Come and See

"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (I Corinthians 3:11) The Bible is a revelation of Jesus Christ, therefore it should be no surprise that the message of the book of Revelation is consistent with all other books of the Bible. For example, I call Joel chapter 2 the 'mini version' of the book of Revelation. The book you are reading contains scripture written by David, Isaiah, Daniel, and others that show that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The Book of Revelation is a message from the Lord about His plans for His creation which He is revealing to His servants. To understand the Bible, one must have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying. The truth of the Bible must be revealed to the reader by the Holy Spirit. It is no different with the Book of Revelation. Just like the Bible, this message is presented in spiritual language which cannot be understood by the carnal mind. The carnal mind is the enemy of God, and the wisdom of God is foolishness to the carnal mind.

There is much speculation about that which the book of Revelation reveals and a vast amount of differing opinions, all coming from carnally minded leaders who lean to their own understanding instead of depending upon the Holy Spirit for understanding. There will be no Antichrist, no one world government or one world religion, no rapture of the body of Christ, no nuclear holocaust, or any other horrific events. What will come to pass is the presentation of the same message that God has been speaking since the Garden of Eden and the greatest outpouring of His Spirit since the foundation of the world. I hope you will be touched by this message and will long to be part of this great end-time harvest.

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:"  (verse 1)

This revelation is being shown to the servants of Jesus Christ. The word servant means bondservant or slave. A servant of Jesus Christ is one who embraces Him as Lord, not merely as Savior. A servant is one who is no longer conformed to this world, but is being transformed by the renewing of his mind. He seeks to know the Lord and obey His commandments. He denies himself, takes up his cross daily, and follows Jesus. Only a true servant of the Lord Jesus Christ develops ears to hear what the Spirit says and can receive the revelation that Jesus is giving to him.

"Who bore record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw." (verse 2)

John walked with Jesus. He was part of the three that were closest to Jesus and those to whom Jesus revealed deep things. All things that happened and all that Jesus spoke while here on earth were brought to his remembrance when the Holy Spirit came to earth. He was chosen by Jesus to bear this message and is telling us from firsthand experience that all that he saw and the testimony of Jesus is true.

"Blessed is he that reads, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand." (verse 3)

Read means having eyes to see through spiritual eyes which are opened by the Holy Spirit. Hear means ears to hear what the Holy Spirit says. Keep means embracing this message, applying it to your life, and seeking to take your part in God's plan. You are blessed if you do so.

"John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;" (verse 4)

John is the chosen messenger to the Church, but it is Jesus who is speaking; the One who "is, and was, and is to come". The seven Spirits show forth the fullness of the holy Spirit. "And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;” (Isaiah 11:2) These seven attributes of the Holy Spirit show us areas of our lives which need to become operational if we are to be used by the Lord as His ambassadors. He desires to perfect us that we may be used as vessels of honor that release His presence wherever we are sent. Only those who operate in the fullness of the Spirit can bring His message to the Church.

"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood" (verse 5)

This verse shows the love of Christ. He is sending this message to not only His servants, but also to those to whom He is prince. 'Kings of the earth' refers to carnal Christians who are worldly. 'Earth' refers to worldliness or carnality, the carnal nature, or the carnal mind. Notice that Jesus is not King to these kings of the earth, but He is their Prince desiring to be their King.

In Psalms 2, David wrote of the kings of the earth and their adversity to Christ. Remember, the carnal mind is the enemy of God. Even though they are part of His body, they are disobedient and do that which is right in their own eyes. They love the world more than they love Christ. Unless they repent, they will perish. Jesus is not marrying His body, but a spotless Bride prepared for Him. The Bride consists of those in the body of Christ who are obedient to Him and seek to know Him intimately; His servants.

"Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sits in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the Lord has said to me, You are my Son; this day have I begotten you. Ask of me, and I shall give you the heathen for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Be wise now therefore, O you kings: be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him."

Psalms 2 fits perfectly with the message of the book of Revelation. The heathen, the people, the kings of the earth, and the rulers are all part of the body of Christ. You may be wondering how that could be possible since this is Old Testament scripture. God is no respecter of persons, and those that sought Him in the Old Testament are just as much a part of His Bride as those in the New Testament. The word rulers means 'princes', they are heirs but have not yet received a kingdom. They are born again, but walk on the path that leads to destruction, just as do the heathen.

All these war against the Lord and His servants, His anointed. They want to be free from the 'bands' which means chastisement. "And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as unto children, My son, despise not you the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not? But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons." (Hebrews 12:5-8) They despise the chastening of the Lord, probably because they believe that they shouldn't have to suffer since they are deceived into thinking that they already have attained eternal salvation and therefore have no need to be changed.

They want to cast away the cords which means "chains". They view the process through which the Lord leads His servants to be broken, humbled, and made usable by Him as bondage. They want to be free to do what is right in their own eyes. They walk after the flesh and have no understanding of the ways of the Lord and His wisdom. They are wise in their own sight and are a 'foreign nation'; heathens in the body of Christ.

But the Lord still loves them and will do all He can to reach them. He will do so by breaking them with a rod of iron and dashing them in pieces like a potter's vessel. To the carnal mind, this sounds cruel and vengeful. The spiritual mind, however, understands the purpose the Lord has in making our ways distasteful so that we will surrender to His ways and allow Him to change us into the faithful servant He has called us to be. Many are called, but few are chosen. That is because few will surrender their lives to the place where Christ is formed in them and they become one with the King of kings.

"And has made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." (verse 6)

The Lord makes us kings and priests. This pattern is seen in the tabernacle of Moses. The tabernacle shows how we grow in Christ and become that which He has purposed for us. In the outer court, we must become living sacrifices shown in type by the brazen altar. As we submit to the refiner's fire, He will change our garments and make us priests, for only priests can enter the inner court or Holy Place where Jesus resides. And it is only as we allow Him to drive out all the impurities in us that we can attain a place where it is no longer our life, but He living His life in and through us. We can become one with Him and be made kings in His kingdom.

"Behold, he comes with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." (verse 7)

When we see clouds in the Bible, we see the Lord's appearing. Jesus will return again to this earth, but not physically. He will be seen in His Bride, who will become His Wife in the middle of the tribulation period, and the world will behold Jesus in His Wife, the New Jerusalem, for the two are now one flesh. "For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church." (Ephesians 5:30-32)

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, says the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." (verse 8) Jesus is this revelation message. He is the beginning, the end, and everything in between. We are blessed to be given the opportunity to take part in His wonderful plan and be used by Him to set the captives free and lead the many to righteousness.

"I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ." (verse 9)

Patmos means 'my killing'. John was sent to Patmos in exile because his captors didn't know what else to do with him. He had been sentenced to death for his preaching and was boiled in oil, yet no harm came to him. He was sent to the uninhabited island to get him out of the way. The Lord purposed this so that John would be alone with Him with no distractions. When the Lord finished showing John the fullness of the revelation message, I believe the Lord took him. I do not believe that John died a physical death. I believe that John had attained a place of being one with the Lord. It is appointed unto man once to die, and then the judgement. So if one attains a place of dying to self and the things of this world, has he not died already? So then there would not be need for physical death. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.” (John 8:51)

"If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience: In the which you also walked some time, when you lived in them. But now you also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:" (Colossians 3:1-10)

The above scripture is speaking of that which the book of Revelation calls the 'dead in Christ'. Paul says "for you are dead". This state of being dead is not automatic. It requires that of which we have been discussing. We must mortify or put to death that which is worldly and put on the new man "which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him". That is why Paul said in I Corinthians 15:31 "I die daily". “And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2) This is a process and must be walked out through obedience and submission to Christ. The phrase 'dead in Christ' means those who have died to this world, not in a physical sense, but in a spiritual sense. It is a position in Christ that can be attained through surrender and being sold out to Jesus.

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet," (verse 10) Trumpet means revelation. The revelation of this book can only be understood spiritually. It is given to those with ears to hear. Those that seek to understand through their carnal minds which are not submitted to Christ will not see the truth.

“Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What you see, write in a book, and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.” (verse 11)

Jesus is commanding John to take His message to the church and declare their spiritual condition. The church needs to awaken from their slumber, for their condition is not hid from the One who sees all. It matters not whether you are a member of His body, it matters only what you have done with the opportunity you have been given to know Him.

“And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;” (verse 12)

Jesus said; "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light to all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16) We are the candlesticks, the holders of God's light. Jesus can only use those whose light shines brightly. Those whose light is hidden under a bushel, through the veil that is their flesh, are of no use. Jesus is warning those that walk in darkness that He will come to them quickly and remove their candlestick out of their place, except they repent. (Revelation 2:5) The seven golden candlesticks are the seven churches. The message to each church will reveal aspects of our lives that must changed f He is bringing correction in His message, or continued if He is commending the deeds.

“And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.” (verse 13)

Christ is wearing the garments of a judge, for He is judging His people. Why is judgment needed? Because the church is not walking in the light as He is in the light. The church is full of spots, blemishes, wrinkles, and darkness. He comes to expose all that offends Him and reveal that which is lacking so that those who are exposed may gain understanding and have opportunity to repent and get right with Him. Only those who are spotless are of His Bride.

"His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;" (verse 14) Wool refers to sheep, for this message from the good Shepherd is for His sheep. His eyes reveal the impurities He wants to burn away as a flame of fire. He is preparing His spotless Bride.

“And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.” (verse 15)

Many waters refers to the unity of many people declaring a common doctrine. "And he said to me, The waters which you saw, where the whore sits, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." (Revelation 17:15) The Harlot has a common doctrine I call 'grace, grace, grace'. The Bride's doctrine is 'know the Lord'. The Lord is exposing these doctrines and separating the lie from the truth in His body. He is perfecting His Bride like brass in a furnace; the Refiner's fire.

"And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shines in his strength." (verse 16)

The seven (seven is the number of perfection) stars are the messengers that carry His message. His glory will shine through them, for they are of those that have died to self and it is not them that are seen, but Jesus in them. They will bring a message that will kill the flesh through judgement; not physically, but spiritually. Jesus is warning His people to be prepared for both the message and the messengers.

"And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”(verses 17 and 18)

Note that Jesus says 'fear not'. Those that are in right relationship with Him have nothing to fear from Him. It is only those who are disobedient that tribulation will come. The purpose of judgement and tribulation is to deliver His people from their bondage to the world that they may enjoy the freedom that can be experienced through serving Him. All this is about God's love, not His vengeance. He desires that none should perish, but we must come on His terms, not ours. If one perishes, it is because he has chosen to perish by loving himself more than Jesus.

"Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which you saw are the seven churches." (verses 19 and 20)

John is commanded by the Lord to write those things that are, such as the condition of the church and His counsel to repent, as well as those things that are to come. There is coming a separation of the sheep and the goats, the wheat and the tares; the Bride and the Harlot. When the message is brought, the hearers will become responsible for the understanding that is revealed in the message. A choice will be made, life or death, repentance or defiance. The time is short. Tribulation is coming to all that is carnal.

Revelation’s seven churches were among a number of early Christian communities in Asia Minor. These particular seven churches may have been chosen to receive Christ’s message because geographically, the churches were located along an established, circular trade route that brought together the most populous and influential parts of the province. Once the message was given to the churches in these prominent cities, the message would spread to the Christian communities in the rest of the province.

