Bottomless pit – B I B L E – ONLY

Revelation 9:1-12. Fifth Trumpet

Tony — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 08:40:46 +0000

Rev 9:1-12. The Fifth Trumpet

Rev 9:1.2. Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke.

Who represents the fallen star in this text?

The only star which fell from heaven was the one Jesus Christ mentioned in reference to Satan. Luk 10:18. I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven. The text does not state the word star. But Satan was one of the stars of heaven before he fell and was cast out of heaven.

Rev 12:3.4. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. (The dragon refers to Satan, the devil or the serpent in Rev 12:9. The stars refer to angels in Rev 1:20. Satan is also referred to as an angel in Rev 9:1 and in Ezek 28:13.14.)

What does the bottomless pit mean in the book of Revelation?

There are only six other texts that mention the bottomless pit in the New Testament, and they are in the book of Revelation.

Rev 9:2. He opened the bottomless pit. (The bottomless pit refers to the earth in Rev 9:1. Satan was cast out of heaven to this earth).

Rev 9:11. And they had a king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in the Greek, he has the same name Apollyon. (The angel of the bottomless pit is Satan on this earth).

Rev 11:7. When they finished their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them and kill them. (Satan is described as an angel and a beast in the book of Revelation. Rev 12:9. He killed the witnesses: The Old and New Testament Bible and Christian´s during the French Revolution in this text. The bottomless pit is the earth).

Rev 17:8. The beast that you saw, was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the sea beast that was, and is not, and yet is. (This beast who ascended out of the bottomless pit refers to Satan after the 1,000 years of millennium on this desolate earth).

Rev 20:1-3. Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years: and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. (After the Second Coming of Christ, the saints are resurrected to heaven, the unbelieving wicked are all destroyed by Christ at the Armageddon war, and Satan is bound to this desolate earth for 1,000 years).

Conclusion

The bottomless pit refers to this earth where Satan and his angels (demons) live. This earth can be both inhabited or desolate during the millennium in the future.

What does smoke causing the sun to be darkened mean in prophecy?

Gen 15:17. And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those pieces.

Pieces of what? Verse 9.10. So He said to him, “Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove and a young pigeon. Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. (Smoke is related to destruction of animal meat).

Jos 8:20. And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw and behold, the smoke of the city ascended to heaven. (Smoke is related to destruction of a city).

Judges 20:40.41. But when the cloud began to rise from the city in a column of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and there was the whole city going up in smoke to heaven. And when the men of Israel turned back, the men of Benjamin panicked, for they saw that disaster had come upon them. (Smoke is related to disaster in this text).

Ps 37:20. But the wicked shall perish; and the enemies of the Lord, like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away. (Smoke refers to destruction of the wicked).

Is 51:6. Lift up your eyes to the heavens and look on the earth beneath. For the heavens shall vanish away like smoke. (Smoke is related to destruction).

Joel 2:30.31. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. (Smoke is related to the judgment of the wicked at Christ Second Coming).

Rev 9:18. By these plagues a third of mankind was killed – by fire and smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths. (Smoke refers to destruction in this text).

Conclusion

Smoke is related to destruction and disaster of the wicked in prophecy.

What does sun and the air mean in prophecy?

The quote “sun and the air” is only found in this text in the whole of the Bible, so we have to look at these words individually.

The sun refers to Jesus Christ in symbolic language. Mal 4:2. But to you who fear my name the Sun of Righteousness shall rise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall fed calves.

The air refers to Satan´s spiritual kingdom on this earth which can be seen in the disobedience of unbelievers in this world. The prince and power of the air refers to Satan in this text. Ephes 2:2. In which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.

So, what does Rev 9:1.2. mean in symbolic language?

Rev 9:1.2. Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like smoke of a great furnace. So, the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke.

The star represents Satan who was thrown out of heaven at about the same time when this world was created, and when Adam and Eve were created and formed. Rev 12:7-9. Satan had access to heaven as a representative of this earth (Job 1:6) and then finally lost this privilege when he crucified Jesus Christ at the Cross (Luk 10:18). The bottomless pit represents this earth, both inhabited or desolate in the future. Satan has the key to the bottomless pit, that is he has limited power to control all unbelievers in this world. Satan has caused the smoke of destruction and disaster to appear in certain places in this world, causing the sun to be darkened representing the teachings of Christ´s Righteousness. The air represents Satan´s spiritual kingdom on this earth, which also becomes dark. Why? Because he does not want people to know that he is a fallen angel trying to mislead people into the wrong way of their beliefs.

Rev 9:3. Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

A further description of these locusts is in Rev 9:7-11. The shape of the locusts were like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. They had hair like women´s hair, and their teeth were like lions´ teeth. And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. They had tails like scorpions, and they were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months. And they had a king over them, the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.

The description of the text is using both symbolic and literal language. One thing is for sure and that is, the king over these locusts is the angel of the bottomless pit and that is Satan.

OK! The main subject of this text is the word Locust. What do locust mean in prophecy?

In the Oxford Dictionary the word locust means any of the various kinds of short horned grasshopper, which migrate in swarms and consume vegetation of whole districts.

Ex 10:14.15. And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt and rested on all the territory of Egypt. They were very severe; previously there had been no such locusts as they, nor shall there be such after them. For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they ate every herb of the land and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left. So there remained nothing green on the trees or on the plants of the field throughout all the land of Egypt. (This is the eighth plague which fell on Egypt during the time of Moses. First the land was darkened by the locusts and finally they ate everything green on the plants and trees).

