Bible Study No 23 of Revelation

Well, good evening, brethren. Welcome to another study on the book of Revelation.

We have completed a study on the seven messages that Christ gave to the Church of God through the ages. We also saw that these messages highlight attitudes which may be prevalent amongst us.

Christ then, in those seven messages to the churches, gives us warnings to repent and encourages us to overcome till the very end. We also went through a number of major prophetic markers to show us He's in control. We also, in the context, we know that in the end of all these things, God will wipe away every tear and reward ungodly for their deeds and they'll be burnt in the lake of fire and they'll die forever.

And because of this, we also addressed and mentioned a number of times that we need to watch and pray that we may be counted worthy to escape and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man. We saw that in Luke 21.36 and also in 2 Thessalonians chapter 1 verse 4 and 5. Because I quite often refer to Luke 21 verse 36, I want to now quickly just look at 2 Thessalonians chapter 1, 2 Thessalonians chapter 1 verse 4 and 5.

And now we read, we are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly and the love of every one of you abounds towards each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God for which you also suffer. So one of the important things or some of the important things mentioned here about us being counted worthy to the kingdom of God is that our faith needs to grow, that is our absolute trust in God, that the love of everyone needs to abound towards each other, and we need to have patience, endurance throughout these persecutions and difficulties that we ought to endure. As times are going to get difficult, and as we went through these prophetic markers and showing a number of things that are going to happen, there's going to be days that are going to be very difficult, and we have to endure patiently and have absolute trust as we go through these days ahead, so that we may be counted worthy to escape in the days ahead.

Now, those that are counted worthy to escape will form part of the Church, because not the whole Church, but a part of the Church, those that are counted worthy to escape, will be protected before the Great Tribulation, which is the Fifth Seal. Right. Then, following that, we have the Sixth Seal, and the Sixth Seal is the signs that God will bring that will warn mankind, the heavenly signs that God will bring, that warn mankind of the great and terrible day of the Lord. That is that last year at the end of the three and a half years of the Great Tribulation, which is the wrath of God. Now, Revelation 6, verse 16 and 17, it's important for us to note, because here we read at the end of the heavenly signs that people say, and in verse 16, and said to the mountains and rocks, following us and idols from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of his wrath has come, and who is able to stand. Here is a question that we're going to talk about a little bit more today. But one of the things is this day of his wrath, that is the day of the Lord. And when we look at Joel, chapter 2, verse 31, and we looked at that before, it shows that the heavenly signs will happen before the terrible day of the Lord. So the heavenly signs are the fifth seal, and the terrible day of the Lord is the seventh seal. But, right? But, oh, and by the way, the day of the Lord also has an additional meaning. Let's just quickly look at that, which is in 2 Peter, 2 Peter chapter 3, verse 8 and 9.

Because, let's talk, it says, Beloved, do not forget verse 1, that with the Lord one day is a thousand years, and a thousand years is a one day. So, Yah is like a duality of meanings, and many parts in the Bible have dualities of meanings. And so, this day of the Lord, this last year, also represents that lost millennial period in which God is intervening and bringing peace on Earth, but right at the end of it, there will be at the conclusion of that period after probably those that are a hundred years after the Second Resurrection, then it brings an additional meaning to the day of the Lord, because it says the Lord is not slacking concerning His promise, some count slackness, but His long suffering towards Earth is not willing that any should perish, but all should come to repentance. So, God is very forgiving. God allows people a lot of time to repent, but He wants them all to repent, and so He gives us time. But then we read in verse 10, But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. So, we can see this duality of meaning in which the heavens will pass away with great noise, and the elements will melt to fervent heat. Both the earth and the works that are in it will be burnt up. So, this dual meaning of the day of the Lord is at the end of the song period, in the perspective of looking a day as a thousand years, right at the end of that period, at the end of the spirit of the day of the Lord, that a day is like a thousand years, there will be a time in which the whole earth will burn. And there, in verse 11, it gives us a very significant Scripture. In 2 Peter chapter 3, verse 11, it says, Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what man or persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness? The point is, you know, prophecy has a lot of people very interested. What does this mean? And when is this? And when does this happen? And all the other things. And Baryah, in verse 11 of 2 Peter chapter 3, says, you know, the important thing is that we take prophecy as a warning that there is going to be a judgment. And we better be careful how we conduct ourselves. So that is an important, another layer of meaning to the Day of the Lord. So the Day of the Lord is that last year at the end of the Great Tribulation, but the Day of the Lord is then also that last millennial part and right towards the end in which the whole earth will be burnt up with fervent heat. All right, let's move on. So that Day of the Lord is the seventh seal, because the sixth seal is the heavenly sight. And so the Day of the Lord is the seventh seal. And as we read in Revelation 6 verse 16 and 17, we saw it's the day of the wrath of the Lamb, the wrath of God. So before God punishes to earth, He is going to protect those who have repented during the Great Tribulation. So what we see is two phases of protection. One, before the Great Tribulation, and that is for a part of the Church, and another one towards the end of the Great Tribulation, in other words, before the last year, because there will be a number of people that will have repented during the Great Tribulation period. So the seventh seal then happens after those people are sealed. We went through that in previous study. And the seventh seal opens up or consists of seven trumpets, and that period lasts for one year. As we know, the seventh and last trumpet of those seven trumpets symbolizes Christ's coming. And we went through that when we read Revelation 11, 15 through 19.

