The Book Of Revelation

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< > Chapter Six The last few years of this Age. Rev.4v1 to 20v3 The description of Jerusalem as the Scarlet Woman. Rev.17v1-19v4 Jerusalem is portrayed as a harlot woman sitting upon the Beast. Is.1v21. One of the seven angels who had one of the Vials, introduces John to this evil Scarlet Woman; later in Rev.21v9. one of these seven angels introduces John to the New Jerusalem, where the Lamb's bride will live. We have shown in our introduction, that this Scarlet Woman is the city of Jerusalem, and that she has the name of Babylon given to her to show her spiritual condition, even as she had the names of Sodom and Egypt given to her in Rev.11v8., to show other aspects of her wickedness. The seven heads of the Beast are seven nations, or kingdoms, that have conquered and ruled over Jerusalem. We know from Rev.17v10., that in John’s time, the sixth head, Rome, ruled over Jerusalem; the seventh kingdom, the kingdom of Antichrist, was in the distant future. The previous five kingdoms that conquered and subjugated the Jews and Jerusalem were; Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Egypt and Syria. Though this vision of the Scarlet Woman refers to and covers the time period of these six previous kingdoms, it is particularly dealing with Jerusalem in relation to the final Antichrist. The Scarlet Woman is said to sit upon many waters, which Rev.17v15., says are, “peoples, and multitudes, and nations and tongues,” which are subjugated, and under the ruthless domination of the Beast with seven heads. Rev.17v3. In the last few days of the great tribulation, these nations attack Jerusalem and burn it with fire. Rev.17v16. Mt.24v28. Lk.17v37. Jesus returns and destroys these armies, and delivers the persecuted Jews and Christians from them. Zech.14v1-4. Is.42v13-17. 63v1-6. Ps.2v1-12. 2Thes.1v4-10. Rev.19v17-21. In the last seven years of this age the great majority of people in the nations under Antichrist’s control, will serve and worship Antichrist. Antichrist’s followers in the nations, which fight against Antichrist, will be a rebellious and dangerous minority, and many will forfeit their lives in terrible suicidal acts of terrorism. The spirit of lawlessness will energise these children of disobedience. Eph.2v2. Mt.24v12. 2Thes.2v7-12. Dan.8v24. Gen.6v5. 15v16. In Mt.24v7., Jesus warns us that ethnic groups will fall upon, attack and kill each other, “nation shall rise against nation, is “ethnos epi ethnos.” Ethnic conflicts have taken place down the centuries, but it is much worse today than it has ever been, millions of people are dying in ethnic conflicts. It is no wonder that Jesus warns us in Lk.21v25,26., that there will be “distress (“sunoche” 4928, anguish, only here and 2Cor.2v4.) of nations, with perplexity,” and that “men’s hearts will fail (“apopsucho” 674, expire, faint, leave off breathing) in them for fear,” because of the terrible wars, raging storms, and other natural disasters that are coming on the world. We are now beginning to see a great increase in these natural disasters, wars and terrorist atrocities. Jesus warns us in Mt.24v8., that much worse is to follow, “but all these things are, “the beginning of sorrows.” “Sorrows,” is “odin” 5604, it is used to speak of travail in childbirth, but also of intolerable anguish, and the pains of death. However, Jesus tells us not to be troubled, for it proves that His return and God’s kingdom is at hand. In Mt.24v7., “see that ye be not troubled,” “see” is “horate,” the imperative of “horao” 3708, to discern and see properly, and “troubled” is “throeisthe,” 2360, the present passive imperative of “throeo” 2360, to wail, to cry aloud, to scream. When the worldlings scream in terror, and their hearts fail them for fear, because of the terrible events that are taking place in the world, we are to be calm and unafraid, for these events prove that the return of Jesus is near, “even at the doors.” Mt.24v33. Paul, uses the same verb (“throeisthai,” the present passive infinitive of “throeo” 2360), to tell us not to cry aloud, to scream, or be terrified, or be shaken, (“saleuthenai” the aorist passive infinitive of “saleuo” 4531, a verb meaning, to agitate, to cause to totter, to shake thoroughly), by false teaching, or false prophecies, that Jesus can return at any moment, or that He has already returned. Paul refutes the idea that Christ’s return is imminent, and warns us that Jesus cannot return until there has been a “falling away” (“apostasia” 646, only here and Acts.21v21.), from the faith, and Antichrist, “the man of sin (“anomies” 458), “the lawless one,” “ho anomos” 459, has been manifested. (Jesus uses a similar terrible phrase, “the son of perdition,” of Judas in Jn.17v12.) We are to “keep our heads" and not give way to fanatical and incorrect doctrines about our Lord’s return. The virgin daughter of Jerusalem is described as a harlot, for she has gone after many lovers, and like a harlot has led many into sin, when she should have been leading people to God. Jerusalem is called Babylon, for she has been guilty of all the sins that brought judgement upon Babylon, idolatry, sorcery, murders, thefts, and the murder of the saints of God. Jer.50 and 51. Is.13v1-22. Those who say that the Scarlet Woman cannot represent Jerusalem, because she is called a whore, and not an adulteress, ignore the fact that in Is.1v21., God said that “the faithful city” had become a harlot. Jer.2v20. 