SEEKING TO UNDERSTAND REVELATION
Introduction to the
Apocalypse
I. Christ Returns on an Unknown DAY “After the Great Tribulation”
When Jesus stated: “No one except the Father
knows the DAY He comes”, He stipulated His return to earth will occur on “one
of the days immediately after the great tribulation”! The 1290 days
of great tribulation (Dan.12:1,11 will be
“cut short”; Revelation shortens the Endtime to 1260 days. Day
#1260, when Two Prophets (witnesses) are
killed, is not the Lastday!! They will rise up from death “after 3½
days” and be caught up to heaven in the sight
of many peoples around the earth. The unknown DAY of Christ’s coming
must occur on or after one of the 3½
days following day #1260. Events of that Day begin with Seal 6
warning of His imminent presence!!!
Matt.24:36; Matt.24:29-31; Mark 13:24-27; Luke 21:24-27; Dan.12:1,11;
Rev.11:3-12; Rev.6:9-14; Rev.7:9-14.
By a Jewish idiom, any part of a day may be
considered a whole day and night. Just as Jesus was in the grave
“3 days and 3 nights” (Matt.12:40; but only 2
nights, parts of Friday to Sunday); so the last day is one of the
days after day
#1260. The last day occurs after the great tribulation ends…but it
may occur within or following 84 hours from the hour the Two Prophets are
killed. Jesus was in the grave about 40 hours rather than 72 hours.
These two could rise up to heaven within 60
hours rather than 84 hours! Matthew and Mark say it was “after 6 days”
between Mark 9:1 and 9:2 for the revelation by Jesus of
“some to not taste death” and
their seeing the glory of His transfiguration on the Mount. Luke
says it was “about 8 days”. Luke 9:28.
He counted an extra day before six PM for day one and an extra day
after six PM on day seven. After Cornelius sent for Peter it took three
days for Peter to reach him; but Cornelius counted four days. He saw the time from
day one’s 9th to the 12th hour (3 to 6 PM) as
an extra day. Acts10:3-30.
This partly explains why no one can know the
last Day in advance. Another reason is that only the Father knows on which day
the last martyr will be killed. Rev.6:9-11. On an unknown Hour of
the last day after Seal 6 opens, God avenges their blood. That’s the
Day of God’s wrath when rebellious Beast-worshipers face the wrath of God
Almighty; after His victims gather to Armageddon! First comes
Rev.16:12-17. Then comes Rev.6:12-17.
II. When is the Day of the Lord?
The difference in my view and that of many
Christians concerns the length of the Day of the Lord. Is that Day
equal to the
tribulation of 7 years or even to the 42 months of great
tribulation? Or does it include events of the last day only, i.e.,
the Day and Hour Christ “comes in flaming fire to destroy all who
refuse to repent; and to rescue all who
believe”? John 6:38-40; Mark
13:24-27; Matt.24:29-31. And be “admired” by
millions who believe when they
suddenly see Him in His glory? God rescues every Believer and
extends His mercy to all who “mourn and beg
for mercy on that day”. 2 Thess.1:7-10; Joel 2:32; Luke 21:34-36; Luke 17:30-33. “We
look for the blessed
hope and glorious appearing of our great God and savior Jesus
Christ; when both the living and dead will be
judged at His appearance and kingdom”. Titus 2:13; 2 Tim.4:1. This applies to all believing survivors!
For years Tim Lahaye
has insisted the “blessed hope is a blasted hope” for the
tribulation Saints! Since God shows mercy ON THE
DAY OF HIS WRATH by preserving all who mourn and all those invited
to the Lamb’s wedding, no
surviving Believer must be “left behind to populate the Kingdom” as
taught by a majority of evangelical preachers. Even the “Mourners” who beg for mercy, though Left
Behind, are “blessed” by the 4th of 7 of Revelation’s
blessings! Zech.12:10; Zech.13:8-9; Rev.1:7; Matt.24:30; Rev.19:9.