Joel 1:4-7. What the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten; and what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has eaten. Awake you drunkards, and weep; and wail, all you drinkers of wine, because of the new wine, for it has been cut off from your mouth. For a nation has come up against my land, strong, and without number; his teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he has the fangs of a fierce lion. He has laid waste my vine and ruined my fig tree; he has stripped it bare and thrown it away; its branches are made white. (In verse 6 it says they had teeth like lion´s teeth and the same description is written in Rev 9:8. These locusts in Joel are representing the Babylonian soldiers, who came to Jerusalem in 586 B.C. and destroyed it and all the land of Judah, and took away the captives to Babylon).

Nahum 3:17. Your commanders are like swarming locusts, and your generals like great grasshoppers, which camp in the hedges on a cold day; when the sun rises they flee away, and the place where they flee is not known. (These locusts represent the soldiers and leaders of Nineveh in this text Nahum 3:7).

Conclusion

God used literal locusts in destroying the green vegetation of all Egypt during the 10 plagues. In the book of Joel God sent the Babylonian army symbolized by locusts to destroy Jerusalem in 586 B.C. Locust were also a symbol of the soldiers from Nineveh. So, locusts are a symbol of a destroying army of soldiers in prophecy.

Rev 9:7. The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like faces of men.

The next description of these soldiers symbolized by locusts are, they had crowns on their heads and ready for battle. These crowns in the Greek are στϵφανοί Stefanoi. These stefanoi crowns were used by the Roman generals coming home to Rome from a victorious military battle over their enemies.

And their faces were like the faces of men. The greatest temptation in Biblical prophetical exegesis is to revert to a literal interpretation instead of a symbolic interpretation. The first creates more study, analysis and work from the Bible as a whole. The second is easy, making a parallel from historical sources. The rule in prophetical interpretation is, if the context is using symbolic language, then one uses symbolic interpretation. If the context uses a literal language, then one uses a literal interpretation. The majority of Bible commentaries go for the literal interpretation when it comes to the faces of men, even though the context is symbolic language.

A short word study on the “faces of men.”

This is a difficult citation because there are only two explanations for this text from the Bible. To help with these explanations I am going to use a quotation from Ellen G. White to clarify the use of the term “face of man” from Ezekiel´s vision.

The first explanation is taken from Ezekiel´s vision of God upon his throne with four creatures like angels guiding the thrown through the heavens. In Ezek 1:26. And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. Ezek 1:28. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.

Ezek 1:5. Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures. (It refers to God´s thrown). And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. Verse 6. Each had four faces, and each had four wings. Ezek 1:10. As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle.

“As the wheel like complications were under the guidance of the hand beneath the wings of the cherubim, so the complicated play of human events is under divine control. Amidst strife and tumult of nations, He that sitteth above the cherubim still guides the affairs of the earth.”[1]

The term “face of man” is related to the creatures around the throne of God, who together with God, have all human events under divine control and still guides the affairs of the earth.

The next explanation is taken from Deut 1:16.17. (Old Kings James version) And I charged your judges at that time, saying, Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God´s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it. (The face of man is related to the fear of man and the judgment of God).

Which explanation shall we follow? It is the second explanation of fear because our citation is related to the affairs and actions taking place on this earth as opposed to the heavenly throne of God.

A short word study of the term face related to fear and the judgment of God.

Jerm 1:8. (Jeremiah is called by God to be a prophet). “Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.

Ezek 3:8.9. (Ezekiel is called by God to be a prophet to the house of Israel). Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces – – -. Do not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.

1 Pet 3:12. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

Rev 6:15.16. 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, 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.”

Conclusion

Face in Biblical prophecy is related to evil, fear and judgment. These soldiers in Rev 9:7 created fear and judgment to their enemies.

Rev 9:8. They had hair like women´s hair, and their teeth were like lion´s teeth.

Many Bible commentaries fall into the temptation of interpreting this text literally. So, they try to find soldiers in history with long flowing hair going into battle. For example, the Greek soldiers had long hair and some note that the Arabs or Muslims had long hair. However, Muslims and Arabs had short hair depicted in history covered by turbans.

Let us try to interpret women´s hair symbolically in harmony with the context of the passage.

A short word study on women´s hair.

Num 6:5. (This text refers to the Nazarite vow). All the days of the vow of his separation no razor shall come upon his head; until the days are fulfilled for which he separated himself to the Lord, he shall be holy. Then he shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.

Judges 13:5. (This text refers to Samson and his Nazarite vow). For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb.

Judges 16:17. (This text refers to Samson and his Nazarite vow). If I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, And I shall become weak, and be like any other man.

1 Cor 11:14.15. Does not nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering.

Conclusion

Long women´s hair is related to men with a Nazarite vow to God. If men normally have women´s long hair, then it would be a dishonor to him, as Paul teaches. These soldiers in Rev 9:8 have women´s hair representing an oath to their cause which is not from God but is imitating the Nazarite vow to God bringing dishonor to God.

Rev 9:8. They had hair like women´s hair, and their teeth were like lion´s teeth.

OK! What is the symbolic meaning of lion´s teeth in Biblical prophecy?

Job 4:10. The roaring of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion, the teeth of the young lions are broken. (In verses 8.9. related to the wicked who are consumed by God´s wrath).

Psalm 35:16.17. With ungodly mockers at feasts they (The enemies of king David) gnashed at me with their teeth. Lord, how long will You look on? Rescue me from their destructions, my precious life from the lions. (Teeth and lions are referring to king David´s enemies ready to destroy him).

Psalm 57,4. My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men who are set on fire, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. (Refers to king David when he fled from King Saul to hide in a cave. Teeth are related to spears and arrows of destruction).