3v1,9. In Nahum.3v4., God also said that wicked Nineveh was a harlot, however, Jerusalem's sin was far worse, because they sinned against the light that God had given them. In Ezek.16v15,32,45-49,56.,God calls Jerusalem the sister of Sodom to show the people's depravity and sin, a description, which is repeated in Rev.11v8.. The gross wickedness of the Beast and the woman is vividly displayed. The woman leads the nations into sin. The woman's gorgeous robes cover abominable wickedness. She is clothed in costly robes, and decked with gold, precious stones and pearls, but she is still a harlot, and her golden cup is full of abominations. She is drunk with the blood of the saints, and is inspired by the Beast, who is full of blasphemy, to murder those who worship the true God. Here the city of God has become the city of Satan and Antichrist, a city full of the vilest doctrines and practices. In Jer.51v7., ancient Babylon is said to be a cup in God’s hand that made the earth drunk and mad. Jerusalem becomes the centre of the worship of Satan and Antichrist, and the murderous persecution of the Church, and like ancient Babylon, corrupts many nations with her idolatry. Jerusalem again becomes the murderer of saints and prophets. Here in Rev.18v24., we read that the blood of prophets has been shed by the harlot city Babylon, the sin that Jesus said was the sin of Jerusalem, which could well be called the slaughter house of the prophets. Mt.23v37-39. Jerusalem has in the past killed many of the Old Testament prophets, and here she is seen murdering Christians at the desire of Antichrist. Rev.13v7,12. 6v9-11. 20v4. Is.1v21. 57v8. Jer.2v20. 3v1-25. 4v30. 11v15. 13v27. Ezek.16v15,16,22,23,32. The prophecy of Dan.9v24-27., and its link with the Scarlet Woman. In Dan.9v20-27. we read that God's dealings with Jerusalem were to cover seventy times seven years, a period of 490 years. “Week,” “shabuwa,” literally means “seven,” either days, or as here, years. These 490 years divide up in the following way. 49 years from the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem, to Jerusalem being built. The following decrees were given to restore either the Temple or Jerusalem. By Cyrus. In B.C. 538 to 536. Ezra.1v1-3. 5v13-17. 2Chron.36v22,23. By Darius the 1st. Hystapes. Ezra.6v3-8. The Temple was rebuilt from about B.C. 520 to 516. By Artaxerxes Longimanus. In his 7th. year. B.C.467. Ezra.7v7,11-26. (There are about fifty years between Ezra.6 and 7.) It appears from Ezra.9v9., that permission was given to Ezra to rebuild Jerusalem's wall and city. By Artaxerxes Longimanus. In his 20th. year. B.C. 454. It was not until 13 years after Ezra set out for Jerusalem, that the actual rebuilding took place, when Artaxerxes Longimanus in his 20th. year, B.C. 454, commanded Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem and its walls. Neh.2v1-8. The wall itself was quickly rebuilt in 52 days, Neh.6v15., but it was doubtless made more secure over the years, for the prophecy of Dan.9v25., suggests that it took 49 years for all the rebuilding of the city and wall to be finished. Usher, after 37 years of study, dates the accession of Artaxerxes as the year 474 B.C., and the date of 454 B.C., for the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem in Neh.2v1-8.. 434 years from the completion of the street and wall of Jerusalem to the death of Jesus. Dan.9v24-26. Christ was “cut off, but not for Himself,” His death was “to make reconciliation for iniquity,” Christ was to die to bring in the New Covenant and make salvation available for all who would receive Him. Heb.7v22-28. 9v11 to 10v39. 1Jn.2v1,2. 5v9-13. God showed Daniel that the coming of the Messiah was over 500 years away. It was this prophecy of Daniel that made godly Simeon, praying Anna, and many others expect the coming of the Messiah in their day. Lk.2v25-38. S. P. Tregelles and Ussher say that Jesus died in A.D. 29. However, the following Jewish calendars give considerable force to the viewpoint that the Lord Jesus was crucified in A.D. 30. In A.D. 30 the first day of Passover Feast was on Thursday April 6th., Nisan 15th., and the last day of the Passover Feast was on Wednesday April 12th., Nisan 21. Whereas, according to the calendar of A.D. 29, the first day of the Passover Feast was on Saturday April 17th., Nisan 15th., and the last day of the Passover Feast was on Sunday April 23rd., Nisan 21st. The crucifixion was almost certainly in A.D. 30, on Thursday, April 6th., Nisan 15th., not on Friday, for according to Mt.12v40., Jesus was raised from the dead “after three days and three nights.” See “the third day,” “after three days,” etc., in Mt.16v4,21. 17v23. 20v19. 27v40,63,64. Mk.8v31. 10v34. Jn.2v19. 19v42. 1Cor.15v4. Eph.4v9,10. Jesus was raised from the dead in the night of the third day. Christ’s enemies, sadly, unlike Christ’s disciples, remembered well that Jesus promised that He would be raised from the dead on the third day.

