This is the first of 37 references in Revelation to a wild beast. In due course we will examinghis and other beasts in detail. Suffice it to say for now that "the willd beast that ascends out of the abyss " is of Satan's design, a living political system of things." - Compare REVELATION 13:1; DANIEL 7:2, 3, 17.
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So severe was this plague on Christendom that after the two witnesses had prophesied for 42 months in sackcloth, Christendom used her worldly influence to have them 'killed.' John writes: "And when theyhave finished their witnessing, the wild beast that ascends out of the abyss will make war with them and conquer them and kill them. And their city corpses will be on the broad way of the great city which is in a spiritual sense called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was also impaled. And those of the peoples and tribes and tongues and naitons will look at thier corpses for three and a half days. And they do not let their corpses be laid in a tomb. And those dwelling on the earth rejoice over them and enjoy themselves, and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those dwelling on the earth." - REVELATION 11:7-10.
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John goes on to say of the two witnesses: "And they have authority over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every sort of plague as often as they wish." (Revelation 11:6b) In order to persuade Pharaoh to let Israel go free, Je hovah used Moses in striking oppressive Egypt with plagues, including the turning of the water into blood. Centuries later, the Philistine enemies of Israel well remembered Jehovah's acgs against Egypt, causing them to cry: "Who will save us from the land of this majestic God? This is the God that was the smiter of Egypt with every sort of slaughter ["plague," Revised Standard Version ] in the wilderness." (1 Samuel 4:8; Psalm 105:29) Moses portrayed Jesus, who had authority to pronounce God's judgments on the religious leaders of his day. (Matthew 23:13; 28:18; Acts 3:22) And during the first world war Christ's brothers, the two witnesses, exposed the death-dealign quality of "the waters" that Chrisendom was serving to her flocks.
Next time: REVELATION ITS GRAND CLIMAX AT HAND!/Chapter Twenty Five - The Two Witnesses Are Killed
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What of Elijah? In the days of the kings of Israel, this prophet proclaimed a drought as an expression of Jehovah's indignation on the Baal worshiping Israelites. It lasted three and half years. (1 Kings 17:1; 18:41-45; Luke 4:25; James 5:17) Later, when unfaithful King Ahaziah sent soldiers to force Elijah to come into his royal presence, the prophet called down fire from heaven to consume soldiers. Only when a military commander showed proper respect for his positio as a prophet did Elijah consent to accompany him to the king. (2 Kings 1:5-16) Likewise, between 19014 and 1918, the anointed remnant boldly drew attention ti the spiritual drought in Christendom and warned of fiery judgment at "the coming of the great and fear inspiring day of Jehoah." - MALACHI4:1, 5; AMOS 8:11.
Next time: REVELATION ITS GRAND CLIMAX AT HAND!/Chapter Twenty Five - The Two Witnesses - Conclusion
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This reminds us of the time when Moses' authority was challenged in Israel. That prophet uttered fiery word of judgment, and Jehovah destroyed the rebels, consuming 250 of them by literal fire from heaven. (Numbers 16:1-7, 28-35) Similarly, Christendom's leaders defied the Bible Students, sayign that these had never graduated from theogical colleges. But God's Witnesses had higher credentials as ministers those meek persons who heeded their Scriptural message. (2 Corinthians 3:2, 3) In 1917 the Bible Students published The Finished Mystery, a powerful commentary on Revelation and Ezekiel. This was followed up by the istribution of 10,000,000 copies of the four-page tract of The Bible Students Monthly with the feature article entitled "The Fall of Babylon-Why Christendom Must Now Suffer- The Final Outcome." In the United States, the irate clergy used the war ysteria as an excuse to get the book banned. In other countries the book was censored. Nevertheless, God's servants keep fighting back with fiery issues of the four-page tract entitled Kingdom News. As the Lord's day proceeded, other publications would make clear Christendom's spiritually defunct condition. - Compare JEREMIAH 5:14.
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The fact that they were described as two witnesses also reminds us of the transfiguration. In that vision, three of Jesus' apostles saw him in Kingdom glory, accompanied by Moses and Elijah. This foreshadowed Jesus' sitting down on his glorious throne i 194 to accomplish a work prefigured by those two prophets. (Matthew 17:1-3; 25:31) Fittingly, the two witnesses are now seen to perform signs reminiscent of those of Moses and Elijah. For example, John says of them: "And if anyone wants to harm them, fire issues forth from their mouths and devours their enemies; and if anyone should want to harm them, in this manner he must be killed. These have the authority to shut up heaven that no rain should fall during the day sof their prophesying." - REVELATION 11:5, 6a.
