Revelation 15-16: The Bowls
of God’s Wrath / Seven Last Plagues
The Preparation
Revelation 15:1 ASV
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1
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And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven
angels having seven plagues, which are the last, for in them is finished the
wrath of God.
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και ειδον αλλο σημειον εν τω ουρανω μεγα και θαυμαστον αγγελους
επτα εχοντας πληγας επτα τας εσχατας οτι εν αυταις ετελεσθη ο θυμος του θεου
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Now we see the preparation for the seven last plagues.
Revelation
15:2-4 ASV
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2
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And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire; and them
that come off victorious from the beast, and from his image, and from the
number of his name, standing by the sea of glass, having harps of God.
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και ειδον ως θαλασσαν υαλινην μεμιγμενην πυρι και τους νικωντας
εκ του θηριου και εκ της εικονος αυτου και εκ του αριθμου του ονοματος αυτου
εστωτας επι την θαλασσαν την υαλινην εχοντας κιθαρας του θεου
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3
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And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song
of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, O Lord God, the
Almighty; righteous and true are thy ways, thou King of the ages.
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και αδουσιν την ωδην μωυσεως του δουλου του θεου και την ωδην του
αρνιου λεγοντες μεγαλα και θαυμαστα τα εργα σου κυριε ο θεος ο παντοκρατωρ
δικαιαι και αληθιναι αι οδοι σου ο βασιλευς των αιωνων
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4
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Who shall not fear, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only
art holy; for all the nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy
righteous acts have been made manifest.
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τις ου μη φοβηθη κυριε και δοξασει το ονομα σου οτι μονος οσιος
οτι παντα τα εθνη ηξουσιν και προσκυνησουσιν ενωπιον σου οτι τα δικαιωματα
σου εφανερωθησαν
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Those who are victorious over the Beast and his image will join
Moses and Jesus in praising God and saying that God alone is holy and worthy of
worship.
Revelation
15:5-7 ASV
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5
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And after these things I saw, and the temple of the tabernacle of
the testimony in heaven was opened:
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και μετα ταυτα ειδον και ηνοιγη ο ναος της σκηνης του μαρτυριου
εν τω ουρανω
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6
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and there came out from the temple the seven angels that had the
seven plagues, arrayed with precious stone, pure and bright, and girt about
their breasts with golden girdles.
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και εξηλθον οι επτα αγγελοι [οι] εχοντες τας επτα πληγας εκ του
ναου ενδεδυμενοι λιθον καθαρον λαμπρον και περιεζωσμενοι περι τα στηθη ζωνας
χρυσας
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7
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And one of the four living creatures gave unto the seven angels
seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
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και εν εκ των τεσσαρων ζωων εδωκεν τοις επτα αγγελοις επτα φιαλας
χρυσας γεμουσας του θυμου του θεου του ζωντος εις τους αιωνας των αιωνων
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The angels prepare to pour out the bowls of the seven last plagues.
Revelation 15 ASV
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8
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And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and
from his power; and none was able to enter into the temple, till the seven
plagues of the seven angels should be finished.
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και εγεμισθη ο ναος καπνου εκ της δοξης του θεου και εκ της
δυναμεως αυτου και ουδεις εδυνατο εισελθειν εις τον ναον αχρι τελεσθωσιν αι
επτα πληγαι των επτα αγγελων
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This perfectly echoes Isaiah’s vision of God’s throne. Isaiah saw God in the temple and Isaiah’s
sins were forgiven.
Isaiah 6:1-7
ASV
1 In the year
that king Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up;
and his train filled the temple.
2 Above
him stood the seraphim: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face,
and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
3 And
one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is [Yehovah] of hosts: the
whole earth is full of his glory.
4 And
the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him that cried, and the
house was filled with smoke.
5 Then
said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I
dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the
King, [Yehovah] of hosts.
6 Then
flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had
taken with the tongs from off the altar:
7 and
he touched my mouth with it, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and
thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin forgiven.
This also happened when the Tabernacle in the wilderness was dedicated
to God and God began to dwell with the people and work with them for repentance
and forgiveness of sin. This marks the
commencement of the tabernacle services which bring reconciliation between God
and man.