So we can see that there was a quite remarkable literal fulfilment of the first part of the prophecy of Dan.9v20-27.; and in Mt.24v15-31. the Lord Jesus tells us that there will be a literal fulfilment of the prophecy of Dan.9v27., and that this will be clearly seen by all. Mt.24v32,33. Paul reminds the Thessalonian Christians of this fact in 2Thes.2v1-5.. The desecration of the holy of holies at Jerusalem by Antichrist will inform us that the second coming of Christ and the millennial kingdom is only 3½ years away. Christ said that the day and hour of His coming was only known by the Father, but He definitely tells us that we shall know the year of His coming by Daniel's prophecy, and that when the signs He gave come to pass, His coming will be “near, even at the doors.” Mt.24v33,36. The Jews should have known by the prophecy of Daniel the year that Christ was to die, and as soon as the treaty is signed we shall know the year of Christ's second coming. Oswald J. Smith writes about this, “we shall be able to say, “Thank God the hour has struck. Within seven years at the longest Jesus will return to reign.” Jesus tells us that when Antichrist breaks the treaty with the Jews, all Christians in Judea are to flee to the mountains for safety, just as they did in A.D.70., when this prophecy received a partial fulfilment. The Scriptures call the period of 3½ years after the desecration of the Temple “the great tribulation.” Daniel, Paul and our Lord state that immediately after this period of great tribulation the Lord will return and set up His kingdom. Rev.7v14. Dan.12v1. Mt.24v21,29-31. Mk.13v19. The great tribulation ends with the destruction of the armies of Antichrist around a devastated Jerusalem. Lk.17v37. Rev.17v16-18. 18v1 to 19v21. 2Thes.2v8. Jesus said that the overall picture of the conditions in the world just prior to His coming will be as bad as they were in the days of Noah and Lot. Lk.17v26-31. The expulsion of evil angels from the heavenly places into the earth results in a great increase in wickedness, and a wilful ignorance of the promised judgement of God. Gen.6v1-13. 1Pet.3v19,20. Rev.12v7-12. The wicked despise the riches of God's goodness, forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God is trying to lead them to repentance and salvation. Rom.2v1-4,9. 2Pet.3v3-9. Jude.v14-16. Many signs are now being fulfilled, they are a great warning to the Church that it is time to put on the armour of God, for no lukewarm Christian will stand in this evil day. The final period of seven years which brings in the end of the age. Jesus referred to the final seven years of Daniel's prophecy concerning “thy people,” the Jews, and “thy holy city,” Jerusalem, as the period that would precede His return, and God’s kingdom being set up on earth. Immediately after these seven years Jesus will return and “bring in everlasting righteousness and seal up the vision and prophecy.” When we consider this verse in connection with Rev.10v7,11. and 11v15,18., we see that the seventh trumpet will sound on the last day of these seven years and God will take over the rule of the earth and destroy the wicked. Since most of Israel are blind to grace and are broken off, the Church now has the leading part in God's prophetic purposes, until the last seven years of this age, when both the Church and Israel have a part to play in prophecy. Rom.11v7-26. Only Babylon, and the nations that have ruled over Jerusalem during these 483 years in the past, and the seven years of Antichrist's kingdom in the future, are shown as part of the Beast. Other nations, such as the Turks, are not included in the Beast, even though they have reigned over Jerusalem. We know, from Rev.17v10., that at the time of John, the sixth kingdom was ruling Jerusalem, this was Rome; the seventh kingdom, the kingdom of Antichrist, has yet to come. N.B. The exact fulfilment of the first part of Dan.9v24-27., assures the fulfilment of the second part. There was a remarkable fulfilment of the first part of the prophecy of Dan.9v20-27., and in Mt.24v15-33., Jesus tells us that there will be an equally striking fulfilment of the last part of this prophecy. In 2Thes.2v1-12., Paul reminds the Thessalonians that the desecration of the Sanctuary of the Temple at Jerusalem by Antichrist, will inform us that the second coming of Christ, and the Millennial kingdom, is only 3½ years away. Jesus said that no one knew the day or the hour of His coming, but He tells us that we shall know the year of His coming by Daniel's prophecy, and that when the signs that He gave us come to pass, that His coming will be “nigh, even at the door.” Mt.24v32-36. The significance and history of the Beast and the woman explained. Rev.17v7-15. It is a divine secret which the wise have revealed to them by God. It is a mystery, that is, one of God's hidden secrets for His children, but Rev.17v9., tells us that it needs a wise Christian inspired by the Holy Spirit to correctly interpret this Scripture. The phrase, “was, and is not, and yet is,” refers to Antichrist as the seventh head of the beast. “It was,” in the sense that six kingdoms had ruled in the past; “it is not,” in the sense that by then six kingdoms have passed away, and “it is,” in the sense that Antichrist's kingdom is reigning in the great tribulation. Until the Antichrist’s kingdom comes, the Beast “was and is not”; when his kingdom comes, it is the Beast “that was, and is not, and yet is.” Antichrist will start to reign as the evil Beast, after he ascends out of the Abyss. This could refer to Antichrist's resurrection from the dead, for no man can come out of the abyss unless they have previously died and gone there. This resurrection of Antichrist is implied elsewhere, Rev.13v3,12,14., and explains why Antichrist is spoken of as the seventh and eighth head, he is the seventh head before his death, and after his resurrection from the dead, he is the eighth head. Rev.17v10,11. No wonder all the world, except the elect, will wonder at the Beast. Ascending out of the abyss could also refer to the fact that death had taken away all the kings and kingdoms spoken of in the previous six heads, and that like these evil kings and kingdoms, Antichrist himself would “go into perdition.” God again reveals to John the certain ultimate triumph of good over evil. The ten kings and the beast. The ten kings do not succeed each other, they rule the ten kingdoms with Antichrist's delegated authority. The Greek word for “hour” in Rev.17v12., is “hora,” it is used in the New Testament to donate a part of the day, especially an hour, but it can mean any limited time or period, and so besides meaning hour or day, it can also mean season, as in 2Cor.7v8. Philemon.v15. and 1Jn,2v18.. The sense of the word here is undoubtedly “season,” for the kings reign with Antichrist for several years. Rev.13v5. The word “hora,” occurs in the following places in Revelation. Rev.3v3,10. 9v15. 11v13.14v7,15. 17v12. 18v10,17,19. (In Rev.8v1., “hemorion,” is made up from “hora” and “hemisu,” meaning half, so, “half an hour.”) These ten kingdoms are obviously the same kings spoken of in Dan.7v7,8,24., it seems that Antichrist has to fight and overcome three kingdoms before he rules over them all, then all ten of them give him their power, “dunamin,” and strength, “exousian.” This federation of ten evil kings overcome the armies of the rest of the world, but the Lamb, and His “called, chosen, and faithful” followers, destroy Antichrist, for no one can prevail against the King of kings and Lord of lords. God's amazing overriding providence, foreknowledge and pre-creation love for His children. Rev.17v8. Here in this gallery of sin and horror, God gives us a glimpse back to the time when only God was, and God was thinking over His creation, and seeing by His foreknowledge the people who would be saved and make His creation worthwhile. Before creation, God wrote down in the book of life, the names of those who He knew would one day enjoy the blessings of His great and loving heart. God knew that Jesus would have to suffer and die, and that dark and evil times, like the reign of the Beast, would come and plunge the world into darkness and evil, but these redeemed saints would make all the suffering worthwhile. Some, quite wrongly, think that those who are written in this book, are dominated by the irresistible will of God and cannot be lost in spite of what they do; the truth is that they have free wills, and are written in this book by God's amazing foreknowledge, He knows who will accept the Gospel, and who will reject it. We greatly rejoice that God blotted out our sins and wrote our names in Heaven, when we repented and accepted Jesus. Lk.10v20. Ps.51v1,9. Is.44V22. Acts.3v19. We read in Exod.32v32,33.and Rev.3v5., that apostasy can result in a person's name being blotted out of the book of life. God does not force people against their wills, either to be saved, or to be lost; angels and men themselves decide their choice of Heaven and Hell, by their choice of good and evil. Rom.8v28,29,30. 