Although there may have been communication to these churches from John, that was not the purpose of the letters. Notice that the letters are written to the angel; the messenger assigned to each church. Jesus is communicating with His church and all that are a part of it, present and future. It is a message that has been hidden until this generation, when the veil is being lifted and instruction given to His servants with ears to hear what He is saying. This message is understood by those He has chosen to receive the interpretation, which will then be given to the church as a whole. These letters should be viewed as a composite; one message to the church, revealing the shortcomings in His body and the need for repentance, so that all may have opportunity to be transformed by Him and receive the promises given to those who overcome the selfishness, pride, and worldliness in them and be His Bride.

The Church of Ephesus: (chapter 2: 1-7)
"Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things say he that holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know your works, and your labor, and your patience, and how you cannot bear them which are evil: and you have tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and have found them liars: And have born, and have patience, and for my name's sake have labored, and have not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against you, because you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you are fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of his place, except you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."

This church has much good fruit that the Lord can use. They have patience, they are not worldly, they hate hypocritical leaders, they work long and hard, and they hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans. Nicolaitans in Greek means 'destruction of the people'. These are worldly, self-righteous Christians who seek to justify their sinfulness with an appearance of godliness and seduce others into joining them through ear tickling speech.

Yet with all these good things, they are not having relationship with Jesus; they have left their first love. It is not enough to be born again and be 'in Christ'. We must have Christ in us. Paul calls this a mystery. "Even the mystery which has been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" (Colossians 1:26-27) "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20) We must so give our lives to the Lord that we become one with Him. Our flesh must first be crucified if we are to be raised up in the power of His resurrection and know Him. Otherwise, He remains outside the door of our soul and we remain in a superficial relationship with Him.

Anyone who misses an intimate relationship with Jesus through Christ being in them will not be His for long. The book is open and the message is out. Think not that there is an abundance of time to repent. "Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little" (Psalm 2:12) Seek Him while He may be found. Much tribulation awaits those who ignore this message.

"To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." (verse 7) The eternal abode of the Bride or Wife of Christ is the Garden of Eden, wherein is the Tree of Life. The overcomers are those that overcome the world and sin through Him; those that are of His Bride.

The Church in Smyrna: (chapter 2: 8-17)
"And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things say the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know your works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but you are rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which you shall suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and you shall have tribulation ten days: be you faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches; He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death."

Smyrna means myrhh. Myrrh is mentioned as a rare perfume in several places in the Old Testament. In Genesis 37:25, the traders to whom Jacob's sons sold their brother Joseph had "camels ... loaded with spices, balm, and myrrh," and Exodus 30:23–25 specifies that Moses was to use 500 shekels of liquid myrrh as a core ingredient of the sacred anointing oil. Myrrh was an ingredient of the consecrated incense used in the Temple. Oil of myrrh is used in Esther 2:12 in a purification ritual for the new queen to King Ahasuerus. Myrrh is mentioned in the new testament as one of the three gifts (with gold and frankincense) that the Magi "from the East" presented to the Christ child (Matthew 2:11). Myrrh was also present at Jesus' death and burial. Jesus was offered wine and myrrh at his crucifixion (Mark 15:23). According to John's Gospel, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea brought a 100-pound mixture of myrrh and aloes to wrap Jesus' body (John 19:39). The Gospel of Matthew relates that as Jesus went to the Cross, he was given vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink (Matthew 27:34); the Gospel of Mark describes the drink as wine mingled with myrrh (Mark 15:23).

This meaning associated with Smyrna is significant since there is much that Jesus commends in this church. Like myrhh, they are a 'sweet smelling savor to the Lord'. There is much life in this church as shown by the attacks they are enduring. Jesus likes their work, their tribulation, their poverty for Him (which He declares makes them rich), and their persecution by carnal Christians (the synagogue of Satan). All who declare this message of enduring suffering to be made overcomers will suffer much at the hands of self-righteous people who operate from an antichrist spirit. Jesus counsels us to not fear those things which we shall suffer. The wise will embrace the attacks and the suffering and use them to further die to self.

Jesus is warning this church to "be faithful unto death", which means there are still things to be overcome in them. He promises that if they will overcome they will receive a crown of life. He also promises that they will not be hurt of the second death. The second death is the eternal separation from God for those who reject the life of Christ. It is also called the lake of fire and brimstone. Spiritually speaking, fire and brimstone on this side of the lake represent the methods God employs to make people repent before it is too late.

The Church in Pergamos: (chapter 2: 9-17)
"And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things say he which has the sharp sword with two edges; I know your works, and where you dwell, even where Satan's seat is: and you hold fast my name, and have not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you, because you have there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So have you also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he that receives it."

This church stands in jeopardy. The Lord has little of which to commend them. He reveals that Satan has a seat of authority there. Wherever there is an absence of the Lord, there is the presence of Satan. This church acknowledges the Lord, but their heart is far from Him. "Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who sees us? and who knows us?  (Isaiah 29:13-16)

This church even has those that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which the Lord hates. He warns them to repent or the Lord Himself will fight against them and remove their candlestick from its place. He will cut out the good for His Bride and leave the rest in a desolate wilderness.

"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man comes. For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants came, and reckoned with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, you delivered unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, you good and faithful servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of your lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, you delivered unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of your lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the earth: lo, there you have that which is yours. His lord answered and said unto him, You wicked and slothful servant, you knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: You ought therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received my own with interest. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it to him which has ten talents. For unto every one that has shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that has not shall be taken away even that which he has. And cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 25:13-30)

In this parable, the Lord gave each of His servants the provision and ability to be profitable servants to Him; to die to self and decrease so that they could become more like Him and increase in their intimacy of relationship with Him. The one with one talent feared. He leaned to his own understanding and did that which was right in his own eyes. He hid that which the Lord gave him in the earth; he walked after the flesh instead of after the Spirit. He even tried to justify himself before the Lord, but the Lord called him wicked and slothful and cast him from His presence. He also gave that which belonged to the wicked servant to the most profitable servant. "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just." (Proverbs 13:22) Sinners are those in the church that walk after the flesh.

To those who overcome will be given the hidden manna, the Bread of Life, which is intimacy with the Lord; knowing Him even as you are also known. They will also receive a white stone; a ticket of admission to eternal life in the presence of his Beloved. He will also receive a new name which is only known by him and his Lord; an intimate bond that is enjoyed in secret between the two.

The Church in Thyatira: (chapter 2: 18-29)
"And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things say the Son of God, who has his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; I know your works, and charity, and service, and faith, and your patience, and your works; and the last to be more than the first. Notwithstanding I have a few things against you, because you suffer that woman Jezebel, which calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searches the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. But that which you have already hold fast until I come. And he that overcomes, and keeps my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches."

Thyatira means odor of affliction.  This church also stands in jeopardy. Yet, unlike Pergamos, this church is instructed by the Lord regarding how to have victory. They must submit themselves to the eyes of Jesus; the 'eyes as a flame of fire' that reveal the spots in us that they may be cleansed. They reveal the death-to-self and the Christ-in-you message that we may be perfected by Him. We are blind and cannot see unless He gives us sight. They also must submit to His feet, the feet of brass in Revelation 1:15 that symbolize the walk that becomes perfected through the cleansing power of Christ-in-you. Through surrender and obedience, they may overcome the antichrist spirit that has arisen in their carnality - Jezebel.

Jezebel tries to kill the men of God and separate them from Christ. Remember, this is exactly what happened to Elijah until God got his attention. King Ahab was emasculated by Jezebel which allowed this spirit to come into her. Once in authority, this spirit will try to lead all who are associated with her into adultery (world worship) and shift attention away from Christ and onto natural things. This spirit comes to test the King and Priest of God. Just as Jezebel separated Israel from God, she is now trying to separate the church from God. We must be dependent upon Jesus if we are to have eyes to see where demonic spirits use our carnality. Then and only then will we have the wisdom to give these areas over to the Lord; thereby giving Him authority to conquer our carnality - our 'earth'.

"And I will kill her children with death". This is a positive statement. The Lord is saying that He will kill the fruit of Jezebel's activities through death-to-self. Demonic spirits have no power over our spirits if we are born again. But they operate in our flesh and influence our souls; our minds. Therefore, whatever they can touch needs to die. It needs to be given over to the authority of Christ to be overcome in us. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:12-13) If you will surrender to the perfecting power of God, then He will be able to use you as one of the Elect in the upcoming Harvest.

"And he that overcomes, and keeps my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron". This again parallels Psalms chapter 2. If Jesus suffered to learn obedience, how much more do we have need to suffer and be broken? Jesus rules us with a rod of iron to perfect us, so will we rule in the same manner; teaching the nations to be obedient. This will occur in the Millennium.

"And I will give him the morning star." If we will overcome by the blood of the Lamb, the word of our testimony, and love not our lives (self life) unto the death, then we will inherit Jesus and all that pertains to Him. We will enjoy an eternity of walking intimately with Him and knowing Him.

The Church in Sardis: (chapter 3: 1-6)
"And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things say he that has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know your works, that you have a name that you live, and are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches."

Sardis means 'red ones'. There is some life in this church and is harvestable. The Lord wants to use them as harvesters because they are dead to this world and are alive to Him. Being dead does not mean you are perfected or made complete. It means you are in the process as you walk along the path that leads to life. The Bride will contain varying levels of maturity in her people, as witnessed by Jesus in the parable of the sower. In the good ground people produced fruit; some thirty, some sixty, some hundredfold.

Most of the church believes that they have already attained all that God has for them through the new birth. But just as a child must grow to maturity, we also must grow if we are to know the Lord. Otherwise, we will remain immature and lack understanding. If you believe you have all that God has for you, then you will not hunger for more. Jesus desires His people to seek Him and trust Him with all their heart; to be dependent upon Him and put no confidence in the flesh. He wants us to look to Him in all things so that we may be delivered from our selfishness and overcome our carnal nature by becoming spiritually minded. Perfection and completion come by way of obedience to the Lord. "And Samuel said, Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. (I Samuel 15:22)

If we do not hearken to the voice of the Lord, the Lord will get our attention through tribulation. Blessings will become curses, that which we have shall fade away. He does this out of His love for us. He does not want us to perish. If we then repent and turn again to Him, He will restore that which was lost, but in His time not ours.

Some in this church are complete and spotless and are ready for the robe of righteousness, signifying that they have become complete in Him by walking continually with Him. Others are warned to repent, or else He will come upon them as a thief. They will not know when He comes, but they can be assured that if He comes because of their disobedience, it may be too late for repentance. "And I will not blot his name out of the book of life." The word of God says nothing about receiving eternal salvation when you are born again. When you are born again, you are delivered out of the kingdom of darkness and translated into the kingdom of light. Being born again is the beginning of the journey. How you walk it out is up to you. Eternal life is only for those that seek to know the Lord and seek to do His will. It is given at the end of the journey, not the beginning. You may have your name written in the Lamb's book of life because you are born again, but you will be judged by Him according to your walk with Him. At the judgement seat of Christ, you will either enter into your reward as a good and faithful servant, or you will be cast from His presence as a worker of iniquity; no in-between.

The Church in Philadelphia: (chapter 3: 7-13)
"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things say he that is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David, he that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens; I know your works: behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it: for you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which you have, that no man take your crown. Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches."

Philadelphia means 'brotherly love'. This church represents the Bride church, the New Jerusalem, which will be made His Wife. He says, "for you have a little strength". This means they are at the end of themselves, the end of their strength in the natural, for their strength comes from the Lord. They have an open door before them that no man can shut. No one may hinder them as they are sent by the Lord. The Lord will make those of the synagogue of Satan (those worldly Christians operating in the spirit of antichrist; the Harlot) to "come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you." "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over." (Psalms 23:5) The Lord will keep His Bride from "the hour of temptation" (tribulation) because they have no need of correction from the Lord.

