Time of Trouble.

All the plagues fall because of various reasons- reasons we can know.

(((Note:The following study is from an excerpt from Watchman What of the Night Aug 1995- my comments will be in parenthesis.  May God bless us all as we begin this in-depth study. All through Jesus Christ our LORD. ))))

In noting the plagues, it becomes obvious that no plague falls without a reason.

 "The curse causeless shall not come." (Prov. 26:2)

The warning was given to the final generation that to "worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark" meant only one thing, the unmixed wrath of God. (14:9-10)

To those who received this mark, the first angel directs his plague. "A foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image." (16:2, NKJV) If the symbols as given in these chapters are to be consistently interpreted, the image was created and worshiped by those "who dwell on the earth" meaning the place from whence the second beast arose. (13:11-12) 

Rev 16:2  And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image

Rev 13:11  And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 

Rev 13:12  And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

(((From previous studies we know that the EARTH this other beast with the two horns like a lamb and speaking like a dragon comes up out of is the United States. Truly it is proven beyond a doubt when you consider history and prophecy and do a serious study on the topic. So what we've been told is the first plague is going to fall on the United States. Some people have the false idea that the plagues fall on everyone at once, that they are universal in nature but they are not. The first plague falls on those who have the mark of the beast, and those who worship the image of the beast- these people will be in the United States. ))))

The second plague is more difficult of interpretation than would first appear. (16:3) Is it the literal oceans that are here meant, or is "the sea" to be understood as the place where arose the first beast? (12:12; 13:1)

Rev 16:3  And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea. 

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

Rev 13:1  And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 

It is singular in number. If "the sea" is to be symbolically understood, what does the clause - "every living soul died in the sea" - mean? The explanation given by "the angel of the waters" as to why this plague is poured out states "they have shed the blood of saints and prophets." Who are the

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"they"? The only plural antecedent would be the collective, "sea," "rivers and fountains of waters."

Rev_16:6  For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.

The third plague is the one plague of the seven which is repeated. (16:4)

Rev 16:4  And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.

 It is directed against the sources of the sea - "rivers and fountains of waters." However, it does not state that "every living soul" in the "rivers and fountains" dies; but the pronouncement of the angel of the waters covers both plagues.

The first beast makes "war with the saints." (13:7)

Rev 13:7  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 

 It could be assumed that blood was spilt. The "image to the beast" issues a death decree but no where is it indicated it was carried out. (13:15) 

Rev 13:15  And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 

The intent is clear, there would be bloodshed. However, similar language as used by the angel of the waters, "blood of saints and prophets," is used to describe the "woman" of Revelation 17. (See verse 6)

Rev 17:6  And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. 

Can it be that the same principle enunciated by Jesus for the generation which crucified Him, will apply to the generation which issues the "death decree" against "the remnant" of the woman's seed? (See Matt. 23:34-36)

Mat 23:34  Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 

Mat 23:35  That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. 

Mat 23:36  Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. 

Since the death decree is issued not by the beast that came up out of the "sea," but rather by "his image," and since the "beast" did shed much innocent blood during the Dark Ages, does the doubling of the plague of blood to drink, give an indication as to when the "death decree" will be issued? If this indication is correct, the "decree" comes after the close of human probation.

Further, from this point on in the detailing of the plagues, the wording used by John becomes more reflective of that which is to be revealed than with that which had been previously revealed. Confirming this assumption is the fact that one of the seven angels of the seven last plagues becomes John's instructor following the vision of the plagues. (See 17:1; 21:9)

Rev 17:1  And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters

Rev 21:9  And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. 

The fourth angel poured out his vial "upon the sun." (16:8) The sun has been the object of worship from ancient times in most if not all pagan religions. The Bible recognizes such worship as a denial of the God of heaven. Job declared that "if I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness; and my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand: this also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge; for I should have denied the God that is above." (Job 31:26-28) Transferred into professed Christian religions through Romeare numerous elements of pagan sun worship. The birthday of the sun-god Mithra, December 25, is now the celebrated birthday of Jesus. Easter sunrise services are but echoing the pagan ritual of greeting the sunrise with an act of worship. Then weekly, the Christian world, for the most part, worships on the Day of the Sun. Significant, then is the inclusion in the "everlasting gospel" (14:6) of the call to "worship Him that made heaven and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." (v. 7) God's designated day of worship as the Creator is the Sabbath. (Ex. 20:8-11) The "beast's" designated day is the Day of the Sun.

