Steps to Life

Prophecy Seminar

Session 23: Armageddon and the Seven Last Plagues

There are those who believe it is a cross to follow Jesus. In one sense it is. Jesus said, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24). There are two things that involve a cross in following the Lord. First, it is a cross to overcome sin and to change lifelong habits. We must "crucify" our old sinful desires (Galatians 5:24). That is a cross because we like our old way of life. Second, it is a cross to have family and friends turn against us for following Christ.

Matthew 10:34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.’ 36 And ‘a man’s foes will be those of his own household.’ 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it."

Thus there are two crosses the Christian must bear. Witness with me the young man who has become a slave to some drug, as he seeks by God’s power to conquer his habit. He must crucify the desires of his flesh, and that involves a cross. Witness with me the wife, whose husband is angry, sarcastic, and threatening divorce because she has decided to keep the Sabbath holy to the Lord. That is a big cross, too.

But, the Christian life is not ONLY a cross. It involves a cross to start out with, but after that Christ gives us a new way of life that is far more satisfying and fulfilling than anything else we have ever known.

John 15:11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."

John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Does God Make the Cross?

God loves us. He wants us to be happy. In fact, it is not His desire that anyone should ever have to bear a cross. The crosses we must shoulder are not God’s doing but the results of sin. The inherited and cultivated sins that must be overcome are the results of years and generations of wandering from God. It is not God, for example, who caused the drug addict to become enslaved to his habit. The cross the Christian must bear from the all-too-familiar opposition of family and friends is not God’s desire either, but it is caused by the subtle influence of Satan upon the minds of men and women who are not yet under the control of the Spirit of God.

For many people it is a cross to keep the Sabbath, but God never created that cross either. There is no cross in the Sabbath itself.

1 John 5:3 "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome."

There is no cross in the Sabbath itself. The cross comes in because the world is in opposition to God and it has chosen to make God’s rest day a work day and a day of pleasure instead of a day of worship and service to Him. So when we keep the Sabbath it involves a cross, but God did not make that cross—the world did.

Every man must choose between the world and God, and when we choose God, the world always opposes us and that brings trials and heartache. But remember, those trials and heartaches are not from God, they are from the devil.

Matthew 16:24 "Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."

Though God does not create our crosses, nor is it His wish for us to have any, nonetheless He plainly states that every Christian must bear a cross. It is Satan who causes the cross, for, in one sense, he is "the ruler of this world" (John 14:30), and HE WILL NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO FOLLOW CHRIST WITHOUT OPPOSING THAT CHOICE. Anyone and everyone who follows Christ will have opposition no one who is not willing to suffer opposition will ever be saved. Jesus makes that crystal clear. We must decide whether eternal life is really worth it we must count the cost.

2 Timothy 3:12 "All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."

These persecutions, trials, and offenses ARE NOT FROM GOD. They are from Satan and the world. Nevertheless, they come to everyone who follows God.

Matthew 18:7 "Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!"

We Don’t Carry the Cross Alone

Yes, there is a cross every Christian must bear from the opposition of the world and from the crucifying of the lusts of the flesh, but the Christian life is not ONLY a cross. Many times the cross may seem very heavy at first, but Christ carried the cross for us on the way to Golgotha, and He will help us to carry it now. With His strength the heaviest cross can be carried by even the weakest person. By ourselves, the strongest of us would faint beneath the load, but yoked up with Him, even the weakest will find the burden becoming lighter and more joyous all along the Christian path.

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

More Joys Than Sorrows

Christ will help us carry the crosses we must bear. Yet the Christian life is much more than just a cross that must be carried, for the longer we follow Christ the more joyful and rewarding it becomes.

Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness."

Psalm 16:11 "You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

To follow the Lord is the path of true joy and happiness. He made our lives. He made our aspirations. He made our desires, our taste buds, our feelings, and He knows how to fulfill all these. He made the whole creation with its brightly colored birds that fill the air with music. He made the scented flowers that decorate the country landscapes. He made the mountains and lakes and grassy fields. He made it all because He loves us.