The Church of the Laodiceans: (chapter 3: 14-22)
"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things say the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold or hot. So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue you out of my mouth. Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness does not appear; and anoint your eyes with eyesalve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches."

This church is the Harlot church. The Lord has nothing good to say about them. These are revealed in the parable of the sower, whose seed fell among thorns. The thorns grew and choked the word and it became unfruitful. They are of those who no longer abide in the vine in John 15. As a branch they cannot bear fruit of themselves; and in the end they are gathered and burned. They are the tares in the kingdom of God which God is allowing to grow until the harvest, then they will be gathered to be burned.

The Jews thought that blessings were a sign of favor with God. So it is with the Harlot. She says in her heart that she is rich, and increased with goods, and has need of nothing; including Jesus. But Jesus declares that she is "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked".

Yet, in His love for her, He reaches out to her with wise counsel to "buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness does not appear; and anoint your eyes with eyesalve, that you may see." He wants perfection (gold tried in the fire), completion, and a spiritual mind in each of His children. He wants us to walk in righteousness (white raiment). He wants us to see through His eyes that we may know the truth and walk in the liberty that He brings. Until you fix your eyes upon Jesus, you will never see or hear the truth. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten." Tribulation upon that which is carnal in us comes from the loving hand of our Lord who wants the best for us.

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." I have heard this many times as a call to those who are not "saved". Jesus is not speaking to the world, He is speaking to His people. He is standing at the door to our soul. He is ministering the message of 'Christ in you, the hope of glory'.

To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." Jesus learned obedience by the things He suffered. "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." (Hebrews 2:10) He did not come into this earth in perfection. The Word became flesh. He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin. "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15)

"Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do: for whatsoever he does, these also does the Son likewise." “I can of my own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father which has sent me.” (John 5:19 and 5:30) Jesus came to be an example to us. "For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps:" (I Peter 2:21)

What did Jesus overcome? "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) We likewise must overcome the world. We must be in this world, but a true servant of the Lord Jesus Christ is not of this world. All that is fleshly, carnal, and worldly in us must be crucified and die. We must lay down our lives in total submission to the Lord just as Jesus laid down His life in obedience to the Father. We must learn to be led by the Holy Spirit just as Jesus was led by the Spirit. In so doing, we shall become one with Him and sit with Him in His throne.

There are seven letters to the churches. Seven is the number of perfection. Jesus is speaking to His divided church as churches. We are a house divided through denominations and carnality. Jesus is revealing that which is carnal in His church in the first five churches. Five is the number of grace. Grace is not 'the unmerited favor of God'; for there is no unmerited favor with God. Grace, as defined by the Strong's concordance means: "the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life". This definition shows how God interacts with us. He influences us through our spirit, and we decide how we will respond; either in obedience or rebellion. This will then be reflected in our lives. Either we will become more Christlike through obedience or more carnal through rebellion.

The last two churches show the Bride and the Harlot. Two is the number of witness. Jesus is witnessing that both these churches are part of His church. He is also witnessing that the time of rebellion in His body is about to come to an end. He will have a perfect Bride without spot or wrinkle. He will not be one with anything of this world. The church age is coming to a close and Babylon (the Harlot) will fall.

God does not look upon man as men do, according to the outward appearance, but God looks upon the heart. Even after we are born again, we have a 'heart' problem. The heart is the combination of our spirit and our soul. When we are born again, we are born again in our spirit. The fullness of the Godhead enters our spirit and begins the process of working in us to bring forth a transformation from fleshly, carnally minded beings to spiritually minded beings. Our soul, which was not changed when we were born again, is now influenced by two different entities; our spirit and our flesh. God has given us free will, so we decide which influence to obey. Whichever entity we feed will be the stronger influence.

God's process to bring the change He desires in us involves suffering, affliction, persecution, and rejection; all designed to break us, humble us, weaken our flesh, and bring us into submission to Him. If we embrace His process and learn to be thankful in all things and praise Him for His work in us, even though we don't understand what is happening, then we will grow in wisdom and understanding. We will come to know Him and no longer need the suffering (tribulation) in as great a measure because He has been successful in killing much of that in us that formerly opposed Him. We will walk in obedience to Him and enjoy the fruits of His love for us. As we continue to grow in Him, He will bring about a 'merismos', a dividing of our soul and spirit so that our spirit is freed from entanglement with our soul. We will be spiritually minded; obtaining the mind of Christ. We will become like Him and enter into His rest, being vessels of honor fit for His use. The glory of the Lord will be seen in us, and His voice will heard through us. We will see Him, and be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. (I John 3:2)

None of this is possible if we do not submit ourselves to the Lord and obey His commandments. Those that refuse to submit will wax worse and worse. There is no 'treading water' in the kingdom of God. Either you are swimming or you are sinking. You are obedient or you are disobedient. You are either walking on the path that leads to life or you are walking on the broad path that leads to destruction. There is no in between. "Be you not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion has light with darkness? And what concord has Christ with Belial? or what part has he that believes with an infidel?   And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? for you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be you separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." (II Corinthians 6:14-18)

"After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up here, and I will show you things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that lives for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for you have created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created." (Revelation chapter 4)

This short chapter gives us a glimpse into the heart of those who have surrender to Christ and have allowed Christ to sit on the throne of their heart. This is a spiritual glimpse into the heart of a servant, not the throne of God in Heaven. John saw a door opened in heaven, but this door is the door to our soul allowing Christ to come and fellowship intimately with us. Once again, Christ-in-you the hope of glory. Here we will see the glory manifest as we allow the fullness of Christ to permeate our being and shine through us.

John hears a voice like a trumpet talking with him. A trumpet is the revelation or the revealing voice of Christ. Jesus says, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must be hereafter". Immediately, John was in the spirit; he didn't go anywhere physically, he was caught up in a vision to see the throne room of the heart. He saw Jesus sitting on the throne, but describes His beauty as a jasper and sardine stone, with a rainbow about the throne which looked like an emerald.

Jasper is the last stone mentioned in the Bible in the high priest's breastplate (Exodus 28:20). It is also the name of the sixth stone that adorned Lucifer (Ezekiel 28:13), and Lucifer was the most beautiful angel God created. The root of the word means to 'polish'. The word polish means 'to bring to a high state of development or refinement'. This reflects the work of Christ in our lives, to bring us to a place where all our rough edges are sanded smooth and we become like Him, mature and refined, manifesting His beauty and glory.

The Sardine stone has a blood red color. It is the first stone in the high priest's breastplate. Ancient authorities called it ‘blood-colored’ and described it as the righteous wrath of God, the color of the fire of divine anger. This stone is also mentioned as part of Satan’s covering in the Garden of God (Ezekiel 28:13) which gives an attribute of beauty.

The twelve stones represent the twelve tribes of Israel in the breastplate of the high priest (Exodus 28:17 and 39:10). The jasper and the sardine stone are the first and last of these twelve stones. The jasper represented Reuben, the first of the tribes, since Reuben was the firstborn of Jacob. The sardine stone represented Benjamin, the youngest of the twelve sons of Jacob. In other words, the two stones represented the first and the last and therefore may be regarded as including all the other stones in between, that is, the whole of the covenanted people; first and last, beginning and end, or alpha and omega; a perfect description of Jesus.

Emerald derives its name from the Persian word for green. For many, the emerald is considered to be the symbol of rebirth. This fits with the rainbow surrounding the throne which looks like an emerald. The rainbow that is the symbol of God's covenant to never again destroy the earth by a flood is a symbol of a new beginning; a rebirth. John is also describing the glory of the Lord in this verse. "Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around…" (Ezekiel 1:28)

Also around the throne there are twenty four seats, "and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.” These twenty four elders represent a peace offering to God. Even though Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for the remission of our sins, there remains a requirement in us for offerings to be made where disobedience in still in place. Certainly our sins are forgiven when we confess them, but the root of the sin still remains. It is the root of our sin, the carnal mind, that must be overcome. The offering He demands is our will. We must lay down our lives that we may find His life flowing in us. These elders wear white raiment representing righteousness and have on their heads crowns of gold representing the authority of Jesus Christ.

John sees lightnings (His glory), thunderings (His authority), and voices which represent the corporate appearing of Jesus through His Bride. "For as the lightning comes out of the east, and shines even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." (Matthew 24:27) 'As far as the east is from the west' means infinity because the east and west never meet. Every eye will see Jesus in His Bride when the New Jerusalem comes down out of heaven.

"And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal". To approach His throne, we must see our reflection that we may know what spots and blemishes remain in us that we may surrender these areas to the Lord to be cleansed and made whole. This sea of glass is the brazen laver that was in the Tabernacle of Moses and in the Temple (for we are the temple of God) where the priests would wash before doing service in the Holy Place. If we peer into the altar, we will see our reflection; how we truly appear before the Lord. The mirror effect of the laver and the sea of glass represent the way that the Holy Spirit reveals our imperfections.

"And in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind." Once these imperfections are surrendered, Christ is poured into our lives. The beasts represent stages of growth, stages along the path that leads to life, that can be attained through Christ's work in us and our cooperation with Him. The eyes are His and they see all.

"And the first beast was like a lion". This is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah sitting on the throne of our heart, This represents our surrender to Him and the Christ-in-us transforming us. As He transforms us, we will attain one of three levels of maturity in Him; depending on how much we are willing to surrender to Him.

There are many uses of three used throughout the Bible to describe how high we have ascended in Him. The thirty-sixty-hundredfold measures of fruit in the parable of the sower are levels of maturity or fruitfulness we have attained. John describes these as children, young men, and fathers. Revelation describes stars, moon, and sun. Zechariah 1:8 shows red, speckled, and white horses. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We find the way as immature believers learning to be led by the Holy Spirit, who will lead us to know the Truth in the person of Jesus Christ, who will lead us to know the Father. The servant who becomes one with the Lord, who is made a king in the Kingdom of God, will be taken by our great High Priest behind the veil and lay hold on eternal life through entering into His rest, ceasing from our own works, and abiding continually in His presence (under the shadow of the Almighty).

The same pattern is shown here with the calf, man, and flying eagle. The calf is immature; a thirty-fold fruit producer, or child, or star, or red horse, or one who is on the Way justified by the blood of the Lamb. The man is more mature; a sixty-fold fruit producer, or a young man, or a moon, or a speckled horse (much righteousness showing forth mingled with spots and blemishes), or one who knows the Truth in the person of Jesus Christ. John said: "I have written unto you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.” (I John 2:14) Paul said: "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." (I Corinthians 13:11)

The flying eagle differs greatly from the calf and the man. The calf and the man are earthbound, but not the flying eagle. The flying eagle is free to soar in the heavenlies and be a conduit between heaven and earth. The flying eagles are the messengers to the churches and the 'angels' of the book of Revelation. They are hundred-fold fruit producers, the fathers, white horses (robes of righteousness), suns (showing forth the brilliance of the glory of the Lord), and the manifest sons of God being led by the Spirit and having entered in His rest; walking as Jesus walked this earth in total obedience to Him. They have attained His Life; for it is no longer they who live but Christ in them. (Galatians 2:20) They are His mouthpiece and manifest His glory wherever they go.