Psalm 58:6.7. Break their teeth in their mouth, O God! Break out their fangs of the young lions, O Lord! Let them flow away as waters which run continually; when he bends his bow, let his arrows be as if cut in pieces. (Teeth of lions are related to bows and arrows of destruction).

Joel 1:4-7. What the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten; and what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has eaten. Awake you drunkards, and weep; and wail, all you drinkers of wine, because of the new wine, for it has been cut off from your mouth. For a nation has come up against my land, strong, and without number; his teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he has the fangs of a fierce lion. He has laid waste my vine and ruined my fig tree; he has stripped it bare and thrown it away; its branches are made white. (In verse 6 it says they had teeth like lion´s teeth and the same description is written in Rev 9:8. These locusts in Joel are representing the Babylonian soldiers, who came to Jerusalem in 586 B.C. and destroyed it and all the land of Judah, and took away the captives to Babylon).

Conclusion

Teeth of lions refer to the wicked, enemies of God, who are ready to destroy the believers in God. They are also related to spears and arrows of destruction. In addition, they are related to the Babylonian soldiers who destroyed Jerusalem in in 586 B.C.

Rev 9:9. And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle.

What do the breastplates of iron represent in Bible prophecy?

The breastplate was part of the High Priests garment when officiating in the earthly Tabernacle, during the time of the Israelite wanderings in the desert. Ex 28:15-30. The Bible calls this breastplate, a breastplate of judgment. Ex 28:15. This was made of cloth with twelve precious stones woven onto it, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Furthermore, two extra stones were woven on it called the Urim and the Thumim. These lit up when the leaders asked God a question, signifying a yes or a no as the answer.

However, a breastplate of iron does not indicate a just judgment in the Bible. The metal iron is symbolic of strength, it breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush others. Dan 2:40.

Conclusion

So these soldiers are using an unjust judgment, not from God or the Bible, and they crush their enemies like iron, breaking a kingdom into pieces. These soldiers are going into battle and they are representing a religion which is not from God but imitating God´s judgment like the breastplate. They are going into battle to destroy nations who do not accept their false religion.

Rev 9:10. They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months.

The next question is what does the citation “tails like scorpions” mean in prophecy?

What do tails mean symbolically in the Bible?

Deut 28:13. (Refers to blessings on Israel) And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God. (Tail means beneath, below and not worthy).

Is 7:4. Take heed, and be quiet; do not fear or be faint hearted for these two stubs (tails: Zanab in Hebrew) of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and the son of Remaliah. (Tails is symbolic of fierce anger).

Is 9:15. The elder and honorable, he is the head; the prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail. (Tail is related to lies and not worthy to be a head).

Rev 12:3.4. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. (This text refers to Satan convincing a third of the angels in heaven through lies that God is unjust unfit to rule in the heavens).

Conclusion

Tail is related to beneath, below, not worthy, fierce anger, lies, and lies again.

Rev 9:10. They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months.

The Oxford dictionary states that a scorpion is arachnid with lobster like claws and segmented tail that can be bent over to inflict a poisoned sting on prey held in its claws.

There are only a few texts in the Bible to describe a scorpion:

Ezek 2:6. And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house. (The context of this verse is from Ezek 2:2.3. where the Holy Spirit said to Ezekiel, “I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me.”)

These scorpions are related to soldiers who rebelled against God, with their words and looks they make people afraid.

Rev 9:10. They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months.

Their power was to hurt men five months. How many months are five months in prophecy?

One literal day is equal to one prophetic year. How do we get this?

Rev 12:6. Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. In prophetical writings, one day is equal to one year. Num 14:34, Eze 4:6. Therefore when it says in the text “one thousand two hundred and sixty days” this means prophetical 1,260 years. This figure is also equal to “a time, times and half a time” in Rev 12:14. When we add this figure up, we have one time plus two times plus half a time which equals 3½ times. One time is equal to 360 years in prophecy. So 3½ times is equal to 1,260 years. Therefor these two verses in Rev 12: 6.14, reinforce each other in Biblical prophetic time. In addition, the 42 months in Rev 11:2.3. are also equal to 1,260 years in Biblical prophecy. If we times 42 months with 30 prophetic days for each month, this gives us 1,260 days or prophetic years. Hence, there is harmony in these calculations.

There are 30 prophetical days for each month. We have five months. 5 x 30 = 150 prophetical years.

So these soldiers during the history of the Church persecuted the Church for 150 years.

When and where in the history of the Church did this happen?

“In the year 1840 another remarkable fulfilment of prophecy excited widespread interest. Two years before, Josiah Litch, one of the leading ministers preaching the second advent published an exposition of Revelation 9, predicting the fall of the Ottoman Empire. According to his calculations, this power was to be overthrown in AD 1840, sometime in the month of August; and only a few days previous to its accomplishment he wrote: Allowing the first period, 150 years, to have been exactly fulfilled before Deacozes ascended the throne by permission of the Turks, and that the 391 years, fifteen days, commenced at the close of the first period, it will end on the 11th of August, 1840, when the Ottoman power in Constantinople may be expected to be broken. And this, I believe, will be found to be the case. ` -Josiah Litch, in Signs of the Times, and Expositor of Prophecy, Aug 1, 1840.”[2]

“As already stated, Litch set 1299 as the beginning of the fifth trumpet, to be more exact, July 27, 1299, his date for the battle of Bapheum. He gave to this fifth trumpet a period of 150 years. This brought him to July 27, 1449, for the beginning of the sixth trumpet. Adding on 391 years brought him to July 27, 1840. The 15 days carried him over into the month of August of that year. – – – A short time before the expiration of this period he declared that the Turkish Empire would be broken August 11, which is exactly 15 days beyond July 27, 1840.”[3]

