christ Jesus on the earth from the time of the departure of the Lord till his return. The universal church of Christ is spiritually divided into these seven assemblies. These seven churches are named after seven local churches that existed at the time of John because these seven local churches were in the seven spiritual conditions that the Lord wanted to address in his letters.

The Lord is walking amongst seven golden lampstands. These seven lampstands are the seven churches. The Lord Jesus does not walk only amongst the seven local churches. He is walking amidst all his churches. There were many other local churches during the early church days; the church at Antioch, the church at Jerusalem, the church at Corinth, the church at Philippi etc. The seven local churches and all the other local churches make up the seven churches. All the servants of the Lord Jesus are entitled to know the future (Rev 1.1).

The names of the gates of the new city of Israel are: Judah, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin. The names of the twelve foundation stones of the new city are the names of the twelve apostles. Spiritual things are named after earthly realities. The fact that the names of the local churches are used does not mean that they are the sole constituents of the Seven churches.

Each believer belongs to at least one of these churches. Membership in a church depends on the spiritual state of the believer. The Lord is addressing each believer based on his/her spiritual state. To some churches, he demands repentance without which they will be cast out. To another, he encourages their persevering obedience.

The Lord addresses his words to the messenger of each church. These messengers are the servants of the Lord who feed his flock. In the book of Daniel, the anointed ones (prophets, kings, and teachers of the law) were identified as stars. These messengers are not the pastors/overseers of today's institutionalized churches. The messengers (the seven stars) are God's servants whom he personally called into service to speak his word to his seven churches.

Who is the Church?

The church is two or more believers who are one in heart and mind and are in total submission to Christ (the Head). In other words, the members of the body are jointly knit together in oneness under the Head, Christ.

A member of the body of Christ (church) should be a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus unto repentance and holiness. When two of these believers meet, Christ Jesus is in their midst. Whatever these two bind on earth, is also bound in heaven.

The true church of God is united in heart and mind and are bonded by their selfless love for one another and their sole submission to Christ as head. They are not one because they meet in a building/house. They are one because of their faith and love. The early church was a church because they were one in heart, spirit, and mind. Filling up buildings on Sundays and trying to create a oneness on that Sunday does not make it God's church. Until two people learn to carry one another's burden and share in the other's life in a spirit of love and are in total submission to the Headship of Christ, they are yet to become the church (the body). We must be wise to differentiate between the sheep and the goats. The goats claim to belong to the shepherd but they always go their own way.

If a member of the body of Christ is in need, his fellow brother goes as far as selling his property to meet the need of his needy fellow brother in the faith. The early church lived in this way. No one was in need among them because they sold their properties and distributed as they each needed.

# THE LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES

To the messenger of the church in Ephesus

"To the messenger of the church in Ephesus, write: 'The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lamp stands, says this: 'I know what you've been doing, your toil, and your endurance. I also know that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles, but are not, and have found them to be false. You have endured and suffered because of my name, yet you have not grown weary. However, I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. Therefore, remember how far you have fallen. Repent and go back to what you were doing at first. If you don't, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place—unless you repent. But this is to your credit: You hate the actions of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 'Let everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To everyone who conquers I will give the privilege of eating from the tree of life that is in God's paradise '"(Rev. 2.1-7).

The Lord commended the Christians in Ephesus for enduring hardship in his name. They do not tolerate evil people and they hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans. The Lord has one thing against them: they have left their first love. They no longer do the things they did before. The Lord is calling on them to repent, if not, he will take away their lampstand. Anyone who overcomes shall eat of the tree of life.

The good works that Christians do is light to the world. When the world sees their good works, they give glory to the Heavenly Father. The good works are the evidence of our love for God. If we do them wholeheartedly, we obey the first commandment. Loving people, helping the poor, enduring hardship, staying faithful, serving in the kingdom of God (preaching the good news to the poor, teaching people the truth, binding the broken hearted, healing the sick, and setting captives free), etc., are all good deeds. They Lord wants us to abound in them.

Any believer who, previously, has been doing these good deeds but is no longer doing them as before, is in the church of Ephesus. The Lord is calling him/her to repent and do again his first works. If he does not repent, the Lord will take away the Holy Spirit from him. If he is victorious, he will eat of the tree of life which is in God's paradise. The Lord walks amongst the seven golden lampstands. He has the power to take away any lampstand at any time.

The name "Nicolaitans" is derived from the Greek word _Nikolaos_ , a compound of the words _Nikos_ and _Laos_. The word _Nikos_ is the Greek word that means _to conquer_ or _to subdue_. The word _Laos_ is the Greek word for _the people (laity)_. _Nicholas_ literally means _one who conquers and subdues the people_. It may be a reference to the clergy/laity system that we see in today denominationalized "churches".

Irenaeus and Hippolytus, two leaders in the Early Church who recorded many of the events that occurred in the early days of Church, identifies the Nicolaitans as followers of Nicolas, one of the seven chosen deacons in Acts 6, and as men who "lead lives of unrestrained indulgence". He also relates them to Gnosticism.

The Nicolaitans taught people that the law was no longer binding on Christians and thus no Christian act can be regarded as sin. It reckoned the truth of righteousness; but believed the error that a mere intellectual "belief" in this truth had a saving power.

Nicolaitans of the 2nd century seem to have continued and extended the views of the 1st century adherents, holding to the freedom of the flesh and sin, and teaching that the deeds of the flesh had no effect upon the health of the soul and consequently no relation to salvation ("Theopedia, An encyclopedia of Biblical Christianity").