Keenan in his catechism asks the question, "Have you any other way of proving that the [Roman] Church has power to institute festivals of precept?" Then he answers - "Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her; - she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, for the observance of the Saturday, the seventh day, a change for which there is no Scriptural authority." (Doctrinal Catechism, p. 174)

The fifth angel pours out his vial "upon the seat of the beast." (16:10) If the "sea" in the second plague does represent the area from which the "beast" arose, and as a result of the plague, every living soul died in the sea," this "seat" could not be Rome, its original seat. The prophecy in Daniel does cast some light on this problem. There a power "shall plant the tabernacle of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain" (Dan. 11:45) which is Jerusalem. This fact is further emphasized in the sixth plague.

Resultant from the plague, "the (beast's) kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain." This is an interesting use of words, "darkness" associated with the "tongue." The victorious 144,000 do not have in their mouth "a deceitful tongue." (Zeph. 3:13; Rev. 14:5) Spiritual darkness comes from deception and the corruption of the Word, for the entrance of the Word giveth light. (Ps. 119:130) This plague strikes the seat of the beast from whence came spiritual "darkness" during probationary time. Now the medium - the tongue - by which that darkness was conveyed is plagued with pain. The next plague - the sixth - is poured upon "the great river Euphrates." (16:12) What is this plague? It is something which dries up the waters of the river, and the drying is for a purpose - "that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared." Each plague, except for the third, is directed toward what man did in probationary time. For example, the first plague came upon those "which had the mark of the

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beast and upon them which worshipped his image" activity during probationary time. The description of this activity which brings the sixth plague follows in verses 13-14, 16, verse 15 being parenthetical.

To understand the import of what took place during the last remnant of time, one must understand the imagery of the sixth plague - the river Euphrates, and its waters. Significantly, one of the angels of the seven last plagues tells John - "Come hither, I will shew thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters." (17:1) Yet, when John is shown the judgment on this woman, he sees her sitting upon a scarlet colored beast. (17:3) Further, he is told that "the waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." (17:15) The only vision, previous to the explanation of the "whore" where John could have seen her on "many waters", is during the vision of the seven last plagues. This whore is "Mystery Babylon the Great" (17:5) the great antitype of ancient Babylon which sat on the River Euphrates.

Even as literal Babylon was situated on the Euphrates, so where this antitypical Babylon will be situated is also revealed. In the explanation as to why this plague is given, we are informed that the "spirits of devils" gather the leadership of "the whole world" to a place called in the Hebrew tongue, "Harmagedon." (16:16) The Hebrew word, Har-mo'ed, means the Mount of the Congregation or Jerusalem. (See Isa. 14:13; Ps. 48:2) There is also another connection of thought in regard to Babylon and Jerusalem. This woman whom John saw on the river Euphratesis called "that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth." (17:18) This "great city" is described elsewhere as the city "which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified." (11:8)

The conclave at the Mount of the Congregation is religious in nature, motivated by the spirits of devils emanating from the dragon, beast, and false prophet. (16:13) They gather together for "the war (Gr. polemos) of the great day of God Almighty." (16:14) In the explanation given concerning the "whore" it states that these powers "make war with the Lamb." (17:14)

The plague itself is something which dries up the river, in other words, the support of the people and multitudes. What could cause those who once supported the woman to turn upon her? (17:16) The seventh plague involves a great earthquake and hail. (16:18, 21) Another scripture indicates that, just prior to the earthquake and hail, the temple of God is opened in heaven and "there was seen in His temple the ark of His covenant" which contains the Law of God. (11:19) Paul writes, "The Law worketh wrath." (Rom. 4:15) Coming from the darkness of the fifth plague, what greater revelation could arrest the attention of the inhabitants of the earth than the meaning of the Law of God in all of its reality? Sensing their deception, and the eternal loss involved, where would the rage of those who have lost all in the battle of life be vented?