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Zehariah lived in a time of rebuilding, and his vision of the two olive trees meant that Zerubbabel and Joshua would be blessed with Jehovah's spirit in strengthening the people for the work. The visio of the lampstand reminded Zechariah not to 'despise the day of small things' because Jehovah's purposes would be carried out-"not by a military force, not by power, but by my spirit,' Jehovah of armies has said." (Zechariah 4:6, 10; 8:9) The small band of Christians persistently carrying out the light of truth to mankind during the first world ware would similarly be used in a rebuilding work. They too would be a source of encouragement and, and Jehovah's strength, not despising the day of small beginnings.
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The fact that they were symbolized by two witnesses confirms to us that their message was accurate and well founded. (Compare Deuteronomy 17:6; John 8:17, 18.) John calls them "the two olive trees and the two lampstands," saying that they "are standing before the Lord of the earth." This is an evident reference to the prophecy of Zechariah, who saw a seven-branched lampstand and two olive trees. The olive trees were said to picture "the two anointed ones," that is Governor Zerubbabel and Hight Priest Joshuah, "standing alongside the Lord of the whole earth." - Zechariah :1-3, 14.
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The John class had to preach this message for a defintely stated time: 1260 days, or 42 months, the same length of time that the holy city was to be trampled underfoot. This period seems to be literal, since it is expressed in two different ways, first in months and then in days. Additionally, at the beginning of the Lord's day, there was a marked period of three and a half years when the hard experiences of God's people matched the events prophesied here-starting from the outbreak of the first world war in the latter part of 1914 and continuing to the early part of 1918. (Revelation 1:10) They preached a "sackcloth" message concerning Jehovah's judgment of Christendom and the world.
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These faithful anointed Christians needed the quality of assurance, for they had to prophesy "in sackcloth often symbolized mourning. Wearing it was a sign tha tthe person had been brought low in sorrow or distress. (Genesis 37:34; Job 16:15, 16; Ezekiel 27:31) Sackcloth was associated with the mournful messages of doom or grief that God;'s prophets had to proclaim. (Isaiah 3:8, 24-26; Jeremiah48:37; 49:3) The wearing of the sackcloth could indicate humilty or repentance in view of divine warning. (Jonah 3:5) The sackcloth worn by the two witnesses appears to indicat their humble endurance in announcing Jehovah's judgments. They were witnesses proclaiming he day of his vengeance that bring mourning also to the nations. - DEUTERONOMY 32:42-43.
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Even while being trampled on, these loyal ones do not cease to be Jehovah's faithful witnesses. Hence, the prophecy continues: " 'And I will cause my two witnesses to prophesy two hundred and sixty days dressed in sackcloth.' These are symbolized by the two olive trees and the two lampstands and are standing before the Lord of the earth." - REVELATION 11:3, 4.
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How was it, though, that the holy city was trampled underfoot by those nations? Clearly, this does not refer to the Jerusalem that as destroyed over 25 years before Revelation was written. Rather, the holy city is New Jerusalem, described later in Revelation that is represented now on earth by the remaining anointed Christians in the temple's inner courtyard. In time, these also will become a part of the holy city. So trampling on them is tantamount to trampling on the city itself. - REVELATION 21:2, 9-21.
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What, though, of the small group of Bible Students ? Were they to be measured immediately in 1914 by their adherence to divine standards? No. Like the professed Christians of Christendomm they too must be tested. They were 'cast clear out, given to the nations' to be severely tried and persecuted. Many of them go out and kill their fellowman, but as yet they did not fully appreciate Christian neutrality. (Micah 4:3; John 17:14, 16; 1 John 3:15) Under pressure from th nations, some compromised.
Next time: REVELATION ITS GRAND CLIMAX AT HAND!/Chapter Twenty Five -The Trampling of the Courtyard -Conclusion
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Why was John forbidden to measure the courtyard? He tell us in these words:"But as for the courtyard that is outside teh temple sanctuary, cast it clear out and do not measure it, because it hs been given to the nations, and they will trample the holy city underfoot for forty-two months."(Revelation 11:2) We have noted that the inner courtyard pictures the righteous standing on earth of spirit-begotten Christians. As we shalls see, the reference here is to the literal 42 months extending from October 1914 into 1918, when all professing Christians were put to a severe test. Would they uphold Jehovah's righteous standards during those war years. Most did not. Enbloc, the clergy of Christendom put nationalism ahead of obedience to divine law. On both sides of the war, which was fought mainly in Christendom, the clergy preached the young men into the trenches. Millions were slaughtered. By the time that judgment started with the house of God in 1918, the United States also entered that blood-spilling, and the clergy of all Christendom had incurred a bloodguilt that still cries out for divine vengeance. (1 Peter 4:17) Their being cast out has become permanent, irreversible. - ISAIAH 59:1-3, 7, 8; JEREMIAH 19:3, 4.