Today, the Nicolaitans doctrine is taught almost everywhere. False teachers teach that the gospel of Christ has cancelled God's law: that by "believing" we are released from the necessity of being doers of the Word. Christians are taught that they do not sin and that their past, present and future sins have been paid by the blood of Christ and as such they do not even need to ask for forgiveness of their sins. They are even taught that once they believe in Christ Jesus at conversion, they will go to heaven, no matter the kind of life they live. This is the Nicolaitans teaching which the Lord hates.

If we walk after the flesh and not after the spirit, we shall surely die (Romans 8.1-13) Believers who practice fleshly habits will not inherit eternal life (Galatians 5.13-26). Every fruitless branch shall be cut off (John 15.1-2). The dead shall be judged by their works (Rev 20.12). We are commanded to live holy lives (1 Peter 1. 13-21; Heb. 12.10; 2 Corinthians 7.1). The grace of God is not given to continue in sin but to purify oneself from sin. One who has truly received grace is one who no longer sins. Not sinning is the fruit of grace.

To the messenger of the church in Smyrna

"To the messenger of the church in Smyrna, write: 'The first and the last, who was dead and became alive, says this: 'I know your suffering and your poverty—though you are rich—and the slander committed by those who claim to be Jews but are not. They are the synagogue of Satan. Don't be afraid of what you are going to suffer. Look! The devil is going to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested. For ten days you will undergo suffering. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the victor's crown of life. 'Let everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will never be hurt by the second death'" (Rev.2.8-11).

The Christians in the Smyrna church are poor in earthly goods (though they are spiritually rich) and they have suffered because of their faith in the Lord. The Smyrna church is under persecution from sinners and false Christians. The persecution would get tougher because some of them would be thrown into prison. The Lord calls on these Christians to endure persecution and not give up. Anyone who is faithful to death will be given the crown of life and be spared from the second death.

The early Christians suffered severe persecutions from the Roman Empire. Today, some Christians, though few, are still suffering from tough persecution. Christians in the Middle East are suffering severe persecutions from the Islamists. The two witnesses will suffer great persecution under the last beast.

If any believer is going through tough persecution, the Lord is calling on him to endure even in death. If he proves victorious, he shall be spared from the second death and given a crown of life.

The Lord was dead but is now alive. Those who die in faith will also live.

To the messenger of the church in Pergamum

"To the messenger of the church in Pergamum, write: 'The one who holds the sharp, two-edged sword, says this: 'I know where you live. Satan's throne is there. Yet you hold on to my name and have not denied your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was killed in your presence, where Satan lives. But I have a few things against you: You have there some who hold to the teaching of Balaam, the one who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the people of Israel so that they would eat food sacrificed to idols and practice immorality. You also have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. So repent. If you don't, I will come to you quickly and wage war against them with the sword of my mouth. 'Let everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone. On the white stone is written a new name that no one knows except the person who receives it'" (Rev. 2.12-17).

Pergamum was an influential city in the Roman Empire. It was a political Centre in Asia Minor. The city had three temples dedicated to the worship of the Roman emperor, another for the goddess Athena, and the Great Altar of Zeus, the king of the Greek gods. The people of Pergamum worshipped a myriad of Greek and Roman gods. When Christianity arrived with the belief in just one God, the city's pagan priests attacked them and their most famous victim was Antipas.

Jesus called Antipas "my faithful martyr". He was the bishop of Pergamum, ordained by the Apostle John, and his faith got the attention of the priests of Asclepios. Antipas was sentenced to death on the Altar of Zeus for rejecting the divinity of the emperor of Rome.

Christians in Pergamum are Christians who live in areas where Satan's throne is. Satan's kingdom is the Roman Empire and his throne is in Rome and Saudi Arabia or all other areas dominated by Roman Catholism, Islam and Nicolaitans. Christians living in such places may fear or hesitate to stand for the truth for fear of public rejection or of dying as Antipas. The Lord is calling forth on all the Christians in such areas to stay away from the deadly idolatrous doctrines (eating food sacrificed to idols). If not, he will wage war on them and kill them with the sword in his mouth. The Lord holds the sharp two-edged sword and he will kill every false person in his house.

To the messenger of the church in Thyatira

"To the messenger of the church in Thyatira, write: 'The Son of God, whose eyes are like flaming fire and whose feet are like glowing bronze, says this: 'I know what you've been doing—your love, faithfulness, service, and endurance—and that your last actions are greater than the first.

But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet and who teaches and leads my servants to practice immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refused to repent of her immorality. Look! I am going to strike her with illness. Those who commit adultery with her will also suffer greatly, unless they repent from acting like her. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts. I will reward each of you as your actions deserve. 'But as for the rest of you in Thyatira—you who do not hold to this teaching and who have not learned what some people call the deep things of Satan—I won't burden you with anything else. Just hold on to what you have until I come. To the person who conquers and continues to do what I've commanded to the end, I will give authority over the nations. 'He will rule them with an iron scepter; shattering them like clay pots.' 'Just as I have received authority from my Father, I will also give him the morning star. 'Let everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches'" (Rev. 2.18-29).

The church of Thyatira is doing great works for the Lord. Their works are greater than the first. The Lord commends them for this. But the Lord has a complaint against them. Some of them are into idolatry. The woman Jezebel represents false churches led by false teachers who teach errors. These false teachers lead many to worship another spirit instead of the spirit of God.

Mammon worship is practiced in many "churches" today. The mammon teachers abound in our time. These false teachers equate mammon to spiritual fruitfulness. Instead of teaching the life of self-denial, these false teachers teach people how to acquire all the comforts of this life. They highly esteem money and lead people to devote their whole live to make money instead of devoting their lives to God. Greed is the sin of Idolatry (Col.3.5).

These harlot churches have "spiritual fathers" and "spiritual mothers" that are idolized. These "spiritual fathers" are praised and looked up to instead of God. We have only one Father in Heaven and one master, the Christ (Mathew 23.9). He is the Father of all spirits (Heb. 12.9).