Exodus 40:33-38
ASV
33 And
he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the
screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work.
34 Then
the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of [Yehovah] filled the
tabernacle.
35 And
Moses was not able to enter into the tent of meeting, because the cloud abode
thereon, and the glory of [Yehovah] filled the tabernacle.
36 And
when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel
went onward, throughout all their journeys:
37 but
if the cloud was not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was
taken up.
38 For
the cloud of [Yehovah] was upon the tabernacle by day, and there was fire
therein by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their
journeys.
And it happened when Solomon dedicated the First Temple. God came close to the people to be with them
and guide them.
1 Kings 8:10-13
ASV
10 And
it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the
cloud filled the house of [Yehovah],
11 so
that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for the
glory of [Yehovah] filled the house of [Yehovah].
12 Then
spake Solomon, [Yehovah] hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
13 I
have surely built thee a house of habitation, a place for thee to dwell in for
ever.
2 Chronicles
5:11-14 ASV
11 And it came to pass, when the priests were come
out of the holy place, (for all the priests that were present had sanctified
themselves, and did not keep their courses;
12 also the Levites who were the singers, all of
them, even Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and their brethren, arrayed
in fine linen, with cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of
the altar, and with them a hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets;)
13 it came to pass, when the trumpeters and
singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking [Yehovah];
and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and
instruments of music, and praised [Yehovah], saying, For he is good; for his
lovingkindness endureth for ever; that then the house was filled with a cloud,
even the house of [Yehovah],
14 so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the
cloud: for the glory of [Yehovah] filled the house of God.
2 Chronicles
6:1-2 ASV
1 Then spake Solomon, [Yehovah] hath
said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.
2 But I have built thee a house of habitation, and a place for thee
to dwell in for ever.
We also see something similar in Ezekiel’s vision of God’s plan for
the restored temple.
Ezekiel 43:1-10
ASV
1 Afterward
he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east.
2 And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel
came from the way of the east: and his voice was like the sound of many waters;
and the earth shined with his glory.
3 And it was according to the appearance of the
vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to
destroy the city; and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river
Chebar; and I fell upon my face.
4 And the glory of [Yehovah] came into the house by the way of the gate
whose prospect is toward the east.
5 And the Spirit took me up, and brought me into
the inner court; and, behold, the glory of [Yehovah] filled the house.
6 And I heard one speaking unto me out of the
house; and a man stood by me.
7 And he said unto me, Son of man, this is the
place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell
in the midst of the children of Israel for ever. And the house of Israel shall
no more defile my holy name, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom,
and by the dead bodies of their kings in their high places;
8 in their setting of their threshold by my threshold,
and their door-post beside my door-post, and there was but the wall between me
and them; and they have defiled my holy name by their abominations which they
have committed: wherefore I have consumed them in mine anger.
9 Now let them put away their whoredom, and the
dead bodies of their kings, far from me; and I will dwell in the midst of them
for ever.
10 Thou, son of man, show the house to the house
of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure
the pattern.
But, we also see something similar when God begins to pour His
wrath on the wicked.
Ezekiel
9:1-10:4 ASV
1 Then
he cried in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause ye them that have charge
over the city to draw near, every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.
2 And behold, six men came from the way of the
upper gate, which lieth toward the north, every man with his slaughter weapon
in his hand; and one man in the midst of them clothed in linen, with a writer's
inkhorn by his side. And they went in, and stood beside the brazen altar.
3 And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up
from the cherub, whereupon it was, to the threshold of the house: and he called
to the man clothed in linen, who had the writer's inkhorn by his side.
4 And [Yehovah] said unto him, Go through the midst of the
city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the
men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done in the midst
thereof.
5 And to the others he said in my hearing, Go ye
through the city after him, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye
pity;
6 slay utterly the old man, the young man and the
virgin, and little children and women; but come not near any man upon whom is
the mark: and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the old men that were
before the house.
7 And he said unto them, Defile the house, and
fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and smote in
the city.