N. Loughbough another preacher of the same time as Litch writes in his book The Great Second Advent Movement, “The fifth trumpet presents the rise of Mohammedanism with its cloud of errors, but especially the period of `five months, ` or one hundred and fifty years from the time they had a king over them. July 27, 1299, Othman, the founder of the Ottoman empire, invaded the territory of Nocomedia. From that time the Ottomans harassed and `tormented` the Eastern Empire of Rome till July 27, 1449, the one hundred and fifty years of the sounding of the fifth trumpet.”[4]

Now let us go back to Rev 9:4-6. They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

“They,” refers to the soldiers belonging to the religion Mohammedanism located in the Ottoman Empire. They tormented the Eastern Byzantine Roman Empire between 1299 and 1449. However, they were not allowed to harm the grass or any green thing or any tree.

What is the symbolic meaning of grass, green thing and trees in prophecy?

We find the answer which we have already studied in the first trumpet in Rev 8:7.

Grass is related to the following: men who have the seal of God on their foreheads and men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads, it refers to a man´s work of faith, to a rich man passing away, all flesh and all people, to Isaiah the prophet, to Hezekiah and his people in Jerusalem, to Job´s descendants, to evildoers, to all believers in Christ when he comes, and to the heart of a man. To sum up it refers to all people.

Trees are related to: the 144,000 servants of God who have the seal of God on their foreheads, the Israelite leaders of Shechem select a ruler over them, a man who delights in God´s law, a man who finds wisdom and understanding, the fruit of the righteous, a beloved man. To sum up it refers to all believers in God.

To confirm that grass and trees are related to men in prophecy the text itself in Rev 9:4 says only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

Now what is this seal of God on their foreheads related to man, in prophetic language?

Joh 6:27. The Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on him (Christ).

Rom 4:11. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he (Abraham) had while still uncircumcised – – -. (Seal is related to righteousness of the faith).

2 Cor 1:22.22. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

Ephes 1:13.14. In him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of your inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Ephes 4,30. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

2 Tim 2:19. Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his” and “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

Rev 7:2. Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God.

Rev 7:3. Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.

Rev 9:4 (Locust symbolize soldiers). They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

Conclusion

The seal of God on men is related to: God the Father has set his seal on Jesus Christ, righteousness of faith, the Spirit as a guarantee, the seal of the Holy Spirit is given to men after they have heard the gospel of salvation and is a guarantee to their inheritance, believers are sealed by the Holy Spirit, the seal of God is put on the believer´s foreheads.

This seal of the righteousness of faith in Jesus Christ is opposed to the manmade teachings of salvation called the other gospel by Paul in Gal 1:8. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than that what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

The New Testament gospel incorporates the Ten Commandments of God. The Ten Commandments of God reveal our sinfulness like Paul says in Rom 7:7. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” So we need the law to come to a knowledge of our sinfulness. When we realize our sinfulness, then we find out that we need a savior to save us from our sins. Then we believe in Jesus Christ as our personal savior, repent of our sins, stop willfully sinning in life and become born again Christians.

The other gospel of today which is manmade from many churches, proclaims that we should believe in Jesus Christ just as we are in our sinfulness and it does not matter if we should repent of our sins. We can carry on doing sin willfully. Hence, we have churches of today, with many Christians who have not repented of their sins and carry on sinning like anyone one else in the world. There is no difference between them and non-believers in the world.

A short word study on God´s seal related to foreheads.

Ezek 9:3.4. (The difference between believer´s in God and non-believer´s in Jerusalem). Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, where it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writer´s inkhorn at his side; and the Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.” (Mark is related to those who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done in Jerusalem).

Rev 13:16. He (refers to the beast with two horns like a lamb) causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads. (This mark is related to the commandments of men as opposed to the Ten Commandments of God).

Rev 14:9.10. Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on their forehead or on his hand, 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. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. (This mark is related to the commandments of men as opposed to the Ten Commandments of God. If anyone receives this mark will receive the wrath of God).

Rev 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 (on the forehead) and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of gold. (This mark is related to the commandments of men as opposed to the Ten Commandments of God. This reveals the results of those who refuse to receive the mark of the beast on their foreheads: they come to heaven).

Rev 16:2. 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. (This is referring to one of the seven plagues poured out on those who receive the mark of the beast).

Rev 19:20. 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 two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. (This mark is related to the commandments of men as opposed to the Ten Commandments of God. This false prophet beast deceived those who received the mark of the beast).

Rev 20:4. Then I saw souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshipped the beast and his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. (This mark is related to the commandments of men as opposed to the Ten Commandments of God).

Ex 13:9. It shall be a sign to you on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes (Forehead), that the Lord´s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt. (This is God talking to Moses and the Israelites when they came out of Egypt. The Lord´s law which is a memorial between the eyes or forehead is referring to the Ten Commandments of God outlined in Ex 20:1-17.)

Deut 6:6-8. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes (Forehead). (These words refer to the previous verses and the previous chapter Deut 5:1-33 containing the Ten Commandments of God).

Conclusion

God´s seal on the forehead is related to those who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done in Jerusalem. God´s seal is related to the Ten Commandments of God as opposed to the commandments of men for example the mark of the beast in Rev 13:1-10. This reveals the results of those who refuse to receive the mark of the beast on their foreheads: they come to heaven. It is referring to one of the seven plagues poured out on those who receive the mark of the beast on the forehead. The false prophet beast deceived those who received the mark of the beast on the forehead. The Lord´s law which is a memorial between the eyes or forehead is referring to the Ten Commandments of God outlined in Ex 20:1-17.