There are churches today who are doing great works for the Lord but they accept the false teachings of Jezebel. The sin of idolatry is punishable by death and it overrides all other good works. The Lord has already condemned the Jezebel church because she will never repent of her idolatry. These false teachers will never repent because they belong to the devil. She has been condemned and so are her children (the followers of the false teachers). Anyone who is in the church of Jezebel should come out of her if he hopes to see life. The Lord will reward faithful Christians (Christians who have refused to follow her teachings) when he returns. The Lord Jesus is the son of God and he will give the faithful Christians the authority to rule the nations of the earth.

To the messenger of the church in Sardis

"To the messenger of the church in Sardis, write: 'The one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says this: 'I know what you've been doing. You are known for being alive, but you are dead. Be alert, and strengthen the things that are left, which are about to die. I note that your actions are incomplete before my God. So remember what you received and heard. Obey it, and repent. If you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you won't know the time when I will come to you. But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me in white clothes because they are worthy. The person who conquers in this way will wear white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the Book of Life. I will acknowledge his name in the presence of my Father and his angels. 'Let everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches'" (Rev. 3.1-6).

The Christians in Sardis are asleep. Unlike the other above churches, the church in Sardis is not working at all, and the little work which they have done is crumbling. These Christians are not doing the good deeds for which they were created in Christ. Their light is not shining.

The Lord is calling the sleeping Christians to wake up and strengthen that which is about to die. If they continue to sleep, the master will arrive at a time that they are not ready. If the Lord meets them sleeping, they will not be raptured. They must let their light to shine and do good (Ephesians 2.10; Titus 3.14).

If you are a Christian who is not doing good deeds, you will be left behind. The victorious Christian will be dressed in a white garment (the white garment of good deeds of the saints, Rev 19.8).

To the messenger of the church in Philadelphia

"To the messenger of the church in Philadelphia, write: 'The one who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens a door that no one can shut, and who shuts a door that no one can open, 'says this: 'I know what you've been doing. Look! I have put in front of you an open door that no one can shut. You have only a little strength, but you have obeyed my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who belong to the synagogue of Satan—those who claim to be Jews and aren't, but are lying—come and bow down at your feet. Then they will realize that I have loved you. Because you have obeyed my command to endure, I will keep you from the hour of testing that is coming to the whole world to test those living on the earth. I am coming soon! Hold on to what you have so that no one takes your victor's crown. I will make the one who conquers to become a pillar in the sanctuary of my God, and he will never go out of it again. I will write on him the name of my God, the name of the city of my God (the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God), and my own new name. 'Let everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches'" (Rev. 3.7-13).

The Christians in Philadelphia are the obedient Christians. They keep the words of the Lord patiently and perseveringly and they eventually bear much fruit. These Christians are the first fruits of the entire harvest. The church of Philadelphia receives full commendation from the Lord.

The Christians in Philadelphia are the 144000 saints. They will be a pillar in the new Jerusalem (Rev 21.1, 12-17). They have the name of the Heavenly Father and the name of the city of God on their foreheads (Rev 14.1). They follow the Lord wherever He goes (Rev 14.4). The Christians in the Philadelphia church will be protected from the disasters of the trumpets and the seven bowls of God's anger (Rev 7.1-4). The Christians in Philadelphia are holy and true as their Lord.

If you are a committed Christian who obeys the Lord perseveringly, He admonishes you to hold on lest another takes your place.

To the messenger of the church in Laodicea

"To the messenger of the church in Laodicea, write: 'The Amen, the witness who is faithful and true, the originator of God's creation, says this: 'I know your actions, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot. Since you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I am going to spit you out of my mouth. You say, "I am rich. I have become wealthy. I don't need anything." Yet you don't realize that you are miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. Therefore, I advise you to buy from me gold purified in fire so you may be rich, white clothes to wear so your shameful nakedness won't show, and ointment to put on your eyes so you may see. I correct and discipline those whom I love, so be serious and repent! Look! I am standing at the door and knocking. If anyone listens to my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he will eat with me. To the one who conquers I will give a place to sit with me on my throne, just as I have conquered and have sat down with my Father on his throne. 'Let everyone listen to what the Spirit says to the churches'" (Rev. 3.14-22).

The Christians in Laodicea are lukewarm Christians. They are not salty (zealous). Their light is no light at all. They claim to belong to the Lord but they are neither devoted nor committed to him. The comforts of earthly riches have taken away their commitment to God. They do not desire much of spiritual things nor the Lord.

Unlike the Church in Smyrna, the church of Laodicea is rich in earthly goods but poor spiritually. They are poor but they think that they rich.

If you are a materially rich Christian, the Lord wants you to trade the material wealth for true spiritual wealth. The Lord is asking the Laodicea Christian to buy of Him true riches. He is calling on the Laodicea Christians to repent. If not, he will cut them off. The victorious Christian will sit on the Lord's throne.

The Question

In which church(s) are you in?

He who has ears, let him listen to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches. Amen.
CHAPTER FIVE

THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

Under the Roman Empire

The church was born on the day of Pentecost. The church was at rest until Stephen was martyred. This all began when the Roman Republic became the Roman Empire in 31AD. Most of the apostles were killed. Persecution against the entire church began in 67AD.

The Christians were sewed up in skins of wild beast, and then worried by dogs until they expired. They were dressed in shirts made stiff with wax and set on fire. Others were crucified and boiled in oil. Others were scourged until their sinews and veins lay bare, and then killed.

The Roman Empire greatly persecuted the church from 67AD to 313AD under the reign of ten Roman Emperors; Nero, Domitian, Trajan, Marcus, Severus, Maximus, Decius, Valerian, Aurelian, and Diocletian.