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Therefore, when John is commanded to measure the temple sanctuary and those priests worshiping in it, it is a sight that nothing can prevent the fulfillment of Jehovah's purposes regarding the temple arrangement and those associated with it, and those purposes are nearing their climax. Now that all things have been placed under the feet of Jehovah's strong angel, it is the time for "the mountain of the house of Jehovah" to become "firmly established above the top of the mountains." (Isaiah 2:2-4) Jehovah's pure worshp must be exalted, after centuries of Christendom's apostasy. It is also time for those of Jesus' faithful brothers who have died to be resurrected into the "Holy of Holies." (Daniel 9:24; 1 Thessaloniand 4:14-16; Revelation 6:11; 14:4) And the last sealed ones on earth of "the slaves of God" must be measured according to the divine standards in order to qualify for their permanent place in the temple arrangement as spirit-begotten sons of God. The John class today is fully aware of those holy standards and is determined to measure up to them. - REVELATION 7:1-3; MATTHEW 13:41, 42; EPHESIANS 1:13, 14; compare ROMANS 11:20.
Next time: REVELATION ITS GRAND CLIMAX AT HAND!/Chapter Twenty Five - The Trampling of the Courtyard
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Note: To my readers, my computer is messed up. I finished this paragraph yesterday, and I see this morning that half of it disappeared. That happens when I a typing as well. Also, I wanted to let you know that after Thursday, my computer will be having a RAM put in, so I will not be able to do any blogs. As soon as I get it back. I will be doing them again, most likely unti the day I die. This is for Jehovah God.
John is told to "measure the temple sanctuary of God and the altar and those worrshipig it." What does this imply? In the Hebrew Scripture prophecies, such measuring provided a guarantee that justice, tempered with mercy, would be rendered on the basis of Jehovah's perfect standards in the days of wicked King Manasseh, the prophetic measuring of Jerusalem testified to an unalterable judgment of destruction on that city. (2 Kings 21:13; Lamentations 2) Later however, when Jeremiah saw Jerusalem being measured, this confirmed that the city would be rebuilt. (Jeremiah 31:39; see also Zechariah 2:2-8) Likewise the extensive and detailed measuring of the visionary temple witnessed by Ezekiel was guarantee to the Jewish exiles in Babylon that true worship would be restored in their homeland. It was also a reminder that, in view of their errors, Israel henceforth had to measure up to God's holy standards. - Ezekiel 40:3, 4; 43:10.
Next time: REVELATION ITS GRAND CLIMAX AT HAND!/Chapter Twenty Five - Measuring the Temple Sanctuary - Conclusion
From the jw.org publications
John it told to "measure the temple sanctuary of God and the altar and those worshiping it." What does this imply? In the Hebrew Scripture prophecies, such measuring provided a guarantee that justice tempered with mercy, would be rendered on the basis of Jehovah's perfect standards. In the days of wicked King Manasseh, the prophetic measuring of Jerusalem testified to an unalterable judgment of destruction on that city. (2 Kings 21:13; Lamentations 2:8) Later, however, when Jeremiah saw Jerusalem being measured, this confirmed that the city would be rebuilt. (Jeremiah 31:39; see also Zechariah 2:2-8) Likewise, the extensive and detailed measuring of the visionary temple witnessed by Ezekiel was a guarantee to the Jewish exiles in Babylon that true worship would be restored in their homeland. It was also a reminder that, in view of their errors, Israel henceforth had to measure up to God's holy standards. - EZEKIEL 40:3, 4; 43:10.
Next time: REVELATION ITS GRAND CLIMAX AT HAND!/Chapter Twenty Five - Measuring the Temple Sanctuary - Conclusion
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From this divinely inspired information, we can conclude that the Holy Place in ths tabernacle symbolizes a holy condition enjoyed first by Christ and then by the anointed members of the royal priesthood of he 144,000 while they are still on earth, before entering through "the curtain." (Hebrews 6:19, 20; 1 Peter 2:9) It well represents their having been adopted as spiritual sons of God, even as God acknowledge Jesus to be his Son following Jesus' baptism in the Jordan in 29 C.E. (Lke 3:22; Romans 8:15) And what of the inner courtyard, the only part of the tabernacle visible to nonpriestly Israelites and the place where the sacrifices were made? This pictures the perfect standing of the man Jesus that qualified him to offer his life for mankind. It also represents the righteous standing as holy ones, imputed on the basis of Jesus' sacrifice, that is his anointed followers enjoy while on earth. -ROMANS 1:7; 5:1.