The purpose of this plague is to prepare the way for "the kings of the east." (16:12) Again the "type" needs to be invoked. Cyrus, who overthrew Babylon came from the "east" and with him were other kings. (Dan. 5:31) Cyrus is pictured in prophecy as the Liberator of the captive people of God. (Isa. 44:28-45:4) When Christ comes the second time, He comes as "King of kings and Lord of lords" to set the captives free. (Rev. 19:11-16; Phil. 3:20-21)

When the seventh angel pours out his vial into the air, "a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the Throne" declares - "It is done." A series of events involving the earth are pictured to John as following this declaration from the Throne. A great earthquake,  Babylon divided into three parts, the "cities of the nations" fall, "every island fled away, and the mountains were not found." A judgment call must again be made. Are these literal happenings, or is symbolic prophetic language still being used? It is obvious from context that "Babylon" is a symbolic term and is applied to the "harlot." (17:18). Then are the "cities of the nations" the national units of the great international city? Does the symbolism stop here, and the "islands" and "mountains" are to be understood literally?

The seventh plague itself is described as hail, every stone being "about the weight of a talent." (16:21) It is said to be "exceeding great." This can be understood only as literal language. While men "blasphemed God," those who have been looking at the transgression of earth's inhabitants from heaven's perspective declare, "Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments." (16:7)

The first section of the book of Revelation closes with similar language as is found in this 16th Chapter. Under the seventh angel of the Trumpets, and the Third Woe are described events when God takes unto Himself, His great power and reigns. (11:15-19) These must be considered as parallel with the time of the seven last plagues.

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. 

Rev 11:16  And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, 

Rev 11:17  Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. 

Rev 11:18  And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. 

Rev 11:19  And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. 

(((As you can see, if you've read this through, the seven last plagues are shrouded in a lot of symbolism. The plagues as we mentioned above will come all seven of them. After our Savior rises up from His intercessory seat beside our Heavenly Father, and the door to the heavenly most holy place is closed- a time of trouble is going to come upon this world unlike anything we have ever seen, or ever imagined.

Right now we live in a world quickly spiraling towards this end. We see the effects of Satan knowing his time is short. All around us evil is out of control. Satan would have us focus on the good that happens in spite of all the evil because people who are complacently living and focusing on peace are not alarmed by the fact their probation is almost up. Why think about the seven last plagues? Why think about the time of trouble? Why concern ourselves with such things?  If we ARE NOT supposed to concern ourselves with such things then why are we told to watch, to pray, to read and understand?

Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. 

Are we HEARING the words of the prophecy?

Are we KEEPING the things written in the prophecy?

We've shoved all this into the realm of disbelief, stuff that doesn’t concern us. We've noted it and filed it away for another day- a day when maybe, just maybe we might need to know what's what. The problem with all that is if we wait until these particular prophecies come to pass, the seven last plagues, we've waited entirely too long. You don't wait to accept salvation, you accept it as soon as it is offered to you! Right this very moment you ask God for forgiveness, you repent of your sins, you accept that Jesus Christ our Lord, our Savior died in our place so we could live! You believe, you have faith in all that is our Savior! You don't wait for the perfect opportunity, or a more convenient time, you don't wait until you feel it's the right time. Satan would delay us all, every single one of us. Satan would blind us to the truth. The truth that we need to be Christ's right now and forever. No one knows when their own personal probation is up, no one.  Are all cases to be decided in an instant in time, God's time? Or is everyone given a much separate time? We do know that once we've died we can no longer accept Christ.

Ecc_9:10  Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

Our probation is definitely up when we die, and our probation will definitely be up when our Savior stands up and says it is done.

Rev_22:11  He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

There has to come a time when this pronouncement is made. There has to come a time when Christ stands up and finishes His intercessory work. There has to come a time when all it decided.

Prophecy has proven time and time again to come true, and nothing will stop the rest of prophecy from coming to pass, nothing. May God help us to be among those who are HIS, ever HIS so the seven last plagues do not touch us should we be alive when they are loosed upon this world.

Please, Lord, we would be known by YOU, we would be wholly YOURS now and forever! Please!

All glory, all honor, all praise and thanksgiving unto you, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!

May the Father hear our petitions, may the Holy Spirit speak what we cannot. Wash us, make us clean as ONLY YOU can!