Nero was the first emperor to begin a general campaign against the Christians. He murdered his mother, his wife and mistress. Rome accused him to have started "the Great fire of Rome". Excusing himself, he laid blame on the Christians. The ghastly way in which the Christians were put to death aroused sympathy among many Romans, although most felt their execution justified.

The Roman historian Tacitus, in his book, Annals, published a few years after the event, made the following brief statement. Tacitus was a young boy living in Rome during the time of the persecutions:

" _In their very deaths they were made the subjects of sport: for they were covered with the hides of wild beasts, and worried to death by dogs, or nailed to crosses, or set fire to, and when the day waned, burned to serve for the evening lights. Nero offered his own garden players for the spectacle, and exhibited a Circensian game, indiscriminately mingling with the common people in the dress of a charioteer, or else standing in his chariot. For this cause a feeling of compassion arose towards the sufferers, though guilty and deserving of exemplary capital punishment, because they seemed not to be cut off for the public good, but were victims of the ferocity of one man"._

The other Roman Emperors persecuted the Christians until the reign of Constantine. Constantine was made emperor of Rome in 308AD. At that time, the Roman Empire was falling and one of the reasons for the fall was the several pagan sects which reduced the strength of the emperor. He wanted to restore religious and political unity. He saw Christianity as a tool which he could use to unite the empire and strengthen the emperor. In 313AD, he signed the edict of Milan which decriminalized Christianity and stopped the Christian persecutions. Constantine called a worldwide council in the town of Nicaea wherein some Christian disputes were to be resolved. The disputes were principally between the Arian Christians and Non-Arian (Nicene) Christians. These two groups of Christians disagreed on the nature and person of Jesus. In response to this invitation, over 300 Bishops attended including Bishop Alexander (standing for Athanasius) who stood for the Non-Arians, and Eusebius of Nicodemia (standing for Arius) who stood for the Arians. The Arians believed that Jesus was just a creature without any divinity while the non-Arians believed that he was of the same essence as the Father-true God.

Even though persecution of the church had stopped in 313AD, the church began to face another more devastating challenge – idolatry. Even though Constantine had stopped the persecutions, he began to corrupt the pure Christian life based on faith in Christ Jesus.

The Roman Empire was so vast, expansive, and diverse. As a result, Constantine realized that not everyone would agree to forsake his or her religion to embrace Christianity. So, Constantine allowed, and even prompted, the `Christianization' of pagan beliefs. Pagan beliefs were given new "Christian" identities. His aim of unifying Roman religion and politics was so strong that it was to be achieved at any costs. At the meeting at Nicaea, he wanted to reach an agreement by compromising the different beliefs of the Arians, the Nicenes and the moderates. He used his powers to retain instead of destroying pagan cults by giving them a new "Christian" dress. Some few examples include:

\--The cult of Isis, an Egyptian mother-goddess religion, was absorbed into Christianity by replacing Isis with Mary. The titles that were used for Isis; "Queen of Heaven", "mother of God" were attached to Mary.

\--The Religion of Mithraism was replaced with Christianity. In Mithraism, there is a sacrificial meal which involves eating the flesh and drinking the blood of a bull. Mithras, the god of Mithraism was "present" in the flesh and the blood of the bull. It was believed that consuming the flesh and drinking the blood of the bull would grant. Mithraism had seven sacraments. Constantine and his successors found an easy substitute for the sacrificial meal of Mithraism in the concept of the Lord's Supper. Sadly, the Christians had already started to attach some mysticism in the Lord's Supper (which is just a remembrance supper). The Romanization of the Lord's Supper completed the transition to the sacrificial consumption of Jesus Christ, now known as the Catholic Mass/Eucharist.

In the reign of Theodosius, Theodosius issued a decree that effectively made Nicene Christianity the official state church of the Roman empire (the edict of Thessalonica), but, he neither prevented nor punished the destruction of prominent Hellenistic temples of classical antiquity. After his death, his sons inherited the east and west halves respectively, and it was never again re-united. The Western empire collapsed on 475AD while the East became the Byzantine Empire. In the West, the Bishops were forced to adapt more quickly and flexibly to drastically changing circumstances. The Bishops of the East maintained clear allegiance to The Eastern Roman Emperor, the Bishop of Rome. As the political boundaries of the Roman Empire diminished and then collapsed in the West, Christianity spread beyond the old borders of the Empire and into lands that had never been under Rome.

Constantine never really accepted Christianity. It was only at his death in 337AD, that Eusebius baptized in his villa Nicomedia under the Arian form of Christianity. He was known to have paganized "Christianity" and Christianized paganism. He saw Christianity as a means with which he could unite the falling Roman Empire. Christians were legally united and given a name as the Roman Universal (catholic) Church. The Roman Catholic Church had spread throughout the Roman Empire such that when the Roman Empire eventually fell, authority was left in the hands of the church for centuries under the leadership of the pope. The Roman Catholic Church being involved with politics had its own enemies.

The various practices and new beliefs brought in by Constantine and his successors led the church into the dark ages. This dark period started in the 4th century and ended in the 16th century. A little light sprung in the 15th century when Martin Luther, Wycliffe, William Tyndale, and Myles Coverdale translated the Bible into English and German language. Spiritual ignorance prevailed during the Dark Age. With this vacuum, fear and superstitions took the lead. The church experienced about 1200years of darkness.

Under the Holy Roman Empire

The popes were often physically attacked by their enemies in the streets of Rome. In 799, Pope Leo needed help from the Frankish king. After being physically attacked by his enemies in the streets of Rome (their stated intention is to blind him and cut out his tongue, to make him incapable of office), Leo III made his way through the Alps to visit Charlemagne at Paderborn.

