Judging the Infamous Harlot - Conclusion of The Harlot Rides a Beast

In what way is this symbolic wild beast full of blasphemous names?  In that men have set up this multinational idol as a substitute  for God's Kingdom - to accomplish  what God says  his Kingdom alone can accomplish.  (Daniel 2:44; Matthew 12:18, 21)  What is remarkable about John's vision, though, is that Babylon the Great is riding the scarlet-colored wild beast.  True to the prophecy, Babylonish religion, particularly in Christendom, has linked itself with the League of Nations and its successor.  As early as December 18, 1918, the body now known as the National Council of the Churches of Christ in America adopted a declaration that declared in part:  "Such a League is not a mere political  expedient; it is rather the political expression of the Kingdom of God on earth. . . .The Church can give a spirit of good-will, without which no League of Nations can endure. . . .The League of Nations is rooted in the Gospel.  Like the Gospel, its objective is 'peace on earth, good-will toward men.' "

On January 2, 1919, the San Francisco Chronicle carried the front-page headline "Pope Pleads for Adoption of Wilson's League of Nations."  On October 16, 1919, a petition signed by 14,450 clergymen of leading denominations was presented  to the Paris peace treaty embodying the league of nations covenant."  Though the U.S. Senate failed to ratify the treaty, Christendom clergy continued to campaign  for the League.  And how was the League  inaugurated? A news dispatch from Switzerland, dated November 15, 1920, read:  "Opening of the first assembly of the League of Nations was announced at eleven o'clock this morning by the ringing of all the church bells in Geneva."

Did the John class, the one group on earth that eagerly accepted the incoming Messianic Kingdom, share with Christendom in paying homage to the scarlet-colored wild beast?   Far from it!  On Sunday, September 7, 1919,m the convention of Jehovah's people in Cedar Point, Ohio, featured the public talk  "The Hope for Distressed Humanity."  On the following day, the Sandusky Star-Journal reported that J.F. Rutherford, president of the Watchtower Society, in addressing nearly 7,000 persons, had "asserted that the Lord's displeasure is certain  to be visited upon the League . . .because the clergy -Catholic and Protestant -claiming to be God's representatives, have abandoned his plan and endorsed the League of Nations, hailing it as a political expression of Christ's kingdom on earth."

The dismal failure of the League of Nations should have signaled to the clergy that such man-made organs are no part of a Kingdom of God on earth.  What blasphemy to make such a claim!  It makes it seem as though God was a party to the colossal botch that the League turned out to be.  As for God, "perfect is his activity."  Jehovah's heavenly Kingdom under Christ - and not a combine  of squabbling politicians, many of them atheists - is the means by which he will bring in peace and have his will done on earth as in heaven. -Deuteronomy 32:4;  Matthew  6:10.

What of the League's successor, the United Nations?  From its inception, this body has also had the great harlot riding on its back, visibly associated with it and trying to guide its destiny.  For example, on its 20th anniversary, in June 1965, representatives of the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, together with Protestants, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims -said to represent two thousand million of earth's population-assembled in San Francisco to celebrate their support  and admiration of the UN. On visiting  the UN October 1965, Pope Paul VI described it as "that greatest of all international organizations" and added"  "The peoples of the earth turned to the United Nations as the last hope of concord and peace."  Another papal visitor, Pope John Paul II, addressing the UN October 1979, said: "I hope the United States will ever remain the supreme  forum of peace and justice."  Significantly, the pope made no mention of Jesus Christ or of God's Kingdom in his speech.  During his visit to the United States in September  1987, as reported  by the  New York Times, "John Paul spoke at length about the positive role of the United Nations in promoting  . . .'new worldwide solidarity.' "

Next time: Judging the Infamous Harlot - A Name, a Mystery

From the Book of Revelation

Judging the Infamous Harlot - The Harlot Rides a Beast

The Harlot Rides a Beast

What more does the prophecy disclose as to the great harlot and her fate?  As John now relates, a further vivid scene comes into view: "And he [the angel] carried me away in the power of the spirit into a wilderness.  And I caught sight of a woman sitting upon a scarlet colored wild beast that was full of blasphemous  names and that had seven heads and ten horns." -Revelation 17:3.

Why is John being carried into a wilderness? An earlier pronouncement of doom against Babylon was described as being  "against the wilderness of the sea."  (Isaiah 21:1, 9) this gave the warning that, despite all its watery defenses ancient Babylon would become a lifeless desolation.  It is fitting, then, that John should be carried in his vision to a wilderness to see the fate of Babylon the Great.  She too must become desolate  and waste.  (Revelation 18:19, 22, 23)  John is amazed, though, by what he sees out there.  The great harlot is not alone!  She is sitting on a monstrous wild beast!

This wild beast has seven heads and ten horns.  It is, then, the same as the wild beast that John saw earlier, which also has seven heads and ten horns?  (Revelation 13:1) No, there are differences.  This wild beast is scarlet-colored and, unlike the previous  wild beast,  is not said to have diadems.  Rather than having blasphemous names on it seven heads only, it is "full of blasphemous names."  Nevertheless, there must be a relationship between this new wild beast and the previous one; the similarities between them are too pronounced to be coincidental.

What, then, is this new scarlet-colored wild beast?  It must be the image to the wild beast that was brought forth under the urging of the Anglo-American wild beast that has two horns like a lamb. After the image was made, that two-horned wild beast was allowed to give breath to the image of the wild beast.  (Revelation 13:14, 15)  John now sees the living, breathing image.  It pictures the League of Nations organization that the two-horned wild beast brought to life in 1920. U.S. President Wilson had envisioned that the League "would be a forum for the dispensation of justice for all men and wipe out the threat of war forever."  When it was resurrected after the second world war as the United Nations, its chartered purpose was "to maintain international peace and security."  

Next time: Judging the Infamous Harlot - Conclusion of The Harlot Rides a Beast

From the Book of Revelation

Judging the Infamous Harlot - Sitting on Many Waters

Sitting on Many Waters

Ancient Babylon sat on many waters-the Euphrates River and numerous canals.  These were a protection to her as well as a source of commerce producing wealth, until they dried up in one night.  (Jeremiah 50:38; 51:9, 12, 13)  Babylon the Great also looks to  "many waters" to protect and enrich her.  Those symbolic waters are" peoples and crowds and nations and tongues," that is, all the thousands of millions of humans over whom she has dominated and from whom she has drawn material support.  But these waters are also drying up, or withdrawing support. - Revelation 17:15; compare Psalm 18:4; Isaiah 8:7.

Further, Babylon of old was described as  "a golden cup in the hand of Jehovah, she making all the earth drunk."  (Jeremiah 51:7) Ancient Babylon forced neighboring nations to swallow expressions of Jehovah's anger when she conquered them militarily, making them as weak as drunken men.  In that respect, she was Jehovah's instrument.  Babylon the Great, too,  has made conquests to the point of becoming a worldwide empire.  But she is certainly not God's instrument.  Rather, she has served "the kings of the earth"  with whom she commits religious fornication.  She has gratified these kings by using her lying doctrines and enslaving practices to keep the earth," weak as drunken men, passively subservient to their rulers.

Shinto Japan provides a notable example of this.  The indoctrinated Japanese  soldier regarded it as the highest honor to give his life for the emperor-the supreme Shinto god.  During World War II, some 1,500,000 Japanese soldiers died in battle, almost to a man, they looked at surrender as dishonorable.  But as a consequence of Japan's  defeat, Emperor Hirohito was compelled  to renounce his claim to divinity.  This resulted in a notable withdrawing of the "waters" supporting the Shinto segment of Babylon the Great - alas, after Shintoism had sanctioned the shedding of buckets of blood in the Pacific war theater!  This weakening of Shinto  influence  also opened the way in recent years for more than 120,000 Japanese, the great majority of whom were formerly  Shintoists and Buddhists, to become dedicated, baptized ministers of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah.