Each beast has six wings. Six is the number of man or carnality. The wings bring the man up higher to overcome the carnal nature. They are full of eyes within. The first description said they were full of eyes before and behind; now they are described as being full of eyes within. They are focused inwardly to search our hearts. The wings, eyes, and declarations of these beasts point to the Cherubim over the mercy seat. The Lord dwells in the midst of the Cherubim (Psalms 80:1 and 99:1)

When the beasts give glory, honor, and thanks to Jesus, the twenty four elders fall down. This shows our surrender to Him. We cast our crowns before the throne signifying that we have given up our will in favor of doing His will. We have sold out and laid down our lives that we may inherit His life and be vessels that bring His light to a dark and carnal world.

"You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for you have created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created." We were created for His pleasure and He has great pleasure in His obedient servants that do His will. The Garden of Eden was created for us and will be our eternal abode with Him. We are headed back to the original plan where we will forever be with the Lord.

The first four chapters of Revelation are laid out in a manner that we can see a flow that allows us to receive the message given. Throughout the rest of the book, such an approach is not possible. To receive the message given in chapters 5 through 22 we have to put scriptures together like a giant jigsaw puzzle, which only the Holy Spirit can do. In this chapter we will see many patterns in the spiritual language God uses to reveal His message to His servants.

The seven seals are truths that have been sealed until this generation. We are truly in the end times, but it is not given to us to know when these times will occur; only what will occur. Christ is the only One worthy to open the seals and then reveal them to His servants. The thunders are His voice giving instruction.

In the Old Testament, the word thunderings is used in Exodus 9:27-28; "And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. Intreat the Lord (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer." The Hebrew word for thunders or thunderings is 'qol', which means to call aloud, a voice or a sound.

It is used with the same meaning in Exodus 20:18-19; "And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak you with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die". These same words are used in the book of Revelation. Thunderings are His voice speaking to His servants (His messengers) and revealing the message they are to convey, trumpets are the revelation His voice brings, and lightnings are the light or understanding that comes from His voice.

The mountain smoking is the great mountain burning with fire used in Revelation. The smoke is His glory revealed through the Refiner's fire. This represents a perfecting personal revelation of Christ through the face to face encounter with Him and the resulting Christ-in-you manifestation. This encounter is like the encounter Moses had with the burning bush in his mountain top experience. Those that have this experience with Christ are changed into His image, in stark contrast to those carnal Christians who make up most of the church. As these messengers share their revelation of Christ, judgement will come into the hearts of those whom they touch.

Sadly, many of the carnal Christians who encounter the messengers who are sent by the Lord will remove and stand afar off, and refuse to hear His voice, just as Israel did in Exodus 20:18-19. "And it came to pass, when you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, (for the mountain did burn with fire,) that you came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders; And you said, Behold, the Lord our God has shown us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God does talk with man, and he lives. Now therefore why should we die? for this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any more, then we shall die." (Deuteronomy 5:23-25)

Too many will refuse to be 'struck' by the lightning of revelation that their carnality may be revealed and that they may be delivered through death to self. Those that refuse the message that Christ brings are those who are unwilling to lay down their lives (that which pertains to the flesh, their will) that they may find life. They love their lives more than they love Christ. They will be eternally separated from Christ. "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul." (Hebrews 10:38-39)

The word thunders or thunderings is used several times in the book of Revelation. The Greek word used in each of these cases is 'bremo', which means to roar. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah is roaring His message from His throne to all His people. Some will embrace His message and be harvested into His Bride. Many others will fight against the Bride as the Harlot, and they as Babylon will fall.

"And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God." (Revelation 4:5) "And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake." (Revelation 8:5) "And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. (Revelation 10:3-4) "And the temple of God (we are His temple) was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake (shaking that brings purification), and great hail (time of reckoning; yield or be lost)." (Revelation 11:19) “And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.” (Revelation 16:18) "And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters (many people declaring the same doctrine; in some cases it is the Bride and in others the Harlot), and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigns." (Revelation 19:6)

Daniel reveals that "Seventy weeks are determined upon your people and upon your holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate." (Daniel 9:24-27)

A week is seven years. So 490 years has been determined (the Hebrew word 'chathak' which means to cut off or decree) by the Lord to 1) finish the transgression (to bring an end to the rebellion in God's people), 2) make an end of sins (the overcomers overcome sin and the world), 3) make reconciliation (from the Hebrew word 'kaphar' which means to make atonement, cleanse, or purge) for iniquity (from the Hebrew word 'avown' which means evil or sin); purging sin from His body to create a perfect Bride without spot or wrinkle, 4) to bring in everlasting righteousness (a new heaven and a new earth), 5) to seal up the vision and prophecy (this concludes all that is written in the visions of Daniel and John), and 6) to anoint the most Holy (to establish Jesus as King and put all enemies under His feet).

From the "going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks. So a timeline is given for the coming of Jesus. So 483 years from the commandment given to restore and build Jerusalem, the Word became flesh and was born into this world. The seventieth week relates to the ministry of Jesus. Jesus has a seven year ministry (confirming the covenant with many for one week). The first three and a half years spanned His first ministry here on earth and then He was cut off (crucified). In the midst of the week, He caused the sacrifice and oblation to cease (the Levitical priesthood ended and now we have a great High Priest after the order of Melchizedek in the person of Jesus Christ). This leaves three and a half years remaining in the ministry of Jesus. This speaks of His end-time ministry where He will pour out His wrath upon the desolate (that which is carnal).

Most agree that the Tribulation period is a literal seven year period. I believe that as well. Revelation is separated into two halves; 42 months and three and one half years. Forty two is the number of His appearing. From Abraham to the appearing of the Lord were 42 generations. Jesus ministered for 42 months in the natural and then He was glorified. It will be 42 months in the final preparing of His Bride and the ending of the church age before He appears to the world in His Bride, who has become His Wife. 42 months is three and one half years. Add the two halves and you get seven years.

Each of the seven thunders correlates with a year of the seven year period known as the great Tribulation. A thunder is the message given by the Lord to His servants. The thunder is spoken by the Lord after He opens a seal. 

The seal is the message that has been reserved for the appointed time. When something is sealed, it is hidden or locked away until the time comes for the seal to be broken or opened. Only the Lord can open or loose the seals. "And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. "And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders said to me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints. And they sang a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And has made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." (Revelation 5:1-10)

Those singing are the redeemed who have bowed the knee to the lordship of Jesus Christ. They have been delivered out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation. The kindred are those who are Jacob's descendants in the Old Testament and Christians in the New. They are part of the many waters that the Harlot rides upon. Tongue means speaking the same doctrine or bound by doctrine. They are the cause of division within the body of Christ. People are those who gather together as part of agreement in doctrine albeit false doctrine and are part of the many waters. Nation refers to the called. Many are called, but few are chosen. Few find the path that leads to life, but many walk the broad path that leads to destruction.

"And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see you hurt not the oil and the wine. And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casts her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Revelation, chapter 6)

When the first seal is opened, John sees a white horse (Zechariah 1:8). These are the righteous ones who have died to self upon whom the Lord rides. We are His vehicles. He carries a bow (promise), the promises to the overcomers. He wears a crown, His authority, and goes forth to conquer all that opposes Him, all that is worldly, that all His enemies be put under His feet.

The second seal reveals a red horse that represents the life in the blood of the Lamb. He is removing peace (complacency) from the earth (carnality). The Lord wields a great sword (the true revelation of Christ) that causes men to kill one another (iron sharpening iron) that will perfect those in the body of Christ who will embrace death to self.

The third seal reveals a black horse which represents the darkness He is revealing. "The light of the body is the eye: therefore when your eye is single, your whole body also is full of light; but when your eye is evil, your body also is full of darkness. Take heed therefore that the light which is in you be not darkness." (Luke 11:34-35) He carries a pair of balances in His hand meaning that He is coming to judge. He weighs all of us in the balances to see if our actions match our profession. Do we honor Him with our lips yet our heart is far from Him, or do we walk the walk we profess? His judgement will separate those who are His (wheat) in order to increase their fruitfulness in Him (barley). He protects that which is His; the oil and the wine speak of that which is of His Spirit.

In the fourth seal He comes on a pale horse, representing those who have died to this world. Those that have died to self will bring the church into final judgement. The judgement for rejecting Christ is Hell. This is a transition period in the tribulation. Three and one half years have expired and the church age has come to an end. The Bride has been formed and is now receiving power over the fourth part (that which may yet be redeemed). "His name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them." He is giving His power to His Bride to harvest all the life that can be gathered out of the church. The time is short. Babylon is about to fall.

In the fifth seal, it is time to prepare for the great harvest. The Church age is finished and the Bride is prepared to reveal Jesus to the world that has never accepted Him as Savior. The souls that were slain are those that have died to self and cry out that their blood be avenged, meaning to vindicate their sacrifice and show everyone it was worth the price they paid. They are anxious to participate in the greatest outpouring of His Spirit the world has ever experienced. They are given white robes, robes of righteousness, which are wedding coats as they transition from the Bride to the Wife of the Lamb. These white robes are glorified bodies. There are yet still others that need to come into this place of death that they have achieved and are told to be patient. The Lord is ready to appear to the world in His Wife, who is one with Him and exudes His love. They will show forth His love by their love one for another. "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another." (John 13:35)

The sixth seal is the great harvest. "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." (Matthew 24:14) Everything that can be shaken will be shaken until all that is left is that which is Christ's. There is a great earthquake, a 'shaking' that brings separation of that which is worldly from that which is Christ's. The sun, moon, and stars as used here refer to degrees of man's glory. The sun becomes black as sackcloth (mourning the loss of that which they love of themselves) of hair (their covering). The moon (the lusts of the flesh) became as blood, for only the blood of the Lamb can deliver them. And the stars of heaven fall to the earth as untimely figs that refuse to mature or be impacted by the pressure put upon them to repent.

And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together. The veil between the new heaven and the new earth is lifted. Every mountain (lofty places of pride) and island (selfish separation) is moved out its place. Yet with all that is being revealed as truth, many will cling to their carnal nature and do whatever they can to keep from facing the judgement of God. Jesus is being revealed to them so that they are without excuse, no place to hide. All recognize that God is on the throne and that their position or earthly strength cannot deliver them from judgement. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord whether they accept Him or not.

When the seventh seal is opened, there is silence for an undisclosed period (Revelation 8:1) The seventh seal brings conclusion to all things. It would seem that these seals would have happened in chronological order which would make sense to our carnal minds. But keep in mind, God is outside of time, space, and matter. These things were created for us to live in our natural environment. The spirit realm is not subject to these things and God's thoughts and ways are not ours. We will see later that the seventh seal is both a beginning and an end.

Almost all uses of the word 'angel' or 'angels' in the New Testament is 'aggelos' which means 'messenger'. In the book of Revelation, these messengers are the 'flying eagles' who we have previously discussed. "And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel." (Revelation 7:1-4)

Many have gone on before us that have attained this place of 'sonship' and unity with the Lord that are flying eagles. They are not standing idly by while all this is going on. There are those flying eagles in heaven that are being used by the Lord and those flying eagles on earth that are being used by the Lord. These servants of the Lord that are sealed in their foreheads are those on earth that have attained the mind of Christ. They are the 144,000. Their association with the tribes of Israel is spiritual. "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." (Romans 2:28-29)

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

These are the sold out believers who have laid down their lives and given all to the Lord. They are the messengers that the Lord sends out to reveal His message to His Church and to the world. They will bring judgement to all that want to cling to their selfish, carnal lives and tribulation to all that is carnal. They are the great and mighty army of Joel chapter 2.

