Having a meltdown about the wrath of God. Revelation 12:12

 In looking at some older files in a folder called “Questions that need an answer,” I found this one dated 04/2019, where a friend was having a meltdown about the wrath of God. Although in talking with another acquaintance about eschatology, that brother in Christ angrily said there is no wrath. I quickly understood that his problem was a matter of terminology. Still, it was also evident that this “intelligent” man had never read the Bible (His church background had been Episcopalian, and he had been content to let someone tell him what the Bible said.)

Yet, on the other hand, the person who originated this discussion felt that we all deserved God’s wrath. I had said to him, Is it possible that you have ascribed God’s wrath to Satan based upon verse Revelation chapter twelve, where it says, “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath?” As I recall, he did not have a reasonable answer and insisted that we must sustain God’s wrath. I can tell you that this is NOT a true statement, and I will substantiate this with the Word of God.

Search for the word wrath, and you will find, depending upon the translation, that there are about twenty references in the Revelation alone. Each point to God as the owner or originator of that wrath. One of those passages is Revelation 12:12.

Rev 12:12 KJV “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time.”

Wrath seems like such a simple word and easy to understand, and that is why NO one bothers to look it up in the Greek. Strong’s concordance tells us that it is the Gk word thumos with a primary meaning of passion (as if breathing hard): - fierceness, indignation. One of the last options is the word wrath.

Webster defines PASSION, n. [L. passio, from patior to suffer.] (1.) The impression or effect of an external agent upon a body; that which is suffered or received. (4.) The feeling of the mind, or the sensible effect of impression; excitement, perturbation or agitation of mind; as desire, fear, hope, joy, grief, love, hatred. The eloquence of the orator is employed to move the passions.

As you can see from the definition of passion, Satan was acting under the premise of #1 and the agitation and hatred of explanation two.

“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8 NASB)

To understand this verse, I have to ask, to what point in time is the narrator speaking?

I ask this because Jesus told us, while He walked this earth, that He beheld Satan fall like lightning. It is evident from this statement that this event happened long ago. Since we find Satan in the garden seducing Eve into eating the forbidden fruit, then it is safe to say Satan’s fall occurred at or before the garden creation. (This scenario with Satan’s fall has a wide variety of options and may play into the “Gap Theory” that is seen between Gen 1:1 and 1:2.) (Luke 10:18)

Alright, I went there and mentioned the “Gap Theory,” so let’s pursue this for a few minutes.

Genesis, in most translations, opens in this manner, “In the beginning.” The problem here is that this phrase is wrapped up in one Hebrew word – rê'shı̂yth. It means the first, in place, time, order, or rank.

The passage could easily be read in beginning and still make sense. It was the first thing He did.

What did God do?

We are told that God created the heavens and earth.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
(Genesis 1:1 NASB)

The Hebrew word that was used to express God creating was bārā’. "It is a verb meaning to create. Only God is the subject of this verb. It is used for His creating: heaven and earth." (Word Study Dictionary)

But it is also indicative of Him creating: humanity (Gen_1:27); the heavenly host (Isa_40:26); the ends of the earth (Isa_40:28); north and south (Psa_89:12 [13]); righteousness; salvation (Isa_45:8); evil (Isa_45:7).

Did God make any mistakes?

No, and I will prove it to you.

“For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (He is the God who formed the earth and made it, He established it and did not create it a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited), "I am the LORD, and there is none else. "I have not spoken in secret, In some dark land;I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, 'Seek Me in a waste place'; I, the LORD, speak righteousness, Declaring things that are upright.”

(Isaiah 45:18-19 NASB)

Established is the Hebrew word kûn: According to the Word Study Dictionary, it is A verb meaning to set up, to make firm, to establish, to prepare. The primary action of this verb is to cause to stand in an upright position, and thus the word also means fixed or steadfast.

"Waste place" is the Hebrew word tôhû used twice. It means to lie waste; a desolation (of the surface), that is, desert; figuratively a worthless thing; without form.

“He established it and did not create it a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited.”

And yet, what does Genesis 1:2 say?