1Pet.1v2. Rev.22v17. 2Pet.3v9. God desires to save all, it is the wickedness of men and angels that frustrates this desire of God. Antichrist is one of the unreconcilables, who God raises to a position of power, to reveal the horror of evil, and the power of God. Rev.17v17. Rom.9v21-24. “They that are with Him are called, chosen and faithful.” Rev.17v14. How are we “called” and “chosen?” We are called to be saved. Rom.10v12-15. Rev.22v17. 2Pet.3v9. We are called to do some particular work for God here on earth. If we respond to this call and prepare for it, then God chooses us to do this work for Him, as He did with Barnabus and Paul in Acts.13v1-3.. See Jn.15v16.. All who are saved are called to rule with Christ in the world and kingdom which is to come. Eph.1v18. However, we will only be chosen to rule with Christ, if we are good and faithful servants, please note, it does not say “successful servants.” Many martyrs did not succeed in winning the people that they were sent to, but they were faithful unto death. “Chosen” in Rev.17v14., is “eklektos,” it is often translated as “elect,” it occurs in Mt.20v16. 22v14. 24v22,24,31. Mk.13v20,22,27. Lk.18v7. 23v35. Rom.8v33. 16v13. Col.3v12. 1Tim.1v1. 1Pet.1v2. 2v4,6,9. 2Jn.v1,13. Rev.17v14. Jesus states that it is not quantity, but quality of service that counts with Him, and that it is not length of service, but faithfulness in service that will win His “well done.” Love is the key to Christ's, “Well done.” Only those who love to serve and care for people will rule with Christ. Mt.20v1-28. Lk.19v17. 1Cor.13. all. THE DESTRUCTION OF "BABYLON," AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION. Rev.17v16-19v5. THE LAST THREE MAJOR CALAMITIES AND FALLS OF JERUSALEM. The city of Jerusalem will be the city of Antichrist during the last 3½ years of this age, and he will exercise great power from it. However during the last few days of this age Jerusalem appears to suffer three major falls and calamities. When a revival brought about by the Two Witnesses is put down by Antichrist. It seems that the ministry of the Two Witnesses is so successful in turning people to God in Jerusalem, that Antichrist has to return there immediately after winning his greatest and last battle at Megiddo, to bring the people in the city back under his control. God finally allows Antichrist to kill the Two Witnesses. In.Lk.17v31-37., Jesus warns us that Antichrist will send out his soldiers and secret police to seek out and murder those who have repented and turned to God in Jerusalem and Judea, and the country again briefly falls under Antichrist’s evil rule. Jesus brings his evil rule to an end within about three days. After the Two Witnesses are raised from the dead. The resurrection of the Two Witnesses, and the earthquake that follows it, turns many in the city in repentance to God. Rev.11v11-15. The conversion of many thousands of people due to these remarkable happenings, finally causes Antichrist to sack Jerusalem. Antichrist, Jerusalem's false ally, sends his armies to rend, loot and burn Jerusalem with fire, as a punishment and warning. Rev.17v16,17. 18v2,14. Jesus tells us of this destruction of Jerusalem in Lk.17v37., and says that Jerusalem becomes like a carcase with the vultures of Antichrist's armies around it picking its bones. If Antichrist had burned the city when he returned to kill the Two Witnesses, a tenth of the city could hardly fall in the earthquake of Rev.11v11-15., as it would have previously been destroyed by gunfire and fire. In Rev.18v4-8., God warns His people to flee from Jerusalem to escape the wrath of Antichrist, and God's judgement on this apostate city. God uses Antichrist and his armies to bring judgement on Jerusalem. Rev.17v16,17. Antichrist fulfils the will of God when he sacks Jerusalem and sets it on fire. Rev.17v16-18. Is.10v5-19. esp. v7. Is.47v7,8. The plagues spoken of in Rev.18v8., of death, mourning, famine and fire, fulfil God's will even though they come through Antichrist. The city that had prided its self upon its power and influence and riches, becomes a desolation, and the hold of unclean spirits and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. The words “hold,” and “cage,” in Rev.18v2., are translations of the same Greek word, “phulake,” and while it does have the meaning of prison, watch-post, or station, it can also mean “haunt.” Is.34v11. Jer.50v39. 51v37. Demons seek bodies that they can possess, and carrion seeking birds roam the city. When the feet of the Lord Jesus touch the Mount of Olives and it splits in two. When our Lord's feet touch the Mount of Olives, a great earthquake takes place and shatters the city, and divides it up into three parts, according to Rev.16v19.. Some of the old city is then covered with the waters of the new river of Ezek.47v1-12.. According to Ps.48v1,2., the new Millennial city of Jerusalem will be built upon the new mountain that is formed to the north of the present site. The prophecy of Dan.9v26., also confirms that the end of the present city of Jerusalem will be with a flood. This is quite impossible at the moment, it takes the colossal earthquake of Zech.14v4-8., which is also mentioned in Rev.16v17-20., and the consequent massive earth movements to make this possible. The Hebrew word for “flood,” in Dan.9v26., is “sheteph,” and is translated as “flood,” in Ps.32v6. Dan.11v22. and Nahum.1v8. This flood is the reason why neither music or voice shall be heard in the streets, and no work will ever take place in her again. So will every person, city, or nation perish that forgets God. "THE JOY OF GOD'S CHILDREN AT THE DESTRUCTION OF "BABYLON." From Rev.18v20 to 19v5., we see the joy of all of Heaven's inhabitants at the destruction of this evil city, that has shed the blood of the children of God, but the wicked sorrow over the destruction of this evil and financially profitable city. How vain does the pursuit of sin, pleasure and wealth look in the light of judgement day, how quickly worldly things can perish. It is a dreadful indictment of this city and the wicked people who mourn over her, that the bodies and souls of men are placed last in their list of the things that this city traded in, even animals like sheep and cattle are counted of more value. The wicked look upon their souls as the cheapest and least important commodity. Rev.18v9-19. All of Heaven's citizens proclaim the justice of God's judgement upon Jerusalem; in Rev.18v6. the word for “reward” is “apodote,” which speaks of a just requital and not of revenge. Likewise in Rev.18v20. the word for “avenged” is “ekrinen,” which also speaks of justice and not vengeance, the Revised Standard Version translation reads “God has given judgement for you against her.” Heaven rejoices that God has exacted just judgement for the blood of his servants from (“ek”) her, and praises and worships God for His judgement on the wicked. Rev.19v4. A voice from the throne, summons all God’s servants to join in praise to God over these issues of judgement. In Rev.19v1-6., we have four tremendous Alleluias over the judgement of the wicked and Jerusalem, and because “the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” Rev.5v11. Heb.12v22. All rejoice that the sufferings of God, and the suffering of His people at the hands of the wicked, is finished forever. God's kingdom has been set up on earth. Is.34v10. 42v13-17. 63v1-6. 66v24. There will be heartfelt rejoicing and thankfulness when Satan and his angels and the rest of the wicked are confined in God's prison. This, is, of course, quite a different kind of rejoicing to that rejoicing which takes place when the sinner repents, for there can be no pleasure over the death and eternal confinement of the wicked in Hell. Lk.15v7. Ezek.18v23,32. They rejoice that the pain and suffering caused by the wicked and their evil acts are forever banished from the creation. We also see in Rev.19v2., that all the redeemed are perfectly satisfied at the “true and righteous” judgements of God. They are “saying,” (“legonton,” the present active participle of “lego”), “Allelouia,” it only occurs in the New Testament in Rev.19v1,3,4,6., it means, “Praise ye the Lord.” Fifteen of the Psalms begin or end with “Hallelujah.” A prominent place is given to Jerusalem in Revelation, for Rev.11v1-13. 13v14-16. 14v8,20. 16v10,19. 17v1 to 19v4. show Jerusalem during the great tribulation; Rev.20v7-9. Jerusalem in the Millennium; and Rev.21v9 to 22v7. the New Jerusalem in the eternal kingdom. < >
The Disastrous Effects Of The Doctrine Of Original Sin \| By His Stripes We Are Healed \| The Book Of Revelation \| The Second Coming Of Christ \| The Baptism And Gifts Of The Holy Spirit \| The Comforter Is Come