Next time: Judging the Infamous Harlot - The Harlot Rides a Beast

From the Book of Revelation

Judging the Infamous Harlot -Mondern-Day 'Harlotry'

Modern-Day 'Harlotry'

Through her meddling in politics, the great harlot has brought untold sorrow to mankind.  Consider, for example, the facts behind Hitler's rise to power in Germany-ugly facts that some would like to expunge  from the history books.  In May 1924 the Nazi Party held 32 seats in the German Reichstag.  By May 1928 these had dwindled to 12 seats.  However, the Great Depression engulfed the world in 1930; riding in its wake, the Nazis made a remarkable recovery, gaining 230 out of 608 seats in the German elections of July 1932.  Soon after, former chancellor Franz von Papen, a Papal Knight, came to the Nazis' aid. According to historians, von Papen envisioned a new Holy Roman Empire.  His own short tenure as chancellor had been a failure, so now he hoped to gain power through the Nazis.  By January 1933, he had mustered  support for Hitler from the industrial barons, and through wily intrigues he ensured that  Hitler became Germany's chancellor on January 30, 1933.  He himself was made vice-chancellor and was used  by Hitler to win the support of Catholic sections of Germany.  Within two months of gaining power, Hitler dissolved Parliament, dispatched thousands of opposition leaders to concentration camps, and began an open campaign of oppressing the Jews.

On July 20, 1933, the Vatican's interest in the rising power of Nazism was displayed when Cardinal Pacelli (who later became Pope Pius XII) signed a concordat  in Rome between the Vatican and Nazi Germany. Von Papen signed the document as Hitler's representative, and Pacelli there conferred on von Papen the high papal decoration of the Grand Cross of the Order of Pius.  In his book, Satan in Top Hat, Tibor Koeves writes of this, stating: "The Concordat was a great victory for Hitler.  It gave him the first moral support he had received  from the outer world, and this from the most exalted source."  The concordat required the Vatican to withdraw its support from Germany's Catholic Center Party, thus sanctioning Hitler's one-party "total state."  Further, its article 14 stated: "The appointments for archbishops, bishops, and the lie will be issued only after the governor, installed by the Reich, has duly ascertained that no doubts exist with  respect to general political considerations."  By the end of 1933 (proclaimed a "Holy Year" by Pope Pius XII), Vatican support had become a major factor in Hitler's push for world domination.

Though a handful of priests and nuns protested Hitler's  atrocities - and suffered for it-the Vatican as well as the Catholic Church and its army of clergy gave either active or tacit support to Nazi tyranny, which they regarded as bulwark against the advance of world communism.  Sitting pretty in the Vatican, Pope Pius XII let the Holocaust on the Jews and the cruel persecutions of Jehovah's Witnesses and others proceed uncriticized.  It is ironical  that Pope John Paul II, on visiting Germany in May 1987, should glorify the anti-Nazi stand of one sincere priest.  What were the other thousands of the German clergy doing during Hitler's reign of terror?  A pastoral letter issued by the German Catholic bishops in September 1939 at the outbreak of World War II provides enlightenment on this point.  It reads in part:  "In this decisive hour we admonish our Catholic soldiers to do their duty in obedience to the Fuehrer and to be ready to sacrifice their whole individuality.  We appeal to the Faithful to join in ardent prayers that Divine Providence may lead this war to blessed success."

Such Catholic diplomacy illustrates the kind of harlotry that religion has engaged in over the past 4,000 years in wooing the political State in order  to gain power and advantage.  Such religio-political relationships have fostered warfare, persecutions, and human misery on a vast scale.  How happy mankind can be that Jehovah's judgment  upon the great harlot is at hand.  May it soon be executed! (Amen! )

Next time: Judging the Infamous Harlot - Sitting on Many Waters

From the Book of Revelation

Judging the Infamous Harlot

JEHOVAH'S righteous anger must be poured out to completion, seven bowls of it! When the sixth angel emptied his bowl at the location of ancient Babylon, it fittingly symbolized the plaguing of Babylon the Great as events move swiftly toward the final war of Armageddon.  (Revelation 16:1, 12, 16) Likely, it is this same angel that now reveals why and how Jehovah executes his righteous judgments.  John is struck with wonderment at what he next hears and sees:  "And one of the seven angels that had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying:  'Come, I will show you the judgment upon the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, whereas those who inhabit the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.' " -Revelation 17:1, 2. 

"The great harlot"!  Why so shocking a designation? Who is she?  Some have identified this symbolic harlot with ancient Rome.  But Rome was a political power.  This harlot commits fornication with the kings of the earth, and this evidently includes the kings of Rome.  Besides after her destruction,  "the kings of the earth" are said to mourn her passing.  Therefore, she cannot be a political power.  (Revelation 18:9, 10)  Additionally, since she is mourned also by the world's merchants, she could not picture big business.  (Revelation 18:15, 16)  We read, however, that 'by her spiritistic practice all the nations were misled.'  (Revelation 18:23)  This makes it clear that the great harlot must be a worldwide religious entity.

Which religious entity?  Is she the Roman Catholic Church, as some have maintained?  Or is she all of Christendom?  No, she must be even larger than these if she is to mislead all the nations.  She is, in fact, the entire world empire of false religion around the earth.  For example, belief in the inherent immortality of the human soul, in a hell of a torment, and in a trinity of gods is to be found in most Oriental religions as well as in the sects of Christendom.  False religion, spawned more than 4,000 years ago in the ancient city of Babylon, has developed into the modern monstrosity that is called, appropriately, Babylon the Great.  Why, though, is she described by the repugnant term "the great harlot"? 

Babylon (or Babel, meaning "Confusion") came to its peak of greatness in Nebuchadnezzar's time.  It was a religio-political state with more than a thousand temples and chapels.  Its priesthood exercised great power.  Though Babylon has long since ceased to exist as a world power, religious ancient pattern, she still seeks to influence and mold political affairs.  But does God approve of religion in politics?  In the Hebrew Scriptures, Israel was said to  prostitute herself when she got involved with the false worship and when, instead of trusting in Jehovah, she made alliances with the nations.  (Jeremiah 3:6, 8, 9; Ezekiel 16:28-30)  Babylon the Great also commits fornication.  Outstandingly, she has done whatever she deems expedient in order to gain influence and power over the ruling kings of the earth. -1 Timothy 4:1.

Today, religious leaders frequently campaign for high government office, and in some lands, they share a government, even holding cabinet posts.  In 1988 two well-known Protestant clergymen ran for the office of president of the United States.  Leaders in Babylon the Great love the limelight; their photos are often to be seen in the public press as they consort with prominent politicians.  In contrast, Jesus shunned political involvement and said of his disciples: "They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world." -John 6:15; 17:16; Matthew 4:8-10; see also James 4:4.

Next time: Judging the Infamous Harlot - Modern-Day 'Harlotry'

From the Book of Revelation

God's Anger Brought to a Finish - Conclusion of "It Has Come to Pass!"

Conclusion of "It Has Come to Pass!"

John continues: "And lightnings and voices and thunders occurred, and a great earthquake occurred such as had not occurred since men came to be on the earth, so extensive an earthquake, so great.. And the great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell; and Babylon the Great was remembered in the sight of God, to give her the cup of the wine of the anger of his wrath.  Also, every island fled, and the mountains were not found. And a great hail with every stone about the weight of a talent descended out of heaven upon the men, and the men blasphemed God due to the plague of hail, because the plague of it was unusually great." -Revelation 16:18-21.

Once again, Jehovah acts unmistakably toward mankind, this being signaled by "lightnings and voices and thunders."  (Compare Revelation  4:5; 8:5)  Mankind will be shaken in a way that has never happened before, as if by a devastating earthquake.  (Compare Isaiah 13:13; Joel 13:16)  This blockbuster shaking will shatter "the great city," Babylon the Great, so that it splits into "three parts"-symbolic of its collapse into unredeemable ruin. Also, "the cities of the nations" will fall.  "Every island"  and "mountains" -institutions and organizations that seem so permanent in this system - will go.  "A great hail," much greater than that which afflicted Egypt during the seventh plague, with each hailstone weighing about a talent, will pummel mankind painfully.  (Exodus 9:22-26)  This punishing downpour of congealed waters likely pictures unusually heavy verbal expressions of Jehovah's judgments, signaling that the end of this system  of things has arrived at last!  Jehovah could well use literal hail too in his destructive work. -Job 38:22, 23.