“The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.”
(Genesis 1:2 NASB)

According to God's Word, this is NOT what God created. Some might try to tell you that this was a part of the creation process. For example, some believe that the earth and the heavens were formed from some hot spinning mass. By what we see in the scriptures, especially Isaiah 45, that is NOT possible.

Formless, as used in Genesis, is the same Hebrew word we saw in Isaiah, tôhû. Void is the Hebrew word bôhû and means an undistinguishable ruin.

So, according to Isaiah 45, the earth was made in a manner appropriate for life and the life of humanity once that happens.

What does all that mean to you and me?

It means that something horrific happened between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2, and it made the earth look like this - formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. There is no reason to see this destruction as anything but Satan being thrown to the earth.

Do you realize that there is NOTHING in scripture that defines how much time lapsed between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. If you hold to the earth, living things, and humanity being created in six, 24-hour days, then you are sadly deceived because #1. This Bible is a Jewish book, and in the majority, even the Jews do NOT see the creation in a six-day, twenty-four-hour format; neither should you. 

And #2, since you are trying to hold to six, 24-hour days for the creation, what do you do with the fact that there was no time until the fourth day? (See Genesis 1:19)

The point here is that Satan, at some point, was thrown to earth, and that act created vast and encompassing ruination; and that is quite possibly what we see when we read Revelation 12:12, where it says, “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time.” So, in his great wrath, Satan trashed the place, which had to be repaired.

Since Job tells us that Satan was already here, walking about the heavens, among the sons of God,

“Now on a certain day, when the sons of God came to stand before the Lord, Satan also was present among them. And the Lord said to him: Whence comest thou? (The NLT translation reads “Where have you come from?”) And he answered and said: I have gone round about the earth, and walked through it.”
(Job 1:6-7 DRB)

- then, his coming down to the earth predates the fall of humankind in the garden.

So then, this great wrath of Satan, how is it demonstrated?

That wrath is a regular part of the believer’s life. 

Jesus told us that we would have tribulation in this world, and we are certainly a part of the world. 

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” 
(John 16:33 NASB)

A secondary consideration is that we who are followers of Christ are in Christ and therefore look and act like He did.

“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
(1 Peter 5:8 NASB)

A famous passage that clarifies this wrath comes from Revelation 12.

 “And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood. (16) But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth. (17) So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.” 
(Revelation 12:15-17 NASB)

I believe that the woman is Israel. This identification would be entirely acceptable because of: the time period – a period in which God is pouring out His wrath upon Israel for their rejection of Jesus as the Messiah, their unbelief, and their idolatrous ways.

Alright, we now know Satan is on the rampage, but do we know why? 

The answer is yes. Initially, Satan is attacking the Jews, the woman's children, but because God allows those receiving Christ to be grafted into the vine, the drawing accomplished by the Holy Spirit will continue as multitudes come to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah. Then, they, too, will become targets of the enemy.

The statement that spells out the reason for the attack is "the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus." We do not know what this overall attack on the tribulation believers will look like, as many will deny the god of the beast (Allah) at the edge of a sword. Perhaps God will understand that at that moment in which to deny Allah is to accept the alternative, Jesus Christ the Son of God, they are giving testimony to Jesus' power over their lives.

-----------------------

Let's assume that we have exhausted the wrath of Satan. Now let's consider God's wrath for a moment. 

If I did not say it earlier, let me mention it now. Several years ago, a brother in Christ who would not read his Bible and was, therefore, content to rely upon what his former Episcopalian priest told him from the pulpit angrily retorted to me; there is no wrath from God! To say something like this demonstrates that all you heard was that God is Love, and He is, but God, like a parent, will correct His children. This is what Israel has done since leaving Egypt, ignoring God's instructions. God, having warned them, will step up His reproofs to the next level and bring the wrath. 

In chapter eight of his book, Ezekiel sees a vision while seated with elders at his house. In the vision, Ezekiel is shown the Son of Man/Jesus, but he is also shown the elders committing abominations with idols in their hidden and secret places. Judgment and wrath are coming because of these practices, and don't think for a second that they are not still committing abominations because they are; wrath will come because of these things and others.