8 And it came to pass, while they were smiting,
and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord [Yehovah]! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel
in thy pouring out of thy wrath upon Jerusalem?
9 Then
said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding
great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of wrestling of
judgment: for they say, [Yehovah] hath forsaken the land, and [Yehovah] seeth not.
10 And
as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will
bring their way upon their head.
11 And
behold, the man clothed in linen, who had the inkhorn by his side, reported the
matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.
1 Then I
looked, and behold, in the firmament that was over the head of the cherubim
there appeared above them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the
likeness of a throne.
2 And
he spake unto the man clothed in linen, and said, Go in between the whirling
wheels, even under the cherub, and fill both thy hands with coals of fire from
between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my
sight.
3 Now
the cherubim stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and
the cloud filled the inner court.
4 And
the glory of [Yehovah] mounted up from the cherub, and
stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the
cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of [Yehovah]'s glory.
The common theme in all of these places where the tabernacle or
temple were filled with a cloud or smoke is God coming close to the
people.
In the description of the dedication of the temple smoke/cloud
fills the temple and it is so thick that none can enter it and God says that He
will dwell in the thick darkness. The
smoke and thick darkness are explicitly stated as coming from the glory of God
and His power. Smoke in the Book of
Revelation clearly denotes the presence of God and cannot possibly represent
satanic doctrines or deceptions. The
message that Muhammad received (the Quran) was given to him by a supernatural
being. Since Revelation uses the same smoke
and thick darkness to represent this message, then the supernatural being must
have been an angel of God, as Muhammad claimed.
All who claim this being was a demon or other evil spirit are, in
effect, saying that the messages of God are evil.
Revelation 9:1-4 ASV
1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from
heaven fallen unto the earth: and there was given to him the key of the pit of
the abyss.
2 And he opened the pit of the abyss;
and there went up 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.
3 And out of the smoke came forth
locusts upon the earth; and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth
have power.
4 And
it was said unto them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither
any green thing, neither any tree, but only such men as have not the seal of
God on their foreheads.
The Seven Last Plagues
Revelation 16:1-2 ASV
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1
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And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven
angels, Go ye, and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the
earth.
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και ηκουσα μεγαλης φωνης εκ του ναου λεγουσης τοις επτα αγγελοις
υπαγετε και εκχεετε τας επτα φιαλας του θυμου του θεου εις την γην
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2
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And the first went, and poured out his bowl into the earth; and
it became a noisome and grievous sore upon the men that had the mark of the
beast, and that worshipped his image.
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και απηλθεν ο πρωτος και εξεχεεν την φιαλην αυτου εις την γην και
εγενετο ελκος κακον και πονηρον επι τους ανθρωπους τους εχοντας το χαραγμα
του θηριου και τους προσκυνουντας τη εικονι αυτου
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The first plague is a dreadful disease. This disease only affects those who received
the mark of the beast (accepted as “real Christians” by the majority) and
worshipped his image (follow the form of Christianity legally recognized by the
government).
Revelation
16:13 ASV
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3
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And the second poured out his bowl into the sea; and it became
blood as of a dead man; and every living soul died, even the things that were
in the sea.
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και ο δευτερος εξεχεεν την φιαλην αυτου εις την θαλασσαν και
εγενετο αιμα ως νεκρου και πασα ψυχη ζωης απεθανεν τα εν τη θαλασση
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The second plague turns the seas (probably oceans too) to blood,
which destroys all the marine life. Some
have pointed out that certain natural events, such as red algae, have mimicked
both the appearance of blood and the death of water creatures. Others have said that looking for a natural
explanation diminishes the supernatural cause.
The text is written from the point of view of someone observing the sea,
not someone looking for red blood cells under a microscope. As long as it looks like blood and the sea
life dies I would say it is fulfilled.
God created the great machine we call the natural world. If a person builds a great machine and wants
to change something the machine is doing, he can manipulate the machine’s
controls, or he can reach in and change the machine’s parts. Either way he gets credited with changing the
machine’s functionality. If God sends
signs by manipulating natural forces (such as using red algae) or reaches in
and changes things directly (replacing the water with actual blood) it does not
make any difference, in my opinion, on whether or not He deserves credit.