The major difference between the Ten Commandments of God and the commandments of men is the day of worship: the sabbath. The Ten Commandments of God in the Old and New Testament stipulate that the sabbath is on a Saturday, from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset. However, the commandments of men, which the majority of all churches use, stipulate that the day of worship for them is Sunday, of which there is no scriptural evidence to support this view. The commandments of men state, that they worship on a Sunday because Christ was resurrected on a Sunday. Again, there is no evidence in the Bible to support this view.

This is the major difference between the seal and mark of God on the forehead or between the eyes, and the mark of the beast. The decision to worship on one of these days, the sabbath or a Sunday will decide our destiny for the future.

Choosing the Ten Commandments of God including the Sabbath day of worship and the faith of Jesus Christ will lead to eternal life (Rev 14:12); choosing commandments of men including Sunday as a day of worship and another gospel in Jesus Christ will lead to eternal death (Rev 14:9.10).

Now how does this seal of God relate to the Muslim world in the Ottoman Empire? Rev 9:4-6. They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

They, refers to the Muslim soldiers in the Ottoman Empire. “The fifth trumpet presents the rise of Mohammedanism with its cloud of errors, but especially the period of `five months, ` or one hundred and fifty years from the time they had a king over them. July 27, 1299, Othman, the founder of the Ottoman empire. Invaded the territory of Nocomedia. From that time the Ottomans harassed and `tormented` the Eastern Empire of Rome till July 27, 1449, the one hundred and fifty years of the sounding of the fifth trumpet.”(5)

It is interesting to note that the Muslims did not harass and torment the men with the seal of God in the Eastern Roman empire (Byzantine Empire), that is those who worshipped on a Sabbath which is a Saturday. Why?

Dr. Barbar Shah in his book writes, “Early Muslim believers noticed that though the day of worship according to the Bible (previous scriptures, Tawrat) was Saturday, and was known as the seventh-day Sabbath especially in Arab lands for centuries, many of the People of the Book (The Bible amongst Roman Catholic Christians), were keeping Sunday as the day of rest instead. The Sabbath was revealed by Allah to the prophet Musa (pbuh), which the Qur´an also affirms in several verses such as verse 65 in Surat al Baqara (2:65).

People of the Book who kept Sunday as the day of rest could not support their belief from the Previous Scriptures (The Bible), because in the Arabic language the word for Saturday was Al-Sabt (which means the day of rest) and Sunday is Yom Al-Ahad (which means “Day one”).” This book is only available from a course given by Dr. Barbar Shah, What does the Holy Qur´an say about the Holy Bible? 2017.

The Muslims from the Ottoman Empire did not torment the men who kept the Sabbath as a holy day, but they did torment those who kept Sunday as a holy rest day in the Eastern Roman Empire for example in Constantinople the capital city.

Rev 9:11. And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.

The angel of the bottomless pit is Satan as we have found out in Rev 9:1. However, a further description is given of him through two names: one in Hebrew and one in Greek.

What does Abaddon mean in the Hebrew? Destruction and ruin.

What does Apollyon mean in the Greek? A destroyer or one who destroys.

We must remember that these seven trumpets are given as a warning to the church, and as the fifth trumpet warned of the coming crisis of Mohammedanism attacking part of the church in the Eastern Roman Empire, God is saying that one should hold fast to the Bible and the seal of God, which is the Sabbath day on a Saturday and part of the Ten Commandments of God.

[1] Ellen G. White, Education (Mountain View, California: Pacific Press Pub., Assoc.,) 178.

[2] Ellen G. White, Confrontation (Grantham, Lincolnshire: The Stanborough Press, 1978), 334. 335.

[3] Francis D. Nichol, Edit., The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary (Washington D.C.: The Review & Herald Pub., Assoc., 1980), 795.

[4] J. N. Loughborough, The Great Second Advent Movement, 128. http://www.giveshare.org/churchhistory/great-second-advent-movement-loughborough.pdf

[5] Ibid,. 128.

Revelation 11:1-14. Sixth Trumpet

Tony — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 08:59:34 +0000

Rev 11:1.2. Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar and those who worship there. But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.

The Adventists were told to analyze the sanctuary teachings from the Bible leaving out the outer court. As they did this, they found out that the earthly sanctuary was moved to heaven after the crucifixion of Christ. Heb 8:1.2. They also discovered that Christ became our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary. Heb 4:14.

So what happened in 1844 when Christ did not come to destroy this earth? From Christ´s ascension to the heavenly sanctuary, he officiated in the first apartment named the Holy Place, where the seven candle sticks stood, the altar of incense stood and the table with 12 pieces of flat bread lay. In 1844, Christ entered into the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary as the High Priest did once a year in the earthly sanctuary: on the Day of Atonement. Lev 16:

It is this message that needed to be prophesied again to many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings from the time of the end in 1844.

Rev 11:2. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.

What does the Holy City mean in this text and in the book of Revelation?

Rev 3:12. (To the Church in Philadelphia). He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God. (The temple is related to the New Jerusalem. He who overcomes is a citizen of the New Jerusalem and pillar of the temple of God).

Rev 21:2.3. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I Heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God himself will be with them and be their God.” (The New Jerusalem is likened to a bride who are the Church of all believers who keep the Ten Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus Christ. The New Jerusalem is related to the tabernacle or sanctuary. The tabernacle is no longer used as a means of atonement for sins, but God is a substitute for the tabernacle in heaven).

Conclusion

The holy city refers to overcomers and believers in God. The holy city refers to believers as a bride adorned for her husband who is Jesus Christ. The citizens of the New Jerusalem are God´s people.