Since God often uses others to carry out His wrath, we see God in the ninth chapter of Ezekiel saying, "Draw near, O executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand." One group of executioners was the Assyrians. Suppose you jump forward in time to Revelation chapter seven, where we see the seals being opened and God's wrath and punishment playing out. In that case, some are marked with a protective mark on their foreheads, while others are violently slain - older men, young men, maidens, little children, and women. These same destroyers will defile the temple. 

Ezekiel asks, "Are You destroying the whole remnant of Israel by pouring out Your wrath on Jerusalem?" The Jews, during the time of wrath, will be asking this very question. The answer Ezekiel receives goes like this, 

"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 Jehovah! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy wrath upon Jerusalem?"
Ezekiel 9:8 ASV

The thought continues, only I switched translations because the terminology is more appropriate.

"The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is very, very great, and the land is filled with blood and the city is full of perversion; for they say, 'The LORD has forsaken the land, and the LORD does not see!' "But as for Me, My eye will have no pity nor will I spare, but I will bring their conduct upon their heads."
(Ezekiel 9:9-10 NASB)

The identification of the woman as Israel should prompt you to ask, who else is involved in this deadly mire?

The parable of the ten virgins demonstrates an exclusion, but because they were Jewish, it might be hard to understand. We can assume that 50% of the “Church” will have to endure this time of wrath, along with most of those deceived by the cult religions. We understand from scripture that the veil that blinds all who are left (those not caught up in the snatching away of the church) will be lifted, and the number of Jews that will take a stand for Jesus will be remarkable, as Pastor Jack Hibbs likes to say. And then, there will be the nations in general. Included in this number of those giving their allegiance to Jesus Christ will also be the Muslim nations, as they, too, will have the veil lifted from their understanding. The word wrath shows up 183 times in the NASB Bible. 11 of those references are found in the Revelation. Revelation 6:16 tells us that “they” are crying out to the mountains to fall on them and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb.

“Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they *said to the mountains and to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb;” (Revelation 6:15-16 NASB)

Revelation 14:9-10 speaks about those who take the mark of the beast, worship the beast, and worship the image of the beast. We are told that these will drink the wine of the wrath of God.

“... "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.”
(Revelation 14:9-10 NASB)

Let's close this look at wrath with this passage from Deuteronomy.

"Now the generation to come, your sons who rise up after you and the foreigner who comes from a distant land, when they see the plagues of the land and the diseases with which the LORD has afflicted it, will say, 'All its land is brimstone and salt, a burning waste, unsown and unproductive, and no grass grows in it, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in His anger and in His wrath.' "All the nations will say, 'Why has the LORD done thus to this land? Why this great outburst of anger?' "Then men will say, 'Because they forsook the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers, which He made with them when He brought them out of the land of Egypt. 'They went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods whom they have not known and whom He had not allotted to them. 'Therefore, the anger of the LORD burned against that land, to bring upon it every curse which is written in this book; and the LORD uprooted them from their land in anger and in fury and in great wrath, and cast them into another land, as it is this day.'” (Deuteronomy 29:22-28 NASB)

For all nations shall come and worship you. Revelation 15:1-8

Revelation 15:1 NASB "Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished."

I saw another sign in heaven? 

John is making a statement that speaks to his Jewish audience. I know, you think this was written for our present-day, Gentile church. 

If it was written exclusively for us, then why don't we, for the most part, understand what he is talking about? 

 A former pastor of mine, accosted me publicly and said, “no one can understand the Revelation.” With hardly a second thought I responded with, well, I do and will gladly teach others what I know. In our study of Revelation, we have seen other signs in the heavens. 

 “A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; and she was with child; and she *cried out, being in labor and in pain to give birth.” (Revelation 12:1-2 NASB) 

This was a literal, astronomical alignment of stars in the heavens, and it only recently came to pass.

Let's get something straight, this has nothing to do with astrology. This knowledge of star alignments was central to the Magi's understanding and they, based upon this knowledge, followed a star or an alignment of stars that they figured out would lead them to the now two year old Messiah, which had been born in Bethlehem. 

