Revelation 18 & 19
The Fourth Angel’s Message
and the Second coming

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As I said: “When survival of self becomes more important than obeying our Creator, then self has become God.”

 

Listen carefully:

 

It is God’s will that many of His saints perish during the Great Tribulation. This is one of the reasons why He has given us the book of Revelation.

 

Revelation 6:9   When he had poured out the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained….

 

Revelation 13:10   If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.

 

Revelation 18:24   In her was found the blood of prophets and of the saints, and of all who have been killed on the earth.”

 

Given the persecution that is coming, we have to understand this profound truth: When a martyr’s faith is required, a martyr’s faith will be given. God does not propose to save His children from persecution or death. However, God will see to it that our normal fear of death is displaced with a peace that passes understanding.

 

God will give His saints peace and holy boldness if they will submit their lives to His will.

 

Lucifer’s government is called the great prostitute because everyone who attempts to save his life through compromise or submission to the devil shows that he loves his life more than he loves God.

 

Note: Each “unsealed” person will be forced to choose whether he will participate in the great prostitute for survival while the fourth angel’s message is being proclaimed throughout the Earth.

 

This final test reveals an important fact: Those who submit their hearts to God’s last call will be empowered to face death without fear. Those in rebellion will be unable to face death. They are doomed to become part of the great city because they don’t have the courage to “just say no.” Of course, those like the 144,000 who were sealed during the three angel’s messages will not be fearful because God grants every sealed person perfect peace.

 

The great tribulation story parallels the spying that took place in Canaan. For forty days the 12 spies looked over the Promised Land. Remember the testimony of the ten leaders? Remember the testimony of Caleb and Joshua? How is it that only two men felt Israel could possess the land? Peace comes through faith in God!]

 

This is the vortex where the Great Tribulation ends…. It’s a test to see who will live by faith and who will not.

 

This difficult choice reminds me of the way that drug cartels are established in South America. Evil men working for a drug lord will approach bankers, lawyers, and government officials saying: Which do you want – the silver or the lead?

 

The silver represents money [bribes] and the lead means bullets.

 

They say, “Work with us and the money is yours. Work against us and death is certain.” This is a tough position to be put in and many men, fearing the loss of life or harm to their family, surrender their integrity to the cartel.

 

Selling out to the drug lord makes them a prostitute. When we exchange our moral integrity for monetary gain or even survival, we have “souled” out.  

 

When survival is justified by moral transgression, God is not honored and the devil knows this. When survival becomes more important than obeying God, the survival of self has become God.

 

John 15:13   “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

 

Jesus voluntarily laid down his life for us and he requires his disciples to be willing to lay down their lives for His sake.

 

Matthew 10:38   Anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

 

Matthew 10:39   Whoever finds his life [through compromise] will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

 

So far, we have viewed the destruction of the great prostitute through the eyes of those who benefited from her. Now, John takes us to Heaven to view her destruction through the eyes of the 144,000:

 

Revelation 19:1   After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,

 

Revelation 19:2   for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his [144,000] servants.” [As I said earlier, this rejoicing scene occurs at the end of the fifth bowl.]

 

Revelation 19:3   And again they shouted: “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.”

 

Contrary to what many people say, the phrase, “for ever and ever,” does not mean that the great prostitute will burn eternally.

 

Rather, the phrase means her destruction is sustained according to the law of vengeance. In other words, God’s vengeance is not momentary.

 

God’s law of vengeance requires that the wicked suffer for as long as it takes – until full restitution is accomplished.

 

This is why Jesus said: Luke 12:5   But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

 

The idea here is that the wicked have to suffer the same pain and suffering they imposed on God’s saints – times two. This punishment is far more torturous than human beings can inflict.

 

This is why Paul wrote, Romans 12:19   “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.]

 

Revelation 19:4   The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: “Amen, Hallelujah!”

 

Revelation 19:5   Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great.”

 

Revelation 19:6   Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. [This is the sixth bowl. Jesus assembles His mighty army for Armageddon.]     

 

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