New Illumination from God’s Word
[Part Two]
Doug Krieger
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I am more convinced than ever that the “earthquake” referred to in the 6th Seal (See Rev. 6:12), the half an hour and subsequent earthquake mentioned in the opening of the 7th Seal (See Rev. 8:1 & 5), and the blowing of the 7 Trumpets all occur within the time frame known as “half an hour,” “hour,” “day” and “30 days” – all referring to the Wrath of the Lamb (Rev. 6 – 6th Seal) and the Wrath of God : the Winepress of the Wrath of God (Rev. 14:14-20).
One Earthquake
The subsequent earthquake --- actually, the same earthquake is mentioned 3 times: in Revelation 11:13, twice – once regarding 1/10th of the city, which is definitely Babylon; and once regarding the judgment upon the earthlings as 7000 are slain. And, this is referred to as a Great Earthquake. Therefore, these numbers are signified as “emblematic” of God’s PERFECT/COMPLETE JUDGMENT (7); and then, again, in retrospect, viewing backward to “how it all happened” through the earthquake found at the end of Revelation 11, in verse 19.
“And the same hour was there a great earthquake,
and the tenth part of the city fell,
and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand…”
(Rev. 11:13)
“And the temple of God was opened in heaven,
and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament;
and there were lightnings, and voices, and thundering,
and an earthquake, and great hail.”
(Rev. 11:19)
Then, the 6th and 7th mentioning of the earthquake (the same one; for it is the Wrath of the Lamb) occurs in Revelation 16:18 where the phrase “Great Earthquake” is used twice in the Destruction of Babylon the Great. Therefore, Babylon goes up in flames within the confines of the 30 days of the Wrath of the Lamb which is again found in Revelation 14 as the Winepress of the Wrath of God; and in Revelation 15 wherein the 7 Vials are clearly within this time frame of 30 days or “half an hour” or “hour” or “Day of the Lord.”
“And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air…
And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings;
and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth,
so mighty an earthquake, and so great…
And great Babylon came in remembrance before God,
to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.”
(Rev. 16:17-19)
“Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come…
And there followed another angel, saying,
‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city,
because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath
of her fornication.’”
(Rev. 14:7-8)
“And I saw another sign in heaven,
great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues;
for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials
full of the wrath of God…
(Rev. 15:1 & 7)
The Five Month Problem
This is a major eschatological breakthrough! The 5 month problem is clearly resolved (Rev. 9 under the 5th trumpet) in that the earthlings (“they that dwell on the earth”) are within this First Woe simply held “responsible” (the number 5) for their own iniquitous behaviors. They cannot die. All the forces of hell are released during this 30 days. All the hosts of the abyss, and those in rebellion, are gathered together for “My Sacrificial Meal” (Ezek. 39) or “The Supper of the Great God” (Rev. 19:17) during the same time frame: 30 days.
“And to them it was given that they should not kill them,
but that they should be tormented five months…
And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it;
and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails:
and their power was to hurt men five months.”
(Rev. 9: 5-6 & 10)
“Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou,
and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee:
I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort,
and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.”
(Ezek. 39:4)
“And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice,
saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven,
Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains,
and the flesh of mighty men…
and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.”
(Rev. 19:17
Seven Trumpets as One
The 7 Trumpets must be seen as 7; but 1. And that is precisely why, when they “blast,” one sees but one trumpet in seven manifestations; just as one sees 7 Churches, but One Church; just as one hears of the 7 Spirits of God, but knows most surely there is but One Spirit of the Living God – not 7 separate Spirits in that sense!
And, again, that is precisely why “when they sound,” one immediately hears the “sounding of the LAST TRUMP along with all the others; just as one sees 7 churches all at once; but sees but One Church – one candlestick. One menorah in Zechariah 4 - 7 churches in Revelation 1 - two lampstands in Revelation 11. They are all but oneOne; “signified’ to us so we may understand their import. Zechariah 4: 7 manifestations – 7 conduits per 7 lamps; but Zechariah saw only one lampstand. 7 churches; but really only ONE CHURCH, because it is the SAME CHURCH. Two lampstands; but really only one, because the church is a witness for the Lord.