We are not left to struggle as we try to figure out what this sign is that John saw. It is “seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.” This is the opening of the door to the end of the judgments, all a part of God's wrath. 

We will finish out chapter fifteen, but you have to jump over to chapter sixteen to grasp what is next - the seven bowls of judgment. 

Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God." (Revelation 16:1 NASB) 

So, although, chapter 15 speaks of an end, it, like much of the Revelation, takes a momentary detour.

Revelation 15:2-4 NASB And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God. (3) And they *sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations! (4) "Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy; For ALL THE NATIONS WILL COME AND WORSHIP BEFORE YOU, FOR YOUR RIGHTEOUS ACTS HAVE BEEN REVEALED." 

Is this sea of glass something new? 

 Not at all, and the Jewish audience had a familiarity with this sea of glass as it comes from Exodus; and, notice that Moses was not alone when this sea of glass was seen. 

“Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.” (Exodus 24:9-10 NASB)

Previously John spoke about this sea of glass in Revelation 4. 

 “and before the throne there was something like a sea of glass, like crystal; and in the center and around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind.” (Revelation 4:6 NASB) 

Hold this thought in your thinking, where is this sea of glass? 

Before the throne. 

Who else stands before the throne? 

“After these things, I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;” (Revelation 7:9 NASB) 

These are the martyred saints. 

“Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?" I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. "For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them. "They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat;” (Revelation 7:13-16 NASB) 

Many will read this statement, “they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb,” and foolishly think, these people have simply washed their clothes in the blood of Jesus. Don't be absurd, these people, having in the simplest of ways, shown their allegiance to Christ, were killed and their blood was shed. Since by our acceptance we became integrated into Christ, then it is His blood that is now washing their clothing as they bleed out. 

To demonstrate my point. 

 “When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;” (Revelation 6:9 NASB) 

“those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name.” 

This statement moves this event into a particular time frame, three and one-half years into the time of wrath and the influence of the false prophet. 

How do I know that? 

 Because we do not see any reference to the image of the beast or the number of his name until at least half way through the seven years. Revelation 13:14-15 is the only place we find this conversation. 

 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life. And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. (Revelation 13:14-15 NASB) 

I want to think about this word victorious for a moment. 

It is the Greek word nikaō, and according to Thayer's Definitions means to conquer, but it also means to carry off the victory or to come off as victorious. 

In what way can I perceive these, so-called, victorious people as being conquerors? 

 I have been talking about Joel chapter two verses 28 and 29 for years and how non-religious people, who, during the time of wrath, turned their hearts toward God, and began to live like the prophet Elijah who called fire down from heaven. 

What a coincidence since these people may have had the two witnesses from God as an example of the power that God intended us to live in. The other thing that makes what Joel said important is the fact that on the day of Pentecost Peter, told those who were listening, that this prophecy was fulfilled in their hearing. 

God did not make a temporary ruling for the moment and then rescind it, it stills stands fulfilled; and yet do we walk in this power? 

No. 

“ telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life.” 

If you have been following my posts on the Revelation, then you know that the beast who sustained the wound that made the world think it was dead, is an empire/kingdom. The empire that fits this description with precision was the Ottoman Caliphate. 

Now, how do you make an image of a Caliphate? 

You got me; they either make an image of the Caliphate or of this fallen angel who passes himself off as Allah; and the false prophet gives the image breath, a voice, and the ability to speak – this sign causes many of the Jewish leadership to worship the beast; and, as they do, so does the nation of Israel. 

Considering that Revelation 13:15 tells us that those, whose names are written in the book of life will NOT worship the beast, perhaps this is what being victorious over the beast looks like. 

Revelation 15:4 MKJV  "Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You only are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your (righteous acts) were made known."

I have known the Lord for a long time and so the question, “Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name,” seems odd and illogical, because I see God in everything and my heart longs for and worships Him. 

“For all nations shall come and worship before You,”

Do the nations, in general, do that now? 

Not a chance, but a day is coming in which they will. King David tells us that God has made all the nations.

“All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, And they shall glorify Your name.” (Psalms 86:9 NASB) 

The prophet Jeremiah, almost word for word, declared what John would later write about. 