Thus, Satan's world will meet up with Jehovah's righteous judgment.  To the end, most of humankind will continue to defy and blaspheme God. As with Pharaoh of old, their hearts will not be softened by the repeated plagues or by the final death-dealing culmination of those plagues.  (Exodus 11:9, 10)  There will be no last-minute, large-scale change of heart.  With their dying breath, they will rail against the God who declares : "They will have to know that I am Jehovah."  (Ezekiel 38:23)  Nevertheless, the sovereignty of Jehovah God the Almighty will have been vindicated.  (Amen to that !)

Next time: Judging the Infamous Harlot

From the Book of Revelation

God's Anger Brought to a Finish - "It Has Come to Pass!"

"It Has Come to Pass!"

"And the seventh one poured out his bowl upon the air. At this a loud voice issued out of the sanctuary from the throne, saying: "It has come to pass!' " -Revelation 16:17.

"The air" is the final life-sustaining medium to be plagued. But this is not the literal air.  There is nothing about the literal air that makes it deserving of Jehovah's adverse judgments, any more than the literal earth, sea, freshwater sources, or sun deserve to suffer judgments at Jehovah's hand.  Rather, this is "the air" Paul was discussing when he called Satan "the ruler of the authority of the air."  (Ephesians 2:2) It is the satanic "air" breathed by the world today, the spirit, or general mental inclination, that characterizes his whole wicked system of things, the satanic thinking that permeates every aspect of life outside  Jehovah's organization.  So in pouring out his bowl upon the air, the seventh angel expresses God's wrath against Satan, his organization, and everything that motivates mankind to support Satan in defying Jehovah's sovereignty.

This and the previous six plagues give the sum total of Jehovah's judgments against Satan and his system. They are a declaration of doom for Satan and his seed.  When this final bowl is poured out, Jehovah himself proclaims:  "It has come to pass!"  There is nothing else to say.  When the contents of the bowls of God's anger have been publicized to Jehovah's satisfaction, there will be no delay in his executing the judgments proclaimed by these messages.

Next time: God's Anger Brought to a Finish -Conclusion of "It Has Come to Pass!"

From the Book of Revelation

God's Anger Brought to a Finish -Conclusion of The Gathering to Armageddon

Conclusion of The Gathering to Armageddon

What, though, is implied by the warning that those found sleeping would be shamed by losing their "outer garments"?  In ancient Israel, any priest or Levite on guard duty at the temple had a heavy responsibility.  Jewish commentators tell us that  if anyone was caught sleeping on such duty, his garments could be stripped from him and burned, so that he was publicly shamed.

Jesus here warns that something similar can happen today.  The priests and Levites foreshadowed Jesus' anointed brothers.  (1 Peter 2:9) But Jesus' warning applies by extension to the great crowd too.  The outer garments have referred to identify the wearer as a  Christian witness of Jehovah.  (Compare Revelation 3:18; 7:14)  If any allow the pressures of Satan's  world to lull them to sleep or into inactivity, they are likely to lose these outer garments-in other words, lose their clean identification as Christians.  Such a situation would be shameful.  It would put one in danger of losing out completely.

The need for Christians  to stay awake becomes even more pressing as the next verse of Revelation comes closer to fulfillment:  "And they  [the expressions inspired by demons] gathered them[the earthly kings, or rulers] together to the place that is called in Hebrew Har-Magedon."  (Revelation16:16) This name, more commonly rendered Armageddon, occurs only once in the Bible. But it has fired mankind's imagination.  Would leaders have warned of a possible nuclear Armageddon?  Armageddon has been linked  also with the ancient city of Megiddo, the site of many decisive battles in Bible times, and some religious leaders have therefore speculated that the final war on earth will take place in that limited area. In this, they are wide of the truth.

The name Har-Magedon means "Mountain of Megiddo."  But rather than being a literal place, it represents the world situation into which all nations are gathered in opposition to Jehovah God and where he will finally destroy them.  This is global in extent.  (Jeremiah 25:31-33; Daniel 2:44)  It is similar to "the great winepress of the anger of God" and "the low plain  of the decision," or "the low plain of Jehoshaphat," where the nations are gathered for execution by Jehovah.  (Revelation 14:19; Joel 3:12,14) It is also related to "the soil of Israel" where the satanic armies of Gog of Magog are destroyed and that location "between the grand sea and the holy mountain of Decoration"  where the king of the north comes "all the way to his end"  at the hands of Michael the great prince. -Ezekiel 38:16-18, 22, 23; Daniel 11:45-12:1. 

Next time: God's Anger Brought to a Finish -"It Has Come to Pass!"

From the Book of Revelation

God's Anger Brought to a Finish - The Gathering to Armageddon

The Gathering to Armageddon

John tells us: "And I saw three unclean inspired expressions that looked like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the wild beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet.  They are, in fact, expressions inspired by demons and perform signs, and they go forth to the kings of the entire inhabited earth, to gather them together to the war of the great day of God the Almighty."  (Revelation 16:13, 14)  In Moses' day, Jehovah brought a loathsome plague of frogs on Pharaoh's Egypt, so that "the land began to stink." (Exodus 8:5-15) During the Lord's day, there has also been a disgusting frog like visitation, though from a different source.  It consists of Satan's "unclean inspired expression,"  Clearly symbolizing propaganda designed to maneuver all human rulers, "kings," into opposition to Jehovah God. Satan thus makes sure that they are not swayed by the pouring out of the bowls of God's anger but are firmly on Satan's side when "the war of the great day of of God the Almighty" begins.

The  propaganda comes from "the dragon" (Satan) and "the wild beast" (Satan's earthly political setup), creatures that we have already met up with in Revelation.  What, though, is "the false prophet"?  This is a newcomer in name only. Previously we were shown  a wild beast with two horns like a lamb that performed great signs before the seven-headed wild beast.  This deceptive creature acted like a prophet for that wild beast.  It promoted worship of the wild beast, even causing an image to be built to it.  (Revelation13:11-14)  This wild beast with two horns like a lamb must be the same as "the false prophet" mentioned here. Confirming this, we read later that the false prophet, like the symbolic wild beast with two horns, "performed in front of [the seven-headed wild beast]  the signs with which he misled those who received the mark of the wild beast and those who render worship to its image. - Revelation 19:20.

With so much satanic propaganda around, the next words that John records are indeed timely:  "Look! I am coming as a thief.  Happy is the one that stays awake and keeps his outer garments, that he may not walk naked and people look upon his shamefulness."  (Revelation 16:15) Who is coming "as a thief"? Jesus himself, coming at an unannounced time as Jehovah's Executioner.  (Revelation 3:3; 2 Peter 3:10)  While still on earth, Jesus also likened his coming to that of a thief, saying: "Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do no know on what day your Lord is coming.  On this account you too prove yourselves  ready, because at an hour that you do not think to be it, the Son of man is coming."  ." (Matthew 24:42, 44; Luke  12:37, 40) Echoing this warning, the apostle Paul said:  "Jehovah's day is coming exactly as a thief in the night.  Whenever it is that they are saying: 'Peace and security!  Then sudden destruction is to be instantly upon them."  Satan is even now maneuvering the nations toward making that false proclamation of "Peace and security!" -1 Thessalonians 5:2, 3.

Jesus also warned of the kind of pressures that this world, saturated with propaganda, would put on Christians.  He said: "Pay attention to yourselves that your hearts never become weighed down with overeating and heavy drinking and anxieties of life, and suddenly that day be instantly upon you as a snare . . .Keep awake, then, all the time making supplication that you may succeed in escaping all these things that are destined to occur, and in standing before the Son of man."  (Luke 21:34-36)  "That day" is "the great day of God the Almighty."  (Revelation 16:14) As "that day" of the vindication of Jehovah's sovereignty approaches, it becomes ever more difficult to cope with the anxieties of life.  Christians need to be alert and watchful, staying awake until that day arrives.

Next time: God's Anger Brought to a Finish - Conclusion of The Gathering to Armageddon

From the Book of Revelation

God's Anger Brought to a Finish - The River Euphrates Dried Up

The Rive Euphrates Dried Up

The sixth trumpet blast heralded the releasing of "the four angels that are bound at the river Euphrates."  (Revelation 9:14) Historically, Babylon was the great city that sat on the river Euphrates. And in 1919 the release of the symbolic four angels accompanied a significant fall of Babylon the Great.  (Revelation 14:8) It is noteworthy, then, that the sixth bowl of God's anger also involves the river Euphrates:  "And the sixth one poured out his bowl upon the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, that the way might be prepared for the kings from the rising of the sun." (Revelation 16:12)  This too is bad news for Babylon the Great!