We then went on to chapter 12 of Revelation, in which we looked at a brief history of the Church, and how it was, and how it is, and how it will be persecuted by Satan until Christ comes.

So it's a very brief, synoptic, very encapsulated history of the Church, just in one chapter, but particularly of its war with Satan, and how Satan tries to destroy the Church.

Then we went on to chapter 13, which is what we covered in the very last study. And we talked about the two beasts at the end time. One is from Revelation 15 verse 1 to verse 10, which is the one beast that rises out of the sea. And then the other one is Revelation 13 starting from verse 11 to the end of the chapter, which is the second beast that comes up out of the earth. So those being two beasts, one civil and another religious.

And we also showed how it mostly focuses on the leader of that entity, of that organization or organization. Well, today we're going to look at Revelation 14, but before we do that, we just want to review Revelation 7 because in Revelation 14 talks about 144,000. So we want to look at Revelation 7 because then it's also mentioned the word 144,000. I know and I'm aware that a lot of people think that it is the same 144,000.

And the reason why they say that is because it's 144,000. So it's because it's 144,000. Must be the same. But that is an assumption, brethren, because if I say the 12 does not mean that I'm always talking about the same 12. For instance, which 12 am I referring to? Could a person be talking about the 12 apostles? Or could be a person be talking about the 12 tribes?

Or if the context is talking about the Council of Elders, could he be talking about the 12 members of the Council? You see, we need to consider the context to determine which 12 that person is referring to. Likewise, when we look at Revelation 7, or when we look at Revelation 14, we need to look at the context to determine which 144,000 is that context referring to. So let's look at the context of Revelation 7. In Revelation 7, if we go briefly to Revelation 7, you will see that Revelation 7 is exactly after Revelation 6.

Oh, well, that's a little bit of a joke, but anyway, of course it is. But the point is, at the end of Revelation 6 says, the wrath of the Lamb is coming. Now, the wrath of the Lamb means the time when Christ is going to bring a punishment on the earth. And so before God punishes the earth and the people on the earth, he is going to protect or seal those people that are his servants.

You see, that's what we read, because before, and as we discussed, after the sixth seal, which is the concluding section of Revelation 6, verse 12 to 17, it's the sixth seal, which is heavenly signs, we have the seventh seal, which lasts for a year, which is the wrath of the Lamb, which that one year is composed of seven trumpets.

And the last trumpet is Christ's coming, right? It symbolizes Christ's coming. And of those seven trumpets, the first four trumpets are what the Bible calls it, things affecting the earth and affecting the sea and affecting the rivers and affecting the sun, the moon, and the stars. So the first four trumpets affect, let's call it, the environment. And those blowings of those trumpets are done by, in a sense, like four winds. You know, obviously it's four angels, but it's also referred to, if we read here, in Revelation 7, verse 1 to 3, it says, and after those things I saw the four angels standing at the four corners of the earth holding the four winds of the earth, that wind should not blow on the earth, the sea, or any trees.