There is a cross especially at the beginning of the Christian walk of life because of the opposition of the world and because of the bad habits we have developed, but that cross grows lighter and easier all along the way.

A Cross to Follow Christ, But a Bigger Cross Not To

Just because there is a cross in following Jesus, do not get the idea that there are, therefore, no hardships or crosses in the world. In fact, there are many more hardships in the world than in following God. Do not believe for a moment that following Satan is a path of roses and a bed of ease. The only difference is that when we follow Satan, the pain and suffering is laid upon us irrespective of our choice and it is much heavier than the cross of Christ.

The Choice Between Two Paths

There are two paths that every person must choose between. One is the way of Christ with a cross at the beginning, but it gets easier all along the way. It is accompanied by joy and peace, and ends in everlasting life.

The other is the way of Satan. It begins with ease, pleasure, glitter and gold. It is the broad path that most people choose, but it gets harder and harder. Satan is a cruel slave master. It brings sickness, heartache and despair, and ends in eternal death.

Everyone must travel one of these two roads. Everyone will either serve God or Satan there is no middle ground. Satan is a slave master. If we are not under the control of God, Satan will control us. We will serve one or the other and we cannot serve them both.

Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

"But," someone says, "I do not want to make a choice between following God all the way or following Satan. God’s way involves a cross and I don’t like that, but yet I don’t want to serve Satan either." Well, you don’t have to make that choice. It has already been made for you. When you were born, you were born as a servant of Satan and a citizen of his kingdom. That is why so many people follow Satan; they were born that way, and it does not take any effort to remain in his service. Satan is the prince of this world.

Romans 5:12 "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned."

One Path Has Already Been Chosen For Us

If you were born in America, you were born a citizen of this country. You were born with certain rights and obligations. You were born with the obligation to pay taxes and with the right of liberty. You did not have to choose that way of life. Now if you want to become a citizen of another country, you have to choose that. That involves a specific action and decision on your part.

If you were born in America, you grew up with the customs, speech, and habits of this country. You never had to make a pledge of allegiance or take an oath of fidelity or make an active decision of any kind in order to be an American, you were such by virtue of your birth.

If you were a Brazilian, born in Brazil, and then you decided to become an American, you would have to make a conscious decision. You would have to pledge allegiance and take an oath of fidelity. If you chose to live here, you would have to learn new customs, new habits, and a new language.

So it is that we are born as citizens of Satan’s kingdom. We know its customs, language, and habits. We don’t have to choose that way that choice has already been made.

But if we choose to change our citizenship to become children of God, that takes an active decision on our part. We must then make a pledge of allegiance which is baptism. That is the only way we can become citizens of God’s kingdom. That is why Jesus said if we are not baptized we can never be saved.

John 3:5 "Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.’"

"Oh," someone says, "I could never make a choice like that." Well, you don’t have to. We are all born citizens of a kingdom and if we don’t want to change, then we can merely remain the way we are that is the easy way. Well, it is not really the easy way, but at least we don’t have to make any decisions we can just let life take its natural course and suffer the natural consequences. But, if we want to become a citizen of God’s kingdom, that requires an oath of allegiance, baptism, and it requires a new way of life, as depicted in the Ten Commandments and as demonstrated in the life of Christ.

Destiny of Each Path

Let me portray the consequences of each way of life. If we follow Christ, there is a cross at the beginning but He helps us carry it and He brings us happiness, peace, and fulfillment, and in the end He gives us eternal life and all the riches of heaven.

Revelation 21:4 "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’"

1 Corinthians 2:9 "But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’"

Isaiah 65:21 " ‘They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, and My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth children for trouble; for they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them. 24 It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,’ says the Lord." But, what about those who remain as they are born, in the service of Satan? Let us look. In the first place, those who remain in the service of Satan are the enemies of God. They hate God and they hate His way.