“Who would not fear You, O King of the nations? Indeed it is Your due! For among all the wise men of the nations And in all their kingdoms, There is none like You.” (Jeremiah 10:7 NASB) 

On that day, every nation will bow before Him in worship. 

"I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.” (Isaiah 45:23 NASB) 

False teachers will tell you that only Christians enter the 1000 year reign. This is NOT true. 

Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem, will go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths. (Zechariah 14:16 NASB) 

This time of celebration may NOT be a time of celebration for some. Perhaps another way of understanding this is to consider that most, among the nations, would NOT worship Him. Here, they will worship or have their rain taken away for a year – it is hard to grow crops without rain. Try that same trick the following year and a plague is put on you in which you dry up and turn to dust almost instantly. So, worship, during the 1000 year reign, will be mandatory for many. 

This next verse is probably confusing to most because we are Gentiles. Perhaps it is time that we accept our new heritage and learn its ways. 

Revelation 15:5 MKJV "And after these things, I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony was opened in Heaven." 

Everything done on earth had already been done in Heaven. 

 "Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as He who spoke to Moses directed him to make it according to the pattern which he had seen (in heaven.) (Acts 7:44 NASB) Italics mine. 

This became very important as Jesus traversed from the cross to the throne, because, as the high priest, He had to pour out the blood of the sacrifice on the heavenly utensils in heaven, and as the sacrificial lamb it had to be His blood being poured out. This is effectively what the writer of Hebrews is telling us. A one time act that eliminated our inbred guilt for sin.

“For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, "THIS IS THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT WHICH GOD COMMANDED YOU." And in the same way, he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.” (Hebrews 9:19-28 NASB) 

Consider this word testimony. 

It is the Greek word martyrion and means evidence as well as testimony. 

"You shall put into the ark the testimony (evidence) which I shall give you. (Exodus 25:16 NASB)

 Evidence of what, and what was the evidence? 

First of all, this chest, covered in gold, became the mercy seat of God. If you are trying to find God's character this might be a good place to start. Even during the time of what many see as the oppressive Law, the most vital piece of furniture behind the veil is the mercy seat. 

Secondly, the items placed inside the rather large chest were meant to remind them that God is real and that what He had done for them was real. Sadly, it does not take us long to forget. I suppose that is why it is necessary to remind people constantly. 

What were the items? 

 A jar that held the manna. Israel had been given specific instructions pertaining to the collection of the manna, Disobey or disregard those instructions and the manna rotted. As far as we know, the manna remained fresh in the jar until someone disturbed its contents. There was also Aaron's rod that budded, and, the stone tablets that contained the Law of God – ten commandments. 

Do I need those items to assure me of my salvation? 

 No, we have God's word and faith, but I apparently have to remind myself of all that He has done. Consider something, Jesus was taken by the Jewish council, beaten, and then handed over to the Romans to be killed – the Jews could not legally or morally have done such a thing, but the Romans, who were thought to be godless Gentiles, easily could. So, Jesus was put on a cross and He physically died while on that cross. 

Historically, we know that He was placed in a borrowed tomb, over which a stone was rolled and sealed with a Roman seal. Jesus was “dead” for three days; this is important for the Jews because, according to tradition, after three days the spirit leaves the body and you are officially dead. We see this timing in the story of Jonah, and with Lazarus - the friend of Jesus. Since the spirit never dies Jesus continued to carry out the Father's plan of redemption, and He went to hell, defeated Satan there, took his keys, and set the prisoners free. 

Many of you know what happened next, He appeared in the Garden, near the tomb, on the third day, and we are told that Mary, once she recognized that it was Him, hugged Him. Jesus responded in a peculiar manner as He said, I have not been to the Father yet. 

 What was that all about? 

 This is where Hebrews 9:19-28 comes into play, for He still had to go to the heavenly altar, cleanse it, and offer His own blood on our behalf. The pastor made an interesting point this morning as he tried to explain when people say, 

why would a loving God send people to hell? 