Therefore, the holy city on earth refers to the citizens of the kingdom of God and they are his people on earth. God´s people are also related to the teachings of the services of heavenly sanctuary outlined in the books of Hebrews and Leviticus.

Rev 11:2. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.

Rev 12:6. Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. In prophetical writings, one day is equal to one year. Num 14:34, Eze 4:6. Therefore, when it says in the text “one thousand two hundred and sixty days” this means prophetical 1,260 years. This figure is also equal to “a time, times and half a time” in Rev 12:14. When we add this figure up, we have one time plus two times plus half a time which equals 3½ times. One time is equal to 360 years in prophecy. So 3½ times is equal to 1,260 years. Therefore, these two verses in Rev 12: 6.14, reinforce each other in Biblical prophetic time. In addition, the 42 months in Rev 11:2.3. are also equal to 1,260 years in Biblical prophecy. If we times 42 months with 30 prophetic days for each month, this gives us 1,260 days or prophetic years. Hence, there is harmony in these calculations.

The forty-two months refers to the 1,260 day/year prophecy outlined in Rev 12:6.14. This period was during the Dark Middle Ages when the papacy persecuted all Bible believing Christians who were citizens of the holy city, in the kingdom of God, and substituted the services of the heavenly sanctuary with their own system of forgiveness, by coming to the priests for confession. This system incorporated into the Roman Catholic Church worldwide and is called the abomination of desolation written by Daniel in Dan 11:31.

Rev 11:3. And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.

Who are the two witnesses in this verse? A short word study to determine the understanding of the two witnesses.

Mat 18:16. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

Mat 24:14. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come.

John 1:6.7. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.

John 10:25. The works that I do in my Father´s name they bear witness of me.

Acts 1:8. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Acts 10:43. To him all the prophets witness that, through his name, whoever believes in him will receive remission of sins.

Rom 3:21. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets (We understand the Law to be the Torah and means the first five books of the Old Testament written by Moses. The prophets refer to Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the minor prophets).

Heb 10:15. But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after he had said before, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord.

Conclusion

Witnesses are related to two or three people, the gospel written in the New Testament, John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit, all the prophets in the Old Testament, the Law and the Prophets in the Old Testament. To summarize witnesses would refer to writings in the Old and New testament Bible and people who witness to the message in these books.

Rev 11:3. And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.

The two witnesses were clothed in sackcloth. What does this citation mean?

Gen 37:34. Then Jakob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. (This was in relation to his son Joseph who he believed was killed by a beast).

2 Kings 19:1. And so it was, when King Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and he went into the house of the Lord.

Conclusion

When one is covered in sackcloth, it is a sign of sorrow and mourning because of death or one is nearing the state of death.

The two witnesses are symbols of the Old and New Testament Bible, plus believers who preach and teach from the Bible with the power of the Holy Spirit. They prophesied for one thousand two hundred and sixty days clothed in sackcloth. This period of 1,260 are prophetical years which was from 538 to 1798, during the Dark Middle Ages of papal rule in the Roman Catholic Church. Why in sackcloth? Because it was forbidden by the papacy for any member to preach and teach from the Bible in public. “All versions of the Holy Bible, in any vernacular language, made by non-Catholics are prohibited; and especially those published by the Bible Societies, which have been more than once condemned by the Roman Pontiffs, because in them the wise laws of the Church concerning the publications of the sacred books are entirely disregarded.”[1]

Rev 11:4. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.

What do olive trees represent in the Bible?

Judges 9:8. The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them. And they said to the olive tree, reign over us. (The trees in this parable refer to the men of Shechem who went to ask first the olive tree who represented Gideon to reign over them, but he refused Judges 8:22.23. Then they asked the bramble who represented Abimelech to be king).

Psalm 52:8. But I am a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. (Psalm 52:6 olive tree refers to the righteous).

Psalm 128:3. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants – – -. (The olive tree represents in verse one, blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his way).

Jeremiah 11:16. The Lord called your name, Green Olive Tree, lovely of good fruit. (Refers to the evil house of Israel and the house of Judah in verse 17).

Hosea 14:5.6. I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall grow like the lily and lengthen his roots like Lebanon. His branches shall spread; his beauty shall be like an olive tree. (Israel likened to an olive tree).

Zechariah 4:2-6. And he said to me, “What do you see?” So I said, “I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.” So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, “What are these, my Lord?” Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “do you not know what these are?” And I said,” No my Lord.” “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: `Not by my might nor by power, but by My Spirit, ` says the Lord of hosts.

Zechariah 4:14. So he said, “These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.” (The two olive trees represent the word of the Lord and the Holy Spirit).

Romans 11:17. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree. (Paul is talking to the Gentiles in Rom 11:13 who are grafted into the olive tree representing Spiritual Israel in Rom 11:25-27).

Revelation 11:4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. Zechariah 4:14. So he said, “These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.” (The two olive trees represent the word of the Lord and the Holy Spirit).

Conclusion

The two olive trees represent the word of the Lord and the Holy Spirit. In addition they represent Gideon, the righteous, children of believers, spiritual Israel and Judah.

Rev 11:5. And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.

What does fire proceeding from the mouth mean in prophecy?

A short word study on fire related to the mouth.

Jerm 5:14.15. Behold, I will make my words in your mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them. I will bring a nation against you from afar, O house of Israel. (The nation of Babylon destroyed the city of Jerusalem in 586 BC).

Jerm 23:29. Is not my word like fire? Says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rocks in pieces? (Refers to the false prophet and priests using the word of God in vain in verse 34. And as for the prophet and priest and the people who say, “The oracle of the Lord!” I will punish that man and his house. (This punishment is over time upon the city of Jerusalem in 586 BC).