In ancient Babylon's heyday, the abundant waters of the Euphrates were a major par of her defense system.  In 539 B.C.E. those waters dried up when they were diverted from their course by the Persian leader Cyrus.  Thus, the way was open for Cyrus the Persian and Darius the Mede, the kings from "the rising of the sun" (that is the east), to enter Babylon and conquer it.  In the hour of crisis, the river Euphrates failed the defense of that great city.  (Isaiah 44:27-45:7; Jeremiah 51:36) Something similar is due to happen to modern Babylon, the worldwide system of false religion.

Babylon the Great "sits on  many waters."  According to Revelation 17:1, 15, these symbolize "peoples and crowds and nations and tongues" -hordes of adherents that she has regarded as a protection.   But the "waters"  are drying up!  In Western Europe, where formerly she had great influence, hundreds of millions have openly ignored religion.  In some Eastern  European lands, there is a declared policy to try to destroy the influence of religion. The masses in those lands have not risen up on her behalf.  Similarly, when the time comes for Babylon the Great to be destroyed, the dwindling number of her adherents will prove  to be no protection at all.  (Revelation 17:16) Though she claims a membership of thousands of millions, Babylon the Great will find herself defenseless against "the kings from the rising of the sun."

Who are these kings?  In 539 B.C.E. they were Darius the Mede and Cyrus the Persian, who were used by Jehovah to conquer the ancient city of Babylon.  In this Lord's day, the false religious system  of Babylon the Great will also be destroyed by human rulers.  But again, this will be a divine judgment.  Jehovah God and Jesus Christ, "the kings from the rising sun," will have put into the hearts of human rulers the "thought" to turn on Babylon the Great and destroy her utterly.  (Revelation 17:116, 17)  The pouring out of the sixth bowl proclaims  publicly that his judgment is about to be executed!

These first six bowls of Jehovah's anger carry a sobering message.  God's earthly servants, supported by the angels, have been busy publicizing their contents on an earth-wide scale.  In this way, due warning has been served on all sectors of Satan's world system, and Jehovah has provided individuals an opportunity to turn to righteousness and keep living.  (Ezekiel 33:14-16) Still, one more bowl of God's anger remains. But before telling us about it, Revelation reveals how Satan and his earthly agents are trying to counteract the publicizing of Jehovah's judgments.

Next time: God's Anger Brought to a Finish - The Gathering to Armageddon

From the Book of Revelation

God's Anger Brought to a Finiah - Darkness and Gnawing Pain

Darkness and Gnawing Pain

The kingdom of this wild beast has been in spiritual darkness ever since its beginning.  (Compare Matthew 8:12; Ephesians 6:11, 12)  The fifth bowl brings intensified public announcement of this darkness.  It even dramatizes it, in that this bowl of God's anger is poured out upon the very throne of the symbolic wild beast.  "And its kingdom became darkened, and they began to gnaw their tongues for their pain, but they blasphemed the God of heaven for their pains and for their ulcers, and they did not repent of their works." - Revelation 16:10b, 11.

The fifth trumpet blast is not exactly the same as the fifth bowl of God's anger, since the trumpet blast heralded a plague of locusts.  But notice that at the release of  that plague of locusts, there was a darkening of the sun and the air.  (Revelation 9:2-5)  And at Exodus 10:14, 15, we read concerning the locusts with which Jehovah plagued Egypt: "They were very burdensome.  Before them there had never turned up in this way locusts like them, and there will never turn up any in in this way after them. And they went covering the visible surface of the entire land, and the land grew dark."  Yes, darkness!  Today, the world's spiritual darkness has become all too evident as a result of the sounding of the fifth trumpet and the pouring out of the fifth bowl of God's anger.  the stinging message proclaimed by the modern-day locust swarm brings torment and pain to those wicked ones who "have loved the darkness rather than the light." -John 3:19.

As world ruler, Satan has caused much unhappiness and suffering.  Famine, wars, violence, crime, drug abuse, immorality, sexually transmitted diseased, dishonesty, religious hypocrisy-these and more are the hallmarks of Satan's system of things.  (Compare Galatians  5:19-21)  Even so, the public exposure of Satan as the god of this system of things cause pain and embarrassment to those who live by its standards.  "They began to gnaw their tongues for their pain," especially in Christendom.  Many resent that the truth exposes their life-style.  Some find it threatening and they persecute those who publish it.  they reject God's Kingdom and revile  Jehovah's holy name.  Their religiously diseased ulcerous condition is laid bare, so that they blaspheme  the God of heaven.  no, they do "not repent of their works."  So we cannot expect a mass conversion before the end of this system of things. -Isaiah 3:L26.

Next time: God's Anger Brought to a Finish - The River Euphrates Dried Up

From the Book of Revelation

God's Anger Brought to a Finish - The Throne of the Wild Beast

The Throne of the Wild Beast

Upon what does the next angel pour out his bowl?   "And the fifth one poured out his bowl upon the throne of the wild beast."  (Revelation 16:10a)  "The wild beast"  is Satan's governmental system.  It does not have a literal throne, any more than the wild beast itself is literal.  Mention of a throne, however, shows that the wild beast has exercised royal authority over mankind; this is in harmony with the fact that each of the beast's heads bears a royal diadem.  In fact, "the throne of the wild beast" is the foundation, or source, of that authority.  The Bible reveals the true situation of the royal authority of the wild beast when it says that "the dragon gave to the beast its power and its throne and great authority."  (Revelation 13:1, 2; 1 John 5:19) Thus, the pouring out of the bowl upon the throne of the wild beast involves a proclamation revealing the true role that Satan has played and still plays in supporting and promoting the wild beast.

How is this relationship between Satan and the nations maintained?  When Satan  tempted Jesus, he showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a vision and offered "all this authority and the glory of them."  But there was a condition - Jesus first had to perform an act of worship before Satan.  (Luke 4:5-7) Can we imagine that the governments of the world receive their authority at a lesser price?  Not at all.   According to the Bible, Satan is the god of this system of things, so that, whether the nations are aware of it or not, they serve him.  (2 Corinthians 4:3, 4) This situation is revealed  in the makeup  of the present world system, which is built on narrow nationalism, hatred, and self-interest.  It is organized the way Satan wants it - to keep mankind under his control.  The corruption in government, the lust for power, the lying diplomacy, the armaments race - these reflect  Satan's debased personality.  The world subscribes to Satan's unrighteous standards, thus making him its god.  The throne of the wild beast will be overthrown when that beast suffers extinction and the Seed of God's woman finally abysses Satan himself. -Genesis 3:15; Revelation 19:20, 21; 20:1-3.

Next time: God's Anger Brought to a Finish - Darkness and Gnawing Pain

From the Book of Revelation

God's Anger Brought to a Finish - Scorching Men With Fire

Scorching Men With Fire

The fourth bowl of the anger of God has the sun as its target.  John tells us: "And the fourth one poured out his bowl upon the sun; and to the sun it was granted to scorch the men with fire. And the men were scorched with great heat, but they blasphemed the name of God, who has the authority over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give glory to him." -Revelation 16:8, 9.

Today, at the conclusion of the system of things, Jesus' spiritual brothers "shine as brightly as the sun in the kingdom of their Father."  (Matthew 13:40, 43) Jesus himself is "the sun of righteousness."  (Malachi 4:2)  Mankind, though, has its won "sun," Its own rulers who try to sine in opposition to God's Kingdom.  The fourth trumpet blast proclaimed that the 'sun, moon, and stars'  in Christendom's heavens are really sources of darkness, not light.  (Revelation 8:12)   The fourth bowl of God's anger now shows that the world's "sun" would get unbearably hot.  Those looked to as sun like leaders would be "scorched" mankind. This would be granted to the symbolic sun.  In other words, Jehovah would allow this as part of his fiery judgment on mankind.  In what way has this scorching taken place? 