Chapter Six

The last few years of this Age. Rev.4v1 to 20v3

The description of Jerusalem as the Scarlet Woman. Rev.17v1-19v4

Jerusalem is portrayed as a harlot woman sitting upon the Beast. Is.1v21.
One of the seven angels who had one of the Vials, introduces John to this evil Scarlet Woman; later in Rev.21v9. one of these seven angels introduces John to the New Jerusalem, where the Lamb's bride will live. We have shown in our introduction, that this Scarlet Woman is the city of Jerusalem, and that she has the name of Babylon given to her to show her spiritual condition, even as she had the names of Sodom and Egypt given to her in Rev.11v8., to show other aspects of her wickedness. The seven heads of the Beast are seven nations, or kingdoms, that have conquered and ruled over Jerusalem. We know from Rev.17v10., that in John’s time, the sixth head, Rome, ruled over Jerusalem; the seventh kingdom, the kingdom of Antichrist, was in the distant future. The previous five kingdoms that conquered and subjugated the Jews and Jerusalem were; Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Egypt and Syria. Though this vision of the Scarlet Woman refers to and covers the time period of these six previous kingdoms, it is particularly dealing with Jerusalem in relation to the final Antichrist.

The Scarlet Woman is said to sit upon many waters, which Rev.17v15., says are, “peoples, and multitudes, and nations and tongues,” which are subjugated, and under the ruthless domination of the Beast with seven heads. Rev.17v3. In the last few days of the great tribulation, these nations attack Jerusalem and burn it with fire. Rev.17v16. Mt.24v28. Lk.17v37. Jesus returns and destroys these armies, and delivers the persecuted Jews and Christians from them. Zech.14v1-4. Is.42v13-17. 63v1-6. Ps.2v1-12. 2Thes.1v4-10. Rev.19v17-21. In the last seven years of this age the great majority of people in the nations under Antichrist’s control, will serve and worship Antichrist. Antichrist’s followers in the nations, which fight against Antichrist, will be a rebellious and dangerous minority, and many will forfeit their lives in terrible suicidal acts of terrorism. The spirit of lawlessness will energise these children of disobedience. Eph.2v2. Mt.24v12. 2Thes.2v7-12. Dan.8v24. Gen.6v5. 15v16.

In Mt.24v7., Jesus warns us that ethnic groups will fall upon, attack and kill each other, “nation shall rise against nation, is “ethnos epi ethnos.” Ethnic conflicts have taken place down the centuries, but it is much worse today than it has ever been, millions of people are dying in ethnic conflicts. It is no wonder that Jesus warns us in Lk.21v25,26., that there will be “distress (“sunoche” 4928, anguish, only here and 2Cor.2v4.) of nations, with perplexity,” and that “men’s hearts will fail (“apopsucho” 674, expire, faint, leave off breathing) in them for fear,” because of the terrible wars, raging storms, and other natural disasters that are coming on the world. We are now beginning to see a great increase in these natural disasters, wars and terrorist atrocities. Jesus warns us in Mt.24v8., that much worse is to follow, “but all these things are, “the beginning of sorrows.” “Sorrows,” is “odin” 5604, it is used to speak of travail in childbirth, but also of intolerable anguish, and the pains of death. However, Jesus tells us not to be troubled, for it proves that His return and God’s kingdom is at hand. In Mt.24v7., “see that ye be not troubled,” “see” is “horate,” the imperative of “horao” 3708, to discern and see properly, and “troubled” is “throeisthe,” 2360, the present passive imperative of “throeo” 2360, to wail, to cry aloud, to scream. When the worldlings scream in terror, and their hearts fail them for fear, because of the terrible events that are taking place in the world, we are to be calm and unafraid, for these events prove that the return of Jesus is near, “even at the doors.” Mt.24v33.

Paul, uses the same verb (“throeisthai,” the present passive infinitive of “throeo” 2360), to tell us not to cry aloud, to scream, or be terrified, or be shaken, (“saleuthenai” the aorist passive infinitive of “saleuo” 4531, a verb meaning, to agitate, to cause to totter, to shake thoroughly), by false teaching, or false prophecies, that Jesus can return at any moment, or that He has already returned. Paul refutes the idea that Christ’s return is imminent, and warns us that Jesus cannot return until there has been a “falling away” (“apostasia” 646, only here and Acts.21v21.), from the faith, and Antichrist, “the man of sin (“anomies” 458), “the lawless one,” “ho anomos” 459, has been manifested. (Jesus uses a similar terrible phrase, “the son of perdition,” of Judas in Jn.17v12.) We are to “keep our heads" and not give way to fanatical and incorrect doctrines about our Lord’s return.

The virgin daughter of Jerusalem is described as a harlot, for she has gone after many lovers, and like a harlot has led many into sin, when she should have been leading people to God. Jerusalem is called Babylon, for she has been guilty of all the sins that brought judgement upon Babylon, idolatry, sorcery, murders, thefts, and the murder of the saints of God. Jer.50 and 51. Is.13v1-22. Those who say that the Scarlet Woman cannot represent Jerusalem, because she is called a whore, and not an adulteress, ignore the fact that in Is.1v21., God said that “the faithful city” had become a harlot. Jer.2v20. 3v1,9. In Nahum.3v4., God also said that wicked Nineveh was a harlot, however, Jerusalem's sin was far worse, because they sinned against the light that God had given them. In Ezek.16v15,32,45-49,56.,God calls Jerusalem the sister of Sodom to show the people's depravity and sin, a description, which is repeated in Rev.11v8..

The gross wickedness of the Beast and the woman is vividly displayed.
The woman leads the nations into sin.
The woman's gorgeous robes cover abominable wickedness. She is clothed in costly robes, and decked with gold, precious stones and pearls, but she is still a harlot, and her golden cup is full of abominations. She is drunk with the blood of the saints, and is inspired by the Beast, who is full of blasphemy, to murder those who worship the true God. Here the city of God has become the city of Satan and Antichrist, a city full of the vilest doctrines and practices. In Jer.51v7., ancient Babylon is said to be a cup in God’s hand that made the earth drunk and mad. Jerusalem becomes the centre of the worship of Satan and Antichrist, and the murderous persecution of the Church, and like ancient Babylon, corrupts many nations with her idolatry.

Jerusalem again becomes the murderer of saints and prophets.
Here in Rev.18v24., we read that the blood of prophets has been shed by the harlot city Babylon, the sin that Jesus said was the sin of Jerusalem, which could well be called the slaughter house of the prophets. Mt.23v37-39. Jerusalem has in the past killed many of the Old Testament prophets, and here she is seen murdering Christians at the desire of Antichrist. Rev.13v7,12. 6v9-11. 20v4. Is.1v21. 57v8. Jer.2v20. 3v1-25. 4v30. 11v15. 13v27. Ezek.16v15,16,22,23,32.