"A great people and a strong; there has not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. A fire devours before them; and behind them a flame burns: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executes his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? (Joel 2:2-11)

These 144,000 are as one man in their unity. They walk according to the direction of the Lord and do not break rank. Nothing will be hid from their eyes for they see through the eyes of the Lord. They will be used to extract all the life that can be brought forth (before them is as the garden of Eden) and leave behind all that remains rebellious (behind them a desolate wilderness). Their appearance is as horses (they are the ones whom the Lord rides). Their flame, the refiner's fire, will burn before them and behind them. Those that fight them will experience pain and the faces of those that rebel will gather much blackness (the darkness of their hearts exposed).

There is a time of preparation before the time of tribulation may begin. The 144,000 do not just appear. They have been in the making for quite some time. It takes much time and suffering to bring forth the level of death to this world and the depth of Christ-in-you that is required to walk in unity with the Lord. The seventh seal was broken long ago as Christ was preparing His messengers. These messengers (perhaps you are one) have had to walk out the book of Revelation before being counted worthy of this calling. The Lord has been preparing a sold out generation that will carry out His glorious end time plan.

"And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour." (Revelation 8:1) This silence speaks of the preparation the Lord has been accomplishing in those servants He will use to carry out His plans. "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalms 46:10) Stillness marks intimacy with the Lord, having ears to hear what He says. Our mind must be quieted that His mind may have preeminence. There is no other way that we can hear His voice and be obedient to do His will.

"And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets." "And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound." (8:2,6) The trumpets are the revelatory voice of God, giving His message to His servants who have now been prepared to take this message to its intended recipients. The seventh seal is both a beginning in the preparation of God's plan and the conclusion of this world as we know it. The trumpets show us God's plan.

The angels or messengers are also commanded to bring forth His judgement which are shown by vials. These vials are 'poured out' or dispensed as the messengers carry out the word of the Lord according to Joel 2. "And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth." (16:1) We will look at the pattern of the trumpets and the vials as they reveal what the Lord is doing in different stages of the Tribulation.

"The first angel sounded (trumpet), and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burned up, and all green grass was burned up." (8:7) "And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image." (16:2)

Notice that the target of both the first trumpet and the first vial is the earth, or that which is carnal. More specifically, that which is carnal in the church. The third part is God's part or that which is redeemable. The green grass is that which has life in it, that which can be perfected through the hail (judgement) and the refiner's fire mingled with blood (life - the life is in the blood). The green grass is burned up, meaning that it was perfected by the Refiner's fire.

The judgement that is produced by the vial being poured out on the earth produces a noisome and grievous sore on those that carry the mark of the beast. Only Christians can carry the mark of the beast. There are two types of people; those born again and those in the flesh. Those that are in the flesh have no other way to conduct themselves but by walking after the flesh. Christians, however, have a choice; to walk after the Spirit or to walk after the flesh. Those that are walking after the flesh are being exposed by the ministry of the 144,000. The beast is the carnal nature and the mark of the beast is exposed through the right hand (action) or through the forehead (thought). Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks; and the carnal Christians are being exposed by their speech, their actions, and their way of thinking. They can no longer hide who they are by a spiritual facade, their 'grievous sore' is a spiritual mark that gives them away. They compose the 'lukewarm' church, the Harlot. Thus begins the final battle between the Bride and the Harlot as judgement has come to the church. "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (I Peter 4:17)

"And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed." (8:8-9) "And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea." (16:3)

The target of the second trumpet and second vial is the sea. The great mountain burning with fire (the revelation of Christ being revealed in His servants; the elect) is cast into the sea (the heart of the church). Wonderful things are happening here as the third part of the sea (God's part) becomes blood (full of life) and the third part of the creatures (people) which were in the sea and had life (self life) died (died to self) and a third part of the ships (ministries that were deceiving the people) were destroyed. Then the vial is poured out on the sea and the sea became as the blood of a dead man (much life was brought forth) and every living soul died (to self). This second outpouring is having great effect on the church and many are embracing the message of the Bride and joining Her.

"And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter." (8:10-11) "And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters say, You are righteous, O Lord, which is, and was, and shall be, because you have judged thus. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments." (16:4-7)

Now the target becomes the rivers (organizations) and fountains of waters (the hearts of the people in these organizations). The great star from heaven (Christ) is now descending into the very sources of the carnal nature of the corporate church, burning as a lamp and bringing light into every crevice of the church. This star is called Wormwood as Christ turns His part (third part) into bitter waters and many die to self as a result. The vial that is poured out becomes blood and life comes forth from it. The message of the trumpet is the righteousness of the Lord; true and righteous are His judgements. They have shed the blood of saints and prophets (in unrighteousness), but the Lord is merciful and has given them blood to drink (we must eat His flesh and drink His blood for the Christ-in-you to manifest). The end of the church age is near, and most of the life that can be harvested from the church has been accomplished.

"And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!" (8:12-13) And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which has power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory." (16:8-9)

Final judgement has come in the House of God. The sun, the moon, and the stars (varying degrees of God's glory) become hidden from those that walk without revelation. All have come to know that it is the Lord who is bringing judgement but many still cling to their love of this world. They are now in darkness. And even in terrible suffering because of their rebelliousness, they still do not repent. "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has shown it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened." (Romans 1:18-21)

This marks the mid-point of the tribulation period with the Bride now prepared for the wedding celebration and the Harlot being turned over to her true state of darkness. A transition is taking place that will turn the attention away from the Harlot and focus on the world that has never received Christ as Savior. "Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!" This is a message to the world to get ready for the appearing of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

"And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he strikes a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue his name is Apollyon. One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter." (9:1-12)

We are now in the second dispensation of the tribulation period where the attention is upon the inhabiters of the earth. These people have had no clue that there was any battle going on because the battle was a spiritual one between the Bride and the Harlot. The Bride has now become the Wife of the Lamb, the New Jerusalem, who has come down out of heaven to reveal the One with whom she is one. Every eye will see Jesus through His Wife. We will discuss the marriage that has taken place in chapter 7.

The Star, Jesus, 'falls' on those of the earth. He holds the key of the bottomless pit (the heart). The key is the gateway to either heaven or hell, depending upon whether He is received or rejected. Jesus is able to heal any heart issue if we will only allow Him to do so. Smoke (His glory, His presence) arises from the pit as a great furnace to perfect that which is disobedient. The sun (man's glory) and the air (the spiritual realm of which Satan is god) are darkened (darkness revealed) by His light. Locusts (His great and mighty army) come out of the smoke and give revelation that 'stings' the inhabitants of the earth and makes them 'sick' of this world. Either they will be offended or they will come out of the world that Christ may bring healing.

In those days men shall seek death but not find it. The time is too short for these to die to self, so the goal is to bring them to a place of repentance and not fall away so they can be harvested for the Millennium. The locusts are described as being shaped like horses (His messengers), with crowns of gold (His authority), having faces of men (for so they are in their natural appearance), with teeth as lions (like their Lord), and breastplates (righteousness) of iron (ruling with a rod of iron). They have a king whose name is Apollyon (means destroyer) who brings the wrath of God. This is the Lord's doing, but He is using Satan to accomplish His purpose; just as He did in using the destroyer in the first Passover.

"And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds." (16:10-11) This judgement is poured out on the 'seat of the beast', which is worldliness and carnality. The beast's kingdom is Babylon. Although Babylon has fallen, Satan still has those who did not repent and are still usable by him in his effort to somehow thwart God's plan. This will all soon come to a head.

"One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter. And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand: and I heard the number of them. And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts." (9:12-21)

Euphrates means to 'break forth'. All heaven is breaking forth to put all enemies under Jesus' feet. The Euphrates is the natural source of water for Babylon and God is causing the source of life to Babylon (the world system) to dry up. "And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon." (16:12-16)

God is now bringing tribulation and wrath upon all the sources of Satan's lies. His Truth will dry up the lies of Satan and make the way for His mighty army to bring a final ultimatum. The people will learn that the world is the enemy of God and that they have been deceived into serving a false system. The glory and appeal of the world is now shown for what it is; empty desolation. In his desperation to retain control, Satan uses lying spirits (frogs) to work miracles and appeal to the carnal nature of the people, probably on a global scale. All are brought together in one final place of choice; Armageddon (the great winepress of God).

Armageddon has two meanings: one is 'to pour upon' and the other is 'to surround, take, or seize". The army of God has surrounded and exposed all that is of the lie. There is no place for anyone to hide from the Truth. In this judgement, all the evil of carnality and worldliness is clearly seen for its vile nature. Those who choose the world over the Lord are lost forever.

"And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh." (19:17-21)

The great company of flying eagles has come to consume the flesh (the carnality) of kings, captains, mighty men, those that sit on horses, and the flesh of all men, free and bond, small and great. They consume their flesh in an attempt to free them from their bondage. Last chance to choose; life or eternal death. Those that choose life will go on. The beast and the false prophet (the foundation for all of Satan's lies) are destroyed in the lake of fire burning with brimstone.

"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give you thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which is, and was, and are to come; because you have taken to you your great power, and have reigned. And the nations were angry, and your wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that you should give reward unto your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear your name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail." (11:15-19)

“And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.” (16:17)

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." (Hebrews 13:8) God does not change. James says in 1:17 that with God there is "no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” There is no change in God's ways either. His message and His methodology in relating to His creation have been the same since the beginning.

After the fall of man through the first Adam, God taught the people about His laws. They understood that "almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." (Hebrews 9:22) They understood the need for a blood sacrifice to atone for sin. God not only taught about sin and the atonement thereof in the letter of the law, He also gave them understanding concerning the overcoming of sin if they would seek to know Him in the Spirit of the law as evidenced by Enoch. Enoch, the seventh from Adam, came to know God so intimately that he was taken by God without seeing physical death. For it is "appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment". (Hebrews 9:27) Enoch died to self and overcame the world in his obedience to God, fulfilling the requirement of death without having to see physical death.

When God revealed the fullness of the law through Moses, He revealed not only the letter of the law, but the Spirit of the law as evidenced by Samuel. "And Samuel said, Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." (I Samuel 15:22) To obey the voice of the Lord you need ears to hear what the Spirit says. To have ears to hear, you must be changed from being carnally minded to being spiritually minded. This transition is accomplished only as you become a living sacrifice; laying down all that pertains to self and seeking to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth.

When the Word became flesh, He fulfilled the law and demonstrated the Spirit of the law. "Though he was a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered" (Hebrews 5:8) He was "in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)  "For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps." (I Peter 2:21)

The Lord left us an example of overcoming sin. He said in John 8:34; "whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin.” He went on to say in verse 36 "if the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed." We cannot be free if we serve sin. We cannot be free if our goal is to be forgiven of sin and not to overcome sin. "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins." (Hebrews 10:4) The blood of the Lamb covers sin. Confession brings forgiveness of sin. But these two things do not take away sin. We are not set free of sin by confession. We are set free as we allow the Lord to transform us by the renewing of our minds and overcome sin so we are no longer the servants of sin. "And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2)

Overcoming sin is the manifestation of Christ in you, the hope of glory. "Even the mystery which has been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily." (Colossians 1:26-29)

The mystery of Christ-in-you has been hidden until now. It is this generation that has been prepared by the Lord to receive this revelation; which will also be revealed to the Gentiles (those outside the church) during the latter part of the Tribulation period. In previous generations this mystery has been revealed to only a few individuals. Now the Lord is breaking the seals and revealing this to a remnant that has sought to know Him with all their heart. These messengers will take this message to the church first, then the world.