After the first world war, the rulers of this world formed the League of Nations in an effort to solve the problem of world security, but this failed.  So other experimental types of ruler ship were tried, such as Fascism and Nazism.  Communism continued to expand.  Rather than improve mankind's lot, the sun like rulers in these systems began to 'scorch mankind with great heat.'  Local wars in Spain, Ethiopia, and Manchuria led up to the second world war.  Modern history records that Mussolini, Hitler and Stalin   as dictators became responsible directly and indirectly for the deaths of tens of millions, including many of their own nationals.  More recently, international or civil conflicts have "scorched" the people of countries such as Vietnam, Kampuchea, Iran, Lebanon, and Ireland, as well as countries in Latin America and Africa. Add to this the ongoing struggle between the  super powers, whose horrendous nuclear weapons are capable of incinerating all mankind. In these last days, humanity has surely been  exposed  to a scorching "sun," its unrighteous  rulers. The pouring out of the fourth bowl of God's anger has pinpointed these historic facts, and God's people have proclaimed them throughout the earth.

Jehovah's Witnesses have consistently taught that the only solution to mankind's  baffling problems is God's Kingdom, through which Jehovah purposes  to sanctify his name.  (Psalm 83:4, 17, 18; Matthew 6:9, 10) Mankind, however,  has a whole, turned a deaf ear to this solution.  Many who reject  the Kingdom also blaspheme the name of God, even as Pharaoh did when he refused to acknowledge Jehovah's sovereignty.  (Exodus 1:8-10; 5:2)  Having no interest in the Messianic Kingdom, these opposers choose to suffer under their own torrid  "sun" of oppressive human ruler ship.

Next time: God's Anger Brought to a Finish - The Throne of the Wild Beast

From the Book of Revelation

God's Anger Brought to a Finish - Giving Them Blood to Drink

Giving Them Blood to Drink

The third bowl of God's anger, like the third trumpet blast, has an effect on  fresh water sources:  "And the third on poured out his bowl into the rivers and the fountains of the waters.  And they became blood.  And I heard the angel over the waters say:  "You, the One who is and who was, the loyal One, are righteous, because you have rendered  these decisions, because they poured out the blood of holy ones and of prophets, and you have given them blood to drink.  They deserve it.'  And I heard the altar say:  'Yes, Jehovah God, the Almighty, true and righteous are your judicial decisions.' " -Revelation 16: 4-7.

These "rivers and the fountains of the waters" picture the so-called fresh sources of guidance and wisdom accepted by this world, such as the political, economic, scientific, educational, social and religious philosophies that guide human actions and decisions.  Rather than to look to Jehovah, the Fountain of life, for life-giving truth, men have 'hewn out for themselves broken cisterns' and drunk deeply of "the wisdom of this world [that] is foolishness with God." -Jeremiah 2:13; 1 Corinthians  1:19; 2:6; 3:19; Psalm 36:9.

Such tainted "waters" have led men to become blood guilty, for example,  in encouraging them to shed blood on a monumental  scale in the wars of this century, which have now taken more than a hundred million lives.  Particularly in Christendom, where the two world wars erupted, have men been "in a hurry to shed innocent blood," and this has included the blood of God's own witnesses.  (Isaiah 59:7; Jeremiah 2:34) Mankind has also incurred blood guilt by its misuse  of huge quantities of blood for transfusions, in violation  of Jehovah's righteous laws.  (Genesis 9:3-5; Leviticus 17:14; Acts 15:28, 29)  On this account, they have already reaped sorrow by the pr0oliferation, through blood transfusions, of AIDS, hepatitis, and other diseases.  Full retribution for all blood guilt will come shortly when transgressors pay the supreme penalty being trampled in "the great wine press of the anger of God." -Revelation 14:19, 20.

In Moses' day, when the Nile River was turned into blood, the Egyptians were able to keep alive by seeking other sources of water.  (Exodus 7:24) Today, though, during  the spiritual plague, there is nowhere in Satan's world that people can find life-giving waters.  The pouring out of this third bowl involves proclaiming that the world's "rivers and the fountains of the waters" are as blood, bringing spiritual death to all who imbibe them. Unless people turn to Jehovah, they reap his adverse judgment. -Compare Ezekiel 33:11.

The angel over the waters," that is, the angel who pours this bowl into the waters, magnifies Jehovah as the Universal Judge, whose righteous decisions are absolute. Therefore, he says of this judgment:  "They deserve it." Doubtless, the angel personally witnessed much of the bloodshed and cruelty fomented over thousands of years by the false teachings and philosophies of this wicked world.  Hence,  he knows that Jehovah's judicial decision is right.  Even God's "altar" speaks out. At Revelation 6:9, 10, the souls of those who were martyred are said to be at the base of that altar.  So "the altar" adds powerful testimony as to the justice and righteousness of Jehovah's decisions.  Certainly, it is fitting that those who have shed and misused so much blood should themselves be force-fed with blood, in symbol of Jehovah's sentencing them to death.

Next time: God's Anger Brought to a Finish - Scorching Men With Fire

From the Book of Revelation

God's Anger Brought to a Finish - The Sea Becomes Blood

The Sea Becomes Blood

 The second bowl of God's anger must now be poured out.  What will it mean for mankind?  John tells us: "And the second one poured out his bowl into the sea. And it became as blood as of a dead man, and every living soul died, yes, the things in the sea."  (Revelation 16:3)  Like the second trumpet blast, this bowl is directed against "the sea" -The seething, rebellious mass of humanity alienated from Jehovah.  (Isaiah 57:20, 21; Revelation 8:8, 9) In Jehovah's eyes, this "sea" is like blood, unfit for creatures to live in.  That is why Christians must be no part of the second bowl of God's anger reveals that all of mankind who inhabit this sea are dead in Jehovah's eyes.  By reason of community responsibility, mankind is guilty of gross shedding of innocent blood.  When Jehovah's day of anger arrives, they will literally die at the hands of his executional forces. -Revelation 19:17,18, compare Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13.

Next time: Giving Them Blood to Drink

From the Book of Revelation

God's Anger Brought to a Finish

JOHN has already introduced  the angels commissioned to pour out the seven bowls.  He tells us that "these are the last ones, because by means of them the anger of God is brought to a finish."  (Revelation 15:1; 16:1) These plagues, revealing Jehovah's sanctions for wickedness in the earth, must be poured out to a finality.  Whey they are over, God's judgments will have been executed.  Satan's world will be no more!  What do these plagues portend for mankind and the rulers of the presents wicked system?  How can Christians avoid being plagued along with this doomed world?  Vital questions, these, and now they are to be answered.  All who long for the triumph of righteousness will have keen interest in what John next sees.

Jehovah's Wrath Against "the Earth"

The first angel goes into action!  "And the first one went off and poured out his bowl into the earth. And a hurtful and malignant ulcer came to be upon the men that had the mark of the wild beast and that were worshiping its image."  (Revelation 16:2) As in the case of the first trumpet blast,  "the earth" here symbolizes the stable-looking political system that Satan began to build here on earth back in Nimrod's time, over 4,000 years ago. -Revelation 8:7.

In these last days, many governments have demanded what amounts to worship from their subjects, insisting that the State must be exalted above God or any other loyalty.  (2 Timothy 3:1; compare Luke 20:25; John 19:15)  Since 1914 it has become common for nations to conscript their youth in order  for  them to fight, or be ready to fight, the kind of total warfare that has so bloodied the pages of modern history. During the Lord's day, the nations have also produced, as a substitute, for God's Kingdom, the image of the beast -the League of Nations  and its successor, the United Nations.  What blasphemy to proclaim, as recent popes have done, that this man-made body is the nation's sole hope for peace!   It staunchly opposes God's Kingdom.  Those who worship it become spiritually unclean, ulcerated, just as the Egyptians who opposed Jehovah in Moses' day were plagued by literal sores and ulcers. -Exodus 9:10, 11.

The concerns of this bowl strongly emphasize the choice that lies before humans.  They must suffer either the world's disapproval  or Jehovah's indignation.  Mankind has been put under compulsion to accept the mark of the wild beast, with the intent that "nobody might be able to buy or sell except  a person having the mark, the name of the wild beast or the number of its name."  (Revelation 13:16, 17)  But there is a price to pay for this!  Jehovah regards those who accept the mark as being stricken with "a hurtful and malignant ulcer."  Since 1922 they have  been marked in public as having rejected the living God.  Their political  schemes have no success, and they suffer anguish.  Spiritually, they are unclean.  Unless they repent, this "hurtful" illness will be terminal, for it is now Jehovah's day of judgment.  There is no neutral ground between being a part of the world's system of things and serving Jehovah on the side of his Christ.  -Luke 11:23; compare James 4:4.