So those are the winds that are going to affect, and those are going to affect the earth and the sea, and all those things, and those are the trumpets that are to follow, which are God's punishments on the earth. And then in verse 2 of Revelation 7, it says, then 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. So which are these four angels? Those are the four first trumpets of the seven trumpets. Two amritos, Geronta, to harm the earth and the sea. So these are the first four trumpets in Revelation 8.

And in verse 3 it says, do not harm the earth and the sea or the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God on their forehead. So God's servants, those people that serve God, need to be sealed first. All right. And then it says, then it talks about a number of those that have been sealed.

And then in a sense that's answering the question, at the end of Revelation 6, verse 16, it says in 17, it says, the wrath of the Lamb, because the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand? Who is able to stand in the day of His wrath? It's those that are sealed. Now, those that are sealed are actually divided into two groups.

Because in verse 4, it talks about, I heard a number of those that were sealed, 144,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel. And so, yeah, we have 144,000, which is the first group, which is actually described from verse 4 all the way to verse 8. And we can see that literally it's referring to physical descendants of the tribes of Israel, except of the tribe of Daniel. So we can see that those, the lot of Judah or Reuben, Gad, Hashan, Ephdoliah, etc., but not the tribe of Dan. So we are talking about, yeah, a number of this first group of people that are sealed, which is a number which is defined as 144,000, saying who is able to stand? Well, 144,000 of the descendants of the tribes of Israel. And this number is the number of Israelites is presented together with a great multitude, which no one could number of all nations. And that's starting through verse 9 through 12. So, yeah, it's a number of all nations. So we have a number of Israelites and a number of all nations. When it talks about nations, it actually means Gentiles. So the number of Israelites is 144,000 and the number of Gentiles no one could number. Why is it no one could number? Because in verse 17, I was asking of chapter 6, who is able to stand? Why can't we number? Isn't God able to number them? Of course, if God wants, He's able to. But why does it say no one could number? Could it be because these Gentiles, which are free moral agents, and who knows, amongst them, some of them are mixed-rate Gentiles and Israelites, etc., are free moral agents? And when the tribulation happens, it's up to them to repent or not. And so, maybe God has not predetermined how many of those people are, because people are free moral agents and some may repent and others may not. And God is allowing those to repent, whatever number they will be, to be sealed. That could be very encouraging to a number of us, because there are people that maybe we know that haven't repented, but during the great tribulation, God willing, they will repent. And God hasn't numbered them. He says no one could number them, because if they do repent, they could be amongst that great multitude, which no one could number of all the nations. So these are physical people. They are physical persons. There are 144,000 which come out of the great tribulation, as we see in verse 14. He said, these are the ones who come out of the great tribulation. So they are people that have been through the tribulation, and during the tribulation, they come out of it, repentant. In other words, believing in Christ and repenting. And it says, and they washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb.

That basically means they've been baptized. When we're baptized in Christ's name, for the washing of our sins for us to be forgiven. And once our sins are gone, we are white. White. How are our sins forgiven? By the blood of the lamb. So they washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb. In other words, people during the tribulation, repent, get to believe in God, get to trust in God, believe and commit that they're gonna change. And they get baptized. Because a part of the church that has not gone, let's call it to the place of final training or of safety, the other part of the church with leaders and ministers are now underground. And those people will then have the magazines and the booklets and things that were published on the internet. Or if they don't have, other people will talk amongst themselves. You should have listened to this. You should have repented. And this will actually be the fruit of our work today. That those people will repent. And those members of the church that are in the group or going through the tribulation, and those leaders and those ministers, because there will be some ministers too that were not counted worthy to escape. But they're still ministers. They're still amongst those that keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. They will then baptize people. And those people have their robes washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb. So those these people during the great tribulation have come out and they repent. Now if they've repented, why should they be punished by God when God brings his wrath upon the earth? Obviously not. So they're going to be protected. So these people have access to God's realm, like you and I, have access to God's realm in a new and living way. Look at Revelation 7 verse 15. Therefore they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple, and he who sits on the throne will dwell amongst them. Now obviously there's a duality, but understand that you and I today have access to God's throne in a new and living way. That's what you and I read in Hebrews chapter 10. So let's go to Hebrews chapter 10 verse 19 and 20. Hebrews 10 is a very powerful section of Scripture. In fact, the whole of Hebrews is very powerful, but in 19 and 20 or chapter 10 says, therefore brethren is talking to us today, having boldness to enter the holiest. What is the holiest?