James 4:4 "Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."

Romans 8:7 "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God."

Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life."

Now God loves the unconverted servant of Satan. He loved us enough to die for us while we were still His enemies. We were all enemies of God at one time.

At one time, my grandfather ridiculed my grandmother because she learned about the Sabbath and decided to keep it. Later, after years of ridiculing her, he finally decided to keep the Sabbath, too. Some of us here may have opposed someone keeping the Sabbath six months ago, but now have decided to keep it ourselves and are suffering some opposition for our faith. In all likelihood, if we hadn’t made that choice ourselves, we would be the ones bringing the opposition on someone else, right? In fact, anyone and everyone that turns away from the Sabbath eventually opposes it they are the ones who usually oppose it most bitterly. There is no middle road. If we turn away from God’s way, we will eventually oppose God. Every time.

No Middle Road

Matthew 12:30 "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad."

There is often a short period of wavering or making a decision, of weighing the consequences of following the Lord; but in the end there is no neutrality. Either we end up for God or we end up opposing and hating Him. Either we end up on God’s side or on Satan’s side. Eventually we will either follow God completely or Satan completely. When Jesus comes, everyone is going to be in one of two camps. Either we are going to be on God’s side all the way and will love Him so much we are willing to die for Him, or we are going to be on Satan’s side all the way, and will hate God so much that we are going to be ready to kill His followers. Most of the world is going to be on Satan’s side.

Revelation 13:3 "I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. . . . 11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he . . . causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs. . . telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to. . . cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. . . . 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."

There is going to be persecution, opposition and boycott. Satan is going to oppose God’s people and He is going to try to force everyone to receive his mark of rebellion from God.

As we have noticed before, the sign of allegiance to God is the keeping of the commandments, especially the Sabbath commandment (Ezekiel 20:20). God says He will write His law in our minds (Hebrews 8:10). Revelation is a symbolic book and it symbolizes the writing of God’s law in our minds by referring to God placing a mark, or seal, in our foreheads (Revelation 7:3; 14:1). Those who have God’s mark in their foreheads are characterized as those "who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus" (Revelation 14:12).

Satan and His Followers Are At War With God

Satan opposes God’s government and His laws. Satan’s government on earth shall "speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law" (Daniel 7:25). Satan has replaced the Sabbath with Sunday. The one goes back to Creation and by keeping it we show our allegiance to God. The other goes back to pagan sun worship and by keeping it we show our allegiance to the Beast who claims authority to change God’s law. This is his mark of authority. Eventually Satan will seek to force everyone to receive his law either in the mind (forehead) by truly being deceived and believing it, or at least in the hand, by being coerced to keep it even if we have not been deceived into believing it. Remember, Satan always uses two methods, first, deception to capture the majority, and then coercion to sweep up the rest. Thankfully there will be a faithful remnant who will not yield to either deception or coercion.

The world is going to array itself against God. In the future, there will again be stringent Sunday laws such as have not been seen since the Dark Ages, but God has a warning against those who are in opposition to Him.

Revelation 14:9 "Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. And he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name. 12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.’"

It says that those who are aligned with Satan in opposition to God are going to receive "the wrath of God." God has sent out a warning to all the world that they might be saved.

Revelation 14:6 "Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people 7 saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.’"

But the world as a whole rejects the message, opposes it and remains in the service of Satan. Satan deceives those who reject the message. He causes them to receive the mark of the Beast, to openly defy God and oppose Him, and war against Him and His followers. God responds to their warfare:

Revelation 14:9 "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God."

God Responds to the Warfare of Satan and His Followers

What is the "wrath of God"?

Revelation 15:1 "Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete."

The wrath of God is the seven last plagues. God is going to pour out His seven last plagues upon those who receive the mark of the Beast. You know, some people think it is hard to follow God, yet it is not so hard with God’s strength. However hard it may seem, remember that it is not all that much fun to follow Satan either. It is easy to follow Satan at first, but it is not going to be very much fun when the "wrath of God" is poured out in the seven last plagues.