The prophecy of Dan.9v24-27., and its link with the Scarlet Woman.
In Dan.9v20-27. we read that God's dealings with Jerusalem were to cover seventy times seven years, a period of 490 years. “Week,” “shabuwa,” literally means “seven,” either days, or as here, years. These 490 years divide up in the following way.

49 years from the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem, to Jerusalem being built.
The following decrees were given to restore either the Temple or Jerusalem.

By Cyrus. In B.C. 538 to 536. Ezra.1v1-3. 5v13-17. 2Chron.36v22,23.

By Darius the 1st. Hystapes. Ezra.6v3-8. The Temple was rebuilt from about B.C. 520 to 516.

By Artaxerxes Longimanus. In his 7th. year. B.C.467. Ezra.7v7,11-26. (There are about fifty years between Ezra.6 and 7.) It appears from Ezra.9v9., that permission was given to Ezra to rebuild Jerusalem's wall and city.

By Artaxerxes Longimanus. In his 20th. year. B.C. 454.
It was not until 13 years after Ezra set out for Jerusalem, that the actual rebuilding took place, when Artaxerxes Longimanus in his 20th. year, B.C. 454, commanded Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem and its walls. Neh.2v1-8. The wall itself was quickly rebuilt in 52 days, Neh.6v15., but it was doubtless made more secure over the years, for the prophecy of Dan.9v25., suggests that it took 49 years for all the rebuilding of the city and wall to be finished. Usher, after 37 years of study, dates the accession of Artaxerxes as the year 474 B.C., and the date of 454 B.C., for the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem in Neh.2v1-8..

434 years from the completion of the street and wall of Jerusalem to the death of Jesus. Dan.9v24-26.
Christ was “cut off, but not for Himself,” His death was “to make reconciliation for iniquity,” Christ was to die to bring in the New Covenant and make salvation available for all who would receive Him. Heb.7v22-28. 9v11 to 10v39. 1Jn.2v1,2. 5v9-13. God showed Daniel that the coming of the Messiah was over 500 years away. It was this prophecy of Daniel that made godly Simeon, praying Anna, and many others expect the coming of the Messiah in their day. Lk.2v25-38.

S. P. Tregelles and Ussher say that Jesus died in A.D. 29. However, the following Jewish calendars give considerable force to the viewpoint that the Lord Jesus was crucified in A.D. 30. In A.D. 30 the first day of Passover Feast was on Thursday April 6th., Nisan 15th., and the last day of the Passover Feast was on Wednesday April 12th., Nisan 21. Whereas, according to the calendar of A.D. 29, the first day of the Passover Feast was on Saturday April 17th., Nisan 15th., and the last day of the Passover Feast was on Sunday April 23rd., Nisan 21st. The crucifixion was almost certainly in A.D. 30, on Thursday, April 6th., Nisan 15th., not on Friday, for according to Mt.12v40., Jesus was raised from the dead “after three days and three nights.” See “the third day,” “after three days,” etc., in Mt.16v4,21. 17v23. 20v19. 27v40,63,64. Mk.8v31. 10v34. Jn.2v19. 19v42. 1Cor.15v4. Eph.4v9,10. Jesus was raised from the dead in the night of the third day. Christ’s enemies, sadly, unlike Christ’s disciples, remembered well that Jesus promised that He would be raised from the dead on the third day.

So we can see that there was a quite remarkable literal fulfilment of the first part of the prophecy of Dan.9v20-27.; and in Mt.24v15-31. the Lord Jesus tells us that there will be a literal fulfilment of the prophecy of Dan.9v27., and that this will be clearly seen by all. Mt.24v32,33. Paul reminds the Thessalonian Christians of this fact in 2Thes.2v1-5.. The desecration of the holy of holies at Jerusalem by Antichrist will inform us that the second coming of Christ and the millennial kingdom is only 3½ years away. Christ said that the day and hour of His coming was only known by the Father, but He definitely tells us that we shall know the year of His coming by Daniel's prophecy, and that when the signs He gave come to pass, His coming will be “near, even at the doors.” Mt.24v33,36. The Jews should have known by the prophecy of Daniel the year that Christ was to die, and as soon as the treaty is signed we shall know the year of Christ's second coming. Oswald J. Smith writes about this, “we shall be able to say, “Thank God the hour has struck. Within seven years at the longest Jesus will return to reign.”

Jesus tells us that when Antichrist breaks the treaty with the Jews, all Christians in Judea are to flee to the mountains for safety, just as they did in A.D.70., when this prophecy received a partial fulfilment. The Scriptures call the period of 3½ years after the desecration of the Temple “the great tribulation.” Daniel, Paul and our Lord state that immediately after this period of great tribulation the Lord will return and set up His kingdom. Rev.7v14. Dan.12v1. Mt.24v21,29-31. Mk.13v19. The great tribulation ends with the destruction of the armies of Antichrist around a devastated Jerusalem. Lk.17v37. Rev.17v16-18. 18v1 to 19v21. 2Thes.2v8.

Jesus said that the overall picture of the conditions in the world just prior to His coming will be as bad as they were in the days of Noah and Lot. Lk.17v26-31. The expulsion of evil angels from the heavenly places into the earth results in a great increase in wickedness, and a wilful ignorance of the promised judgement of God. Gen.6v1-13. 1Pet.3v19,20. Rev.12v7-12. The wicked despise the riches of God's goodness, forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God is trying to lead them to repentance and salvation. Rom.2v1-4,9. 2Pet.3v3-9. Jude.v14-16. Many signs are now being fulfilled, they are a great warning to the Church that it is time to put on the armour of God, for no lukewarm Christian will stand in this evil day.

The final period of seven years which brings in the end of the age.
Jesus referred to the final seven years of Daniel's prophecy concerning “thy people,” the Jews, and “thy holy city,” Jerusalem, as the period that would precede His return, and God’s kingdom being set up on earth. Immediately after these seven years Jesus will return and “bring in everlasting righteousness and seal up the vision and prophecy.” When we consider this verse in connection with Rev.10v7,11. and 11v15,18., we see that the seventh trumpet will sound on the last day of these seven years and God will take over the rule of the earth and destroy the wicked. Since most of Israel are blind to grace and are broken off, the Church now has the leading part in God's prophetic purposes, until the last seven years of this age, when both the Church and Israel have a part to play in prophecy. Rom.11v7-26.