The problem with their question, which demonstrates how little they know about God's word, is not that God is sending anyone to hell, we were all on that path because we inherited damaged, sinful genetics from Adam. It was Jesus who gave us the opportunity to put the brakes and halt the actions that would have been our only option. Now, we, through faith, have the chance to change our path and redirect back to the Father. 

Revelation 15:6-8 NASB "and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded around their chests with golden sashes. (7) Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. (8) And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished."

There are seven angels and I do not feel as though more needs to be said about them, but I will point out that the angels are carrying the plagues to earth as part of God's judgment. 

The next phase of God's judgment is the bowls and we are now there. In verse 8 we are told that the bowls contain plagues. This could be a coverall statement for whatever is coming next or, it may be an addendum to what is being pushed upon the globe currently. This C19 jab is a plague and of that, I am convinced. 

Look at what Leviticus says. 

'If then, you act with hostility against Me and are unwilling to obey Me, I will increase the plague on you seven times according to your sins. (Leviticus 26:21 NASB) 

I do not feel comfortable conjecturing what these plague effects will look like, just knowing what has been happening to people who have submitted to the jab, is depressing enough. There is only one hope and that is to turn your life over to Jesus.

The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman. Revelation 12: 15-17.

 Most recently, we talked about how Satan, who tried to kill the male child, now persecutes the woman who gave birth to the child.

And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. (Revelation 12:13 NASB)

From the first day of the revelation of the mystery, which occurred that day in the garden, he has attempted to kill anything that looked like the male child. Ah, and herein is an aspect of the mystery; your enemy did not know who this male child was.

For us this male child, in the broad view, is the nation of Israel (the male child is also seen as the woman.) This nation began its existence in Egypt with Jacob. By the time the new Pharaoh comes into power, God's people lived in the finest and greenest area of Egypt, in vast numbers. This piece of information was so alarming that the Egyptians made slaves out of them.

How did that happen?

If you are aware of the plight of God's people, then you know that they were making babies like there was no tomorrow, so the Pharaoh orders the midwives to kill the Israeli babies; one did not and we got Moses out of that. A narrow view of Revelation 12:13 would have us looking at Jesus as the male child.

Did Satan try to kill Jesus?

He certainly did, but he did not succeed, as Jesus is still alive.

Having tried to kill off any number of males, none of which slowed God down, he turned his perpetual attention to killing off anything that looked like the nation Israel. If you are familiar with the book of Esther,

He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle's daughter, for she had no father or mother. Now the young lady was beautiful of form and face, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter. Esther 2:7 NASB)

I made a point of telling you her Jewish name, as this is a Jewish story and an example of how one man attempted to kill off the Jews in a holocaust.

You should be well aware that the man who created the havoc was Haman.

Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from those of all other people and they do not observe the king's laws, so it is not in the king's interest to let them remain. (Esther 3:8 NASB)

Wow, if you wanted to provoke a kings' anger, you could not make a more conclusive list.

Do you think, in the environment that is rapidly developing around the Christ-followers today, that this very thing will not happen to you? Look at this.

"If it is pleasing to the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who carry on the king's business, to put into the king's treasuries." (Esther 3:9 NASB)

Back to the broad spectrum view. We, who are followers of Christ, are also the male child.

Satan is still trying to kill the male child, and this is where we pick up the story.

Revelation 12:15 NASB And the serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after
the woman, so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood.

Page one.

Poured – is the Greek word ballō and means to vomit.

Water, it seems like a simple, understandable word. It is the Greek word hudōr and means water, as if rainy.

After (the woman Israel) – This is the Greek word opisō and carries the idea of behind, or at one's back. There is definitely a feel for this remnant of Israel running for their lives.

While you may not look at these words and see a massive torrent, capable of killing off approximately three million people, the verse continues.

• “so that he might cause her to be swept away with the flood.”

Satan is trying to kill them all off.

Does Satan gain some advantage or a reprieve from God by killing off millions of people?

The answer is NO. God has a plan and it has always included putting Satan away for a thousand years, and then finally dispatching him to his permanent silencing in an eternal hell.

Revelation 12:16 NASB “But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth.”

Whoa, hold up here a minute; the earth helped the woman.

Helped is the Greek word boēthéō. It means to run on hearing a cry, to give assistance.