Revelation
16:4-7 ASV
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4
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And the third poured out his bowl into the rivers and the
fountains of the waters; and it became blood.
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και ο τριτος εξεχεεν την φιαλην αυτου εις τους ποταμους και τας
πηγας των υδατων και εγενετο αιμα
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5
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And I heard the angel of the waters saying, Righteous art thou,
who art and who wast, thou Holy One, because thou didst thus judge:
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και ηκουσα του αγγελου των υδατων λεγοντος δικαιος ει ο ων και ο
ην [ο] οσιος οτι ταυτα εκρινας
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6
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for they poured out the blood of the saints and the prophets, and
blood hast thou given them to drink: they are worthy.
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οτι αιμα αγιων και προφητων εξεχεαν και αιμα αυτοις δεδωκας πιειν
αξιοι εισιν
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7
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And I heard the altar saying, Yea, O Lord God, the Almighty, true
and righteous are thy judgments.
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και ηκουσα του θυσιαστηριου λεγοντος ναι κυριε ο θεος ο
παντοκρατωρ αληθιναι και δικαιαι αι κρισεις σου
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The third plague is poured out on the drinking water supply. The drinking water is turned to blood as a
punishment for spilling the blood of the saints and prophets.
Revelation
16:8-9 ASV
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8
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And the fourth poured out his bowl upon the sun; and it was given
unto it to scorch men with fire.
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και ο τεταρτος εξεχεεν την φιαλην αυτου επι τον ηλιον και εδοθη
αυτω καυματισαι τους ανθρωπους εν πυρι
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9
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And men were scorched men with great heat: and they blasphemed
the name of God who hath the power over these plagues; and they repented not
to give him glory.
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και εκαυματισθησαν οι ανθρωποι καυμα μεγα και εβλασφημησαν το
ονομα του θεου του εχοντος την εξουσιαν επι τας πληγας ταυτας και ου
μετενοησαν δουναι αυτω δοξαν
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The atmosphere has provided protection from the sun. But under the fourth plague it no longer
protects us. The sun will scorch men
with great heat (and possibly intense radiation). However, the wicked will refuse to take this
opportunity to repent. Instead they will
blaspheme the name of God.
Revelation
16:10-11 ASV
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10
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And the fifth poured out his bowl upon the throne of the beast;
and his kingdom was darkened; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,
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και ο πεμπτος εξεχεεν την φιαλην αυτου επι τον θρονον του θηριου
και εγενετο η βασιλεια αυτου εσκοτωμενη και εμασωντο τας γλωσσας αυτων εκ του
πονου
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11
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and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and
their sores; and they repented not of their works.
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και εβλασφημησαν τον θεον του ουρανου εκ των πονων αυτων και εκ
των ελκων αυτων και ου μετενοησαν εκ των εργων αυτων
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After the intense sun, the throne of the beast is darkened. The throne of Roman Christianity is the
Vatican in Rome, Italy. Unless the
throne refers to a different location in the future, that would be the region
the darkness is focused on. Again, they
will refuse to repent. They will
blaspheme the God of heaven because of their pain and sores from the first
plague up till now.
Revelation
16:12 ASV
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12
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And the sixth poured out his bowl upon the great river, the river
Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way might by made
ready for the kings that come from the sunrising.
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και ο εκτος εξεχεεν την φιαλην αυτου επι τον ποταμον τον μεγαν
[τον] ευφρατην και εξηρανθη το υδωρ αυτου ινα ετοιμασθη η οδος των βασιλεων
των απο ανατολης ηλιου
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This part of the plague alludes to the conquest of Babylon by Cyrus
the Great. Here is how the prophet
Isaiah predicted Cyrus’s conquest of Babylon.
Isaiah 44:28
ASV
28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure,
even saying of Jerusalem, She shall be built; and of the temple, Thy foundation
shall be laid.