It's God's throne by the blood of Jesus. It's talking to us, brethren, boldness to enter God's throne by the blood of Jesus. How? Because he's washed us and made us clean. And how? By a new and living way. Why? Why is it a new and living way? Because in the Old Testament, only the eye priest could go into the Holy of Holies. And that was on the day of Atonement, once a year. But now we have a new and living way that you and I can enter God's throne at any moment through the blood of Christ, or by the blood of Christ, as it says, by a new and living way, which he consecrated for us through the veil there is Christ's flesh. He, through his body, he gave his body for us. And through that, we have access to God's throne.

Now, continuing in Revelation chapter 9 verse 4, Revelation chapter 9 verse 4, as an example, we see here in Revelation 9 verse 4, one section of these seven trumpets. It's actually the fifth trumpet, so it's just one section. But the eye says in Revelation chapter, says that they are commanded not to harm the grass or the earth or any green thing or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. So, we are talking about a time period during that last year of the Day of the Lord, during that last year of the three and a half years of the Great Tribulation, in which physical human beings will not be harmed, and which physical human beings are those that will not be harmed. It's those that have the seal of God on their foreheads. Those people that are sealed by God, they will not be harmed by these, let's call it, punishments of the seven trumpets. So, we can see that they are protected during the Day of the Lord.

Also, we discussed last week about Revelation 13, when we saw the beasts, civil and religious, influencing and convincing the merchants of international trade to the point that no one could buy or sell except he who has the mark. So, yeah, we have a situation where people just cannot buy or sell, which means you can't buy food. It will be a time of anger, a time of great difficulty. But in Revelation 7, in Revelation 7, which is talking about these people that are sealed, in verses 16 and 17, it says, And these shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore. The sun shall not strike them, nor any heat. For the lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them, and lead them to living fountains of water. So, these people that are sealed, and these are the Revelation 7, 144,000, which are physical human beings living, which are being protected during this last year. And even though there is this mark of the beast, they will be protected because it says they will neither anger anymore. So, yeah, they were hungry in the first two and a half years of the Great Tribulation. But on that last period when God is punishing the earth and the inhabitants of the earth, these people that have repented during the first part of the Great Tribulation will be sealed so that they will not hunger anymore or thirst anymore. Now, this is a very interesting quote because neither shall they hunger anymore nor thirst anymore.

The sun shall not strike them nor any heat. For the lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. Did you know, did you know that this is a quote from Isaiah 49 verse 10? So, let's look at Isaiah 49 verse 10. Isaiah 49 verse 10 reads, they shall neither hunger nor thirst, neither heat nor sun strike them. For he who has mercy on them, who is he that has mercy on them? It's the lamb, right, which is in the midst of the throne. He who has mercy on them will lead them. In other words, will shepherd them and lead them to living waters, fountains of waters, as it was read in Revelation 7. It says, will lead them even by the springs of water. You will guide them. You can see that Revelation 16 and 17 is a quote from Isaiah 49 verse 10. Now, here is the interesting part. What is the context of Isaiah 49 verse 10? Do you know what? The context is the second exodus. Look at verse 49 verse 12. Isaiah 49 verse 12. It says, surely these shall come from afar, from the north and the west, and these from the land of sin. In other words, from afar, you can have other scriptures about the second exodus. There are many others. And they come from the north and the west, like northwest, British Isles, Europe, and these from the land of sin, which is south, for instance, areas like Africa or even Australia. They come from all over the place. The context of Isaiah 49 is the second exodus. Therefore, these people they are sealed. They are physical, as we clearly shall. As we clearly shall, they are physical human beings. They are protected during these days of the seven trumpets, as we saw that. They protect them. We gave the example of Revelation 9 verse 4. We saw that they will not hunger or thirst anymore. Why? Because they're still physical and they're still protected. The sun will not strike them. So they're physical. So it's talking about physical human beings.

And it's in the context, right, of the second exodus. So these people then, when Christ comes back, will be the pioneers or amongst the pioneers, that will go to the promised land, the second exodus, to be the beginnings of the world tomorrow.