As a result, Charlemagne travels to Rome in 800AD to support the pope. Unexpectedly, as Charlemagne rises from prayer, the pope places a crown on his head and acclaims him emperor. This public alliance between the pope and the ruler of a confederation of Germanic tribes now reflects the reality of political power in the West and it launches the concept of the New Holy Roman Empire which ruled most of continental Europe and which will play an important role throughout the middle ages.

The Holy Roman Empire only became established in the next century by Otto I. Before this time, Charlemagne divides his Europe to his 3 sons into;

Western Francia – France (west) and dutchy of Burgundy (dutchy of South France)

Middle Francia – Italy and Burgundy (kingdom of South France)

Eastern Francia—Germany (which now, it was made up of present day Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Netherlands)

In 961AD, Berenger (king of Italy) is defeated by the Saxon king of Germany, Otto I, which overflows the Germanic dynasty of Roman Emperors. Italy is thus officially incorporated into the Holy Roman Empire. The Holy Roman Empire constituted Germany, South France, and Italy. These countries are the present-day Germany, Italy, South France, Czechoslovakia, Switzerland, Austria, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Slovenia, and Western Poland.

The coronation of Otto I as emperor of the Holy Roman Empire by pope Gregory V was seen to transfer the Roman Imperial office to the heirs of the east Franks, the Germans. The seat of the emperor remained among the Germans until the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved in the aftermath of the Napoleonic war in 1806AD.

The term "Holy Roman Empire" used regularly from 1184AD challenged the monopoly of "the sacred" presented by the papacy of the "Holy Roman Church" and presented the empire as an equal heir to the legacy of Rome. It was also used to take over the Roman Empire that had collapsed. The first official use of the full term, "Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation" in 1474 acknowledged that the empire had been for some time a German political unit in all practical terms. At the same time, the term also underscores a sense that it was the unique destiny of Germans to rule the universal sacred empire of the Christendom. The Holy Roman Empire dating from the 8th century AD until 1806 AD was the first German Empire (the 1st Reich). The Roman Catholic pope of Rome together with the German emperor as their henchman ruled the Holy Roman Empire.

By the 12th century AD, the Catholic Church had spread strongly through the whole of Germany and held religious and political power. For over 7 centuries, all Roman Catholic popes were Germans. Each time the pope wanted to deal away with Reformers, he engaged the emperor. Thus, prompted and supported, the emperor undertook the extirpation of the Protestants or those who refused to adhere to the Catholic doctrine. For this, a formidable army was raised in Germany, Italy, and Spain. Another powerful instrument which the Roman Catholic Church used to oppress the masses was the "Holy Office" or the Inquisition. It began in the 11th century after enlightened Christians who were called "heretics" like the Waldenses, Albigenses, Baptist and others revealed the lies of the religious system of the papal church. The inquisition rose to such an extent that it is estimated to have caused the death of over 70 million people in Europe, not to talk of those in other continents. Spain was the most powerful in these inquisitions. The Inquisition was a tribunal wherein an accused is judged according to Roman Catholic doctrine and if found guilty is sentenced to death. Wherever the popery had power, there was the tribunal. In the 13th century, the pope Dom was at the summit of mortal dominion; it was independent of all kingdoms, it ruled with a great power never since possessed by a human scepter; it was acknowledged sovereign of body and soul; to all earthly intents, its power was immeasurable for good or evil. Even though it did spread literature, Christianity, and freedom to the ends of Europe and the world, its nature was very hostile and full of evil.

The Roman Catholic Church proclaimed a person a heretic if he did NOT;

\--Believe in purgatory or pay money to get the souls of their friends out of it.

\--Bow to images

\--Make offerings or prayers for the dead

\--Believe in the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church

\--Confess to Priest and receive absolution

\--Believe in the real presence of the host (Christ Jesus is present in the Eucharist)

\--Believe in Transubstantiation (the bread and the wine was the real body and blood of Christ meaning that the Eucharist is the sacrifice being offered to God for the remission of the sins of the those attending mass)

\--Acknowledge the pope's infallibility

\--Go to pilgrimage

\--Go to mass

\--Pray to dead saints for remission of sins

Other abominable practices of the Roman Catholic:

\--Use of candles, altars, bowls, incense

\--The doctrine of the trinity

\--The Holy water (water and salt)

\--Baptism by sprinkling instead of Baptism by immersion in the name of Jesus.

\--Infant baptism

\--Church membership was based on accepting the doctrine rather than believing in Jesus.

\--The use of the rosary, cross, and the scapular as aids to prayer and protection.

\--The implementation of Holy days and Christmas

\--The Abstaining from meat

\--The forbidding for priest to marry

\--The Clergy and the laity system

\--The believe on dogmas

\--The erection of the "virgin Mary"

Christians who refused to accept these errors and doctrines were judged and made to face horrible deaths. Some were burnt alive, others beheaded, others crucified, some were drowned in water, others were cut into small pieces until they expired, and others were broiled while others fried in hot coal. Some were left to starve to death while others were given to wild animals for food. Others were hanged, others squeezed to ashes by machines, others had their brains dashed out by a heavy hammer, and others were stoned. Some were raped and then pierced, others were tied in a bag together with snakes and scorpions and thrown into the sea. Some were burnt in slow flames of fire until they expired while others will have hot irons placed on the tender parts of their bodies and then killed.

Protestants were expelled from all offices, trades, privileges, and employments; thereby depriving them of the means of getting their bread: and they proceeded to such excess in this brutality, that they would not suffer even the midwives to officiate, but compelled the pregnant women to submit themselves in that crisis of nature to their enemies, the brutal Roman Catholics. Their children were taken from them to be educated by the Catholics, and at seven years of age, made to embrace popery (Fox's book of martyrs).