Christ-in-you is a place of maturity attained by those who do not quit while walking along the path that leads to life. There are few that find this path, and fewer still that 'sell all they have that they may obtain the pearl of great price'. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it." (Matthew 13:45-46) Jesus is that pearl of great price, and to obtain Him one must give up all that pertains to this life and be crucified with Christ.

To understand Christ-in-you we must understand fruit and how we bear it; for we are known by our fruit. "Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit." (Matthew 12:33) You cannot produce good fruit on your own. Apart from Jesus you can do nothing that is good. You either submit to Jesus as Lord and allow Him to sit on the throne of your heart, or you reject Him and do all things in your own strength and understanding.

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that bears not fruit he takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing. If a man abides not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned." (John 15:1-6)

The Greek word for abide as used here is 'meno', which means to "stay in a given place, or to continue, dwell, endure, or remain". In the above scripture, Jesus reveals three types of people that are part of His body; the body of Christ: 1) a branch that does not bear fruit, 2) a branch that bears fruit, and 3) a branch that abides in Him and He in them that brings forth much fruit.

If one does not abide in Jesus, then he cannot produce good fruit. He is a corrupt tree that produces corrupt fruit because there is no life flowing into Him from the Vine. He will be 'taken away'; meaning that he will be told to depart from Jesus at the judgement seat of Christ because Jesus 'never knew him'. He is a 'tare' according to the parable of the wheat and the tares. "Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that sows the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels (flying eagles). As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 13:36-42)

Those branches that bear fruit do so because they abide in Jesus. The Father 'purges' them that they may produce more fruit. The Greek word for purges is 'kathairo' which means to cleanse or prune. The Father purges that which is carnal by 'pruning' the branch through suffering and affliction that they may decrease in carnality and become more Christlike.

The branches that abide in Him and He in them are those that have achieved Christ-in-you. They produce much fruit because they have been pruned to the point where Christ manifests in them and through them. They are the sixty and hundredfold fruit producers in the parable of the sower.

The Tabernacle of Moses gives us an excellent depiction of the body of Christ and the branches therein. There are three sections of the Tabernacle; the Outer Court, the Inner Court or Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies. The Outer Court represents the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the Inner Court the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy of Holies the ministry of the Father.

The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to lead us into relationship with Jesus. Most assume that they know Jesus because they are born again, but we are born again by the Spirit of the Lord, not the Lord Himself. We begin in the outer court of the Tabernacle which contains the brazen laver and the brazen altar. We bring our sacrifice (our confession of sin) where we receive forgiveness of our sins. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9) Some stop there, thinking that that is all that is required of them, and go back into the world to be led by the flesh.

Others will hearken to the leading of the Holy Spirit to peer in the brazen altar, where the priests would wash, and notice that although their sins have been forgiven there are still blemishes and dark spots that remain. They are led to look at the brazen altar where the sacrifices are burned, and receive the revelation of the need to become a 'living sacrifice'. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:1-2)

Some will experience the refiner's fire, endure for a while, but then turn away; being influenced by the flesh and their love for the world. These are the ones in the parable of the sower whose seed falls upon stony ground or among the thorns. "But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that hears the word, and anon with joy receives it; Yet has he not root in himself, but endures for a while: for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. (Matthew 13:20-22) Those branches that never go past the outer court are those that produce no fruit. They do not abide in the Vine. They do not fellowship with Jesus since He in is the Holy Place. "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

Others will submit themselves to the refiner's fire and embrace the transformation that is occurring as a result; seeking to know the Lord and be like Him. At an appointed time when the vessel is ready, the Holy Spirit will spiritually bring him into the office of the priest, where he may minister in the Holy Place and come to know Jesus. The Holy Spirit will spiritually change his garments that he may be in the presence of the Lord. "And for Aaron's sons you shall make coats, and you shall make for them girdles, and bonnets shall you make for them, for glory and for beauty. And you shall put them upon Aaron your brother, and his sons with him; and shall anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office. And you shall make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach: And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity, and die: it shall be a statute for ever unto him and his seed after him. (Exodus 28:40-43)

The Holy Spirit will bring the branch into the Holy Place. The first stop is the seven golden candlesticks which represent Jesus as the light of the world and the seven fold flow of the Holy Spirit. "And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord". (Isaiah 11:2) The branch has been much pruned through the refiner's fire, which continues to bring forth more fruit as he comes to know the fullness of the Holy Spirit and the light of Jesus begins to burn in him brightly. "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16) These are the thirty fold fruit producers in the parable of the sower.

As the branch continues to allow death-to-self and the crucifying of the flesh to work in him, he is brought to the Table of Shewbread. The shewbread represents Jesus as the Bread of Life. As Jesus is spiritually consumed, the branch experiences Christ-in-you, the hope of glory. Jesus begins to manifest Himself in His servant and His glory is seen in His servant. This is the result of an intimate relationship with the Lord like a romantic candlelit dinner (by the light of the seven golden candlesticks) with His beloved. Those that achieve this place of knowing the Lord along the path that leads to life are the sixty fold fruit producers in the parable of the sower.

Those few branches that will give all to know the Lord will be brought to Altar of Incense. On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would take frankincense, beat it small, then grind it to powder.. He would take coals from the Altar and place them in the Golden Censer. He would then take of the powder and sprinkle it on the coals which were burning in the Golden Censer, producing a wonderful aroma that filled the Temple. Then he would stand before the veil of the Holy of Holies and wave the Golden Censer back and forth. He would wait to be translated behind the veil to perform His priestly duties in atoning for the sins of the people.

We have a great High Priest in the person of Jesus Christ, Who has entered once behind the veil to atone for our sins. His ministry is to lead us into relationship with the Father. However, no flesh shall glory in the presence of the Father, so all flesh must be consumed for the branch to enter behind the veil. At the Altar of Incense, Jesus takes the branch (as frankincense), beats the branch small, then grinds the branch to powder. "Jesus said to them, Did you never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." (Matthew 21:42-44) In the process of death-to-self the branch is broken, humbled, and made usable by Jesus. To enter into His rest,  the branch must have his carnal nature ground to powder as Jesus falls upon his servant, sprinkles His servant on the coals of the Golden Censer to produce a sweet smelling savor unto the Lord, and then takes His servant behind the veil to meet the Father where he will abide under the shadow of the Almighty, ceasing from his own works because it is no longer he who lives but Christ in him. Those few that reach this place in the Lord are the hundred fold fruit producers in the parable of the sower and the flying eagles which the Lord will send as His messengers.

"And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads." (Revelation 14:1) These 144,000 have entered behind the veil and have the Father's name written in their foreheads which means they have the mind of Christ. These messengers will be sent by the Lord to the Church, bearing a message to the church of overcoming sin. It is time for all of God's people to choose whether they will be vessels of honor or of dishonor. "Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his. And, Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. (2 Timothy 2:19-21)

"And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel." (Revelation 7:4) These are the 'firstfruits' company who are the first return in the great harvest that is about to take place. They are the 'portion of Jacob' which represent the promise to Abraham fulfilled. Abraham was looking for two promises: 1) a city whose builder and maker was God and 2) that his descendants would be as the sand of the sea. The portion of Jacob is the 12 tribes of Israel which through the tithe (the 144,000) will bring forth the New Jerusalem fulfilling the first promise to Abraham. The new Jerusalem (the Bride/Wife of the Lord) will bring forth the 'great winepress'; fulfilling the promise of Abraham's descendants being 'as the sand of the sea'. "For the Lord's portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance." (Deuteronomy 32:9) "They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish. The portion of Jacob is not like them; for he is the former of all things: and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: the Lord of hosts is his name." (Jeremiah 51:18-19)

Think not that any of this has to do with modern day Israel. Remember, God divorced Israel. "And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah has not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, says the Lord. And the Lord said unto me, The backsliding Israel has justified herself more than treacherous Judah." (Jeremiah 3:8-11) Yet, in God's faithfulness, the Lord came out of the tribe of Judah and is the sum of all promises to Abraham. Through Christ, the church became the new Bride and is therefore eligible for the promises given to Israel. The Lord is marrying a Bride without spot or wrinkle, not one He has divorced. "A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife." (Leviticus 21:14)

The messengers, the 144,000, have nothing to do with modern day Israel either. "And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things. Then said he unto me, See you do it not: for I am your fellowservant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God." (Revelation 22:8-9) This messenger was not an angel, but one like John; a fellowservant who warned him to not bow down and worship him. John saw the glory of this flying eagle's robe of righteousness and the glory of his countenance and was sure this was an angelic being. "And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound! (Revelation 8:13) The Greek word used here for angel is not 'aggelos' (messenger), but 'aetos' which means eagle. This is not a single eagle flying around through the midst of heaven, but a unified 144,000 firstfruits company speaking the message they are commanded to reveal by their Lord and Master.

The purpose of the 144,000 is to go forth and awaken a slumbering church with the message of 'Know the Lord' and the message of Christ-in-you, the hope of glory. This 'sword of truth' will bring great division in the body of Christ; a line drawn in the sand. Either people will choose to embrace Christ or reject Him. Those that embrace Him will also embrace the tribulation that will come against all that is carnal in them. Those that reject Him will seek to take comfort in that which is carnal in them, despise the tribulation that they are experiencing, and be used by Satan to make war on the saints.

Revelation chapter 12 tells a story of how this war begins. "And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time. And when the dragon saw that he was cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was angry with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."

The woman is the Bride of Christ, described spiritually according to the path that leads to life. The sun, moon, and stars are varying degrees of maturity within this path, just like 30, 60, and 100 fold and the calf, man, and flying eagles. She carries a man child; the manifest sons of God or the 144,000, and is travailing in pain for the child to be delivered. "For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who has subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." (Romans 8:19-23)

Satan marshals all his army, the third part of the stars (demons), to destroy the child when it is born. Satan knows that he has no authority or place in the man child since these sons of God are like The Son of God. They must be destroyed or they will defeat him. But the sons are caught up to God and His throne. This speaks of a spiritual place in Christ that the enemy cannot touch. His methods backfire. As the manifest sons appear, Satan does all he can to devour them. He throws all he can at them to keep them from manifesting against him. But all his attacks do is perfect them as they embrace death to self. The Church is brought into a place where she is fed by the manifest sons for 42 months.

While this is happening, Satan is fighting on another front. Satan has been the 'prince of the power of the air'. The 'air' is the second heaven; the Garden of Eden. Satan was not cast out of the Garden after the fall of man, but now there is war in the second heaven as Michael and his angels fight with Satan and his angels, resulting in Satan being cast out of the Garden. God is cleaning out the Garden in preparation for the wedding between the Bridegroom and His Bride.

Satan's only place of habitation is now the earth. He is angry because he knows his time is short. He persecutes the church and spues forth a flood of lies; ear tickling doctrines designed to ease the pain of the tribulation associated with pursuing a deeper relationship with Christ. This flood of lies will influence many Christians and Christian leaders, leading them to reject Christ through their affiliation with the world and their love for the world. The separation of the wheat and tares is now happening. Those who fornicate with the world will have their marriage contract made null and void.

