Please pardon me for jumping into this discussion....here is some information i wish to share.....
John 6:63
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
The words of Christ are Spirit. Many have “attempted” to explain the complex matters which are depicted in the Book of Revelation.
At times actual physical events are being described….at other times…..when men are slain it may mean SPIRITUALLY….falling away from God…..
Slain by the sword could mean ( sometimes )….by the word of God which is sharper than any two edged sword…..
Many will fall in the FLOOD OF LIES that is surging all around us….perpetrated by Satan and the fallen angels.
Rev 9:18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.
They "kill" with the Fire, Smoke and Brimstone, which came out of their MOUTHS, this is really easy to understand if we keep in mind that it is "words" that come out of mouths.
Many things WILL BECOME CLEAR IN TIME.
Perhaps THIS IS THE TEMPLE WE NEED TO CONCERN OURSELVES WITH THE MOST…..
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
We need to keep our minds open and REMAIN TEACHABLE…..believing we KNOW can be a HUGE ROADBLOCK to actually LEARNING THE TRUTH.
No one has ALL THE ANSWERS!!! Many of these concepts will NOT be understood until we actually SEE the EVENTS TRANSPIRE.
The more we “humbly” and “teach-ably” Study Revelation and the “theories” and “teachings” of those who do know something about it….the more we will learn and understand…..the more we will be PREPARED for what IS TRANSPIRING and what is SOON TO COME.
I personally believe that time to study these deep matters of God grows VERY SHORT INDEED. That is my opinion….I believe it to be true.
Here is some information I have compiled in my studies of these complex issues I pray someone will find it helpful…..
Here is how I am starting to see things.
I believe in this time of increased knowledge that we are meant to share what we have learned and HELP EACH OTHER to understand The Book of Revelation.
I would appreciate any HELP in better understanding these concepts.
THE FALSE CHRIST
The Spirit of anti-Christ is in the world now. Soon Satan himself will make an appearance, claiming to be Christ Himself.
Rev. 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
This verse means that Satan was permitted or allowed to speak and have power for 42 months.
Of course we know that Jesus overrode this time period and shortened it,
else no flesh would be saved. ( or should I say, that is one theory )
Mark 13:20 "And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved:
but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days."
We learn in Rev. 9 that the shortened period is 5 months, the time of the swarming locusts.
Rev 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
Rev 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Rev 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Many people when they read Rev 13:4-5 and 6 imagine that the dragon, Satan,
the anti-Christ, is going to say evil things against God.
But he's not going to be speaking "bad things" about God.
He's going to be speaking AS GOD,
i.e. everything that comes out of his mouth is blasphemous because he is claiming that HE IS GOD.
That's the blaspheme!
Remember what Paul told us would happen BEFORE our gathering back to Christ?
2 Thes. 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2 Thes. 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Satan sits in the temple of God claiming to be the Messiah
-and all those Christians who didn't have enough oil in their lamps,
i.e. were Biblically illiterate and were not sealed with the knowledge of His Word, are bowing to the dragon, worshipping Satan, believing he is Jesus!
The dragon is really good at deception.
Don't forget he's claiming he is Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords,
the ruler of the whole world with power over all kindred’s and tongues and nations.
And all the world believes this impostor!
Rev. 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
There it is, the Great Apostasy!
If you don't know ahead of time that there are two Christ’s, one real and one false.
If you don't understand God’s word really well…..
-then you will worship Satan as Jesus.
You see, from Ezekiel 28 we know how beautiful and marvellous
and wonderful and charismatic this guy really is! Satan’s spirit was in the king of Tyrus!
And from Daniel we know he enters in peacefully and prosperously with a booming economy,
meaning big bucks for everyone
And from Revelation, chapter 12, we know that he drew a third of God's children away from God in the first Earth age!
And we know how He beguiled Eve. ( some say Adam was influenced by Him too )
Folks, he's really, really good at swooning people!
They just love him to death (both figuratively and literally)!
Those who do not have the word of God ( seal of God ) in their minds will have the mark of the beast in their minds.
They will be Satan's RIGHT HAND MEN. (service)
All this takes place up to and at the sounding of the 6th trumpet.
Rev 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Rev 12:8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
When the 7th trumpet sounds, Christ returns and the flesh age will end.
1 Corinthians 15:52
in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
IN CHRIST
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Perhaps the "dead in Christ" and the “we which are alive and remain,” are those who have died to the world and it's ways. Those who have been enabled by God to overcome the world, sin and Satan.
Those who are doers of the word and not hearers only. Those who have given God their whole hearts and obey Him. Those who have taken up their cross and followed Him. Those who have turned away from sin.
God's elect and His called out ones. Perhaps the 144,000.
Or these two scriptures may be referring to God’s elect…..
1 Kings 19:18
Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
Romans 11:4
But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
Seven thousand seems like a small number. So does 144,000. Only “the few” will overcome sin, Satan and the world. The many will be completely fooled by the ruler of this world, Satan!
Until Christ returns to establish His Kingdom!
Maybe they ( The Elect ) will be changed first into paradisiacal bodies and will be attending a "certain wedding" while the world is undergoing tribulation. This is referred to as a “partial rapture” by some.
It would sure leave the luke warm church who are convinced that they will be raptured with egg on their face. Wouldn't it???
When Christ returns the age of flesh will end. Those whose names are in the Lambs Book of Life will inherit eternal life.
Revelation 2:11
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.
Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
It would seem that being holy is a requirement. After all, being born of GOD’S SPIRIT should lead to one becoming holy. Right?
Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God. Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the Lord, who makes you holy. (Leviticus 20:7-8)
But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy. (1 Peter 1:15-16)
God would not tell us to do something He wasn’t prepared to ENABLE us to do. Those who obey God and study His word in a humble Spirit, who seek His wisdom and pray for His strength to flee temptation, to resist the devil, God enables to do so. His Spirit is SUFFICENT.
God chose them. He enables them to do His will and walk in His ways.
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will: Eph 1:11
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other. (John15:16-17)
The majority will be found worshipping “the false Christ,” “the anti-Christ,” “the instead of Christ,” when the true Lord returns.
Rev. 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
ALL that dwell upon the Earth shall worship Satan. Except the minority who have given Christ their whole heart and are found in The Lambs Book of Life.
The “age of flesh” will end when The Real Christ returns. Those who are not part of the first resurrection will indeed be in paradisiacal bodies. They will not have received eternal life at this point and will still be subject to the second death.
Perhaps they will have the millennium to “get it together.” Perhaps those who are part of the first resurrection will minister to them.
It would seem that many of them will still follow Satan when He is released for the last time at the end of the millennium.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Rev 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Rev 20:8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
Rev 20:9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
May The Good Lord Increase Our Understanding!