Only Babylon, and the nations that have ruled over Jerusalem during these 483 years in the past, and the seven years of Antichrist's kingdom in the future, are shown as part of the Beast. Other nations, such as the Turks, are not included in the Beast, even though they have reigned over Jerusalem. We know, from Rev.17v10., that at the time of John, the sixth kingdom was ruling Jerusalem, this was Rome; the seventh kingdom, the kingdom of Antichrist, has yet to come.

N.B. The exact fulfilment of the first part of Dan.9v24-27., assures the fulfilment of the second part.
There was a remarkable fulfilment of the first part of the prophecy of Dan.9v20-27., and in Mt.24v15-33., Jesus tells us that there will be an equally striking fulfilment of the last part of this prophecy. In 2Thes.2v1-12., Paul reminds the Thessalonians that the desecration of the Sanctuary of the Temple at Jerusalem by Antichrist, will inform us that the second coming of Christ, and the Millennial kingdom, is only 3½ years away. Jesus said that no one knew the day or the hour of His coming, but He tells us that we shall know the year of His coming by Daniel's prophecy, and that when the signs that He gave us come to pass, that His coming will be “nigh, even at the door.” Mt.24v32-36.

The significance and history of the Beast and the woman explained. Rev.17v7-15.
It is a divine secret which the wise have revealed to them by God.
It is a mystery, that is, one of God's hidden secrets for His children, but Rev.17v9., tells us that it needs a wise Christian inspired by the Holy Spirit to correctly interpret this Scripture. The phrase, “was, and is not, and yet is,” refers to Antichrist as the seventh head of the beast. “It was,” in the sense that six kingdoms had ruled in the past; “it is not,” in the sense that by then six kingdoms have passed away, and “it is,” in the sense that Antichrist's kingdom is reigning in the great tribulation. Until the Antichrist’s kingdom comes, the Beast “was and is not”; when his kingdom comes, it is the Beast “that was, and is not, and yet is.” Antichrist will start to reign as the evil Beast, after he ascends out of the Abyss. This could refer to Antichrist's resurrection from the dead, for no man can come out of the abyss unless they have previously died and gone there. This resurrection of Antichrist is implied elsewhere, Rev.13v3,12,14., and explains why Antichrist is spoken of as the seventh and eighth head, he is the seventh head before his death, and after his resurrection from the dead, he is the eighth head. Rev.17v10,11. No wonder all the world, except the elect, will wonder at the Beast. Ascending out of the abyss could also refer to the fact that death had taken away all the kings and kingdoms spoken of in the previous six heads, and that like these evil kings and kingdoms, Antichrist himself would “go into perdition.” God again reveals to John the certain ultimate triumph of good over evil.

The ten kings and the beast.
The ten kings do not succeed each other, they rule the ten kingdoms with Antichrist's delegated authority. The Greek word for “hour” in Rev.17v12., is “hora,” it is used in the New Testament to donate a part of the day, especially an hour, but it can mean any limited time or period, and so besides meaning hour or day, it can also mean season, as in 2Cor.7v8. Philemon.v15. and 1Jn,2v18.. The sense of the word here is undoubtedly “season,” for the kings reign with Antichrist for several years. Rev.13v5. The word “hora,” occurs in the following places in Revelation. Rev.3v3,10. 9v15. 11v13.14v7,15. 17v12. 18v10,17,19. (In Rev.8v1., “hemorion,” is made up from “hora” and “hemisu,” meaning half, so, “half an hour.”) These ten kingdoms are obviously the same kings spoken of in Dan.7v7,8,24., it seems that Antichrist has to fight and overcome three kingdoms before he rules over them all, then all ten of them give him their power, “dunamin,” and strength, “exousian.” This federation of ten evil kings overcome the armies of the rest of the world, but the Lamb, and His “called, chosen, and faithful” followers, destroy Antichrist, for no one can prevail against the King of kings and Lord of lords.

God's amazing overriding providence, foreknowledge and pre-creation love for His children. Rev.17v8.
Here in this gallery of sin and horror, God gives us a glimpse back to the time when only God was, and God was thinking over His creation, and seeing by His foreknowledge the people who would be saved and make His creation worthwhile. Before creation, God wrote down in the book of life, the names of those who He knew would one day enjoy the blessings of His great and loving heart. God knew that Jesus would have to suffer and die, and that dark and evil times, like the reign of the Beast, would come and plunge the world into darkness and evil, but these redeemed saints would make all the suffering worthwhile. Some, quite wrongly, think that those who are written in this book, are dominated by the irresistible will of God and cannot be lost in spite of what they do; the truth is that they have free wills, and are written in this book by God's amazing foreknowledge, He knows who will accept the Gospel, and who will reject it. We greatly rejoice that God blotted out our sins and wrote our names in Heaven, when we repented and accepted Jesus. Lk.10v20. Ps.51v1,9. Is.44V22. Acts.3v19.

We read in Exod.32v32,33.and Rev.3v5., that apostasy can result in a person's name being blotted out of the book of life. God does not force people against their wills, either to be saved, or to be lost; angels and men themselves decide their choice of Heaven and Hell, by their choice of good and evil. Rom.8v28,29,30. 1Pet.1v2. Rev.22v17. 2Pet.3v9. God desires to save all, it is the wickedness of men and angels that frustrates this desire of God. Antichrist is one of the unreconcilables, who God raises to a position of power, to reveal the horror of evil, and the power of God. Rev.17v17. Rom.9v21-24.

“They that are with Him are called, chosen and faithful.” Rev.17v14. How are we “called” and “chosen?”
We are called to be saved. Rom.10v12-15. Rev.22v17. 2Pet.3v9.

We are called to do some particular work for God here on earth. If we respond to this call and prepare for it, then God chooses us to do this work for Him, as He did with Barnabus and Paul in Acts.13v1-3.. See Jn.15v16..

All who are saved are called to rule with Christ in the world and kingdom which is to come. Eph.1v18.
However, we will only be chosen to rule with Christ, if we are good and faithful servants, please note, it does not say “successful servants.” Many martyrs did not succeed in winning the people that they were sent to, but they were faithful unto death.

“Chosen” in Rev.17v14., is “eklektos,” it is often translated as “elect,” it occurs in Mt.20v16. 22v14. 24v22,24,31. Mk.13v20,22,27. Lk.18v7. 23v35. Rom.8v33. 16v13. Col.3v12. 1Tim.1v1. 1Pet.1v2. 2v4,6,9. 2Jn.v1,13. Rev.17v14. Jesus states that it is not quantity, but quality of service that counts with Him, and that it is not length of service, but faithfulness in service that will win His “well done.” Love is the key to Christ's, “Well done.” Only those who love to serve and care for people will rule with Christ. Mt.20v1-28. Lk.19v17. 1Cor.13. all.

