[46] (back) Revelation 9:7-10. The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. Their hair was like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth. They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. They had tails with stingers, like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months. [This is the only example in Revelation where we are given a specific duration for one of the judgment events.]
[47] (back) Revelation 9:5-6. They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes. During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.
John gives us a detailed description of the locusts and their power to afflict mankind. The most unusual feature of the locusts’ attack is that while their sting is so painful as to cause their victims to want to die rather than endure the pain, “death will elude them.” Is this inability to die solely a consequence of the stings of the locusts, or are there additional features which come into play? To understand this, consider the cultural times in which we live and the logical extension of that cultural path, especially if the Church has been taken out of the world in the Rapture. Based on what we see today, can anyone doubt that in the times of the Tribulation euthanasia clinics will be at least as common as abortion clinics are today? And if such death clinics (which might euphemistically be called “life completion clinics”) are common, would it not be in keeping with everything we know of government, to assume that bureaucrats will want to regulate (and of course tax) their activities, and that only certain methods of inducing death would be approved? In the Left Behind series, it was suggested that those who were stung would live even if they jumped in front of a train. I have proposed that those stung are incapacitated by their pain and thus not capable of carrying out such an effort. If death was regulated and the approved death-inducing drugs were ineffective, those stung would have no alternative; even “mercy killing” would fail them.
[48] (back) Revelation 9:5. They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes.
[49] (back) Revelation 9:13-16. [Quoted in text.]
[50] (back) 1956, Paramount.
[51] (back) Revelation 9:13-14. The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the four horns of the golden altar that is before God. It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.”
This event begins at the Euphrates River, which runs through Turkey, Syria and Iraq. It is probably only coincidental, but nonetheless interesting, that along the banks of the Euphrates in Iraq there are four ancient river guard posts near Haditha (in ancient times Baia Malcha), Auzura, Jibb Jibba, and Olabu, the purpose of which no one has ever been able to explain. I have suggested that these mark the location of the four angels, but it is only a literary choice made for the sake of the story. For additional information of these locations, see http://gluedideas.com/Encyclopedia-Britannica-Volume-8-Part-2-Edward-Extract/Euphrates.html.
[52] (back) Revelation 9:15. And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.
[53] (back) Revelation 9:17-19. The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury.
[54] (back) Revelation 9:16. The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand. I heard their number. See also Joel 2.
[55] (back) The sixth trumpet judgment is by far the most brutal and devastating (in terms of human life) of all of the end times judgments. With the sounding of the sixth trumpet, a full one third of humanity is murdered — not killed by plague, famine, storm, or even asteroids, but murdered at the hands of a demonic army. But how can a demon — a spirit being with no body — kill? There is much about the spirit world that is a mystery to us, but from what we know, it seems that a demon’s only power to do physical harm lies in its ability to possess a human host. And we can be relatively sure that these vile demons will select the most brutal methods at their disposal in the gleeful execution of their task.
[56] (back) How will this reign of death occur? Will the murders be scattered throughout the world? Or will they localized over a single land mass? Apparently, describing this event, the prophet Joel wrote:
Joel 2:2-9. Like the dawn spreading across the mountains a large and mighty army comes, such as never was of old nor ever will be in ages to come. Before them fire devours, behind them a flame blazes. Before them the land is like the garden of Eden, behind them, a desert waste – nothing escapes them. They have the appearance of horses; they gallop along like cavalry. With a noise like that of chariots they leap over the mountaintops, like a crackling fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army drawn up for battle. At the sight of them, nations are in anguish; every face turns pale. They charge like warriors; they scale walls like soldiers. They all march in line, not swerving from their course. They do not jostle each other; each marches straight ahead. They plunge through defenses without breaking ranks. They rush upon the city; they run along the wall. They climb into the houses; like thieves they enter through the windows.”
Clearly, the tactic is a straight on, frontal attack. Expanding outward from the Euphrates River the demon army marches, killing every human in their path until one third of the world’s population is exterminated.