Next time:  God's Anger Brought to a Finish -The Sea Becomes Blood

From the Book of Revelation

Jehovah's Works - Great and Wonderful - The Bowls and the Trumpet Blasts

The Bowls and the Trumpet Blasts

The bowls of Jehovah's anger revealed features of the world scene as Jehovah views them and warn of judgments that Jehovah will execute.  the angels pour out the bowls through the agency of the congregation of anointed Christians on earth, the ones singing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. While proclaiming the Kingdom as good news, the John class have boldly revealed the contents of these bowls  of anger.  (Matthew 24:14; Revelation 14:6, 7)  Thus, their twofold message has been peaceful in proclaiming liberty to mankind but warlike in warning of "the day of vengeance on the part of God." -Isaiah 61:1, 2.

The targets of the first four bowls of God's anger correspond to those of the first four trumpet blasts, that is, the earth, the sea, the rivers and fountains of water, and the heavenly sources of light.  (Revelation 8:1-12)  But the trumpet blasts anointed announced plagues on "a third," whereas an entirety is afflicted by the pouring out of the bowls of God's anger.  Thus, while attention during the Lord's day, not one part of Satan's  system has been exempted from being plagued by Jehovah's vexatious judgment messages and the sorrows they bring. 

 The final three trumpet blasts were different, for they were called woes.  (Revelation 8:13; 9:12)  The first two of these consisted  particularly of the locusts and the armies of cavalry, while the third introduced the birth of Jehovah's Kingdom.  (Revelation 9:1-21; 11:15-19)  As we shall see, the final three bowls of his wrath also cover some of these aspects , but they are somewhat different from the  three woes.  Let us now pay close attention to the dramatic disclosures that result from the pouring out of the bowls of Jehovah's anger. 

Next time: God's Anger Brought to a Finish

From the Book of Revelation 

Jehovah's Works -Great and Wonderful - Jehovah in His Sanctuary

Jehovah in His Sanctuary

Finally, completing this part of the vision, John tells us:  "And the sanctuary became filled with smoke because of the glory of God and because of his power, and no one was able to enter into the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished."  (Revelation 15:8)  There were occasions in Israel's history when a cloud covered the literal sanctuary, and this manifestation of Jehovah's glory prevented the priests from entering there.  (1 Kings 8:10, 11; 2 Chronicles 5:13, 14; compare Isaiah 6:4, 5) These were times  when Jehovah was actively involved with developments on earth.

Jehovah is also deeply interested in things happening on earth now.  He wants the seven angels to complete their assignment.  It is a climatic time of judgment, as described at Psalm 11:4-6:  "Jehovah is in his holy temple. Jehovah - in the heavens is his throne.  His own eyes behold, his own beaming  eyes examine the sons of men.  Jehovah himself examines the righteous one as well as the wicked one, and anyone loving violence  His soul  certainly hates.  He will rain down upon the wicked ones traps, fire and sulfur and a scorching wind, as the portion of their cup."  Until these seven plagues are poured out upon the wicked ones, the seven angels will nor return to Jehovah's lofty presence. 

The awesome command thunders forth:  "And I heard a loud voice out of the sanctuary say to the seven angels: 'Go and pour out the seven bowls of the anger of God into the earth.' " (Revelation 16:1)  Who issues forth this command? It must be Jehovah himself, since the radiance of his glory and power prevented anyone else from entering the sanctuary.  Jehovah came to his spiritual temple  for judgment in 1918.  (Malachi 3:1-5) It must, then, have been shortly after that date that he gave the command to pour out the bowls of the anger of God.  In fact, the judgments contained in the symbolic  bowls started to be proclaimed  with intensity in 1922.  And their proclamation is increasing to a crescendo  today.

Next time: Jehovah's Works - Great and Wonderful - The Bowls and the Trumpet Blasts

From the Book of Revelation

Jehovah's Works-Great and Wonderful - The Angels With the Bowls

The Angels With the Bowls

It is fitting that we hear the song of these anointed conquerors. Why?  Because they have publicized on earth the judgments contained in the bowls that were full of the anger of God.  But the pouring out of these bowls involves more than mere humans, as John goes on to show:  "And after these things I saw, and  the sanctuary of the tent of the witness was opened in heaven, and the seven angels with the seven plagues emerged from the sanctuary, clothed with clean, bright linen and girded about their breasts with golden girdles. And one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls that were full of the anger of God, who lives forever and ever." -Revelation 15:5-7.

As respects the Israelite temple, which contained representations of heavenly things, only the high priest could enter the Most Holy, here called "the sanctuary."  (Hebrews 9:3, 7)  It represents the place of Jehovah's presence in heaven.  In heaven itself, however, not only does the High Priest Jesus Christ have the privilege of entering in before Jehovah but the angels do also.  (Matthew 18:10; Hebrews 9:24-26) It is not  surprising, then, that seven angels should be seen coming out from the sanctuary in heaven.  They have a commission from Jehovah God himself:  Pour out the bowls  full of the anger of God. -Revelation 16:1.

These angels are well qualified for this work.  They are clothed with clean, bright linen, showing that they are spiritually clean and holy, righteous in Jehovah's sight.  Also, they wear golden girdles.  Girdles are usually used when a person girds himself for a task to be accomplished.  (Leviticus 8:7, 13; 1 Samuel 2:18; Luke 12:37; John13:4, 5)  So the angels are girded for carrying out an assignment.  Moreover, their girdles are golden.  In the ancient tabernacle gold was used to represent divine, heavenly things.  (Hebrew 9:4, 11, 12)  That means that these angels have  a precious, divine commission of service to perform.  Others too are involved in this great task.  One of the four living creatures hands the actual bowls to them.  Doubtless, this was the first living creature, which resembled a lion, symbolizing the boldness and indomitable courage needed to proclaim Jehovah's judgments. -Revelation 4:7.

Next time: Jehovah's Works -Great and Wonderful - Jehovah in His Sanctuary

From the Book of Revelation

Jehovah's Works -Great and Wonderful -Conclusion of The Song of Moses and of the Lamb

Conclusion of The Song of Moses and of the Lamb

How Moses himself would have rejoiced  to be in the Lord's day now, singing along with the heavenly chorus:  "All the nations will come and worship before you"!  That transcendent song continues to have marvelous fulfillment today as we see, not just in vision but as a living reality, the millions from "the nations" who are now flocking joyfully to Jehovah's organization.

Nevertheless, this is the song not only of Moses but  also "of the Lamb."  How so?  Moses was Jehovah's prophet to Israel, but Moses himself prophesied that Jehovah would raise up a prophet like him.  This One proved to be the Lamb, Jesus Christ.  Whereas Moses was "the slave of God,"  Jesus was God's Son,  in effect, the Greater Moses.  (Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Acts 3:22, 23; Hebrews 3:5, 6)  Hence, the singers also sing "the song of the Lamb."

Like Moses, Jesus publicly sang God's praises and prophesied about His victory over all enemies (Matthew 24:21, 22; 26:30; Luke 19:41-44)  Jesus too looked forward to the time when the nations would come in to praise Jehovah, and as the self-sacrificing "Lamb of God," he laid down his human life to make this possible.  (John 1:29; Revelation  7:9; compare Isaiah 2:2-4;Zechariah 8:23) And just as Moses came to appreciate God's name, Jehovah, and extol that name, so Jesus made God's name manifest.  (Exodus 6:2, 3;Psalm 90:1, 17; John 17:6)  Since Jehovah is loyal, his glorious promises are certain of fulfillment.  Surely, then, we are at one with these loyal singers, with the Lamb, and with Moses, in subscribing to the words of the song:  "Who will not really fear you, Jehovah, and glorify your name?"