Many abominable practices crept into the church, and attempted to wipe out light of the gospel. When Martin Luther and his companions translated the Bible into different languages, people saw the darkness that covered the Roman Catholic Church. This revelation caused the rise of Protestantism.
CHAPTER 6

ISLAM

Do Islam and Christianity Serve the Same God?

Is the Allah of Muslims the God of Christians?

1) Worship

The Allah of Islam is worshipped at the Kaaba. The Muslims must visit the Kaaba at least once in a lifetime. The Muslims claim that the Kaaba was the first House of Worship, and that it was built or re-built by Abraham and Ishmael on God's instructions.

Kaaba in Mecca 1

Karen Armstrong, in her book, Islam: A Short History, asserts that the Kaaba was at some point dedicated to Hubal, a Nabatean deity. Today Muslims practice all the pre-Islam pagan Arabs worship rituals. They pray to the Moon-god Allah by praying toward Mecca several times a day. They make a pilgrimage to Mecca and run around the temple of the Moon-god, throwing stones, and kissing the black stone. They kill an animal in sacrifice to the Moon-god. They fast following the sign of the crescent moon, etc.

The God of the Bible was first worshipped in Jerusalem in the temple built by King Solomon. He is no longer worshipped there or anywhere else (John 4.20-21). He is now worshipped in spirit and truth (John 4.28). The ancestral line of God's people was through Isaac and not through Ishmael. God had a covenant with Abraham and his wife Sarah and not Abraham and his slave girl, Hagar. Abraham drove Ishmael from any inheritance in obedience to God's instruction.

**2) The Son of** **God**

Muslims do not believe in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. They do not believe that they need to accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God to be saved.

In the Bible, Jesus Christ revealed himself as the son of God. He is the only way of salvation and the only way to the Heavenly Father.

3. Beliefs

The beliefs of Islam contrast the beliefs of Christianity

The Allah of the Muslims is NOT the God of the Christians. The Quran is the revelation of another god, the Allah of Mohammed.

Who is Allah?

Allah is the pre-Islamic name coming from the compound Arabic word Al-ilah ("Al" means "the" and "ilah" means "deity"). Al-ilah means the god. Al-ilah is the generic title for whatever god was considered the highest god. Before Islam, each Arabic tribe had its own god and deity. Different Arab tribes used "Allah" to refer to its personal high god. The moon god, Hubal, was the chief god that bore the title Allah. This Allah was the god of the local Quraysh tribe, Mohammed's tribe. Allah was the title of the chief god among the 360 idols in the Kaaba in Mecca. Mohammed came and conquered all of them to abandon the other gods and worship only his Allah. He converted them from polytheism (worship of many gods) to monotheism (worship of one god).

The book of Revelation, Islam is the false prophet. This false prophet serves the Leopard who serves the Dragon (Satan). The Dragon (Satan) is the god of Islam. The devil now bears the title Allah. The devil claimed this title for because he wants to be worshipped as the one and only true god. Today, the one who bears this title is not the Hubal god, rather it is Satan. When men call on Allah, they are calling directly on Satan. Many people are calling on him. Many people are bowing their heads before him. Muslim means "one who submits to Allah". One who calls himself a Muslim is one who is submitting directly to Satan (Allah).

Lucifer has declared himself as god and decreed his own worship rites and beliefs. The Quran, its practices and beliefs are founded by the devil. He wants to be the only one to be worshipped. As a result, he exterminated through war all other religions and cults to establish his own deity. Islam is about conquering all people for Allah. Anyone who does not submit to Allah makes himself Allah's enemy.

Islam comes second among the world religions. They are the most wild, ferocious, and brutal of all religions. Each time they kill, they acclaim the deaths as a service to Satan (their Allah) by calling his name. As requested by Satan, they pray five times daily and make animal sacrifices to him. They believe the Quran as the sacred word of Allah. Just as God sent His son, Jesus Christ, to establish a spiritual Heavenly kingdom, so too, Satan used Mohammed to establish his spiritual kingdom. We must not dwell in the dark but let God open our eyes to see the truth. Islam and Christianity have nothing in common. Islam is a satanic spiritual kingdom while the born-again Christians make up the kingdom of the God of Heaven and Earth.

Controversial Issues in the Quran

**Jesus, the Messiah:** The Quran acknowledges Christ Jesus as the Messiah (Quran, 3:45-47), yet they do not believe in him for salvation. The Quran will acknowledge Jesus as a true Prophet, yet they reject his words: He called himself the son of God but they do not accept him. This is controversial. If they believe that he is a true prophet, then they will believe in the words of the prophet. If they believe him as messiah, then they will believe in Him for salvation. They claim that the Bible has been distorted over time. Manuscript and archaeological evidence proves that the New Testament is the first best preserved work of Antiquity, with over 25,000 manuscripts.

**Islam, religion of "peace":** Muslims claim that Islam is a religion of peace. At the same, there are records of many battles that were fought for the spread of Islam. The very first crusade (holy war) was led by Mohammed. Mohammed commanded Jihad:

" _So when you meet those who disbelieve [in battle], strike [their] necks until, when you have inflicted slaughter upon them, then secure their bonds, and either [confer] favor afterwards or ransom [them] until the war lays down its burdens. That [is the command]. And if Allah had willed, He could have taken vengeance upon them [Himself], but [He ordered armed struggle] to test some of you by means of others. And those who are killed in the cause of Allah - never will He waste their deeds. He will guide them and amend their condition. And admit them to Paradise, which He has made known to them_ _(Quran, Muhammad 47:4-7)._

Muslims are encouraged to commit acts of heroism in combat. Those who kill and are killed in Jihad will be rewarded with paradise. This is the motivation of suicide bombers.