Isaiah 45:1-6
ASV
1 Thus
saith [Yehovah] to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to
subdue nations before him, and I will loose the loins of kings; to open the
doors before him, and the gates shall not be shut:
2 I will go before thee, and make the rough
places smooth; I will break in pieces the doors of brass, and cut in sunder the
bars of iron;
3 and I will give thee the treasures of darkness,
and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that it is I, [Yehovah],
who call thee by thy name, even the God of Israel.
4 For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel my
chosen, I have called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast
not known me.
5 I am [Yehovah], and there is none else; besides
me there is no God. I will gird thee, though thou hast not known me;
6 that they may know from the rising of the sun,
and from the west, that there is none besides me: I am [Yehovah], and there is
none else.
Notice how the prophecy describes how the doors would be open and
the gates not shut and the rough places made smooth and the doors of brass and
bars of iron would not stop him. History
records that Cyrus and his Median allies, who came from the east, diverted the
flow of the river Ephrates, lowering it to a point that his men could wade
through the river to enter Babylon. The
water of the river Euphrates was literally dried up to make way for the kings
of the east to destroy Babylon. Morover,
the Babylonians left the gates between the river and the city itself open,
making it easy for the Persians and Medes to enter the city and conquer it.
The Greek historian Herodotus described the
conquest of Babylon in a way that strongly echoes Isaiah’s prophecy.
Herodutus 1.191-192
191. Therefore, whether it
was some other man who suggested it to him when he was in a strait what to do,
or whether he of himself perceived what he ought to do, he did as follows:—The
main body of his army he posted at the place where the river runs into the
city, and then again behind the city he set others, where the river issues
forth from the city; and he proclaimed to his army that so soon as they should
see that the stream had become passable, they should enter by this way into the
city. Having thus set them in their places and in this manner exhorted them he
marched away himself with that part of his army which was not fit for fighting:
and when he came to the lake, Cyrus also did the same things which the queen of
the Babylonians had done as regards the river and the lake; that is to say, he
conducted the river by a channel into the lake, which was at that time a swamp,
and so made the former course of the river passable by the sinking of the
stream. When this had been done in such a manner, the Persians who had been
posted for this very purpose entered by the bed of the river Euphrates into
Babylon, the stream having sunk so far that it reached about to the middle of a
man's thigh. Now if the Babylonians had had knowledge of it beforehand or had
perceived that which was being done by Cyrus, they would have allowed the
Persians to enter the city and then destroyed them miserably; for if they
had closed all the gates that led to the river and mounted themselves upon the
ramparts which were carried along the banks of the stream, they would have
caught them as it were in a fish-wheal: but as it was, the Persians came upon
them unexpectedly; and owing to the size of the city (so it is said by
those who dwell there) after those about the extremities of the city had
suffered capture, those Babylonians who dwelt in the middle did not know that
they had been captured; but as they chanced to be holding a festival, they went
on dancing and rejoicing during this time until they learnt the truth only too
well.
192. Babylon then had thus
been taken for the first time….
One of the important things about this
prophecy is lost in translation. In
Isaiah 45:1 God refers to Cyrus as his annointed. The word translated as “annointed” is מָשִׁ֫יחַ (mashiach) in the original Hebrew.
The word “messiah” is simply the English derivitive of “mashiach”. The Greek form of this word is Χριστός (Christos), from which we get the word
“christ”. So, the Bible is referring to
Cyrus as Yehovah’s messiah/christ. In
this way, we can see that the river Euphrates was dried up to make way for a
messiah/christ to come from the east.
Revelation 17:15 that waters symbolize peoples, multitudes, nations
and tongues. We have already seen the
people who follow the beast and his image referred to as Babylon. This will be expanded on greatly in
Revelation 17 – 18. Babylon was defeated
when the Euphrates was dried up. The
drying up of the Euphrates could be a reference to the support base for the
beast and his image drying up. I don’t
want to speculate too much beyond what is revealed in Scripture. I think we can safely say that it is referring
to changes that take place that prepare the way for Jesus’s conquest over the
beast and his image.