Though "mourners" are not members
of His Bride, after Jesus “raises and gathers all Believers on the
last day from earth to heaven for the wedding at the
“Synagogue” in the sky, these “mourners” will attend the wedding Supper on
earth. Mark 13:27; Matt.24:31; 2 Thess.2:1. The Lamb’s
wedding supper is announced seconds before Heaven opens and Christ descends to climax
Isa.6:9-11; Isa.11:9-11; Isa.13:9-11; Isa.40:9-11; Rev.6:9-11;
Rev.7:9-11; Rev.10:9-11; Rev.11:9-11; Rev.12:9-11; Dan.7:9-11; Dan.12:9-11;
Zech.12: 9-11; Zech.14:9-11;
Rev.14:9-11; Rev.16:9-11; Rev.17:9-11; Rev.19:9-11; 2 Thess.1:9-11;
Isa.55:9-11; Isa.61:9-11;
Jer.30:9-11; Jer.31:9-11; Jer.33:9-11; Ezek. 43:9-11; Hos.1:9-11 and Amos 9:9-11.
Very few evangelical leaders believe the DAY of
wrath is a 12-Hour Solar Day. Why is that? We are conditioned to think
of the entire tribulation as the “time for God’s wrath” rather than
one day with signs in the sun, moon and stars
that affect the entire earth at the same time they affect Israel
from noon to twilight. Amos 8:9;
Zech.14:7. It’s not a 7-Year DAY of the Lord with Seal 6 opening
before or during the 1260 days of great
tribulation! Jesus “raises every Believer on the last day”.
John 6:38-40. That Day’s events begin at noon of a 3rd
or 4th day after the great tribulation!! Chronos-time
shall no longer be part of the countdown because “God’s mystery was finished” whenever
the 7th Trumpet is about to sound that God’s wrath has
come”!!! Rev.10:6-7.
“Whenever” (otan), reflects uncertainty related to the
unknown Day and Hour. “When” (ote), introduces each of 6
Seals at their appointed time; but “whenever” introduces Seal 7 for the unknown Hour of
Judgment and for the 7th Trumpet to
indicate the time for God’s wrath has come. Rev.14:7; Rev.8:1-5;
Rev.11:15-19.
“Signs” of the Day
of the Lord occur at noon. Amos 8:9.
Israelis working in the fields will feel a “great earthquake” as it launches events of that
day. Seven classes of men hiding in the hills will know
it’s “God’s great Day of Wrath”. Rev.6:15-17.
A third of all Jews begging for mercy
will be “preserved”. Zech.13:8-9; Luke 21:28-36; Luke
17:33. Jesus warns those left behind, who mourn, to
“beg to stand before the Son of Man as all these things are
happening”. They will not have time to leave the fields; but must keep
“praying to be kept alive knowing their redemption is
near”. At this HOUR all the “tribes of earth who mourn will be kept
alive to populate the kingdom”.
Matt.24:30; Rev.1:7; Luke 17:33;
Rom.11:26-27.
The Two Prophets, left dead for up to 3½ days,
will rise up AFTER the great tribulation in the “same HOUR
as the great quake”;
but with time left for the Three-Act Temple Drama in heaven, i.e.,
to praise God and the Lamb, Rev.7:9-11; and for the Court of Seal 7,
Rev.8:1-5 and for the Triumph of a 7th Trumpet,
Rev.11:15-19. Of the Beast’s elite guard, 7000 will die in a
tenth of Jerusalem and the 7th Trumpet “quickly sounds
(after Seal 7’s Court Scene) that `God’s wrath has
come’”. This last Trump concludes with the only mention of the "appointed time”
having come to Resurrect and Reward the Saints. It’s also the time
“to destroy earth’s destroyers”. Jesus
“brings His rewards with Him at the “appointed time” for Retribution
to avenge their blood! Matt.16:27; Rev.22:12.
There is “no more delay” (Rev.10:7) for His wrath when it is time for the 7th
Trumpet. There is also no evidence of God’s wrath prior
to the last day or prior to the 7th Trumpet. God’s patience will be “exhausted” at the 7th
Plague because the Temple opens (Rev.15:1-8) after armies are gathered to
Armageddon. At the 7th Trumpet His anger (thumos) mixes
in the Cup of Wrath (orgay)! Rev.14:10; Rev.16:19. His anger, or fury, mixes
undiminished with wrath when the 7th Trumpet sounds and
the 7th Plague implodes!! Plague #7, Seal
#7 and the Trump #7, the “last trump”, occur on the last day!!!