Now, before describing the plagues, the Bible again mentions those true followers of God who do not receive the mark of the Beast.

Revelation 15:2 "And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. 3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: ‘Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! 4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.’ 5 After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened."

Again it associates them with the "tabernacle of the testimony in heaven," or in other words, the tabernacle of the Ten Commandments.

Also notice that those who receive the victory over the Beast, over his image, his mark, and the number of his name, sing the song of Moses. What is the song of Moses? The song of Moses is the key that will unlock the meaning of the plagues. It is found in Exodus 15.

Exodus 15:1 "Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: ‘I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea! 2 The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; my father’s God, and I will exalt Him. 3 The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is His name. 4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea. 5 The depths have covered them; they sank to the bottom like a stone. 6 Your right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces. 7 And in the greatness of Your excellence You have overthrown those who rose against You; You sent forth Your wrath which consumed them like stubble."

The Plagues of Egypt

Once before, back in the days of Egypt, God sent forth His wrath. Exodus 15 records the song of Moses, which was sung after the plagues had fallen on Egypt. Egypt had opposed God’s people and the Lord’s wrath was kindled against them. He sent plagues upon them to deliver His people out of their hands. What were the plagues of Egypt like?

Exodus 7:20, 21 Water to blood

Exodus 8:2 Frogs

Exodus 8:16 Lice

Exodus 8:24 Flies

Exodus 9:3, 4 Disease of cattle

Exodus 9:10 Disease of man

Exodus 9:14, 15, 18, 23-26 Hail

Exodus 10:4-6 Locust

Exodus 10:21-23 Darkness

Exodus 11:5 Death of first-born

Even after all of these plagues, the Egyptians were still determined to oppose God and His people. The children of Israel had left Egypt and were encamped beside the Red Sea. The Egyptian army came up to destroy them, and God opened up the Red Sea in order for them to escape to the other side, away from the army note this, what provided a way of escape for the children of Israel meant death to the Egyptian army. The Egyptians tried to follow the path through the Red Sea, but before they could reach the other side, the waters came back and covered them up. Not one Egyptian soldier escaped (Exodus 14:28).

Incidentally, were the children of Israel in Egypt during the plagues, or did they escape from Egypt before the plagues began to fall? They were still in Egypt, but they were protected from the seven last plagues (they shared the first three). So, God’s people at the end of the world are also going to still be on earth, but they will be protected from the seven last plagues.

Luke 21:36 "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

Even though there may be a cross at first, I would much rather be one of God’s people at the time the plagues begin to fall than to be on Satan’s side, wouldn’t you?

The Seven Last Plagues

Let us compare the similarities between the plagues of Egypt, when God’s wrath was poured out before, and the plagues in the last days, when God’s wrath is going to be poured out again.

Revelation 16:1 "Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, ‘Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.’ 2 So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image. 3 Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died. 4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood."

Thus, the first three plagues are as follows:

1. Disease on those who had the mark of the Beast. As we have seen in the seminar sessions on the mark of the beast, the mark of his authority and power is the attempted change of God’s law, especially the part of God’s law about time—Daniel 7:25. The attempted change of the Sabbath to Sunday is the mark of the beast’s authority and has been publicly acknowledged.

2. Sea becomes blood.

3. Rivers, wells, and drinking water become blood.

The people of the earth have become bloodthirsty they are seeking to shed the blood of God’s people so God is going to give them blood to drink as He did to the Egyptians.

Revelation 16:5 "And I heard the angel of the waters saying: ‘You are righteous, O Lord, the One who is and who was and who is to be, because You have judged these things. 6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink, for it is their just due."

Revelation 16:8 "Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory."

4. Sun scorches men with great heat. Man is determined to worship on the pagan day of the Sun, so God is going to cause the sun, whose day they worship, to scorch them.