Next time: Jehovah's Works-Great and Wonderful - The Angels With the  Bowls

From the Book of Revelation

Jehovah's Works - Great and Wonderful - Continue with The Song of Moses and of the Lamb

Continue with The Song of Moses and of the Lamb

These loyal overcomers have harps of   God.  In this, they are like the temple Levites of old, who worshiped Jehovah with song to the accompaniment of harps.  Some also prophesied to a harp accompaniment. (1 Chronicles 15:16; 25:1-3)   The beautiful strains of the harp embellished Israel's  songs of joy and prayers of praise and thanksgiving to Jehovah.  (1 Chronicles 13:8; Psalm 33:2; 43:4; 57:7, 8)  In times of depression or captivity, the harp was not heard.  (Psalm 137:2)  The presence of harps of God in this vision should whet out anticipation for an exultant, triumphant song of praise and thanksgiving to our God.

That is what John reports: "And they are singing the song of Moses the slave of God and the song of the Lamb, saying:  'Great and wonderful are your works, Jehovah God, the Almighty. Righteous and true are your ways, King of eternity.  Who will not really fear you, Jehovah, and glorify your name, because you alone are loyal?  For all the nations will come and worship before you, because your righteous decrees have been made manifest.' " -Revelation 15:3, 4.



These  victors sing "the song of Moses," that is, a song similar to one that Moses sang in like circumstances. After the Israelites had witnessed the ten plagues in Egypt and the destruction of the Egyptian armies in the Red Sea, Moses led them in such a song of triumphant praise to Jehovah, proclaiming:  "Jehovah will rule as king to time indefinite, even forever."  (Exodus 15:1-19) How fitting the singers in John's vision, coming off victorious from the wild beast and being involved in proclaiming the seven last plagues, should also sing "to the king of eternity"! - 1 Timothy 1:17. 

In another song, composed as Israel prepared for the conquest of Canaan, the aged Moses told that nation:  "I shall declare the name of Jehovah.  Do you attribute greatness to our God!"  The last verse of this song also gave encouragement to non-Israelites, and Moses' inspired words reach right down to the great crowd of today:  "Be glad, you nations, with his people."  And why should they be glad?  Because now Jehovah "will avenge the blood of his servants, and he will pay back vengeance to his adversaries."  This execution  of righteous judgment will bring jubilation to all who hope in Jehovah. -Deuteronomy 32:3,43; Romans 15:10-13; Revelation 7:9.

Next time: Jehovah's Works -Great and Wonderful - Conclusion of The Song of Moses and of the Lamb

From the Book of Revelation

Jehovah's Works -Great and Wonderful -The Song of Moses and of the Lamb

The Song of Moses and of the Lamb

 A remarkable panorama now comes into John's view: "And I saw what seemed to be a  glassy sea mingled with fire, and those who come off victorious from the wild beast and from its image and from the number of its name standing by the glassy sea, having harps of God." -Revelation 15:2.

The "glassy sea" is the same one that John saw earlier, positioned before the throne of God.  (Revelation4:6)  It is similar to "the molten sea"  (water container) of Solomon's temple, where the priests obtained water to cleanse themselves.  (1 Kings 7:23)   It is thus a fine representation of  "the bath of water,"  that is, God's Word, by which Jesus Christ cleanses the priestly congregation of anointed Christians.  (Ephesians 5:25, 26;Hebrews 10:22)  This glassy sea is "mingled with fire," indicating that these anointed ones are tested and purged as they obey the high standard set for them.  Further, it reminds us that God's Word also contains expressions of fiery judgments against his enemies.  (Deuteronomy9:3; Zephaniah 3:8)  Some of these fiery judgments are manifested in the seven last plagues that are about to be poured out. 

The fact that the molten sea in Solomon's temple was for the use of the priests indicates that the singers standing before the heavenly glassy sea are a priestly class.  They have "harps of God," and we therefore associate them with the 24 elders and the 144,000, since these groups  also sing to a harp accompaniment.  (Revelation 5:8; 14:2)  The singers that John sees "come off victorious from the wild beast and from its image and from the number of its name."  So they must be those from among the 144,000 who live on earth during the last days.  As a group, they do indeed  come off victorious.  For some 70 years since 1919, they have refused to accept  the mark of the wild beast or look to its image as man's only hope for peace.  Many of them have already endured faithful to the death, and these, now in heaven,  doubtless follow with special delight the singing of their brothers who are still on earth.-Revelation 14:11-13.

Next time: Jehovah's Works -Great and Wonderful - Continue with The Song of Moses and of the Lamb

From the Book of Revelation

Jehovah's Works-Great and Wonderful

A WOMAN giving birth to a male child!  A great dragon seeking to devour that child!  Those two heavenly signs, so vividly portrayed  in Revelation chapter 12, brought home to us that the age long controversy involving the Seed of God's woman and Satan and his demonic seed is reaching  its climax.  In highlighting these symbols, John says: "And a great sign was seen in heaven . . .And another sign was seen."  (Revelation 12:1, 3,7-12) Now John reports a third sign:  "And I saw in heaven another sign, great and wonderful, seven angels with seven plagues.  These are the last ones, because by means of them the anger of God is brought to a finish."  (Revelation 15:1)  This third sign also has vital meaning for Jehovah's servants.

Notice the important roles that angels again have in accompanying God's will.  This fact have in accomplishing God's will.  This fact has long been known by Jehovah's servants.  Why, under inspiration the ancient psalmist even spoke to such angels, urging them:  "Bless Jehovah, O you angels of his, mighty in power, carrying out his word, by listening to the voice of his word"!  (Psalm 103:20) Now, in this new scene, angels are assigned to pour out the seven last plagues.

What are these plagues?  Like the seven trumpet blasts, they are scathing judgment pronouncements publicizing Jehovah's view of various features of this world and warning of the final outcome of his judicial decisions.  (Revelation 8:1-9:21)  The pouring out of them points to the execution of those judgments, when the objects of Jehovah's wrath are destroyed in the day of his burning anger.  (Isaiah 13:9-13; Revelation 6:16, 17)  Thus, by means of them  "the anger of God is brought to a finish."  But before describing the pouring out of the plagues, John now tells us about some humans who will not be adversely  affected by them.  Having refused the mark of the wild beast, these loyal ones sing praises to Jehovah as they proclaim his day of vengeance-Revelation 13:15-17. 

Next time: Jehovah's Works-Great and Wonderful -The Song of Moses and of the Lamb

From the Book of Revelation

"Babylon the Great Has Fallen!" - Conclusion of Treading the Vine of the Earth

  Conclusion of  Treading the Vine of the Earth

The visionary treading is done by horses, for the blood trodden out from the vine reaches "the bridles of the horses."  Since the term "horses" usually refers  to war operations, this must be a time of war.  The armies of the heavens that follow Jesus into the final war against Satan's  system of things are said to tread "the wine press of the anger of the wrath of God the Almighty."  (Revelation 19:11-16)  These are clearly the ones that do the treading of the vine of the earth.  The wine press is "trodden outside the city,"  that is, outside heavenly Zion.  Indeed, it is fitting that the vine of the earth should be trodden on earth.  But it will also be "trodden outside the city" in that no harm will come to the remaining ones of the woman's  seed, who represent the heavenly Zion on  earth.  These together with the great crowd will be safely hidden within Jehovah's earthly organizational arrangement. -Isaiah 26:20, 21.

This vivid vision has a parallel in the crushing of the kingdom of the earth by the Kingdom stone described at Daniel 2:34, 44. There will be an extermination.  The river of blood from the wine press is very deep, up to the bridles of the horses, and it extends for a distance of 1,600 furlongs.  This huge figure, produced by multiplying the square of four by the square of ten  (4 x 4 x 4 x 10 x 10) emphatically conveys the message that evidence of the destruction will involve all the earth.  (Isaiah 66:15, 16) The destruction will be complete and irreversible.  Never, no never again will Satan's vine of the earth take root! -Psalm 83:17, 18.