So it is very interesting when we start putting all the scriptures together. So, with that as a background, now we're moving on to Revelation 14, which is a second group of 144,000.

Now, the story flow of Revelation now picks up in Revelation 14 from Revelation 11 verse 15 through 19, because Revelation 11 verse 15 through 19 was part of the story flow, not an inset section. And now, in Revelation 12, it was an inset about how Satan attacked the church. Revelation 13 was an inset about the leaders of these two beasts, a civil and a religious. And now, in Revelation 14, it goes back to the story, because it continues from Revelation 11. So, do you remember what Revelation 11 verse 15 was? Well, let's look at it very briefly. Revelation 11 verse 15 says, then the seventh angel sounded. So, Revelation 11 verse 15 is the seventh trumpet.

The seventh trumpet is when Christ takes over. It's Christ's coming, it's resurrection, it's when Christ takes over the kingdoms of the swamp. So, Revelation 11, 15 through 18 and 19 is basically the section about Christ's second coming. And so, it's just kind of a beginning in that section of Revelation 11. And then it goes back to inset chapters, until it gets back to chapter 14, when it continues again with the story flow. Now, we went through this section of Revelation 11, 15 through 19 before, but I just want to remind you that in verse 18, it highlights three major sets of events during Christ's coming. You see, in Revelation 18 says, the nations were angry and your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, they should be judged. Point number one.

Then point number two, it says, and that you should reward the saints and award your servants, the prophets, the saints, and those who fear your name. And point number three, and you should destroy those who destroy the earth. So, there are three major sets of events when Christ comes. First, the dead are judged. What do you mean by that? That means people are dead, some are judged to be resurrected in the first resurrection, and some are judged to stay sleeping for another thousand years till after the millennium at the second resurrection. So, the dead are judged. Secondly, the ones that are resurrected, they receive eternal life, but not only that, they receive a reward. They will be rewarded according to their works. So, some people will be rewarded over ten cities, over over five, over over two, and things like that. There's many parables about that. And thirdly, it says those that are there destroying the earth, they're going to be destroyed. So, there are three major sets of events during Christ's coming. So, this period of Christ's coming is a period of time, not very long, but a couple of days, because things can happen very quickly, as we'll see. We're not talking about months, but when Christ comes, there's a couple of days, a few days, that things will happen, symbolized by what? The period between trumpets and atonement, because it's a couple of days, just a few days, symbolized by that, which is Christ's coming. And then atonement is at the end of the spirit of destruction, those who destroyed the earth, which includes Satan is being put away. Alright, let's now continue. In Revelation 14 verse 1, and then I looked at the old, a lamb standing on Mount Zion, and within 144,000, a lamb, that's Christ, on Mount Zion. On Mount Zion.

Where is Mount Zion?

And they are standing with Christ. So, to me, it shows its people that are resurrected. Now, remember, in Revelation 7, I went through it very clearly to show the way physical human beings. Now, yeah, we are showing very clear they are standing resurrected with the lamb in Mount Zion.

They're resurrected. Christ is in the middle of them. They are counted worthy to stand before the Son of Man. Remember, Luke 21 verse 36, pray and watch that you may be counted worthy to escape and to stand with the Son of Man. And yeah, they are standing with the Son of Man. In other words, resurrected. And these 144,000, it says, having his father's name written on their foreheads. Why? Because they belong to the Father. They have the Father's name. They belong to the Father. They redeemed from the earth and they belong to the Father. In verse 2 and 3, then it says, And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of a loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpits playing the harps. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures and the elders. And no one could learn that song except 144,000 who were redeemed from the earth. They are resurrected and they are redeemed, bought back. They are redeemed.

Now, there's a question. Will they have access to heaven? Well, if you are a spirit being and if you travel at the speed of light, could they have access to heaven? Why not? You look at Genesis 28 verse 12, where Jacob had a dream and there was this ladder and angels were up and down the ladder from earth to heaven and back. Angels can go up and down to heaven and back to earth. We're in a rule on earth, but why can't we go and visit the Father? Look, even Satan is on earth, but he has access to heaven. He can go up and down. Look at that in Job when God asked Satan, have you considered my servant Job? And this is in two situations, Job 1 and Job 2. So, these are spirit beings. These are spirit beings. We will rule resurrected. We will rule on earth.