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The apostle Paul explains that the curtain of the tabernacle, separating the Most Holy from the Holy compartment, pictures Jesus' flesh. When Jesus sacrificed his life, this curtain was rent two, showing that Jesus' flesh was no longer a barrier to his entry into Jehovah's presence in heaven. On the basis of Jesus' sacrifice, his anointed underpriest who died faithful would, in due course, also pass into the heavens. (Matthew 27:50, 51; Hebrews 9:3; 10:19, 20) Paul points out, too, that the continues sacrifices of animals at the tabernacle pointed forward to Jesus' one sacrifice of his perfect life. The altar of sacrifice in the courtyard represented Jehovah's provision, according to his will, for accepting Jesus' in behalf of the "many" - of the anointed and, later, of the other sheep - who wold be "earnestly looking for him for their salvation." -Hebrews 9:28; 10:9, 10; John 10:16.
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The temple here mentioned cannot be any literal temple in Jerusalem, since the last of these was destroyed by the Romans in 70 C.E. The apostle Paul, however, showd that even before that destruction, there had appeared another temple sanctuary that would endure right up to our day. This was the great spiritual temle that fulfilled the prophetic types provided by the tabernacle and later by the temples built in Jerusalm. It is "the true tent, which Jehovah put up, and not man," and its High Priest is Jesus, whom Paul describes as having already "sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majestey in the heavens." Its Most Holy is the location of Jehovah's presence in heaven itself. - HEBREWS 8:1,2; 9:11, 24.
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Before the second woe is finally past, the strong angel calls upon John to take part in another prophetic presentation, this one having to do with the temple. (Revelation 9:12; 10:1) Here is what John reportes: "And a reed like a rod was given me as he said: 'Get up and measure the temple sanctuary of God and the altar and those worshiping in it.'" REVELATION 11:1
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In time, the message of this scroll also became sweet to "the great crowd . . . out of all nations and tribes and peoples and tongues" who were found to be sighing on account of the destestable things they saw being done in Christendom. (Revelation 7:9; Ezekiel 9:4) These too, vigorously proclaim the good news, using sweet, gracious words to describe Jehovah's marvelous provision for sheeplike Christians. Psalm 37:11, 29; Colossians 4:6) But to goatlike people, this is bad news? Why? It means that the system in which they trust-and which may even have brought them a transitory satisfaction-must go. For them, the good news spell doom. - MATTHEW 25:31-34, 41, 46; compare Deuteronomy 28:15; 2 Corinthians 2:15, 16.
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John's eating up scroll pictured that Jesus' brothers accepted this assignment. It became a part of them to the extent that they were now identified with the portion of God's inspired Word, drawing nourishment from it. But what they had to preach contained expressions of Jehovah's judgments that were unpalatable to many of mankind. Indeed, it included the plagues foretold in Revelation chapter 8. It was sweet, however, to these sincere Christians to know those judgments and to realize that they were again being used by Jehovah in proclaiming them. - PSALM 19:9, 10.
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Like John, however, they were used by Jehovah even before the voices of the seven thunders were fully published. They had preached diligently for 40 years before 1914, and they had struggled to stay active during the first world war. They had proved to be the ones who, when the master arrived, were found to be giving the domestic food at the proper time. (Matthew 24:45-47) Thus, in 1919 they were the ones who were given the opened little scroll-that is, an open message to preach to mankind. LIke Ezekiel they had a message for a unfaithful organization-Christendom -that claimed to be serving God, but in fact, was not. Like John they had to preach some more regarding "peoples and nations and tongues and many kings."
Next time: REVELATION ITS GRAND CLIMAX AT HAND!/Chapter Twenty Four - The Little Scroll Today- Today
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The ones who tell John to prophesy again are doubtless Jehovah God and Jesus Christ. John, although exiled on the islan of Patmos, has already prophesied regarding peoples, nations, and tongues, and kings through the information recorded so far in the book of Revelation. The word "again" means that he must write and the publish the rest of the information recorded in the book of Revelation. But remember, John is here actually participating in the prophetic vision. What he records is, in fact, a prophesy to be fulfilled after 1914, when the strong angel takes up his position astride the earth and the sea. What, then, does this dramatic portrayal mean to the John class today?
Next time: REVELATION ITS GRAND CLIMAX AT HAND!/Chapter Twenty Four - The Opened Scroll - Conclusion
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John's experience is rather similar to that of the prophet Ezekiel during his exile in the land of Babylonia. He too was commanded to eat a scrol that tasted sweet in his mouth. But when it filled his stomach, it made him responsible to foretell bitter things for the rebellious house of Israel. (Ezekiel 2:8-3:15) The opened scrol that the glorified Jesus Christ gives to John is likewise a divine message. John is to preach regarding peoples and nations and tongues and many kings." To feed upon this scroll is sweet for him because it is from a divine source. (Compare Psalm 119:103; Jeremiah 15:15. 16.) But he finds it bitter to digest because -as previously with Ezekiel-it foretells unsavory things for rebellious humans. - PSALM 145:20.