God’s wrath follows the last Plague as the Days
of Grace remain until Christ appears in glory. Even Beast-
Worshipers who kill a third of mankind in the 6th
Trumpet and who “blaspheme God” in the 4th and 5th
Plagues, have the option to
“repent”! Rev. 9:15-21; Rev.16:9-11. Instead, they invade Israel to
destroy God’ people!! That’s when “God’s patience (anger; fury) was
completed” (exhausted; aorist indicative; past tense; The New Jerusalem Bible; Rev.15:1). The 7th
Trumpet sounds that “God’s wrath has come”. Rev. 11:18. Wrath
demands death and the
destiny of Hell on the last DAY when His “anger, fury, mixes full
strength in the Cup of Wrath” and quickly implodes the
contents of the 7th Plague suspended in the air!!!
Rev.14:10-12; Rev.16:19-21.
III. Christ’s Return also Occurs at an Unknown
HOUR.
Why did Jesus add: “No one except the Father
knows the HOUR of His return”? It is a popular assumption that
the DAY He comes may occur at “any moment” for the Rapture. With that HOUR unknown, the
only setting for His actual coming “at any moment” is after the
7th Trumpet’s proclamation that “God’s wrath has come and
the appointed (kairos)
time for Resurrection, Rewards and Retribution”. Rev.11:18.
The DAY begins before the “HOUR of Judgment”.
Rev.6:17; Rev.14:7. The 7th Trumpet is the “last trump”;
sounding first for
Christ’s Coronation. Rev.11:15-17. It sounds again as God “brings
the souls of the dead with Jesus and He raises
all Believers and gathers the Elect from earth to heaven”! I
Thess.4:13-17; Mark 13:27. Third, the “great trump” sounds for angels to
complete the gathering from all extremities of the heavens to
Jesus!! Matt.24:31; 2 Thess.2:1. Death is destroyed for
all Believers at once!!! I Cor.15:50-55.
Not knowing “the
hour” in advance carries a message beyond not knowing “the day” in
advance. Signs in the sun, moon and stars of Seal 6 (Rev.6:12-14;
Matt.24:29-31) launch the Day of Wrath, of God Almighty. Rev.6:17;
Rev.16:14. Not
knowing the Hour anticipates events described in 100 verses of
Revelation and other verses in Dan.7:9-27. We consider them
later.
The final word of Jesus regarding the time of
His coming promises a “blessing”, the 3rd in Revelation.
Believers will expect Him as
armies gather to Armageddon. Believers will “watch being fully
dressed lest they be seen naked”. Rev.16:15.
Seven classes of men hiding in the mountains will escape these
armies; but recognize the “Day of wrath has come and lament: ‘Who is able
to stand’"? Rev.6:14-17; Rev.16:14-17.
Their acknowledgment occurs just before the Two
Prophets rise up and join all the Martyrs coming out from under the Altar to
sing their victory song of Moses and enter the Temple to praise God
and the Lamb. Rev.15:1-5; Rev.7:9-11. Twenty-two major events
must occur while the last Plague suspends in the air because:
(1) The 6th Seal opens on one of the
days “after the great tribulation”.
(2) “No one enters the Temple until the last
Plague empties”. Rev.15:1,8.
(3) The smoke of God’s glory and power must
clear the Temple before the Martyrs enter to praise God and the Lamb
and to sit
in judgment. Rev. 7:9-11; Rev.8:1-5; Rev.20:4.
(4) God’s anger “fills the Cup of Wrath and
thrones are set” as Martyrs enter the Temple and “sit on these thrones” to judge
the wicked in the Court of Seal 7. John sees the Martyrs “sitting on
thrones to judge” after (but on the same day) the earth is reaped
by the Son of Man. Rev.14:15-19; Dan.7:9-22; Rev.8:1-5. God’s Two
Prophets are the prime witnesses.