But if God calls us up and says, look, I want to have a chat with you, and why can't we go? You know, I think sometimes we say, well, because we're ruling on earth and living on earth, we can go and visit the Father who said we can't. The angels can. Aren't we going to be higher than the angels and spirit beings? So, the 144,000 we bought back were redeemed from among men. Right? And that we see that. Yeah, let's see in verse four. They are the ones who were not defiled with women. They are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb, wherever it goes. These were redeemed from among men being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.

Now, let me ask you another question.

Does this include Gentiles? Of course it does. It's not just Israelites. You see, the 144 in Revelation 7 was only of 12 tribes of Israel, those 144. Plus, there was a great multitude of the other nations. Verse 144,000, these that are the firstfruits, surely include Israelites and Gentiles. And also, surely include Samson, because Samson in Hebrews 11, verse 32, shows he was faithful and Samson was of the tribe of Dan. Remember?

And in Revelation 7, the first lot of 144,000, there were no body of the tribe of Dan. But yeah, we have spirit beings, those that Hebrews 11 talks about the faithful, and Samson is included amongst that number, and he was of the tribe of Dan. So, we are looking at Revelation 14, that spirit beings, after the resurrection, after they've been transformed into incorruptible beings. They are the firstfruits, and they're definitely not physical beings, because the physical beings were being protected from the Retribulation. This is now after, and this is the resurrection. They are the firstfruits. Now, in James chapter 1, it talks about us being a type of firstfruits. Yes, we now are a type of firstfruits, but we're not yet the firstfruits. We will only be the firstfruits if we will qualify at the end and we'll be at the resurrection. At the moment, we're still a type of firstfruits. Hopefully, we'll remain faithful till the end.

For these various reasons, amongst others, these 144,000 of Revelation 14 cannot be the same as 144,000 of Revelation 7. Now, I know some people say they're the same, and they use some of the attributes of Revelation 7, also for Revelation 14, and mixed too. But when we look at the context carefully, we can see that they are two different groups. Now, if those who rule with Christ, now, yes, that's a big question, are really only 144,000. Think about that. If those who rule with Christ are really only 144,000, that number is very small since the time of righteous people.

That is a small number, Gregor.

And in verse 5 of Revelation 14 says, And in their mouth was found no deceit, for they were without fault before the throne of God. That's why you and I really need to be spiritually pure. That is, not to be contaminated with the love of this world or to give in to sin. We need to keep ourselves morally pure with no fault before God. And that's why we read in Luke 21 verse 36, Watch and pray that you may be counted worthy. Are we counted worthy?

These of a commas are the true followers of the Lamb, because it says, whenever the Lamb goes, they will be there. These are the ones that will marry Christ. These are the bright, and whatever Christ goes, they go within. So that is quite significant for us to say, how am I doing? Are we reading? Are we watching and praying that we may be counted worthy, not only to escape, but to stand before the Son or Man?

Now, Revelation 14 then continues with the three angel messages. So before the destruction of those who destroy the earth, we see a section here where winners and losers are identified in divine messages given by angels. The good news that judgment has come is now openly proclaimed around the world. Imagine Christ has come, this is, and things are starting to happen. Imagine the excitement.

Revelation 14 verse 6 and 7, then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on earth, to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people. There's no more hindrance. Now this is going to be preached. Christ is now coming. This is now going to be absolutely part of the world. The world is going to be a public, saying with a loud voice, fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment has come. Now is our judgment. Right, we know it's a judgment period, but those people that are destroying the earth, they're going to be destroyed.

And worship him who has made heaven and earth the sea and springs of water. All nations will receive the message of the everlasting gospel. The good news that God is about to deal with the world of justice and will now establish his sovereign rule over the world is going to go out fully. No stoppage.