Unlike the Lord Jesus Christ who taught love, Mohammed taught violence. Unlike the Lord Jesus who perform many miracles to stir the faith of unbelievers, Mohammed used violence and force for the unbelievers to surrender.

Can a Christian accept Islam?

A Christian cannot accept Islam. It is the sin of idolatry, punishable by death.

"But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that person be condemned! What we have told you in the past I am now telling you again: If anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that person be condemned! (Galatians 1.8-9).

Who is the antichrist?

It is he who does not accept the teaching of Jesus Christ. And he, who refuses the son, cannot have the father (2 John 1.7-10).

I personally think that the attempt to trace the roots of Islam to Abraham & Ishmael is just a means that the devil used to gain grounds in the field of God. Without this ground, Islam will lose its identity as "prophet" or "a religion from God". If it links its roots to God, they will succeed in deceiving many.

What is the truth?

God's covenant for a child of promise was with Abraham and his wife Sarah and not with Abraham and his slave girl, Hagar. The promise passed through Isaac and not Ishmael. The names of Abraham and Sarah were even changed to reflect the covenant.

Christ Jesus is the Son of God. On earth, he had the fullness of God. He was born of a virgin. He was the spotless Lamb of God. He died on the cross for the redemption of mankind, resurrected and is now seated at the right hand of God. Salvation comes only by faith in the Lord Jesus. This is the truth.

Anyone who does not remain in the teaching of Christ does not have God.

New information about the history of Islam

An archeological research carried out beneath the Mediterranean Sea and on land, together with a database of ancient documents recently discovered, enables us to track history and economies. This database and archeological research reveals 548 battles that were fought for Islam.

Islam entered the world through the Byzantine Empire (the Eastern side of the Roman Empire). The Byzantine Empire constituted North Africa and Middle East. Classical civilization of the Greeks and Romans was annihilated and replaced by Islamic civilization.

In the first 13 years of Islam, Mohammed attempted to get converts through dialogue but could convert only 150 people. He then resolved to Jihad. Through Jihad, 300000 people were converted within the space of 25years. Ever since then, Jihad has been the only means of spreading Islam. The constant violence in Islam is because of the doctrine of Jihad. Mohammed started and commanded Jihad. The doctrine of Jihad is found in all Islam Manuals:

History of Jihad

7th Century

Destruction of Jazima tribe by Khalid

Khalid at Battle of Olayis, Iraq

Khalid rapes – Khalid beheaded a captain of the Persian-Zoroastrian tribe and raped his wife in the pool of his blood

Umar's conquest of Jerusalem made Jews and Christians dhimmis

Golden Age 8th – 14th Century

8th Century

Attack on Sind – 26000 Hindus

Armenian Nobles burned

Ephesus- 7000 Greeks enslaved

9th Century

All new churches destroyed

Amorium massive enslavement

Egyptian Christians revolt over Jizyah (dhimmi tax)

10th Century

Thessalonica – 22000 enslaved

Seville – Christians massacred

30000 churches destroyed in Egypt and Syria

11th Century

6000 Jews in Morroco killed

Hundreds of Jews on Gordoba killed

4000 Jews in Grenada killed

Georgia and Armenia invaded

Hindustan, 15000 killed, 500000 enslaved

12th Century

Yemen- Jews must convert or die

Christians of Grenada deported to Morroco

India – many cities destroyed under the order of "convert or die", 20000 enslaved in one town

13th Century

India – 50000 Hindus freed due to conversion

20-year campaign created 400000 new Muslims out of Hindus

Buddhist monks butchered, nuns raped

Damascus and Safed – Christians massacred

Jews of Marrakesh massacred

14th Century

Cairo riots, churches burned

Jews of Tabriz forced to convert

India - Tamerlane kills 90000 people in 1day

India – 30000 killed in cold blood

Tughlag took 180000 Hindu slaves

15th Century

India – Tamerlane destroys 700 villages in India

Tamerlane annihilated Nestorian and Jacobite Christians

After 700 years of attack, Islam captures Constantinople

16th Century

India – Son of Tamerlane destroys temples and forced conversion

Generals built two towers of human heads after victories

Hindu women began general suicide to avoid being sex-slaved

17th Century

Jews of Yemen and Persia forced to convert

Forced conversion of Greek Christians

Persia – Zoroastrian persecution

600000 Hindus killed by Akbar

18th Century

Zoroastrian Persecution intensified

Jews of Jedda expelled

Jews of Morroco killed

Hindu persecution continues

19th Century

Forced conversion of Jews in Iran

Jews of Baghdad killed

250000 of Armenian Christians killed in Turkey

Zoroastrians annihilated in Iran

20th Century

Over 1million of Turkish Armenian Christians

Baghdad Golden age

Christians and Jews were dhimmis

Islam destroys 90% of books – if a book did not support Islam doctrine, it was burned. Most ancient knowledge got lost.

Christian women were sex-slaved

Christians did all the vaunted translations of books from Greek and Latin

The Islam world came about from relentless brutal persecution of anyone who was not a Muslim. There is a database of 19000 Jihad attacks since the 9/11/2001 attack in the US. Islam is bad for both Kafis and Muslims. The Kafis includes all those who are not Muslims (The Jews, the Buddhist in Thailand, the Hindus in India, the Christians, the Secularist -Europe).

This list excludes the number of Muslim victims

The Origin and Growth of Islam

According to Islamic tradition, the "angel Gabriel" appeared to the Prophet when he was 40 years of age for over a period of 20 years, revealing to him many messages from "God". In his forties, he began to retire to meditate in a cave on Mount Hira, just outside Mecca. One day, as he was sitting in the cave, he heard a voice, later identified as that of the "Angel Gabriel", which ordered him to:

" _Recite: In the name of thy Lord who created, Created man from a clot of blood." (Quran 96:1-2)_

The Prophet dedicated the remainder of his life to spreading a message he had received from the "angel Gabriel". In 622AD, he fled from north to the city of Medina to escape growing persecution. This event marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. Eight years later, Muhammad returned to Mecca with an army and conquered the city for Islam.