IV. The Setting for Understanding the Book of
Revelation
Plague Six Climaxes Great Tribulation
Seal Six Occurs After the Great Tribulation
Rev.16:12-17 Rev.6:12-17
"The 6th angel poured out his vial on
the
“I beheld when He opened Seal Six and Lo,
great river
Euphrates and the water dried
there was a great earthquake and the sun
up that the way of
the kings of the East
became black as sackcloth of hair; the moon
might be prepared. Three unclean spirits
became as blood; and the stars of heaven fell
like frogs came out
of the mouth of the
to the earth even as a fig tree casts untimely
dragon, the mouth of
the beast and the
figs when shaken of a mighty wind. Heaven
mouth of the false prophet. Spirits of
departed as a scroll being rolled together and
devils, working
miracles, they go forth
every mountain and island moved out of
to the kings of earth and all the world to
their places. The Kings of earth, the great
gather them to the battle of the great day
men, the rich men, the chief captains, the
of God Almighty. “BEHOLD, I come as
mighty men, the bondman and every free
a thief. Blessed is he that watches and
man hid themselves in the dens and in the
keeps his garments
lest he walk naked
rocks of the mountains and said to the
and they see his shame”. He gathered
mountains and rocks: “Fall on us and hide
them to a place called Armageddon in
us from Him who sits on the throne and
the Hebrew tongue. The 7th angel poured
from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great
out his vial into
the air and there came a
day of their wrath has come and who
great voice out of the Temple of heaven,
shall be able to stand”? [Key to Revelation:
from the throne, saying, “It is Done”! Seal #6 Immediately Follows Plague #6!!!]
Lastday events fulfill God’s promise to the
Martyrs who come out from under the Altar, sing their victory song
and enter heaven’s
Temple after the Two Prophets join them. Rev.6:9-11; Rev.11:9-11;
Rev.7:9-11; Rev.8:1-5. These events add to the setting to understand
the Book of Revelation. Everything that relates to the Hour Christ
comes to avenge
their blood leads to the climactic destruction of those who
persecute Saints until the last Day. We will consider how these things, recorded in
100 verses of Revelation, begin with the above scripture and are set in the context
of the Day of God’s wrath on one of the days “immediately after the
great tribulation, i.e., in the days whenever
the Two Prophets will have finished their task”. Rev.10:6-7;
Rev.11:6-7.
The expectation of Christ’s imminent return is
found in the context of armies already gathered to Armageddon. Prior to Christ’s coming these armies kill a
third of mankind in the 6th Trumpet and invade Israel in
the 6th Plague. The Lamb opens Seal 6 on “one of the days
immediately after the great tribulation”. Mark 13:24. The 6th Trumpet and 6th
Plague complete the great tribulation! With the 7th
Plague, a great voice out of the Temple from the throne decrees: “It is
Done”! Rev.16:17. This word in the Perfect Tense indicates the End
of the Age has come. The decree signals
when (ote) to launch warnings of Seal 6!
Events of the Day of the Lord follow the 6th
Trumpet and 6th Plague as millions threaten to destroy
Israel at the HOUR to Reap. Rev.14:14-19. The “HOUR of Trial” follows like a “snare, suddenly,
on all mankind”! Rev.3:10; Luke
21:34-35. A dramatic awakening occurs as the
Prophets rise up to heaven and 7,000 of the Beast’s Elite Guard are
killed in that Hour!! Rev.11:12-13. Ten chapters prior to the
decree, on the same day, 7 classes of men hiding in the hills from the
agents of Satan, acknowledge the “DAY of God’s and the Lamb’s wrath had come”.
Rev.16:12-17 and Rev.6:12-17 climax the great tribulation.
Here Rev.6:15-17 and Rev.16:15-17 show the contrast of
despair and hope on the last day!!!
At this Decree from the Temple, “It is Done”, the Lamb opens Seal 6 for Lastday
events. It’s a simplistic view to suggest that 7 Trumpets
follow 7 Seals and 7 Plagues follow 7 Trumpets! God’s wrath comes at
the 7th Trumpet on the last day!! The Day
of the Lord begins with the 6th Seal. The 7th
Plague suspends in the air while Seal 6 remains open and armies of
the 6th Plague are incarcerated at the Hour to Reap.
Rev.14:15. God’s patience ends as the smoke-filled Temple
clears for judgment. The Hour of wrath occurs at the 7th
Trumpet!!!
Beast-worshipers may repent during the 6th
Trumpet and 4th and 5th Plagues. Rev.9:20-21;
Rev.16:9-11. With God’s patience exhausted, the Lamb opens the 6th
Seal for events of “The Day of Wrath! On that Day God’s Hour of Judgment has come”. No one enters the Temple
until the Last Plague empties and the Martyrs sing the victorious song of Moses. “The
Temple of the Tabernacle of Testimony opens” for their witness and
in that HOUR God will “exterminate
the sinners”. Rev.14:7; Rev.15:1-8; Rev.7:9-8:5; Rev.11:15-19;
Isa.13:9-11.