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While John was waiting for the blowing of this seventh trumpet and the bringing to a finish of the sacred secret of God, he is given a further assignment:"And the voice thatI heard out of heaven is speaking again with me and saying: 'Go, take the opened scroll that is in the angel who is standing on the sea and on the earth.' And I went away to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me: "Take it and eat it up, and it will make your belly bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey." And I took the little scroll out of the hand of the angel and ate it up, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; but when I had eaten it up, my belly was made bitter. And they said to me: 'You must prophesy again with regard to peoples and nations and tongues and many kings.' " - REVELATION 10:8-11.
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Surely, this is the very best of news. Yet, at Revelation 11:14, 15, the third woe is linked with the Kingdom. Why? Because for those of mankind who perfer Satan's system of things, the trumpeting goes forth of the good news that the sacred secret of God's Messianic Kingdom is here-is woeful news. (Compare 2 Corinthians 1:16) It means that the world arrangement that they like so well is near to being destroyed. The voices of the seven thunders, containing such ominous storm warnings, become clearer and louder with the approach of Jehovah's great day of vengeance. - Zephaniah 1:14-18.
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What is this sacred secret? It involves the seed first promised in Eden, which proved primaarily to be Jesus Christ. (Genesis 3:15; 1 Timothy 3:16) It also has to do with the identity of the woman out of whom the Seed comes. (Isaiah 54:1; Galatians 4:26-28) Further, it takes in the secondary members of the seed class and the Kingdom in which the Seed reigns. (Luke 8:10; Ephesians 3:3-9; Colossians 1:26, 27; 2:2; Revelation 1:5, 6) The good news about this unique heavenly Kingdom must be preached in all the earth during the time of the end. - MATTHEW 24:14.
Next time: REVELATION ITS GRAND CLIMAX AT HAND!/Chapter Twenty Four - The Finish of the Sacred Secret -Conclusion
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"No delay any longer"-how those words appeal to the John class today! In what respect is there no delay? John informs us: "But in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to blow his trumpet, the sacred secred of God according to the good news which he declared to his own slaves the prophets indeed brought to a finish."(Revelation 10:7) Jehovah's time is here for bringing his sacred secret to its happy climax, with glorious success!
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The Greek word here translated "delay" is khro'nos, which literally means "time." Some have thus felt that his declaration of teh angels should be translated: "There will be no more time," as though time as we know it will end. But the word khro'nos here is used with a definite article. So it does not mean time in general but rather, " a time" or "a period of time." In other words, there will be no further period of time (or, delay) by Jehovah. A Greek verb derived from khro'nos is used also at Hebrews 10:37, where Paul, quoting from Habakkuk 2:3,4, writes that "he whom is coming . . . will not delay."
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Meantime, Jehovah has another commission for John. After the seven thunders have sounded, the strong angel speaks again: "And the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the earth raised his right to heaven and by the One who lives forever and ever, who created the heaven and the things in it and in the earth and things in it and the sea and the things in it, he swore: 'There will be no delay. (Revelation 10:5, 6) By whom does the strong angel swear? The glorified Jesus swears, not by himself, but by the righteous Authority of all, Jehovah, the immortal Creator of the heavens and the earth. (Isaiah 45:12, 18) With this oath, the angel assures John that there will be no further delay on God's part.
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But listen! Another voice sounds forth. It brings a command that must seem strange to John: "Now when the seven thunders spoke, I was at the point of writing; but I heard a voice out of heaven say: 'Seal up things the seven thunders spoke, and do not write them down.' " (Revelation 10:4) John must have been anxious to hear and record those thunderous messages, just as the John class today has waited eagerly for Jehovah to disclose is divine purposes for publication. Such revelations come only at Jehovah's appointed time. - LUKE 12:42; see also DANIEL 12:8, 9.
Next time: REVELATION ITS GRAND CLIMAX AT HAND!/Chapter Twenty Four -The Finish of the Sacred Secret
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John has previously heard thunders proceeding from the very throne of Jehovah. (Revelation 4:5) Back in David's days, literal thunder was at times spoken of as "the voice of Jehovah." (Psalm 29:3) When Jehovah audibly proclaimed his purpose to glorify his own name in the days of Jesus' earthly ministry, to many it sounded like thunder. (John 12:28, 29) Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that the voices of the seven thunders ae Jehovah's own expression of his purposes. The fact that there were "seven" thunders suggests the completeness of what John heard.