Mohammed led the first battle for Islam and it took place near Badr, now a small town southwest of Medina. The Muslim forces routed the Meccans. A year later the Meccans struck back. Assembling an army of three thousand men, they met the Muslims at Uhud, a ridge outside Medina. After initial successes, the Muslims were driven back and the prophet himself was wounded. Two years later, the Muslims gathered an army of ten thousand, attacked Medina again but with quite different results **.** In this battle (known as Battle of the Trench or the Battle of the Confederates), the Muslims scored a signal victory. Thereafter Medina was entirely in the hands of the Muslims.

The clans that accepted Mohammed as the Prophet of "God" form an alliance, the constitution of Medina. The constitution defined the political status of the Muslim Community and the role of non-Muslims in the community. Muhammad also made a series of alliances among the tribes that, by 628AD, he and fifteen hundred followers could demand access to the Kaaba.

The Muslim community was faced with the problem of succession after the death of Muhammad. Abu Bakr succeeded Mohammed. Abu Bakr swiftly disciplined those who attempted to revolt against Islam. Later, he consolidated the support of the tribes within the Arabian Peninsula and subsequently funneled their energies against the powerful empires of the East: the Sassanians in Persia (today's Iran) and the Byzantines in Syria, Palestine, and Egypt.

The second caliph, Umar, appointed by Abu Bakr, extended Islam's temporal rule over Syria, Egypt, Iraq, and Persia. Within four years after the death of the prophet, the Muslim state had extended its sway over all of Syria and had, at a famous battle fought during a sandstorm near the River Yarmuk, blunted the power of the Byzantines. Umar, who served as caliph for ten years, ended his rule with a significant victory over the Persian Empire. The struggle with the Sassanid realm had opened in 636AD at al-Qadisiyah, near Ctesiphon in Iraq. With the Battle of Nihavand, called the "Conquest of Conquests," Umar sealed the fate of Persia; henceforth it was to be one of the most important provinces in the Muslim Empire ( _A Brief History of Islam (part 4 of 5): The Caliphate of Abu Bakr and Umar)._

Today, Muslims are of two main denominations: Sunni (75–90%) or Shia (10–20%). About 13% of Muslims live in Indonesia, the largest Muslim majority country, 25% in South Asia, 20% in the Middle East, and 15% in Sub-Saharan Africa. Sizable Muslim communities are also found in Europe, China, Russia, and the Americas. Converts and immigrant communities are found in almost every part of the world, with about 1.62 billion followers or 23% of the global population.

Today, Islam is the second largest religion by number of adherents and, according to many sources, the fastest growing major religion in the world.

Mohammed, the Prophet of Islam

Mohammed was born into a family belonging to a clan of Quraysh, the ruling tribe of Mecca, a city in the Hijaz region of northwestern Arabia. His father died before his birth and his mother died when he was six years old. As an orphan, he was taken care of by his grandfather. When his grandfather passed away, he was taken custody by his Uncle, Abu Talib.

About the year 590AD, when Muhammad was in his twenties, be began to trade caravans under the service of a merchant widow named Khadijah. He later married her and had two sons and four daughters. Only one daughter, Fatimid survived. He was raised illiterate, unable to read or write, and remained so till his death.

As written in _Islam Mohammed and the Quran_ (Mohammed's wives);

Mohammed had fourteen wives in addition to many concubines. Not one of them was mentioned in the Quran by name, for Islam has no regard for women. They were, however, mentioned in Muhammad's biography written by Ibn Hesham. His last wife was called Aisha. She was betrothed to him at the age of six and when she was nine, married and consummated the marriage. He also married his daughter in law, called Zainab, the daughter of Gahsh and wife of his adopted son.

According to the Qur'an, "God" forbade anyone to marry the wives of Muhammad after he died, because of their respect and honour for him (Quran 33:53).
CHAPTER 7

LAST WORDS

"Happy is the one who reads aloud these prophetic words, and happy those who hear them and treasure everything written here, for the time is near" (Rev 1.3).

"These words are sure and true; the Lord God who inspires the prophets has sent his angel to show his servants what must happen soon" (Rev 22.7).

"I am coming soon! Happy are those who keep the prophetic words of this book" (Rev 22.8).

"Do not keep secret the prophetic words of this book because the time is near. Let the sinner continue to sin and the defiled remain in his defilement; let the righteous continue to do what is right and he who is holy grow holier."

"I am coming soon, bringing with me the salary I will pay to each one according to his deeds.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."

Happy are those who wash their robes for they will have free access to the tree of Life and enter the city through the gates.

Outside are the dogs, sorcerers, the immoral, murderers, idolaters and all who take pleasure in falsehood!

"I, Jesus, sent my angel to make known to you these revelations concerning the Churches. I am the Shoot and Offspring of David, the radiant Morning Star."

The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come!" Whoever hears let him say, "Come!" Whoever thirsts let him approach, and whoever desires, let him freely take the water of life (Rev 22.10-17).

As for me, I warn everyone who hears the prophetic words of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will pile on him the plagues described in this book.

And if anyone takes away words from this book of prophecy, God will take from him his share in the tree of Life and the holy city described in this book.

He who has declared all this says, "Yes, I am coming soon."

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all – (Rev 22.18-21).
Other Books written by author:

_The Truth against Errors_

True Riches

After the Earthly Life

Short Sermons

False Teachers in the Church of God

Life in the Spirit of Christ Jesus

The Way to the Kingdom of Heaven

In Christ to become like Christ

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