V. What was “Finished” (Past Tense) and What is
“Done”? Rev.16:17 (Perfect Tense).
“What was FINISHED” (Rev.10:7) refers to the
1260 prophetic days that climax with the death of the Two Prophets. “What is
DONE” is the Age of Grace. The Decree begins events of the Day of
Wrath and occurs at the 7th
Plague and signals the Lamb to open Seal 6. God’s Mystery was
“finished” when the Two Prophets finished their task
and were killed by the Beast. The word for “was finished” occurs two
times in the New Testament…both in Revelation; once for the End
of God’s Mystery on Day #1260 and finally to show God’s patience “was
finished” after 3½ extra days. Rev.10:7; Rev.15:1.
Of the “Tribes of Earth” millions who mourn
will suddenly “admire” the Messiah whom they knew not! God includes Gentiles
and Jews in unbelief that He might have mercy on all. He will
remember Israel’s sins no more and they will become
His People the second time!! God’s ways are past finding out”!!!
Joel 2:32; Zech.12:10; Matt.24:30; Rev.1:7; 2 Thess.1:10;
Rom.11:26-32; Heb.8:8-12; Isa.11:11; Ezek.37:24-28; Amos 9:8-15.
SUMMARY of Introduction to the Day of God Almighty
Seal 6 immediately
follows the 6th Plague on the Day of Destruction and
Deliverance. The wicked had killed 1/3 of mankind in the 6th
Trumpet and invade Israel in the 6th Plague. The 6th
Trumpet and 6th
Plague complete the great tribulation! On one of 3½ days
“immediately afterward” the Lamb opens Seal 6!! Mark 13:24;
Matt.24:29. With the 7th Plague suspending in the air, a great voice out of the
Temple from the throne decrees: “It is Done”; and with the signs of
Seal 6, the
events of the Lastday have begun!!! Rev.16:12-17.
The
Day of the Lord follows the 6th
Trumpet and 6th Plague with millions gathered to destroy
Israel at the HOUR to Reap! Rev.14:15.
The “events” of the Day of God’s wrath begin with
Seal Six!! God’s wrath comes at the 7th Trumpet on the
last day!!! Rev.6:12-17.
Beast-Worshipers may repent under the 6th
Trumpet and 4th and 5th Plagues! Rev.9:20-21;
Rev.16:9-11. The 6th Seal remains open and the 7th Plague suspends in the air while
the Court of Seal 7 convenes. The
Coronation of the Last Trumpet immediately follows the Verdict of the Angel of Fire in the 7th Seal.
The armies of the 6th
Plague are incarcerated at the Hour to Reap and Hour of Judgment!! God’s wrath occurs at
the 7th Trumpet; the appointed time for
Resurrection/Rewards to the Saints and Retribution to the wicked!!! Rev.11:18.
Prophetic time climaxes with the death of Two
Prophets! When the last Martyr who must die is killed, the end of God’s patience
has come and the Lamb opens Seal 6 for “events” of the Day of
Wrath!! The “smoke of God’s glory and power” clears the Temple for
the Hour of God’s Judgment!!! Rev.14:7; Rev.15:1-8; Rev.7:9 to Rev.8:5 and
Rev.11:15-19.
“What is Done"
includes the armies of Plague #6 gathered to destroy Israel. “Time
is no longer as the 7th Trumpet is about to sound”
at an unknown Hour. Plague #7 and God’s decree from the Throne
signal the Lamb to open Seal 6! “God’s Mystery was Finished” on Day
#1260 when the Two Prophets “finish their task and are killed by the Beast”!! “All
the Saints rise up on the last day” and Jews will survive to
lead the Millennial Kingdom as God’s means of
blessing to the nations so that “all may know the Lord”!!!
Rom.11:26-32; Heb.8:8-12.
Bottom line: Day of Wrath “events”, launched by
Seal 6, begin only when the Beast’s armies
gather to the plains of Armageddon as
described in the 6th Plague and as the world rejoices
over the deaths of the Two Prophets. This occurs “in the days Trump #7 is
about to sound”! In that context Jesus says He will “come as a thief
and bless” those ready for His Presence!! Plagues Six & Seven, Seals
Six & Seven and the 7th Trumpet climax on the Lastday!!!
Part II, in January, presents the “Panorama in
the Heavens”. Mel Miller