Next time: REVELATION ITS GRAND CLIMAX AT HAND!/Chapter Twenty Four - The Seven Thunders -Conclusion
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John's contemplation of this strong angel is interrupted by the angel himself: "And he [the angel] cried out with a loud voice just as a lion roars And when he cried out, the seven thunders uttered their own voices." (Revelation 10:3) Such a powerful shout would catch John's attention, confirming that Jesus is truly "the lion that is of the tribe of Judah/" (Revelation 5:5) John would also be aware that Jehovah, too, is sometimes said to "roar." Jehovah's roaring prophetically heralds the regathering of spiritual Israel and the coming of the destructive "day of of Jehovah." (Hosea 11:10; Joel 3:14, 16; Amos 1:2; 3:7, 8) Clearly, then, the lionlike cry of this strong angel forebodes similar great events for the sea and the earth. It calls on the seven thunders to speak.
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Let us return to the description of Jesus. His fiery feet are upon the earth and the sea, over which he now exercises full authority. It is just as he stated in the prophetic psalm: "You [Jehovah] also proceeded to make him [Jesus] a little less than godlike ones, and with glory and splendor you then crowned him. You made him dominate over the works of your hands; everything you have put under his feet: small cattle and oxen, all of them, and also the beasts of the open field, the birds of heaven and the fish of the sea, anything passing through the paths of the seas. (Psalm 8:5-8; see also Hebrews 2:5-9.) This psalm was completely fulfilled in 1914, when Jesus was installed as King of God's Kingdom and the time of the end began. Thus, what John sees here in vision applies since that year. - PSALM 110:1-6; ACTS 2:34-46; DANIEL 12:4.
Next time: REVELATION ITS GRAND CLIMAX AT HAND!/Chapter Twenty Four - The Seven Thunders
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John observes further: "And he had in his hand a little scroll opened. And he set his right foot upon the sea, but his left one upon the earth." (Revelation 10:2) Another scroll? Yes, but this time it is not sealed. With John, we can expect soon to see further thrilling disclosures. First, though, we are given the setting for is to follow.
Next time: REVELATION ITS GRAND CLIMAX AT HAND!/Chapter Twenty Four -A Sweet-and-Bitter Message -Conclusion
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The face of the strong angel as "as the sun." Earlier, in his vision of Jesus at the divine temple, John had noted that Jesus' countenance was "as the sun when it shines in its power." (Revelation 1:16) Jesus, as "the sun of righteousness," shines forth with healing in his wings for the benefit of those who fear Jehovah's name. (Malachi 4:2) Not only the face but also the feet of this angel are glorious, "as fiery pillars." His firm stance is that of the One to whom Jehovah has given "all authority . . . in heaven and on the earth." - MATTHEW 28:18; REVELATION 1:14, 15.
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Who is this "strong angel"! It is evidently the glorified Jesus Christ in another role. He is arrayed with a cloud of invisibility, which reminds us of John's earlier words about Jesus: "Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, and those who pierced him." (Revelation 1:7; Compare Matthew 17:2-5.) The rainbow upon his head reminds us of John's earlier vision of Jehovah's throne, with its "rainbow like an emerald in appearance." (Revelation 4:3; compare Ezekiel 1:28) The rainbow suggested the serenity and peace surrounding God's throne. In the same way, this rainbow on the angel's head would identify him as a special peace messenger, Jehovah's foretold "Prince of Peace. - ISAIAH 9:6, 7.
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"And I saw another strong angel descending from heaven, arrayed with a cloud, and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as the sun, and his feet were as fiery pillars." - REVELATION 10:1.
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The second woe has been devastating. It has plagued Christendom and her leaders, "a third of the men," who are thus exposed as being spiritually dead. (Revelation 9:15) John must have wondered after that what the third woe could possibly bring! But wait! The second woe is not finished yet-not until we reach the point recorded at Revelation 11:14. Before then, John is to witness a turn of events in which he himself takes an active part. It begins with an awe-inspiring sight.
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What we have just discussed is part of the second woe. There is more to come before this woe runs its course, as we shall see in the chapters that follow.
Next time: REVELATION ITS GRAND CLIMAX AT HAND!/ Chapter Twenty Four -A Sweet-and-Bitter Message
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Jehovah purposed that this plaguing message should "kill a third of the men." Hence, its specific target has been Christendom.. But it has reached lands far beyond Christendom, including many where the hypocrisy of Christendom's religions is well known. Have the people of these lands drawn closer to Jehovah as a result of seeing the plaguing of this corrupt religious organization? Many have! There has been a ready response among meek and lovable people who live in areas outside Christendom's immediate sphere of influence. But as for the people in general, John describes their reaction: "But the rest of the men who were not killed by these plagues did not repent of the works of their hands, so they should not worship the demons and idols of gild and silver and copper and stone and wood, which can neither see no hear nor walk; and they did not repent of their murders nor of the spiritistic practices nor of their fornication nor of their thefts. " (Revelation 9:20, 21) There will be no world conversion of such unrepentant ones. All who persist in their wicked ways will have to face adverse judgment from Jehovah in the great day of his vindication. But "everyone who calls on the name Jehovah will get away safe." - JOEL 2:32; PSALM 145:20; ACTS 2:20, 21.