And let's read now verse 8. Another angel follows, saying, Babylon is fallen, Babylon is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. So the imminent fall and destruction of Babylon the Great, which is what we're going to cover in Revelation 17 and 18, is due to occur now. In this short period, Christ comes. The dead are judged. There were some resurrects. Some remained sleeping for another thousand years. The saints are resurrected, they're rewarded, and now is the destruction of those who destroyed the earth. So this is now in a short period of time. All this is happening in a short capsule of time. A few days. Now let's read verse 9 through 11. And the third angel followed, them saying full out voice, If anyone worships a beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or in his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath, which is poured out full strength into the cup of his indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment, that's the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever, and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name. So the losers of the war, the war which is for the spiritual control of humanity, are now identified. Those are the ones that don't worship God, but worship the beast. And instead, their judgment, which is long awaited by God's servants, will bring an end to God's wrath. That's why it says they'll drink the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out in full strength. So that's these seven balls of, or the seven lost plagues, that we're gonna read shortly, not really today, but another day we're gonna see that. And in the short period of time, that is going to be poured on these people. It's a judgment, and before the holy angels and before the Lamb. And so, basically it says now, Yah is the patience of the saints. That's in verse 12. Revelation 14 verse 12. Yah is the patience of the saints. Yah are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. And this is like a little message of encouragement to hold on, to hold on, to hold on, because there's going to be a judgment. And as we look at these scenes, Christ is going to come, and there's going to be a judgment. And before you and I, F, every reason to be confident of final victory. I know the outcome because I read the end of the book, right? As they say, well, we know the outcome. God has given us the outcome. Yes, we're going to go through difficult times, but he has a note of encouragement. All gone. All done.

And then verse 13. Then I heard a voice from heaven saying, right, blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, their day may rest from their labors, and the works follow them. We know the trials will continue. Satan will continue to use his instruments to deceive, persecute, and kill those attracted by and serve God. But we also know that when people die at the end, it'll be just a short period of sleep. They are blessed because they're being protected from these evils to come. That's also a way of protecting. Let's now read verse 14 through 16, because, yeah, it re-emphasizes that the saints will receive eternal life at this time. Then I looked and behold a white cloud, and the cloud said, one like the Son of Man, everyone is there, the golden crown, and it is there in the shop-circle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying without voice, to him who sat on the cloud, thirst in your circle and reap, for the time has come for you to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And so he sat on the cloud thrusting the sequel to the earth, and the earth was reaped. Again, it's a dual meaning, because now is the time when Christ is going to rule on earth, and he is going to bring judgment, and he's going to teach his ways, and from here onwards people are going to be reaped into the kingdom of God. So it's not just the ones that were resurrected, but it's showing into the future, into the millennium, that the earth is now ripe, and it's the time of the harvest of the earth.

Verse 17 and 20, it also says, but the wicked and their iniquities will also be removed, as a farmer removes grain from a field with its sequel, and those of us are thrown into the great winepress of the wrath of God. So at this time, it's the time of the punishment of those that destroy the earth. And let's read then, verse 17 through 20. Then an angel came out of the temple, which is in heaven, and he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud voice to him, where the sharp sickle, saying, thrust in your sharp sickle, and gathered the clusters of the vine of the earth, and their grapes are fully ripe. And so the angel thrust his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to horses' bridles for 1,600 for long, which is for about 180 miles. A whole huge section full of blood of people that will be destroyed, that will be fighting against Christ, and that in that area, it will be a huge area, where there will be a great destruction of people there that are trying to fight Christ. And so that is the great winepress of the wrath of God. And that is nothing else but the completion of God's wrath, which is completed by the seven lost plagues. And we read in 15 verse 1, Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven lost plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete. The wrath of God is complete. So these seven lost plagues are part of the Third World, and they are poured in full strength in the presence of the Lamb, as we saw earlier on. These plagues are comprised of several events, including the gathering of the kings of the whole world at Armageddon for the battle of the great day of Almighty God in Jerusalem. We will see that later on, which is in Revelation 16 verse 12 through 16, that gather all the nations so that they fight Christ. And we read more about that in Zechariah 14 verse 1 to 4, that these nations will then fight Christ. We will read that in future lessons, but continue here in Revelation 15 verse 2 through 4. And then he says, And I saw something like a sea of glass mingling with fire, and those who have the victory of the beast over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having hops of God, and they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb. And this is great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are your ways, a king of the saints, who shall fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name. For you alone are holy, for all nations shall come and worship before you. The seven of lost plagues, therefore, will complete the destruction of Satan's system in this world in the words of Babylon, and then all nations shall come and worship before God. And that we will study more in the future study. Thank you so much for your attention and have a good evening.