Revelation 16:10 "Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain. 11 And they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and did not repent of their deeds."

5. Darkness, with pain, on the city of the Beast.

The Beast has spread spiritual darkness throughout the earth, now God is going to give him real darkness, as He is going to give Satan throughout the millennium. Each plague gets a little more direct.

The next plague is one of the most interesting of all. It is the one that is associated with Armageddon.

Revelation 16:12 "Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 15 ‘Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.’ 16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon."

6. The drying up of the River Euphrates and gathering together the people "of the whole world" for "the battle of that great day of God Almighty" at a "place called. . . Armageddon."

Some people say that this plague is the battle of Armageddon, but notice carefully that the Bible says the plague is the drying up of the great River Euphrates. This river is dried up in preparation for the "battle of that great day of God Almighty." We will come back to that in a minute, but first let us see what the last plague entails.

Revelation 16:17 "Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, ‘It is done!’ 18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And great hail from heaven fell upon men, every hailstone about the weight of a talent. And men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great."

7. Every island and mountain are removed, and hail stones weighing about seventy-five pounds each pelt the earth.

The Sixth Plague

Now let us go back to the sixth plague. In context with the drying up of the great River Euphrates, what did John see?

Revelation 16:13 "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet."

Here we see that three great powers of earth are going to be united through a spiritualistic, miracle working, ecumenical movement. The three great powers are the dragon, the Beast, and the false prophet. Earlier, in Revelation 12 and 13, we noticed that there are and have been three great earthly powers through which Satan has worked the dragon, the Beast, and the two-horned animal coming up out of the earth. These powers are all political powers, but there are also three religious powers associated with each. The dragon was associated with paganism and spiritualism. The Beast is associated with Catholicism, and the two-horned beast, the United States of America, is associated with Protestantism. The false prophet is a most carefully chosen symbol for apostate Protestantism. The Bible is the writing of the prophets. The Protestant world alone claims to be based solely on the Word of God and to believe God’s prophets as the only rule of life. But this is a false prophet, because while claiming to believe the Bible, apostate Protestantism follows the traditions of the Beast power in worshipping on Sunday.

What will unite these three great powers? It is "three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of their mouth." An unclean spirit is a spirit of Satan. These spirits come out of the mouth of these three great powers and bring them into unity, and they are likened to frogs. How do frogs catch their prey? With their tongues, do they not? Thus, this is referring to a false spiritualistic manifestation, that comes out of the mouth and catches its prey with the tongue. Moreover, it is a spiritual gift that is manifested among Catholics and Protestants as well. As we near the close of time, we need to look for a false spiritualistic manifestation that will tend to bring a unity of feeling between Protestants and Catholics, that comes out of the mouth and is associated with the tongue.

This spiritualistic power that will pervade Christendom, will unite "the kings of the earth and of the whole world" against God, and against His people. They will thus be gathered together "to the battle of that great day of God Almighty."

Here we see pictured a union of church and state powers working together. Revelation 17:2 says it is spiritual adultery, or fornication, for a church to seek political power. A church is to receive its authority and power from God, but when it turns to the state, it commits adultery against God, her rightful husband, protector, and advocate. The adulterous union of church and state has been a chief characteristic of ancient Egypt, of Babylon, and of the Beast power. In the last days before Jesus comes, the church and state will again be united against God’s remnant people much as they were against the children of Israel before the Red Sea. God made a way of escape for the children of Israel by drying up the Red Sea. In the sixth plague, God dries up another body of water to save His people the body of water symbolically called Euphrates "Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up."

The Drying Up of the River Euphrates

In Revelation, the religious systems of the last days are symbolically called Babylon. Old Babylon was built upon the River Euphrates. Notice that spiritual Babylon also sits upon a body of water.

Revelation 17:1 "Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, ‘Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters."

What does this water represent?

Revelation 17:15 "And he said to me, ‘The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.’"