Next time: REVELATION ITS GRAND CLIMAX AT HAND!/Chapter Twenty Three - Two Myriads of Myriads -Conclusion
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In other places the Kingdom literature continues to expose Christendom's Babylonish doctrines and ways, bringing her deserved harm in a figurative way. By using updated printed methods, this numerous cavalry in the 50 years before 1987 was able to distribute, in upwards of 200 of earth's languages, Bibles, books, magazines, and brochures to the astronomical number of 7,821,078. 415 copies -many times more than literal two myriads of myriads. What a sting those tails have inflicted!
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A most zealous division of this cavalry is made up of brothers in lands where the work of Jehovah's Witnesses is under ban. Like sheep amidst wolves, these have to be "cautious as serpents and yet innocent as doves." In obedience to Jehovah, they cannot stop speaking about the things they have seen and heard. (Matthew 10:16; Acts 4:19, 20; 5:28, 29, 32) Since they have little or no printed material to distribute publicly, must we conclude that they have no share in the cavalry charge. Not at all! They have their mouths and authority from Jehovah to use them to express Bible truth. This they do, informally and persuasively, establishing studies in the Bible and "bringing the many to righteousness." (Daniel 12:3) Though they may not sting with their tails in the sense of leaving behind the hard-hitting literature, symbolic fire, smoke, and sulfur issue from their mouths as they witness tactfully and with discretion concerning Jehovah's approaching day of vindication.
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That cavalry needs equipment for the warfare. And how wonderfully Jehovah has provided this! John describes this: "For the authority of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with these they do harm." (Revelation 9:19) Jehovah has ordained his dedicated, baptized ministers for this service. Through the Theocratic Ministry School and other congregation meetings, the schools, he has taught them how to preach the word, so that they are able to speak authoritatively with "the tongue of the taught ones." He has put his words in their mouths and sent them forth to make know his judgments "publicly and from house to house." (2 Timothy 4:2; Isaiah 50:3; 61:2; Jeremiah 1:9, 10; Acts 20:20) The John class and the great crowd have left behind a stinging message, corresponding to "tails" in the thousands of millions of Bibles, books, brochures, and magazines distributed over the years. To their opponents, who ae advised of the coming "harm" from Jehovah, these armies of cavalry truly seem like two myriads of myriads. - Compare Joel 2:4-6.
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The great crowd has continued to declare its unqualified unity with the John class in pouring out the plagues on Christendom. In 1988 this great crowd made up of more than 99.7 percent of the work force that Jehovah is using in the field. Its members are wholeheartedly in accord with the John class, concerning whom Jesus prayed at John 17:20, 21: "I made request, not concerning those putting faith in me through their word; in order that they may be all one, just as you Father, are in union with me and I am in union with you, that they also may be in union with us, in order that the world my believe that you sent me forth." As the anointed John class takes the lead under Jesus, the zealous great crowd shares with them in the most devastating cavalry charge of all human history!
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Has this great crowd had a part in the cavalry charge that got underway in 1922 and that received particular emphasis at the Toronto convention in 1927 under the direction of the four angels, the anointed John class, it certainly has! At the world-circling "Everlasting Good News" Assembly of 1963, it joined with the John class in a rousing resolution. This declared that the world "faces an earthquake of world trouble the like of which has never known, and all its political institutions and its modern religious Babylon will shaken to bits." The resolve was expressed that " we will continue to declare to all peoples without partiality the 'everlasting good news' concerning God's Messianic kingdoms and concerning his judgments, which are like plagues to his enemies but which will be executed for the liberation of all persons who desire to worship God the Creator acceptably with spirit and truth." This resolution was adopted enthusiastically at 24 assemblies around the globe by a grand total of 44, 977 conventioners, of whom well over 95 percent were of the great crowd.
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In 1935 those of this Jonadab class were specially invited to attend the convention of Jehovah's Witnesses in Washington, D.C., U.S.A. There on Friday, May 31, J.F. Rutherford gave his famous talk "The Great Multitude," in which he clearly showed that this group of Revelation 7:9 (King James Version) was the same as the sheep of Matthew 25:33-a dedicated group with earthly hopes. As a harbinger of things to come, at that convention 840 new Witnesses were baptized, most of them being of the great crowd.