THE DESTRUCTION OF "BABYLON," AT THE END OF THE TRIBULATION. Rev.17v16-19v5.
THE LAST THREE MAJOR CALAMITIES AND FALLS OF JERUSALEM.
The city of Jerusalem will be the city of Antichrist during the last 3½ years of this age, and he will exercise great power from it. However during the last few days of this age Jerusalem appears to suffer three major falls and calamities.

When a revival brought about by the Two Witnesses is put down by Antichrist.
It seems that the ministry of the Two Witnesses is so successful in turning people to God in Jerusalem, that Antichrist has to return there immediately after winning his greatest and last battle at Megiddo, to bring the people in the city back under his control. God finally allows Antichrist to kill the Two Witnesses. In.Lk.17v31-37., Jesus warns us that Antichrist will send out his soldiers and secret police to seek out and murder those who have repented and turned to God in Jerusalem and Judea, and the country again briefly falls under Antichrist’s evil rule. Jesus brings his evil rule to an end within about three days.

After the Two Witnesses are raised from the dead.
The resurrection of the Two Witnesses, and the earthquake that follows it, turns many in the city in repentance to God. Rev.11v11-15. The conversion of many thousands of people due to these remarkable happenings, finally causes Antichrist to sack Jerusalem. Antichrist, Jerusalem's false ally, sends his armies to rend, loot and burn Jerusalem with fire, as a punishment and warning. Rev.17v16,17. 18v2,14. Jesus tells us of this destruction of Jerusalem in Lk.17v37., and says that Jerusalem becomes like a carcase with the vultures of Antichrist's armies around it picking its bones.

If Antichrist had burned the city when he returned to kill the Two Witnesses, a tenth of the city could hardly fall in the earthquake of Rev.11v11-15., as it would have previously been destroyed by gunfire and fire. In Rev.18v4-8., God warns His people to flee from Jerusalem to escape the wrath of Antichrist, and God's judgement on this apostate city.

God uses Antichrist and his armies to bring judgement on Jerusalem. Rev.17v16,17.
Antichrist fulfils the will of God when he sacks Jerusalem and sets it on fire. Rev.17v16-18. Is.10v5-19. esp. v7. Is.47v7,8. The plagues spoken of in Rev.18v8., of death, mourning, famine and fire, fulfil God's will even though they come through Antichrist. The city that had prided its self upon its power and influence and riches, becomes a desolation, and the hold of unclean spirits and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. The words “hold,” and “cage,” in Rev.18v2., are translations of the same Greek word, “phulake,” and while it does have the meaning of prison, watch-post, or station, it can also mean “haunt.” Is.34v11. Jer.50v39. 51v37. Demons seek bodies that they can possess, and carrion seeking birds roam the city.

When the feet of the Lord Jesus touch the Mount of Olives and it splits in two.
When our Lord's feet touch the Mount of Olives, a great earthquake takes place and shatters the city, and divides it up into three parts, according to Rev.16v19.. Some of the old city is then covered with the waters of the new river of Ezek.47v1-12.. According to Ps.48v1,2., the new Millennial city of Jerusalem will be built upon the new mountain that is formed to the north of the present site. The prophecy of Dan.9v26., also confirms that the end of the present city of Jerusalem will be with a flood. This is quite impossible at the moment, it takes the colossal earthquake of Zech.14v4-8., which is also mentioned in Rev.16v17-20., and the consequent massive earth movements to make this possible. The Hebrew word for “flood,” in Dan.9v26., is “sheteph,” and is translated as “flood,” in Ps.32v6. Dan.11v22. and Nahum.1v8. This flood is the reason why neither music or voice shall be heard in the streets, and no work will ever take place in her again. So will every person, city, or nation perish that forgets God.

"THE JOY OF GOD'S CHILDREN AT THE DESTRUCTION OF "BABYLON."
From Rev.18v20 to 19v5., we see the joy of all of Heaven's inhabitants at the destruction of this evil city, that has shed the blood of the children of God, but the wicked sorrow over the destruction of this evil and financially profitable city. How vain does the pursuit of sin, pleasure and wealth look in the light of judgement day, how quickly worldly things can perish. It is a dreadful indictment of this city and the wicked people who mourn over her, that the bodies and souls of men are placed last in their list of the things that this city traded in, even animals like sheep and cattle are counted of more value. The wicked look upon their souls as the cheapest and least important commodity. Rev.18v9-19.

All of Heaven's citizens proclaim the justice of God's judgement upon Jerusalem; in Rev.18v6. the word for “reward” is “apodote,” which speaks of a just requital and not of revenge. Likewise in Rev.18v20. the word for “avenged” is “ekrinen,” which also speaks of justice and not vengeance, the Revised Standard Version translation reads “God has given judgement for you against her.” Heaven rejoices that God has exacted just judgement for the blood of his servants from (“ek”) her, and praises and worships God for His judgement on the wicked. Rev.19v4. A voice from the throne, summons all God’s servants to join in praise to God over these issues of judgement. In Rev.19v1-6., we have four tremendous Alleluias over the judgement of the wicked and Jerusalem, and because “the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” Rev.5v11. Heb.12v22. All rejoice that the sufferings of God, and the suffering of His people at the hands of the wicked, is finished forever. God's kingdom has been set up on earth. Is.34v10. 42v13-17. 63v1-6. 66v24.

There will be heartfelt rejoicing and thankfulness when Satan and his angels and the rest of the wicked are confined in God's prison. This, is, of course, quite a different kind of rejoicing to that rejoicing which takes place when the sinner repents, for there can be no pleasure over the death and eternal confinement of the wicked in Hell. Lk.15v7. Ezek.18v23,32. They rejoice that the pain and suffering caused by the wicked and their evil acts are forever banished from the creation. We also see in Rev.19v2., that all the redeemed are perfectly satisfied at the “true and righteous” judgements of God. They are “saying,” (“legonton,” the present active participle of “lego”), “Allelouia,” it only occurs in the New Testament in Rev.19v1,3,4,6., it means, “Praise ye the Lord.” Fifteen of the Psalms begin or end with “Hallelujah.”

A prominent place is given to Jerusalem in Revelation, for Rev.11v1-13. 13v14-16. 14v8,20. 16v10,19. 17v1 to 19v4. show Jerusalem during the great tribulation; Rev.20v7-9. Jerusalem in the Millennium; and Rev.21v9 to 22v7. the New Jerusalem in the eternal kingdom.

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