Revelation
16:13-14 ASV
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13
|
And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the
mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean
spirits, as it were frogs:
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και ειδον εκ του στοματος του δρακοντος και εκ του στοματος του
θηριου και εκ του στοματος του ψευδοπροφητου πνευματα τρια ακαθαρτα ως
βατραχοι
|
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14
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for they are spirits of demons, working signs; which go forth unto
the kings of the whole world, to gather them together unto the war of the
great day of God, the Almighty.
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εισιν γαρ πνευματα δαιμονιων ποιουντα σημεια α εκπορευεται επι
τους βασιλεις της οικουμενης ολης συναγαγειν αυτους εις τον πολεμον της
ημερας της μεγαλης του θεου του παντοκρατορος
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The dragon has been clearly identified as Satan. The beast has been clearly identified as the
Roman Catholic/Orthodox Church (they were officially one church until
1054). The identity of the false prophet
is not entirely clear. This title is
used here for the first time without explanation. The previously mentioned power that most
closely resembles that of a false prophet is the second beast who had two horns
like a lamb but spake as a dragon. The
fact that it speaks like a dragon (Satan) and sets up an image to the first
beast and forces the world to worship the beast and its image fulfills the
basic characteristics of a false prophet.
We saw before that the most likely candidate is the United States.
The triumvirate of Satan, the Church and America through their
teachings (out of their mouths) will spread demonic ideas which encourage the
leadership of the world to oppose God, the Almighty.
Revelation
16:15-16 ASV
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15
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(Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and
keepeth his garments, lest he walked naked, and they see his shame.)
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ιδου ερχομαι ως κλεπτης μακαριος ο γρηγορων και τηρων τα ιματια
αυτου ινα μη γυμνος περιπατη και βλεπωσιν την ασχημοσυνην αυτου
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16
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And they gathered them together into the place which is called in
Hebrew Har-magedon.
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και συνηγαγεν αυτους εις τον τοπον τον καλουμενον εβραιστι
αρμαγεδων
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The name Har-magedon (or Armageddon in the King James translation)
comes from the Hebrew word “har”, meaning “mount” and Megiddo, the valley where
many key battles were fought. The tricky
thing about interpreting this is that there is no mountain called Mount
Megiddo. Megiddo itself is the site of
an ancient city in the Jezreel Valley.
Interestingly, one of the mountains overlooking that valley is Mount
Carmel, where Elijah had the showdown with the false prophets of Ba’al.
I believe there is a strong possibility that this describing the
same conflict we find at the end of Daniel 11 and beginning of Daniel 12. Daniel 11 describes a last major conflict
between the King of the South (Arab/Islamic world) and the King of the North
(European/Christian world). See the
chapter on that prophecy for a detailed study.
Daniel 11:40-45
ASV
40 And
at the time of the end shall the king of the south contend with him; and the
king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and
with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and
shall overflow and pass through.
41 He
shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be
overthrown; but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom, and Moab, and
the chief of the children of Ammon.
42 He
shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries; and the land of Egypt
shall not escape.
43 But
he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the
precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his
steps.
44 But
tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him; and he shall go
forth with great fury to destroy and utterly to sweep away many.
45 And
he shall plant the tents of his palace between the sea and the glorious holy
mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
Daniel 12:1-3
ASV
1 And at that
time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who standeth for the children of
thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there
was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be
delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
2 And
many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to
everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 And
they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they
that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
There are several parallels that provide the possibility that these
are describing the same time period.
Both involve the massing of an international military army at the
encouragement of the church. Both
indicate that this army enters the holy land at some point. Both indicate that the alliance is gathered
to fight a power from the east. In
Daniel 11 the army pitches its tents between the sea and the glorious holy
mountain. In Revelation the army gathers
at a place described as the mountain of Megiddo (the choice of a fictionalized
name seems to indicate that the name is symbolic).
Daniel 11 gives much more detail in that there are three distinct
phases. First, the King of the South
(Arab/Islamic world) contends with the King of the North (Western/Christian
world). Second, the King of the North
conquers and overthrows many countries and enters the glorious land. Third, the King of the North hears tidings
from the east and prepares for a final conflict, pitching its tents between the
sea and the glorious holy mountain. We
aren’t told how long these phases last or how much time is in between.