Living as we do deep in the time of the end, the vision of these two harvests is very meaningful.  We have only to look around us to see the fruit of Satan's vine. Abortions and other forms of murder; homosexuality, adultery, and other forms of immorality; dishonesty and lack of natural affection -all such things make this world vile in Jehovah's eyes. (read the Bible if you do not believe it) Satan's vine bears "the fruit of a poisonous plant and wormwood."  Its ruinous, idolatrous course  dishonors mankind's Grand Creator.  (Deuteronomy 29:18;32:5; Isaiah 42:5, 8) What a privilege it is to be actively associated  with the John class in the harvest of wholesome fruitage that Jesus is bringing forth to Jehovah's praise!  (Luke 10:2) May all of us be determined that we will never be tainted by the vine of this world, and may we thus avoid being trampled  with the vine of the earth when Jehovah's adverse judgment is executed. 

Next time: Jehovah's Works-Great and Wonderful

From the Book of Revelation

"Babylon the Great Has Fallen!" - Treading the Vine of the Earth

Treading the Vine of the Earth

With the harvest of the salvation completed, it is time for another harvest.  John reports:  "And still another angel [the fifth] emerged from the temple sanctuary that  is in heaven, he, too, having a sharp sickle.  And still another angel [the sixth] emerged from the altar and he had authority over the fire.  And he called out with a loud voice to the one that had the sharp sickle, saying:  'Put your sharp sickle in and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, because its grapes have become ripe.' " (Revelation 14:17, 18)  The angelic hosts are entrusted with much harvesting during the Lord's day, separating the good from the bad!

The fifth angel comes from Jehovah's presence in the temple sanctuary, hence, the final harvest takes place according to Jehovah's will.  The angel is commanded to begin his work by a message relayed through another angel that "emerged from the altar."  This fact is most significant, since faithful souls    underneath the altar had asked:  "Until, when, when Sovereign Lord holy and true, are you refraining from judging and avenging out blood upon those who dwell upon the earth?"  (Revelation 6:9, 10) With the harvesting of the vine of the earth, this cry for vengeance will be satisfied. 

But what is "the vine of the earth"? In the Hebrew Scriptures, the Jewish nations was spoken of as Jehovah's vine.  (Isaiah 5:7; Jeremiah 2:21)  Similarly, Jesus Christ and those who will serve him in God's Kingdom are spoken of as a vine.  (John 15:1-8)  In this setting, the significant characteristic of a vine is that it produces fruit, and the true Christian vine has produced abundant fruit to Jehovah's praise.  (Matthew 21:43)  "The vine of the earth," therefore, must be not this genuine vine, but Satan's imitation of it, his corrupt visible system of government over mankind, with its various "clusters" of demonic fruitage produced over the centuries Babylon the Great, in which apostate Christianity is so prominent, has exercised great influence   over this poisonous vine. -compare Deuteronomy 32:32-35.

Judgment must be executed! "And an angel thrust his sickle into the earth and  gathered the vine of the earth, and he hurled it into the great wine press of the anger of God.  And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out of the wine press as high up as the bridles of the horses,  for a distance of a thousand six hundred furlongs."  (Revelation 14:19, 20)   Jehovah's indignation against this vine has long since been announced.  (Zephaniah 3:8) A prophecy in the book of Isaiah leaves no doubt that the whole nations will be destroyed when the wine press is trampled .  (Isaiah 63:3-6)  Joel too prophesied that huge "crowds," whole nations, would be trampled to destruction in "the wine press," in "the low plain of the decision."  (Joel 3:12-14)  Truly, a stupendous harvest the like of which will never again occur!  According to John's  vision, not only are the grapes harvested but the whole symbolic vine is cut down and thrown into the wine press to be trampled.  So the vine of the earth will be stamped out and will never be able to grow again.

Next time: "Babylon the Great Has Fallen!" - Conclusion of Treading the Vine of the Earth

From the Book of Revelation

"Babylon the Great Has Fallen!" - Harvest of the Earth

Harvest of the Earth

Others are also to benefit in this day of judgment, as John goes on to tell us: "And I saw, and, look! A  white cloud, and upon the cloud someone seated like  a son of man, with a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.  And another angel [the fourth] emerged from the temple sanctuary, crying with a loud voice to the one seated on the cloud: 'Put your sickle in an reap, because the hour has come to reap, for the harvest of the earth is thoroughly ripe."  And the one seated on the cloud thrust his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped." -Revelation 14:14-16.

The identity of the one seated on the white cloud is not in doubt.   Seated on the white cloud, resembling a son of man and with a golden crown, he is clearly Jesus, the Messianic King that Daniel also saw in vision.  (Daniel 7:13, 14; Mark 14:61, 62.) But what is the harvest here prophesied?  While on earth Jesus likened  the discipling work to the harvesting of the world field of humanity.  (Matthew 9:37, 38; John 4:35, 36)  The climax of this harvesting comes in the Lord's day, judgment on behalf of his Father.  Thus, his time of ruling, since 1914, is also the joyful time for bringing in the harvest. -Compare Deuteronomy 16:13-15.

Although he is a King and a Judge, Jesus waits for word from Jehovah his God before beginning to reap.  That word comes from "the temple sanctuary" by means of an angel.  Immediately, Jesus obeys.  First, from 1919 on, he has angels complete the harvesting of the 144,000.  (Matthew 13:39-43) Next, the harvest in gathering of the great crowd of other sheep takes place.  (Matthew 25:31-33; John 10:16; Revelation 7:9 ) History shows  that between 1931 and 1935 a goodly number of these other sheep began to appear.  In 1935 Jehovah opened to the understanding of the John class the real identity of the great crowd of  Revelation 7:9-17. Thenceforth, much emphasis was placed on the in gathering of this crowd.  By the year 1988, its number has far exceeded the three million mark, and it is still increasing.  Surely, the one like a son of man has reaped a bountiful, joyous harvest during this time of the end. -Compare Exodus 23:16; 34:22.

Next time: "Babylon the Great Has Fallen!" -Treading the Vine of the Earth

From the Book of Revelation

"Babylon the Great Has Fallen!" - Conclusion of Endurance for the Holy Ones

Conclusion of Endurance for the Holy Ones

Those who have the mark of the wild beast will also be destroyed completely, as if by fire.  As the prophecy later reveals, their dead bodies will be left unburied for animals and birds  to eat.  (Revelation 19:17, 18)  So, clearly, they  are not being literally tortured forever!  How are they "tormented with fire and sulfur"?  In that the proclamation of truth exposes them and warm them of God's coming judgment.  Therefore they vilify God's people and, where possible, slyly persuade the political wild beast to persecute and even kill Jehovah's Witnesses. As a climax, these opposers will be destroyed as with fire and brimstone.  Then "the smoke of their torment ascends  forever and ever" in that God's judgment of them will serve as a  touchstone if ever again Jehovah's rightful sovereignty is challenged.  That issue will have been settled for all eternity.

Who deliver the tormenting message today?  Remember, the symbolic locusts have authority to torment the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. (Revelation 9:5)  Evidently, these ones under angelic direction are the tormentors.  Such is the persistence of the symbolic locusts that "day and night they have no rest, those who worship the wild beast and its image, and whoever  receives the mark of its name."  And finally, after their destruction, the monumental  evidence of that vindication of Jehovah's sovereignty, "the smoke of their torment," will ascend forever and ever.  May the John class endure until that vindication is complete! As the angel concludes:  "Here is where it means endurance for the holy ones, those who observe the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." -Revelation 14:12. 

Yes,  "endurance for the holy ones" means their worshiping Jehovah in exclusive devotion to Jesus Christ.  Their message is not popular.  It leads to opposition, persecution, even martyrdom.  But they are strengthened by what John next reports: 'Write: Happy are the dead who die in union with the Lord from this time onward.  Yes, says the spirit, let them rest from their labors, for the  things they did go right with them.' " -Revelation 14:13.

This promise harmonizes well with Paul's prophecy concerning Jesus' presence:  "Those who are dead in union with Christ will rise first.  Aferward we the who are surviving [those of the anointed ones who survive the Lord's day] will, together  with them, be caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in the air."  (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17)  After Satan's ouster from heaven, those who were dead in union with Christ rose first.  (Compare Revelation 6:9-11)  Afterward, those of the anointed ones who die during the Lord's day are promised a special privilege.  Their resurrection to spirit life in heaven is instantaneous, "in the twinkling of an eye."  (1 Corinthians 15:52)  How marvelous this is!  And their works of righteousness continue right on in the heavenly realm.

Next time: "Babylon the Great Has Fallen!" - Harvest of the Earth

From the Book of Revelation