Is 30:30.31. The Lord will cause his glorious voice to be heard, and show the descent of his arm, with indignation of his anger, and the flame of a devouring fire – – -. For through the voice of the Lord Assyria will be beaten down, as he strikes with a rod. (Voice and fire are related to punishment and destruction).

Is 33:11. Your breath, as fire shall devour – – – like thorns cut up they shall be burned in the fire. (Impending judgment and destruction over time upon Zion).

Is 66:15.16. For behold the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword the Lord will judge all flesh; and the slain of the Lord shall be many. (Refers to Jerusalem. The first and second coming of Christ with judgment and destruction over time).

Conclusion

Fire from the mouth is related to destruction from another nation, punishment over time, impending judgment, and destruction of the wicked at the second coming of Christ.

Rev 11:6. These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy.

What does rain mean in this text? Is it literal or symbolic rain? The context is using symbolic words from Rev 11:4-6. So we shall interpret rain in symbolic language.

A short word study on the word rain.

Deut 32:2. Let my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew.

Psalm 72:6.7. He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing, like showers that water the earth. In his days the righteous shall flourish. (Rain is related to the Messiah bringing righteousness at his first coming).

Proverbs 16:15. In the light of the king´s face is life, and his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain. (Rain is related to a king´s favor).

Hos 6:3. Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; he will come to us like the rain, like the latter and the former rain to the earth. (Rain is related to the first and second coming of Christ).

Hos 10:12. Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord, till he comes and rains righteousness on you. (Rain is related to the coming of the Lord with righteousness).

Joel 2:23. Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; for he has given you the former rain faithfully, and he will cause the rain to come down to you – The former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. (This can be interpreted literally and symbolically because the context refers to the Day of the Lord. Joel 2:1. However, Peter the disciple used this text to explain the outpouring of the Holy Spirit like the former and the latter rain on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2:16-21).

Joel 2:28. And it will come to pass afterward that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. (This text was used by Peter as a partial fulfillment on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2:16-21).

James 5:7. Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. (Rain in this text is related to the second coming of Jesus Christ).

Conclusion

Rain in symbolic language is related to knowledge from the Lord, righteousness, God´s teachings, kings favor, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit like on the Day of Pentecost, the first and the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Rev 11:6. These two witnesses: The Old testament and the New Testament Bible have power to shut heaven through the power of the Holy Spirit, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit giving knowledge, righteousness, God´s teachings and favor to the people was limited during the Dark Middle Ages from 538 to 1798. Why? Because the papacy had control over the Bible and who read it in the Latin language. The people were not allowed to read it until the time of the Reformation when Martin Luther and John Wycliffe translated the Bible into the vernacular of the people.

Rev 11:6. They (two witnesses) have power over waters to turn them to blood.

This is not literal but symbolic. The waters represent the waters of life. John 4:13.14. That is eternal life through Christ. However, the waters of life coming from the Church during the Middle Ages were false teachings of eternal life through works, like penance and praying to statues of saints. These teachings of works were turned into blood by the two witnesses: the Holy Spirit and the Old and New Testament Bible.

Blood represents the washing of sins through Christ´s blood in Rev 1:5. It also represents pollution and defilement in Hos 6:8. Therefore, these two witnesses through the Bible had power to reveal the false teachings of the Church during The Middle Ages, that they were not truth, but polluted and defiled like blood.

Rev 11:6. These (two witnesses) have power . . . to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

There is no symbolic interpretation in the Bible for the word plague. Therefore, it is to be interpreted as literal. For example: Deut 28:58.59. If you do not observe all the words of this law that are written in this book (Deuteronomy), that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, the Lord your God, then the Lord will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary plagues-great and prolonged plagues – and serious and prolonged sicknesses.

Rev 11:7. When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.

This beast who ascends out of the bottomless pit refers to Satan in the book of Revelation. For example:

Who represents the fallen star in this text?

What does the bottomless pit mean in the book of Revelation?

There are only six other texts that mention the bottomless pit in the New Testament, and they are in the book of Revelation.

Rev 9:2. He opened the bottomless pit. (The bottomless pit refers to the earth in Rev 9:1. Satan was cast out of heaven to this earth).

Rev 20:1-3. Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years: and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. (At the Second Coming of Christ, the saints are resurrected to heaven, the unbelieving wicked are all destroyed by Christ at the Armageddon war, and Satan is bound to this desolate earth for 1,000 years).

Conclusion

The bottomless pit refers to this earth where Satan and his angels (demons) live. This earth can be both inhabited or desolate during the millennium in the future.

When did these two witnesses representing the Old and the New testament Bible were killed in the history of the Church?

“It had been Rome´s policy, under a profession of reverence for the Bible, to keep it locked up in an unknown tongue and hidden away from people. Under her rule the witnesses prophesied `clothed in sackcloth`. But another power – the beast from the bottomless pit – was to arise to make open, avowed war upon the Word of God.

According to the words of the prophet, then, a little before the year 1798 some power of satanic origin and character would rise to make war upon the Bible. And in the land where the testimony of God´s two witnesses should thus be silenced, there would be manifest the atheism of the Pharaoh and the licentiousness of Sodom.

This prophecy has received a most exact and striking fulfillment in the history of France. During the Revolution, in 1793, `the world for the first time heard an assembly of men, born and educated in civilization, and assuming the right to govern one of the finest European nations, uplift their united voice to deny the most solemn truth which man´s soul receives, and renounce unanimously the belief and worship of a Deity.”[2]

“The atheistical power that ruled in France during the Revolution and the Reign of Terror, did wage such a war against God and His holy Word as the world had never witnessed. The worship of the deity was abolished by the National Assembly. Bibles were collected and publicly burned with every possible manifestation of scorn. The law of God was trampled underfoot. The institutions of the Bible were abolished. The weekly rest day was set aside, and in its stead every tenth day was devoted to reveling and blasphemy. Baptism and communion were prohibited.”[3]

Rev 11:8. And their dead bodies will lie in the streets of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.

