I often wondered who would populate the world @ the end days when Jesus came back. Especially since the believers who are blessed enough to be in the first resurrection, are 2 be priest and kings in his kingdom. I orginally thought when Jesus returns all the unbelievers are eliminated. According to this verse, after the beast & false prophet are dispatched by Jesus @ his coming, and satan is bound for the 1000 years, those of the nations left standing are allowed to enter the millennium for a season.
Sounds like an individual or waxing evil Empire that does the following: denies the (triune) God, persecutes God's Kingdom on Earth (the church), changes calendars to honor something other than the birth of out Lord Jesus Christ, and replaces the respective laws of nations that submit to his rule with a "new" law. The reign of this evil individual or kingdom will be terrible but finite.
In the context of current events, I would say that Islam and the Mahdi fit this the best. Anno Domini is changed to the Common Era, Democracies with religious freedom yield to Sharia Law, and one modern nation after another submit to the Caliphate. These are examples of this prophecy enfolding in our own time, before our very eyes. God Bless.
The four beasts are the four empires, Babylonian 606-538 BC, the Medo-persian 539-332 BC, the Greek, 332 BC-65 AD, the four horns were the division of the empire after the death of Alexander the Great, the last beast is the Islamic empire, Umayyad, 661-750 AD, this was the empire which destroyed Jerusalem and slaughtered Jews and Christians, they also murdered them to prevent them from making a pilgrimage into the Holy Land, which finally brought about the Crusades in 1099. This is the diverse beast which wars against the whole world, and treads on, tramples and breaks it into pieces...Daniel does not speak to the New World, only the known world at the time, the Holy Land. Not to say the US will not play a part, we will,in Revelations it says the rule of the Anti-Christ will not come about until the sun rises in the West, not to be political, but if you look at the Obama symbol, it looks like the sun rising over the symbol of the West (the American flag), some in theological circles believe he is the Mahdi spoken of in the Quran...I kind of think the sun rising in the West could mean power being that of a Western country, could be the US or not, it could mean just what it says, the sun will rise in the West literally because of a polar flip or something of that nature...I definitely believe Obama being elected is part of the Biblical prophesy if only we had the knowledge to understand how.
As a Christian believer, this will be happening after the rapture. Religion cannot save us but by the Grace of Jesus Christ alone who appeared in the vision of Daniel, the Son of man cometh from the sky. The 144,000 are the people that came from the twelve tribes of Israel.
I believe that Daniel is a prophet of the most high God and that God gave him a vision that no man can interpret the revelation without the Holy Ghost. Any answer other than that is just what the human mind thinks.
I do believe Jesus Himself speaks of the lake of fire in Revelation several times. But no one is cast in there until his return and they are given another chance to accept Him as Lord and saviour. And follow the true Ten Commandments not the catholic version that replaced Sunday for Saturday. Those who believe Jesus nailed the commandments to the cross are deceived. The ceremonial and sacrificial laws were nailed to the cross but not the Moral law. That is why he said If you love me keep my commandments, I have kept my father�s commandments and many will worship Me in vain teaching doctrines of men for commandments. I paraphrased a lot there but in Luke 6:46 he says why call me Lord and not do what I say. Nowhere in the bible is Sunday transferred as the Sabbath. Luke 4:4, He says we are to live by every word that comes out of the mouth of God. The bible is God�s word. Circumcision is well documented on its absolution. So why not Sunday taking over from Saturday? Because it hasn't, in John 10:35, Jesus says the scripture cannot be broken. Daniel 7:25 tells us the beast will change ties and laws and wear out the saints. The Dark Age period Christians keeping the 7th day as Jesus did, were killed for 1260 years. The Catholic Church passed the law to do it and they did. Research canon Law XX1X.
I believe the 4th beast is the United States. The 10 horns are supporting nations like NATO during WW3."... another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings." This horn will be the NEW United States, "diverse from the first (USA)" that accepts Sharia law as part of the World War 3 Peace agreement. Three nations that supported the USA before its constitution was destroyed are "subdued" by the US because they do not want to let go off Christianity. These 3 could be Britain, Italy and Greece. However, they are forced into signing the "peace" treaty that has Sharia as part of the agreement. This will be Wahhabi law that rules the world. This peace agreement will not last (many Muslims also will not want to accept it) and World War 3 will break out again, however, the US will keep Wahhabi law instead of the constitution and Christian churches will not be allowed in the US because they have these new laws that say only Allah is to be worshipped.
I believe the "saints of the most high" are the 144,000 redeemed from the earth. Revelation 14; They will live on and help Jesus rule the New Earth that has been cleansed after the horror of the Beast, World War 3.
@ Boyet,
Let me give you further enlightenment. This woman of Revelation 12:1 is definitely representing the nation of Israel since she was with a child, crying and pained to be delivered. It is the nation of Israel prior to the birth of Jesus Christ under the reign of the Roman Empire appearing in the book of Daniel 7:7. Use the amplified bible version. Her pains represent the sufferings and hardship of the people of Israel crying for salvation. I hope this adds some truth. Thank you.