[57] (back) For a similar response, see:
Luke 8:30-33. Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
[58] (back) Zechariah 11:16-17. For I am going to raise up a shepherd over the land who will not care for the lost, or seek the young, or heal the injured, or feed the healthy, but will eat the meat of the choice sheep, tearing off their hooves. “Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered, his right eye totally blinded!”
[59] (back) Revelation 13:3. One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast.
Revelation 13:12. It exercised all the authority of the first beast on its behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed.
It has been suggested that because Revelation 13:3 says that “the beast seemed to have a fatal wound” that the wound was not truly fatal, but the Greek, which is translated here as “seemed to have had a fatal wound” is exactly the same wording and phrasing that is used in Revelation 5:6a (below) to describe the wounds of Christ and is translated there as “looking as if it had been slain.” There is, therefore, no biblical reason to believe the wound received by the Antichrist is not fatal.
Revelation 5:6a. Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders.
[60] (back) See In His Image, Book One of The Christ Clone Trilo
gy, Chapter 26.
[61] (back) Matthew 24:11. …and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
1 Timothy 4:1-2. The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
[62] (back) Francis Crick, Life Itself (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1983). See also original reference, In His Image, Book One of the Christ Clone Trilogy, Chapter 3.
[63] (back) Genesis 2:17. …but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.
[64] (back) Genesis 3:4-5. “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
[65] (back) Genesis 3:7. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
[66] (back) Exodus 20:3-5. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me…
[67] (back) Genesis 11:5-7. [Quoted in text.]
[68] (back) Exodus 4:21. The LORD said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.
[69] (back) Exodus 4:22-23. [Quoted in text.]
[70] (back) Leviticus 4; 5:14-18; 6:24-39; 7:1-10.
[71] (back) Leviticus 3; 7:11-21.
[72] (back) Leviticus 7:12-15; 22:29.
[73] (back) Exodus 4:24. At a lodging place on the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him.
[74] (back) Exodus 4:25. But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it. “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said.
[75] (back) See, for example, Leviticus 1:5-17.
[76] (back) Judges 11:29-39.
[77] (back) Numbers 22:20-22. [Quoted in text.]
[78] (back) Numbers 23:19. [Quoted in text.]
[79] (back) Numbers 33:51-52. “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places.
Deuteronomy 7:1-2. When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you—and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy.
[80] (back) 1 Samuel 15:3. [Quoted in text.]
[81] (back) Genesis 1:26. Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
[82] (back) Ezekiel 44:17-18. When they enter the gates of the inner court, they are to wear linen clothes; they must not wear any woolen garment while ministering at the gates of the inner court or inside the temple. They are to wear linen turbans on their heads and linen undergarments around their waists. They must not wear anything that makes them perspire.
[83] (back) Ezekiel 40–43.
[84] (back) Luke 2:46-47. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.
[85] (back) 2 Kings 2:11. As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
[86] (back) Matthew 24:5. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.
Mark 13:6. Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many.
Luke 21:8. He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.
[87] (back) A play on the words of John 1:29. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
[88] (back) Revelation 11:7. Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them.
[89] (back) Calculating geographically how far the demonic army will reach before it has murdered a full third of the world’s population must account for significant changes in the world’s population that will have already occurred as the result of wars and preceding judgments. It must also take into consideration that within the geographic circle of death is Israel, which must survive for fulfillment of later prophecy.
[90] (back) Revelation 11:8-9. Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial.
[91] (back) Exodus 20:25. If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it.
[92] (back) Daniel 9:27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.
[93] (back) Malachi 4:5-6. [Quoted in text.]
[94] (back) 1 Kings 18:19-40.
[95] (back) Revelation 13:13. And it [the second beast] performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of the people.
[96] (back) Malachi 4:5-6. See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.
[97] (back) 2 Thessalonians 2:4. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
[98] (back) Matthew 24:23-24. At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
Mark 13:21-22. At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
[99] (back) Revelation 13:3. One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was filled with wonder and followed the beast.
Revelation 13:8. All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.
[100] (back) Genesis 11:1-9. Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourse
lves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel—because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.
[101] (back) Daniel 7:25a. He will speak against the Most High . . .
Daniel 11:36a. The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods.
Revelation 13:5-6. The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.
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