What is the great city in the book of Revelation? Rev 16:19. 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.

The great city in the book of Revelation is Babylon combined with many cities and countries of the world that do not believe in God and his commandments.

What happened to the city of Sodom in the Old Testament? Because the city of Sodom was given up to depravity, and the majority of the men wanted to have homosexual sex, that is they wanted to rape the two angels that were visiting Lot, God decided to destroy the city with brimstone and fire. Gen 19. During the French Revolution the morals from the Bible were completely rejected and depravity enclosed the majority living in France.

Why Egypt? When Moses and his brother Aaron visited Pharaoh to ask him to release the Israelite’s from the land of slavery in Egypt he replied in Ex 5:2. And Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go?” Pharaoh was an atheist just like many who took part in the French revolution.

Rev 11:8. Where also our Lord was crucified. Christ was crucified in Jerusalem, so how does this effect the French Revolution. When it says the word also in the text, it is not denoting the same time as the Revolution but indicating time during the history of France. But Christ did not die during the history of France. But his disciples in the form of believers were persecuted during the history of France and were killed.

Galatians 2:20. Paul says in Galatians, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” Christian believers who were protestants, like the Waldenses, Albigenses and Huguenots were killed in their thousands if not millions for there belief in the Bible by the papacy during the history of France. Believers in the form of Christ were crucified that is killed because of their belief in the Bible and refusing to believe in the creeds of the Roman Catholic Church. The worst of these killings was the St. Bartholomew Massacre. “The king of France, urged on by Romish priests and prelates, lent his sanction to the dreadful work. A bell, tolling at dead of midnight, was a signal for the slaughter. Protestants in their thousands, sleeping quietly in their homes, trusting to the plighted honour of their king, were dragged forth without a warning and murdered in cold blood.”[4]

Rev 11:8. Their bodies lay in the streets. This is referring to the two witnesses that is the Old and New Testament Bible and their teachings plus believers in Christ.

Rev 11:9. Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-half-days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves.

Using the year for a day principle explained in Rev 11:2 the 3½ days in prophecy are 3½ years. Hence, this period began on November 10, 1793, when a decree, was issued in Paris, abolished religion, to June 17, 1797, when, it is held, the French government removed restrictions against the practice of religion.[6]

Rev 11:11. Now after three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.

“It was in 1793 that the decrees which abolished the Christian religion and set aside the Bible passed by the French assembly. Three years and a half later a resolution rescinding these decrees, thus granting toleration to the scriptures, was adopted by the same body – – -.”[7]

Rev 11:12. And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.

As a result of the resurrection of the two witnesses, “In 1804 the British and Foreign Bible Society was organized – – -. It (The Bible) has been translated into many hundreds of languages and dialects.”[8]

Rev 11:13. In the same hour (Greek text: In that day) there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.

“France was shaken as if by an earthquake. Religion, law, social order, the family, the State, and the Church-all were smitten down by the impious hand that had been lifted against the law of God.”[9]

Which city are we talking about? Rev 11:8. And their dead bodies will lie in the streets of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. The great city is referring to Spiritual Babylon. Why a tenth of the city of Babylon? Maybe it has to do with the ten kingdoms that started in Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire in Dan 7:7.8.20.24. The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom (referring to the fourth beast in Dan 7:7 symbolizing Rome). The ten kingdoms are the Vandals, Ostrogoths, Visigoths, Heruli, Franks, Suevi, Alamanni, Anglo Saxons, Lombards, and Burgundians. The collapse of Rome was around A.D. 476. When the text Rev 11:13 says a tenth of the city fell, it would imply that one of the ten kingdoms of Europe which would be the Franks (France) fell.

Rev 11:14. The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.

There are three woes during the period of the seven trumpets and they start in Rev 8:13., at the end of the fourth trumpet.

The first woe covers the period of the fifth trumpet, that is the rise of Muslim Turkey against the Byzantine church and the reformation in Europe. This was a warning to the Church. Rev 9:12.

The second woe covers the period of the sixth trumpet as warnings to the Church. Rev 11:14. This includes the fall of the Muslim Turkish Empire, the sweet and bitter experience of the Adventists during 1844, the two witnesses representing the Old and the New Testament Bible along with those who preached the word, were killed during the French Revolution.

The third woe covers the period of the seventh trumpet as warnings to the Church. Rev 11:14-19. This period includes God´s kingdom proclaimed, the war between Satan and his subjects against the Christ and the church. The judgment takes place before the second coming of Christ.

[1] Leo XIII, Apostolic Constitution Officiorum ac Munerum, Jan. 25, 1887, art. 1 `Of the Prohibition of Books,` chap 3, trans. In The Great Encyclical Letters of the Pope Leo XIII (New York: Benziger, 1903) pp. 412.413.

[2] Sir Walter Scott, Life of Napoleon, vol. 1, ch. 17.

[3] Ellen G. White, Confrontation, 269.270.273.274.

[4] Ibid., 272.

[5] Ibid., 273.

[6] Francis D. Nichols, Edit., Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary Vol. 7 (Washington D.C: Review & Herald Pub. Assoc., 1980), 803.

[7] Ellen G. White, Confrontation, 287.

[8] Ibid., 287.

[9] Ibid., 286.