If this war in Daniel 11 is talking about the same war in
Revelation, I believe we could be entering the first phase of contention
between the Arab/Islamic world and the Western/Christian world. We have been contending with fanatical
elements within the Arab/Islamic world.
However, the second phase is more of a religious crusade, supported and
encouraged by the Vatican (like earlier conflicts described in Daniel 11), and
seems to be describing a level of fighting we haven’t seen since the two world
wars. I would think that the second
phase of conquering many nations would correspond roughly to the time when the
world is forced to worship the beast and his image and receive the mark. This would make the third phase of hearing
tidings from the east and pitching the tents between the sea and the glorious
holy mountain correspoind to the sixth plague.
Daniel 11 says that none will help him and Daniel 12 describes a
time of trouble and deliverance of God’s people at this time. We will see that Revelation testifies that
the beast will be defeated and God’s people delivered.
On an interesting side note, Daniel 11 specifically mentions the
people of Edom, Moab and Ammon being delivered.
The territories of these ancient kingdoms lay within modern Jordan.
Revelation 16:17-21 ASV
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17
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And the seventh poured out his bowl upon the air; and there came
forth a great voice out of the temple, from the throne, saying, It is done:
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και ο εβδομος εξεχεεν την φιαλην αυτου επι τον αερα και εξηλθεν
φωνη μεγαλη εκ του ναου απο του θρονου λεγουσα γεγονεν
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18
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and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunders; and there
was a great earthquake, such as was not since there were men upon the earth,
so great an earthquake, so mighty.
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και εγενοντο αστραπαι και φωναι και βρονται και σεισμος εγενετο
μεγας οιος ουκ εγενετο αφ ου ανθρωποι εγενοντο επι της γης τηλικουτος σεισμος
ουτως μεγας
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19
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And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities
of the nations fell: and Babylon the great was remembered in the sight of
God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
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και εγενετο η πολις η μεγαλη εις τρια μερη και αι πολεις των
εθνων επεσαν και βαβυλων η μεγαλη εμνησθη ενωπιον του θεου δουναι αυτη το
ποτηριον του οινου του θυμου της οργης αυτου
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20
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And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
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και πασα νησος εφυγεν και ορη ουχ ευρεθησαν
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21
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And great hail, every stone about the weight of a talent, cometh
down out of heaven upon men: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of
the hail; for the plague thereof is exceeding great.
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και χαλαζα μεγαλη ως ταλαντιαια καταβαινει εκ του ουρανου επι
τους ανθρωπους και εβλασφημησαν οι ανθρωποι τον θεον εκ της πληγης της
χαλαζης οτι μεγαλη εστιν η πληγη αυτης σφοδρα
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The time for the end has come.
God and Jesus have been patient with us.
2 Peter 3:3-15
ASV
3 knowing
this first, that in the last days mockers shall come with mockery, walking
after their own lusts,
4 and
saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day that the fathers
fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the
creation.
5 For
this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth
compacted out of water and amidst water, by the word of God;
6 by
which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 but
the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up
for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly
men.
8 But
forget not this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand
years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The
Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is
longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all
should come to repentance.
10 But
the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass
away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat,
and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing
that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye
to be in all holy living and godliness,
12 looking
for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the
heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with
fervent heat?
13 But,
according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein
dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore,
beloved, seeing that ye look for these things, give diligence that ye may be
found in peace, without spot and blameless in his sight.
15 And
account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved
brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote unto you;
But, the longsuffering will come to an end. The cry will go out from God on the throne that
it is done. The day of the Lord will
come.
Revelation describes thunders and lightnings and a great earthquate
immediately following the declaration that it is done. Babylon (the corrupt Church) will be punished
for her wickedness. Great hailstones
will fall. But, the wicked will refuse
to repent. Instead, they will blaspheme
God even more. After the two witnesses
were resurrected and their enemies beheld them being taken to heaven, a tenth
part of the great city was destroyed in an earthquake. The survivors turned to God and gave Him
glory. Now, the greatest earthquake of
all time divides the city in three parts and the survivors blaspheme God even
more.