The carnal church has long focused on the blessings of God instead of true relationship with Him. They love Jesus as Savior, but do not receive Him as Lord. The death-to-self message is offensive to carnal Christians who believe they are right with God because they are born again. In their minds they were not appointed to wrath, or even to suffer, because they believe that they have already attained eternal life. Satan's lies will entrench them in this belief and they will fight against the elect. They will believe that the elect are deceivers and false witnesses. For those who embrace Satan's lies, God will send a delusion so strong that if possible even the very elect would be deceived. "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12)

“And I stood on the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads the name of blasphemy.” (Revelation 13:1)  The “sea” in this scripture speaks of the heart of the church.  The beast, which is the carnal nature of man, rises up out of the heart of the church in response to the message of the manifest sons of God declaring ‘know the Lord’.  The beast has been operating in the church for over 1500 years, but now has to come out of hiding to protect that which has been so carefully manufactured. Satan has lured many an unsuspecting victim with his deception of the ‘saved by grace’ doctrine which has led the church into apathy and caused the church to become comfortable in her sin.  The church has been asleep.  Now the Lord is awakening those who desire to be His Bride to come out of their slumber and come out of the Harlot

The Beast is represented by seven heads.  Seven is the number of perfection, giving the Beast a spiritual look.  One of his heads is wounded.  “And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.” (Revelation 13:3)  This is when the Harlot rides the Beast giving the appearance of seven heads, thereby restoring the appearance of perfection.  The Beast has ten horns.  Ten is the number of judgment.  The Beast will initially judge the saints and try to ‘kill’ them, but ‘killing’ in spiritual terms is a good thing, for it speaks of death to self.  The more the saints are ‘killed’, the more righteous they become, so the Lord uses Satan’s tactics against him to prepare His Bride.  The Beast will ultimately turn on the Harlot as he is exposed and be used to judge her as she is destroyed as Babylon.  The Beast has ten crowns.  Crowns represent godly authority and judgement. The Beast that the Harlot rides upon will give the appearance to the world and the carnally minded that she (the Harlot) is the one whom God loves and has been ordained to rule with Him. She will do so for 42 months and then she will be destroyed.

“And that no man buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”  This buying and selling refers to doing business in the carnal church which is Babylon. “And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.  And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.  For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.  And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buys their merchandise any more.  The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing.  And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!  For in one hour so great riches have come to nought.  And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off.” (Revelation 18:1-3, 11, 15-17)

The word for merchant in Greek is megistanes, which means great men or lords in a royal court.  These ‘great men’ are the pastors of mega churches and leaders of great ministries across the world.  They are ‘merchants of the earth’ which means that their message is carnal and their objectives are carnal.  They care little for the welfare of the people; for they hold the perspective that the people should support them and their ministries through tithes and offerings, but it is God’s obligation to take care of the needs of the people. The people they deceive are assured that they are giving to God and that God will bless them in return for their giving; but this is a false message and an empty promise. They care more for the size of their ministries than for the people.  They are deceived into thinking that ‘the end justifies the means’ and will use even overt deception to attain that for which they lust. Their ‘merchandise’ is listed in Revelation 18 and includes not only all goods precious to the world, but men’s souls as well. God is the commodity that they trade. The whole system is predicated upon convincing people that they walk in truth, so if one wants to really know what God is saying then one needs to attend their church and support their ministry.

This is contrary to the will of God regarding those who teach and lead the people.  Any minister that is a true servant of the Lord must have it foremost on his heart to point the way to Jesus and to lead people to an intimate relationship with Him, not to dependence upon their ministry.  A true minister of the Lord will “feed the flock which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock.” (I Peter 5:2-3).

"And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth." And if any man will hurt them, fire proceeds out of their mouth, and devours their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. (Revelation 11:3-6)

For 3 1/2 years the Bride church has been ministering to the Harlot church, clothed in sackcloth (humility). She, the Bride, has demonstrated the true worship of God in Spirit and in Truth (the two witnesses). "But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24)  She has stood before the "God of the earth" (Satan) and has patiently overcome every fiery dart he has hurled. She has met the Harlot's attacks with love and demonstrated the spiritual mind, the mind of Christ, as ambassadors of Christ and His love for her (the Harlot). She has pleaded with those who are carnal in the church to come out of her. "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues." (revelation 18:4)

Many have hearkened to the ministry of the Bride and her numbers have grown from 144,000 to 200 million. "And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them." (Revelation 9:16) As big as that number sounds, it is still only a remnant of the church. Most still cling to their love of the world, even after all they have seen, heard, and experienced. The church age has come to an end and Babylon is destroyed. "For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she has filled fill to her double. How much she has glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she says in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judges her." (Revelation 18:5-8)

"And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelled on the earth. And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up here. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were afraid, and gave glory to the God of heaven." (Revelation 11:7-13)

When the two witnesses (Spirit and Truth manifested and ministered by the Bride church) have finished their testimony, the war between the Bride and the Harlot will cease. The Harlot will think she has won. These two prophets that had so tormented her are now nowhere to be found. She rejoices, and those that are a part of her make merry and send gifts one to another. This celebration lasts for three and a half days and is consistent with the Lord's crucifixion when He was on this earth. This is the meaning of "and their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified." Think of the celebration that must have gone on in the demonic realm when they thought they had defeated the Lord by crucifying Him. "But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." (I Corinthians 2:7-8)

What is really happening with the Bride during this time is hidden to the Harlot. The Bride has heard a great voice from heaven saying "Come up here", and has ascended to heaven in a cloud. This is not a literal cloud, but a spiritual cloud of her being gathered together. "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (I Thessalonians 4:13-17)

In this I Thessalonians passage we see three types of people: 1) those which sleep in Jesus, 2) the dead in Christ, and 3) those which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord. Those which sleep in Jesus are those saints that have passed away and are not on the earth at the time the Lord gathers His Bride for the wedding. The Bride and the Harlot are not New Testament entities. Salvation is not a New Testament concept. The New Testament is the fulfillment of the Old Testament foundation. Jesus said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." (Matthew 5:17)  Jesus is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8), so all who have chosen to serve Him with all their heart are part of His Bride.  "And I say to you, that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 8:11) The Lord brings those that are 'asleep' with Him to the marriage; they will not be preceded or prevented from coming to the place of meeting.

The 'dead in Christ' are those that have fully died to self; the manifest sons of God (flying eagles). The dead in Christ 'rise' first, or are taken first. I believe the Lord has a special 'welcome' for these that have sold out to Him and have been used so mightily to prepare His Bride. Then those who are alive and remain (those who still have 'self life' in them and are here on earth at the time but are part of the Bride) are caught up together with all the other saints.

The Bride meets the Lord in the 'air'. The air is the second heaven which is the Garden of Eden. Earlier, there was war in heaven where Satan was cast out of the Garden. The Lord has prepared a place for His Bride. "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also." (Matthew 14:2-3) The Lord has descended from the third heaven "with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God". This shout, voice, and trumpet is the 'friend of the Bridegroom', announcing that the Bridegroom is coming. This voice is not heard by the Harlot. The Bride becomes the Wife of the Lord in a most glorious celebration that will last for 3 1/2 days. "And so shall we ever be with the Lord".

"And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, to the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he has judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all you his servants, and you that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigns. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he said to me, Write, Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said to me, These are the true sayings of God." (Revelation 19:1-9)

'And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." (Revelation 21:2) "And after three days and a half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them." The Harlot now sees the New Jerusalem in all her glory and splendor. Just like the demonic spirits that stirred the people to crucify Jesus and were in terror when they realized what they had done, she is now in horror as she realizes that she has rejected the Lord. But it is too late. She is like Esau. "Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For you know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears." (Hebrews 12:16-17)

"As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he said to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God that shows mercy. For the scripture said to Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore has he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardens. You will say then to me, Why does he yet find fault? For who has resisted his will? No but, O man, who are you that replies against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why have you made me thus? Has not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor? What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had before prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he has called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? As he said also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God." (Romans 9:13-26)

"And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were afraid, and gave glory to the God of heaven." The great earthquake is a shaking that brings separation; the tares are now separated from the wheat. The tenth part (God's part, the tithe) of the city (Babylon) fell; it was destroyed. The rest remains in ruin and the smoke of her destruction rises as a reminder to the remnant that remain and are afraid of the fate which awaits them.

"In the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand." This slaying is not of death-to-self for this is part of God's judgement against Babylon and these are not of the Bride but of the Harlot. They are part of the great number who stood against the Lord and His Bride. The Greek word for slain as used here is 'apokteino' which figuratively means to destroy. It comes from the root word 'apo' which denotes separation, departure, cessation, or completion. These that were destroyed lost everything; their power, position, and wealth. The others that witnessed the destruction are afraid, and give glory to God, even though there remains no hope for them.

The New Jerusalem that was the Bride has now come down out of heaven as the Wife. She is one with the Lord. "For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church." (Ephesians 5:30-32)

The church no longer exists. Babylon is fallen."The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 13:41-42) The Wife now focuses on the inhabiters of the earth; those that were not part of the church. "Behold, he comes with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." (Revelation 1:7)

In Matthew 26: 63-64, the high priest said to Jesus “I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you be the Christ, the Son of God.  Jesus said to him, ‘You have said: nevertheless I say to you, Hereafter shall you see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”  The word for hereafter in Greek is interpreted henceforth or from this present time forward. Jesus was saying that from now on you will see Me coming. In this case, we need to see how the word cloud or clouds is used elsewhere in scripture, since Jesus said He was coming in the clouds of heaven. “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them in the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people” (Exodus 13:21-22). “And it came to pass, as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud” (Exodus 16:10). “And glory of the Lord abode upon Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud” (Exodus 24:16).

The Lord met with Moses on the mount in a cloud.  When the tabernacle was finished, a cloud covered the tent of congregation and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.  When Solomon finished the temple and all the preparations were made, the priests came out of the Holy Place and “the cloud filled the house of the Lord. So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord” (1 Kings 8:10-11). On the mount of transfiguration, God appeared in a cloud and spoke out of the cloud saying, “This is my beloved Son: hear him” (Luke 9:35).

Acts 1:9-11; “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.  And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, you men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven?  This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven.”

When we see cloud or clouds in scripture we also see the appearing of the Lord and a manifestation of His glory. He was not seen physically, but He appeared in a physical manifestation. Hebrews 12:1 says “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which does so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us”.  Here we see cloud used in conjunction with a group of saints (the Bride) that has already finished their race and are cheering us on to finish the work here on earth that they may join us.

As we compare these uses of the words cloud and clouds we can see a pattern, because the word of God has definite patterns. A cloud is a vessel in which the Lord appears, just as clouds are vessels (plural).  When the Lord appears, His glory is made manifest.  Jesus has been coming or appearing for two thousand years. He has been appearing or being made manifest in those vessels who were broken enough, humbled enough, submitted enough, and faithful enough to manifest His glory.

He comes with clouds; the great cloud of witnesses along with those that were here on earth during the first dispensation. His Wife includes all who were of His Bride from the beginning; Abel, Enoch, Abraham, David and countless others. Every eye shall see Him through His Wife for they are now one flesh. They also which pierced Him; Jew and Gentile alike - none shall escape His presence and great fear will come upon all who are on the earth.

"And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven (flying eagles), Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That you may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great." (Revelation 19:17-18)

Eagles are flesh eating birds. Spiritually they love to devour that which is carnal or fleshly. With the wrath of God being poured out on all that is carnal, the carnality in man is easy prey. Satan's army is now reduced to those living on the earth that are fully carnally minded. The Wife has no problem overcoming those that withstand her that they may repent of their carnality. Many of the inhabiters of the earth receive the revelation of Christ and His love for them, as well as the deception they have been under by unwittingly doing the will of Satan. These will repent and turn to the Lord. There is not much time for them to die to self, so it becomes a matter of not fainting in the way while God finishes reaping His harvest.