How do you read a statement like this and not see the earth as having some ability to comprehend and communicate?

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." But Jesus answered, "I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!"

(Luke 19:39-40 NASB)

Here again, I see the earth as having the ability to communicate and comprehend, and the Psalmist conveys the idea that everything can call out to God.

Let the sea roar and all it contains, The world and those who dwell in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, Let the mountains sing together for joy” (Psalms 98:7-8 NASB)

• “the earth opened its mouth and drank up the river which the dragon poured out of his mouth.”

Yes, I realize I am limiting God by thinking this way, but I can only see one logical thing; and that would be the earth splitting open and any water flowing after escaping Israel, going into the crevice.

Mouth is an interesting Greek word that I became acquainted with in Horticulture. It is the Greek word stoma and means the mouth as if a gash in the face. In plants, it is an opening on the bottom of leaves from which the plant exchanges oxygen for carbon dioxide.

Revelation 12:17 NASB So the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

When I began this study into Revelation 12 I said, we have come back to our history lesson again.

If I apply that thought to Revelation 12:17 am I talking history or a future event?

The answer is both. History because Satan fell before time began, and has been at battle, in an attempt to kill off anyone who may have become the man child himself.

Page two.

Of course, after Jesus Christ came, and the Father announced that He was the beloved Son in whom He was well pleased, there was no longer a need to kill off man-child possibilities. Don't get me wrong, Satan is still out to kill you, through one of his demonic cohorts, but the reasons have shifted to, you look like the one I hate – Jesus.

“So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.”

In this case, the man child is Israel, the nation; and all attempts at destroying Israel have failed. So he goes and, not just bothers, but makes war with the rest of her children. These are either, the followers of Christ or the Jewish community. I lean toward them being followers of Christ.

How do I know that?

Because, for one, they keep the commandments.

Ah, but can any of us keep the commandments?

No, and that is why we needed a savior.

You might think that we Christians are the ones that keep the commandments, but look within the church and then tell me, how many hold tightly to the testimony of Jesus?

My first reaction is to say, not many. Oh sure, we gather there, but it is more of a social gathering and our commonality is a thin moral fiber called God.

I occasionally think that as a blogger, that does Bible studies daily, that I am holding to the testimony of Jesus more than most; however, I know me and know that I have my bad days as well. It is conversations like this that make me think that we need to realize how God thinks is all that matters; that is where a statement like this comes into play. “I have engraved you on the palm of my hand, and I will never forget you.”(Isaiah 49:17 )This passage demonstrates the depth of God's love for you.

When I read the Revelation there are always two main themes running through my head.

First, this book is a book about Jesus (We are told immediately that it is a revealing of Jesus;) that seems odd doesn't it, especially since, in many ways, the gospels revealed Jesus to us. But, for the most part, the gospels revealed Jesus as a gentle shepherd, who draws all to Himself through His actions and message; and, the gospels revealed Jesus as the lamb who was slaughtered and placed upon the cross.

Another thing that I am aware of is that an uncountable number, get their heads clear and hold on to Jesus; this, of course, costs them their physical lives.

Have you ever thought about that?

It is these puny, temporary lives that impede us from seeking out the God who made us.

Why then, wouldn't we want to clear ourselves and join Him?

I am not talking about suicide, I am talking about changing your focus off worldly desires and on to Jesus. Death has a way of doing just that, as it removes you into the spiritual realm; if you belong to Christ, then you are immediately in His presence at death, while those outside of the family, merely lie quietly, waiting for the final judgment. This final judgment is what you see in Matthew 25, and yes, there is mercy shown to those who acted like sheep. The sheep are defined as those who provided for Jesus by showing mercy to other humans in need. Read the story and you will understand.

Turning your life to Jesus now, before what many call the “tribulation” comes. If you have been living under a rock, then you may not be aware that the Taliban has been given control of Afghanistan once again; and, they are killing Christians and those who assisted the Allied forces. For them, the tribulation has begun, and yet, what we call "the tribulation," is wrath from God and far worse than what we have been seeing. Turn to Jesus, and give Him your life.