In Babylon of old, God’s people were held captive. The kings of the East, Darius and Cyrus, came and delivered God’s people. They did it by drying up the River Euphrates and entering the city of Babylon through its inner gates (see Isaiah 44:24-30; 45:1-4; Jeremiah 50:35-39). Isaiah says that Cyrus, the king of the East, was God’s anointed messenger to deliver His people.

In the last days, Jesus is going to deliver His people. Right before He delivers them He is going to dry up the great River Euphrates, the body of water that Babylon sits upon, which symbolically represents the people that Babylon rules over. How will this happen?

Revelation 17:16 "And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose."

The people who have joined in this fight, the battle of Armageddon, will finally realize, as God begins to deliver His people, that they have been deceived. Maybe the plague of darkness upon the capital city of the Beast will help to open their eyes that this is the center of spiritual darkness, not of light. Then they will turn upon those spiritual leaders who have deceived them and they will hate them, but it will be too late. For before Jesus comes, the mandate goes forth:

Revelation 22:11 "He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still."

Like Judas, they turn against the people who bribed them and fooled them. They realize they have chosen the wrong master. They are on the wrong side, but it will be too late. They have received the mark, or the seal of the Beast. Their characters have been sealed with the Beast’s character and they cannot be erased, just as an official seal on a piece of paper cannot be erased.

The Armies of Earth Meet the Armies of Heaven

Revelation 19:11 "Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. 17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, ‘Come and gather together for the supper of the great God, 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small and great.’ 19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image. These were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh."

Friends, in that day I want to be on God’s side. I don’t want to be one of those who are deceived. Notice the warning that is given right in the middle of the sixth plague.

Revelation 16:15 "Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame."

When Jesus comes it will be too late to change. In that hour, those who have followed Satan will begin to realize how heavy and painful is the service of Satan.

Revelation 6:14 "Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. 15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of His wrath is come, and who is able to stand?’ " Revelation 16:17 "Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, ‘It is done!’ 18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And great hail from heaven fell upon men, every hailstone about the weight of a talent. And men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great."

That is the description of Jesus’ second coming. His coming will be the seventh plague. It will be a plague for the inhabitants of the world, but it will be deliverance for God’s people. The same Red Sea that destroyed the Egyptians delivered God’s people. So it will be when Jesus comes.

Under the seventh plague life comes to an end on Planet Earth. The wicked have seen that they are deluded and deceived. They did not need to be deceived, but they did not receive "the love of the truth" (2 Thessalonians 2:10), and when the first angel’s message to worship God as the Creator went forth they turned their backs on God as their creator, they refused to obey the One who made them, they refused to acknowledge the Sabbath which is the sign that you worship God as your creator. It is also a sign that God will make you holy (Ezekiel 20:12, 20) and nobody can see God and live unless He has been sanctified (made holy). Hebrews 12:14. Because they did not love the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness, they were deceived by the Antichrist at the end of the world.

Today Is the Day of Probation

Friends, today is the day of probation. Today is the day we have to choose whether we are going to be deceived and find out that we are enemies of God, fighting against Him when He comes, or whether we will be found to be truly on His side. Today is the day we have to choose whether we will be among those who receive the plagues or not. Today is the day we have to choose whether we will be calling for the rocks and mountains to fall on us or whether we will be rejoicing that we are saved.

In that day, all excuses will come to an end. Reality will set in. Either you will completely saved or totally lost. The obedient will be saved. The disobedient will be lost. The ones who keep God’s law will be saved, the ones practicing lawlessness will be lost. No theological explanation will change reality in that day. Friends, God does not make mistakes. Either we will surrender our lives to Him and obey Him proving that He can trust us or else we will be deceived by the great religious revival in the last days and be lost. Our houses, farms, and cars will be destroyed. The wicked will see that it is too late. They are lost, but I don’t want to be among that number, do you? I want to be among those described in Isaiah 25:9 "And it will be said in that day: ‘Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.’"

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Last Updated: 06/18/03