Satan gathers everyone he can to do battle with the Lord in one final 'blitzkrieg' desperate attempt to defeat the Lord, much like the battle of the Bulge in World War II. This battle was Adolf Hitler’s last major offensive in World War II against the Western Front. Hitler’s goal was to split the Allies in their drive toward Germany. The German troops’ failure to divide Britain, France and America with the Ardennes offensive paved the way to victory for the allies. The battle of Armegeddon will result in Satan's final defeat.

"And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon." (Revelation 16:13-16)

Satan always mimics God. He cannot create since he is a created being. The best he can do is try to defeat God by using God's tactics, which has never worked. Satan became of a reprobate mind when he rebelled against God and does not understand that he cannot defeat God. God gave him over to a reprobate mind to do His will. His will is always accomplished by using Satan as a unwitting tool.

Just as God has degrees of maturity for those who walk on the path that leads to life (30, 60, 100 fold / calf, man, flying eagle / stars, moon, sun / children, young men, fathers, etc.), so Satan has levels of deception: false prophet, beast, and dragon. We see spirits come out of these deceived people who work miracles to gain the trust of others and convince them that God is bringing this tribulation just to hurt them. He is the 'accuser of the brethren', and he loves to accuse God as well. He always accuses God of being the malevolent one.

This final battle is most likely a global event. All of Satan's tactics are revealed and the evil of the carnal mind and nature is now clearly visible to all participants. Satan has done 'signs and wonders' through those spirits that have manifest in his servants, but they are void of life. The world is witnessing the life that is in the Wife; Her love, joy, and peace. Her signs and wonders are full of life and the difference between that which is false and that which is true is like day and night.

"And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army." (Revelation 19:19) He that sits on the horse is the Lord, and his army is His Wife. This battle is for the hearts and minds of those who live on the earth. Those whose hearts and minds are turned to the Lord will be given life in the Millenium. Those whose hearts and minds still long for the world where Satan rules will be annihilated. No more chance for those who reject the Lord.

And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs." (Revelation 14:18-20)

The Wife has been ministering to the world for 3 1/2 years and has brought forth much fruit through the 'vine of the earth' that has been created. The Lord is the vine (John 15) and now He has branches who abide in Him living on the earth. But true to His nature, He is going to squeeze out all the life that can be attained before He declares the end.

The grapes (those that have turned to the Lord) are fully ripe. They have joined in the battle of Armageddon to win the hearts and minds of those who have yet to receive Him. Many more join themselves to the Vine. The vine is gathered and thrust into the 'great winepress of the wrath of God' and are trodden (broken - He who falls upon the Stone will be broken) outside the city (the New Jerusalem). Blood (life) comes out in tremendous volume. The measurement (even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs) is not a natural measurement, but a spiritual one; denoting a great amount of life coming from the great winepress (the wrath of God convincing many to turn from their sin and follow Him).

"And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh." (Revelation 19:20-21)

The beast and the false prophet (those that manifest the spirit of antichrist in lying signs and wonders) are cast alive in the lake of fire burning with brimstone. This includes those of the dragon, but the dragon is not mentioned because the Lord has other plans for him. The others were slain (destroyed), and reserved for final judgement; which will not bode well for them. The lie in them was destroyed as the Truth (the sword of the Spirit which comes out of the mouth of the Lord) was made manifest. The Wife now enjoys the fruit of Her labor (filled with their flesh) in destroying all that is of the flesh.

"Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." (Revelation 20:6) This 'first resurrection' is for all that have become the Wife of the Lamb. To know Christ, you must know the 'power of His resurrection'. “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” (Philippians 3:10). The Wife has been through the process of being made comformable to His death through the fellowship of His sufferings, being crucified with Him through death to self, and now walks in the power of His resurrection as She knows Him even as She also is known because She is one with Him. The Wife will reign with Christ on earth for one thousand years, or the Millenium period.

There is another group of people that will live in the Millenium. These are ruled by the Lord through His Wife. During the Second Dispensation, these people cried out to the Lord and have been given a second chance to receive Him, that is, embrace Him as their Lord. This is such an expression of love from the Lord, since these people have been rejecting Him all their lives but now have called out to Him out of their suffering and the knowledge that they were deceived by Satan. At the end of the Millenium they will be tested to see if they truly love the Lord.

Isaiah 65:18-25 describes the life these people will live during the Millenium. "But be you glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. There shall be no more therefore an infant of days, nor an old man that has not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and my elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, says the Lord."

The former Jerusalem was rebellious and without understanding. God has created the New Jerusalem to be a people in whom He rejoices. He also has "joy in my people" (those that are living on the earth during the Millenium). There is peace on earth for Satan is bound for the thousand years. Life will go on as usual; infants will be born, crops planted, houses built, and their life span will be "as the days of a tree". All creation will live in harmony together without any hurt or destruction. There will be no crying or weeping.

Yet sin will still be present. Just like Adam and Eve disobeyed God, there will be those that are disobedient. The carnal nature has not been removed. The sinner will be accursed and will not inherit eternal life. Since these people are of the 'vine in the earth' they will be judged by Christ at His judgement seat, just like all before them that called on the name of the Lord. They will be judged by the same standard as the rest; their walk with the Lord.

"And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:7-15)

Satan is loosed as God uses him to bring another separation of the sheep and the goats. Satan deceives the nations to gather them together for battle. He knows now that he has lost and a terrible fate awaits him. He is simply trying to bring down as many with him as he can. This suits God's purpose in revealing those whose hearts are after His and those whose hearts are not.

Gog means 'mountain' and Magog means 'covering'. These places represent worldly worship (a covering) like a religion (man relating to God on his own terms, not through submission and obedience). The sea is the heart of this corporate gathering of those who are disobedient. The reference to Gog relates to the same thing that happened when Moses was on the mountain for a long time and the people became restless. They created their own God in the form of the golden calf. This same pattern emerges here as those who have yet to understand all they have been taught and have experienced of God's goodness lean to their own understanding and do that which is right in their own eyes. The wisdom of God is foolishness to them because His ways are higher (mountain) than their carnal ways and they will perish for lack of knowledge of Him.

These people are those that Satan gathers to encompass those that are still faithful to the Lord and the Wife of the Lamb (the beloved city, the New Jerusalem) who has taught them and ruled over them for the thousand years. They attack the saints with all manner of questions and challenges to Christ's authority just as the Hebrew children challenged Moses and the commandments God had given him. God answers with His refining fire, His perfecting fire, which is truth. Those that do not submit to the Truth will be deemed unworthy of the kingdom of Heaven.

"And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever." John sees a Great White Throne and Jesus sitting on it (from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away). This judgement is different than the Judgement Seat of Christ. Christ judges His people at His judgement seat, but here all those who are dead (without the life of Christ) stand before Him. Books are opened and every man is judged according to his works, which in this group are works of the flesh. Another book is opened which is the Lamb's Book of Life. "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." Death and hell were also cast into the lake of fire. "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8)

"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son." (Revelation 21:3-7)

"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea." (Revelation 21:1) God's tabernacle is now with men. The Greek word used here for tabernacle is'skene' (habitation) which comes from the root word 'skia' which means shadow. "He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." (Psalms 91:1) That which God purposed from the beginning has now been accomplished. All the enemies of Jesus have been put under His feet. "But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool? (Hebrews 1:13) There is no more death, sorrow, or pain. All the former things are passed away. There is only the splendor of heaven itself.

"And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defiles, neither whatever works abomination, or makes a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." (Revelation 21:23-27)

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bore twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever." (Revelation 22:1-5)

For all eternity there will be two types of people. The Wife of the Lamb is one with the Lord and fulfills the desire of God to have a creation that is like Him. The others are the 'nations', the servants that serve Him. They came out of the 'second chance' Millenium period. They will be as Adam and Eve were before the fall. The new earth will be like the earth was before the fall; with mist coming up out of the ground instead of rain to produce fruits. There is no more curse that was placed upon man; provision is made without labor or the sweat of the brow. There is no more death, sickness or disease, carnal desires, lack, poverty, or war. There will be no more births or marriage. Those of the nations will see His face and have His name in their foreheads (their focus will continually be on Him). "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you." (Isaiah 26:3) What a perfect plan the Lord will execute. There is so much to which we have to look forward, for all eternity!

There are many false doctrines that Satan has fed the church since the church was birthed on the day of Pentecost following the resurrection of our Lord. The father of lies knows well that a little leaven leavens the whole lump. A little lie mixed in with truth equals a lie. We cannot be free if we do not know the truth. And the truth can only be known by the Holy Spirit revealing Truth to us.

Satan does not want you to understand that if you seek to know the truth, you will find it; if you develop ears to hear what the Spirit says. You develop hearing as you ask, seek, and knock; then allow patience to have her perfect work by listening. I learned how to discern what I was hearing by the profundity of the revelation combined with the understanding that I just wasn't that smart to have figured it out myself; that whatever revelation I was receiving at the time had to be by the Holy Spirit. Since then, my hearing has become more acute as I have listened for 'the still, small voice'.

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17) Most Christians believe that the word of God mentioned here is the Bible. Yet the Bible was not yet in existence when this scripture was written. The Greek word used here for faith is 'pistis', which means persuasion, conviction of truth, or belief. It comes from the Greek word 'peitho', which means to convince, agree, assure, have confidence, or believe. The word of God that brings forth this understanding is the 'rhema' or spoken word of God. The Holy Spirit brings the understanding. We cannot understand of ourselves simply by reading the 'logos' or written word of God. This is why there is so much confusion in the church. The enemy has deceived the people into believing that they can understand through their own efforts to study the word or listen to someone's opinion and somehow find the truth.

The church is a house divided by doctrine, and therefore cannot stand. Our doctrinal differences stem from the carnal mind, the enemy of God. If we all listened to the Holy Spirit with renewed minds, we would be in agreement. That is exactly what God will accomplish in the Tribulation period.

A mighty army is being developed at this moment; an army that will be in unity because their eyes are fixed on the author and finisher of their faith. They have laid down their lives seeking to know the Lord and overcome the world and all its influence. They are the harvesters that the Lord will send to reveal truth to others. They will succeed in harvesting many, growing from 144,000 to a 200 million man army.

"And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then said he to his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray you therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest." (Matthew 9:35-38)

The harvest time is here. The church is scattered abroad like sheep having no shepherd. The harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few. The Lord is calling those that hear this call to come forth and allow Him to transform them that they may walk this earth as He walked it; going "about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people." The Lord is calling you.

“So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.” (Matthew 20:16) Being chosen is a matter of faithfulness. "His lord said to him, Well done, you good and faithful servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of your lord." (Matthew 25:21) "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)

Being chosen is a matter of death to self. If you are willing to give up all that you desire in the flesh, and embrace that which the Lord desires for you, then you will be chosen. We are all a product of our decisions. Every decision you make is an opportunity to obey or disobey that which the Lord is commanding you to do. Obey Him and He will make you an overcomer and you will inherit His promises. You will have life and that more abundant. Disobey Him and you will reap what you sow.

I pray that this book has touched you and brought forth new revelation that will produce good fruit. I hope that your heart has been stirred to be part of this great end-time outpouring of the Holy Spirit and that you will be used by the Lord as a harvester. I hope you will share this book with others that their eyes may be opened as well. "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is thirsty come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17) Amen.