Chapter 11 is a fulfilment of the last half week of Daniel 9:24-27. The Messiah was cut off in the midst of the last week. The Prince to come, Rome destroyed the city , Jerusalem, and the sanctuary, the temple. They failed to recognize the hour of their visitation. Israel fell by the edge of the sword, and were carried captive to all nations ( Luke 21:20-24; 19:41-44), Jerusalem was left desolate (Mathew 23: 37-38). Israel was cut off from its own olive tree and the Gentiles were grafted into the good olive tree ( Romans 11:17-28). Between the ending of the 69th and and 1/2 week to the last half week the gospel turned to the Gentiles. Paul's commission ( Acts 9:11-16; 13:46-47; 22: 14-21; 26:12-18) was a fulfilment of Isaiah 42:6. In Acts 13:47 Paul says: for so hath the Lord commanded us, saying I have set thee to be a light to the Gentiles, that though shouldst be salvation to the ends of the earth; in Isaiah 42:6 it says: -- and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles. Here in Revelation 11 the time of the gentiles is fulfilled ( Luke 21:24). Israel is back in there homeland when these two witnesses begin their ministry. The Gentile church is cut off from the olive tree, spewn out from his mouth for failing to recognize the hour of their visitation( Romans 11:20-22, Rev. 3:16; Malachi 4:5-6). Revelation 11 takes place between the second and third woe, for the 5th, 6th and 7th trumpets are the 1st, 2nd and third woes respectives. These three woes are the three world wars. Between the 2nd and third woe Israel is back in there home land; at the same time the Gentiles receive their last message ( Revelation 10). The Gentiles fail to recognize the hour of their visitation. It is the hour of wrath, God recompenses tribulation to them that trouble the bride ( 1Thessalonians 1:5-8). God opens a fountain of healing for Israel. There will be a fountain fountain open to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem ( Zechariah 13:10, 12:10) . God will pour a spirit of grace and supplication and they shall look upon him whom they have pierced. Revelation 11 opens Israel to recognize the feast of atonement. They will be turned from atonement of bulls and goats to the atonement of the lamb of God. The sixfold purpose of the visit of angel Gabriel to Daniel will be perfect realized to Israel in this chapter ( Daniel 9:24) . By the time of the two witness begin there ministry they will begin the temple worship ( Rev. 11:1-12). The two witnesses are killed in Jerusalem by the beast. The beast represents the gentile kingdom. Jerusalem here in Revelation 11:8 spiritually is called Egypt or Sodom. In Exodus 20:1-2 Egypt is referred to as the house of bondage. In Galatians 4:24-26 Paul likens the Jerusalem that is to the bondswoman Agar and mount sinai in Arabia, which is also in bondage with her children born after the flesh. Jerusalem from above representing the freewoman which gendereth children of the promise, born after the spirit. After the ministry of the two witnesses christ sets up his kingdom upon the earth. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdnm under the whole heaven, shall be given to the saints of the most high, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him ( Daniel 7:27). The Messiah will sit on the throne of David in Jerusalem.
God has two elect groups. Israel is the first elect, and the Church is the second elect. Israel was promised an earthly kingdom, the Son of man, Jesus shall reign forever, and destroy all other gentile kingdoms. Heaven is promised to the Church, and when Christ calls come up hither, Rev.4:1 the Church will be caught up into heaven, and when Jesus returns to earth to set up his kingdom, we will reign with him. We understand in part, but when he that is perfect shall come we will know as we are known. This vision troubled Daniel, but he kept the matter in his heart. We too are to keep this matter in our heart, for at the time of the end it will speak.
Why isn't Christ God? He was created with God's seed and Christ said I and my Father are one. Seems like that would make him God. The Bible says there are three that bear record in Heaven the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost and these three are one. There are three that bear record on earth, the water, the spirit, and the Blood and these three agree in one. There are not three Persons. If you are married and you have a child then you are a father. If you are male you were born a son. You were also born with a spirit. God breathed Spirit of life into Adam. God said he is the God of Israel and there is none else beside him. I hope some some of you don't chock on all this meat. Most of you are probably still on milk. These are things Satan has hidden from people for years. Jesus is the God from heaven.He is the only body God has. It is a glorified body. God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself.
Who is the son of man? and who is the ancient of days? and what is this kingdom that shall not be destroyed? And there will be given him dominion.... The definition of dominion is:
1. rule; authority
2. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) the land governed by one ruler or government
3. sphere of influence; area of control
When the bible uses the term "son of man" it always refers to Christ. In 7:13 the "ancient of days is refereing to God. So 13 is making a distinction of to seperate persons. The ancient of days and christ. And that God will be giving Christ a kingdom. And this kingdom appears to be one on earth. How is it then that most christians think that Christ is God and that this kingdom is heavenly and not on earth?
In the context of current events, I would say that Islam and the Mahdi fit this the best. Anno Domini is changed to the Common Era, Democracies with religious freedom yield to Sharia Law, and one modern nation after another submit to the Caliphate. These are examples of this prophecy enfolding in our own time, before our very eyes. God Bless.
Let me give you further enlightenment. This woman of Revelation 12:1 is definitely representing the nation of Israel since she was with a child, crying and pained to be delivered. It is the nation of Israel prior to the birth of Jesus Christ under the reign of the Roman Empire appearing in the book of Daniel 7:7. Use the amplified bible version. Her pains represent the sufferings and hardship of the people of Israel crying for salvation. I hope this adds some truth. Thank you.
Thanks!
1. rule; authority
2. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) the land governed by one ruler or government
3. sphere of influence; area of control
When the bible uses the term "son of man" it always refers to Christ. In 7:13 the "ancient of days is refereing to God. So 13 is making a distinction of to seperate persons. The ancient of days and christ. And that God will be giving Christ a kingdom. And this kingdom appears to be one on earth. How is it then that most christians think that Christ is God and that this kingdom is heavenly and not on earth?