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From 1918 to 1922, the John class began to hold out to distressed humanity the happy prospect that "millions now living will never die." In 1923 it was also made known that the sheep of Matthew 25:31-34 would inherit life on earth under God's Kingdom. A similar hope was held out in the booklet Freedom for All the Peoples, released at the international convention in 1927. In the early 1930's the upright Jehonadab class and the 'men sighing and groaning over Christendom's sorry spiritual condition were shown to be identical with the symbolic sheep have earthly life prospects. (Ezekiel 9:4; 2 Kings 10:15, 16) Directing such ones to the modern-day "cities of refuge," The Watchtower of August 15, 1934, stated: Those of the Jonadab class have heard the sound of God's trumpet and have heeded the warning by fleeing to God's organization and associating with God's people, and they must abide. - NUMBERS 35:6.
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Nevertheless, those of the John class still remaining on earth number fewer than 10,000- less than one literal myriad. How could they be likened to countless thousands of cavalry? To become myriads even in a symbolic sense, would they not need reinforcements? That is what they have needed, and by Jehovah's undeserved kindness, that is what they have received! From where have these come?
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How can there be two myriads of myriads of this cavalry? A myriad is literally 10,000. So two myriads of myriads would cine to 200 million. Happily, there are now millions of Kingdom proclaimers, but their number is far short of hundreds of millions! Remember, though, Moses' words at Numbers 10:36: "Do return, O Jehovah, to the myriads of thousands of Israel." ( Compare Genesis 24:60) That would mean literally, 'Do return the tens of millions of Israel.' Israel, however, numbered only about two to three million in Moses' day. What, then, was Moses saying? N0 doubt he had in mind that the Israelites should be as unnumbered as the "stars of the heavens and like te grains of sand that are on the seashore," rather than be counted. (Genesis 22:17; 1 Chronicles ) so he used the word for "myriad" to indicate a large, but unspecified number. Thus,
The New English Bible renders this verse "Rest, Lord of the countless thousands of Israel." This agrees with a second definition of the word, for "myriad" found in Greek and Hebrew dictionaries: "an innumerable multitude." - The New Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament; Gesnius' a Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament, translated by Edward Robinson.
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The New English Bible renders t
So what does this cavalry symbolize? Just as the anointed John class started the trumpetlike proclamation of Jehovah's judgment of divine vengeance against Christendom, with authority to 'sting and hurt,' so we would expect the same living group to be used the 'killing,' that is, in making known that Christendom and its clergy are completely dead spiritually, cast off by Jehovah and ready for "the fiery furnace" of everlasting destruction. Indeed, all of Babylon the Great must perish. (Revelation 9:5, 10; 18:2, 8; Matthew 13:41-43) Preliminary to her destruction, however the John class uses the sword of the spirit, that is God's word," in exposing Christendom's deathlike condition. the four angels and the riders of the horses give directions to this figurative killing of "a third of the men," (Ephesians 6:17; Revelation 9:15, 18) This indicates proper organization and theocratic direction under the oversight of the Lord Jesus Christ as the awesome band of Kingdom proclaimers charges forth to the battle.
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Both the locusts and the cavalry share in Jehovah's work of judgment. The locusts emerged from the smoke that portended woe and destructive fire for Christendom; from the mouths of the horses, there issue forth fire, smoke, and sulfur. The locusts had breastplates of iron, signifying that their hearts were protected by unbending devotion to righteousness; the cavalry wear breastplates colored red, blue, and yellow, reflecting the fire, smoke, and sulfur of the lethal judgment messages that gud from the mouths of the horses. ( Compare Genesis 19:24, 28; Luke 17:29, 30) The locusts had tails like scorpions for killing! It seems that what was started by the locusts is to be pursued by the cavalry with greater intensity to a completion.
Next time: REVELATION ITS GRAND CLIMAX AT HAND!/Chapter Twenty Three - The Second Woe - Armies of Cavalry - Conclusion
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Apparently, this cavalry thunders forth under the guiding direction of the four angels. What a fearsome spectacle! Imagine your reaction if you were to be the target of such a cavalry charge! Its very appearance would strike terror into your heart. Did you notice, though, how similar this cavalry is to the locusts that preceded it? The locusts were like horses; in the cavalry there are horses . Both, then, are involved in theocratic warfare. (Proverbs 21:31) The locusts had teeth like lions; the horses of the cavalry have heads like lions. Both are therefore tied in with the courageous Lion of the tribe of Judah, Jesus Christ, who is their Leader, Commander, and Exemplar. - REVELATION 5:5; PROVERBS 28:1.
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