“I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold,
with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon,
and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
And two olive trees by it…
These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”
(Zech. 4:2-3 & 14)
“”I saw seven golden candlesticks;
And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man…
the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.”
(Rev. 1:12-13 & 20)
“These are the two olive trees,
and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.”
(Rev. 11:4)
For the first time, this is so incredibly clear to me… Therefore, Revelation 9 ends on the Sixth Trumpet at the “great river Euphrates” because Babylon is to be judged – all within the 30 days! Then, Revelation, chapters 10 & 11: the Revelation of Witness and Testimony is the responsibility of God’s people. We can all prophesy. We must eat the little book and TESTIFY; and it will be costly.
But, at the end of the 3.5 days, the 42 months of trampling down the Holy City; the 1260 days; the 3.5 years; the time, times and half a time – and note, not 1263.5 days; but at the end of the 3.5 days, the RESURRECTION and the RAPTURE take place – for the Wrath of the Lamb ensues. And, that is precisely why it mentions in Revelation 11:15: “THEN the seventh angel sounded;” but the SINGULARITY OF THE TRUMPET has been “going off” throughout because they are all but One – even as the Lord is the “Seven-fold Spirit.”
Therefore, the JUDGMENT OF GOD IS PERFECT and, therefore, the 45 days of blessing ensues – the Second Coming of Christ with all his saints. We return to rule and reign with Christ a thousand years.
Two Women
Revelation 12 speaks of the “Universal Woman” – from Eve to the present. She and her offspring are under preservation, persecution, perseverance because of their prophetic witness. Of course, I see them as Israel and the Church who both show up again in the woman: the Bride of Messiah. Not TWO BRIDES; but one Bride – the Holy City, New Jerusalem.
“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun…
and upon her head a crown of twelve stars…
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle,
that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place,
where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time,
from the face of the serpent.
And the dragon was wroth with the woman,
and went to make war with the remnant of her seed,
which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
(Rev. 12:1, 14 & 17)
“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem,
coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And there came unto me one of the seven angels…
and talked with me, saying,
Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.
And he carried me away in the spirit…
and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem,
descending out of heaven from God.”
(Rev. 21:2 & 9-10)
So, Revelation 12 is the prophetic view of her/offspring witness and testimony throughout the ages; but in particular for the 1260 days; the time, times and half a time; the 42 months; the 3.5 days; the 3.5 years – then Revelation 13: the Beast and Second Beast – Revelation 14: again, the 144,000 (Church) on the Heavenly Mt. Zion (not on the earth; for the Earth endures the Wrath of the Lamb).
Even so, there is the Great Harvest of souls taking place during the 70th Week; and even from the “multitudes in the Valley of Decision” for the “Day of the Lord” is nigh in the Valley of Decision: “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision” (Joel 3:14). Then, again, the flashback to the 30 days wherein there is the GREAT WINEPRESS OF THE WRATH OF GOD (Rev. 14:20) – again, the same time frame.
If you’re not yet clear about the GREAT WINEPRESS OF THE WRATH OF GOD, go to Revelation, chapters 15 & 16 wherein the 7 Vials of the Wrath of God (Rev. 15:1) are poured out during this “half hour” – “hour” – “day” – “30 days.” And, again, if you still aren’t clear, Revelation 16 illustrates the pouring out of the 7 Vials.
Revelation 17, 18 & 19 tells of the Judgment of Babylon – again because Revelation 16:17-21 speaks of the 7th Bowl – the FINAL WRAP-UP of the Judgment of Babylon directly at the tail-end of it all. And, she, “the great whore” (Rev. 17:1), Great Babylon, breaks up into 3 parts under the CUP OF THE WINE OF THE FIERCENESS OF HIS WRATH via the Great Earthquake; the same earthquake repeatedly mentioned – verse 19, the city splits into 3 parts.
“And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air;
and here came a great voice out of the temple of heaven,
from the throne, saying, It is done.
And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings;
and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth,
so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell:
and great Babylon came in remembrance before God,
to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.”
(Rev. 16:17-19)
In Revelation 17, Apostate Babylon is judged: the harlot. Revelation 18, Commercial Babylon is judged. Revelation 19, Political Babylon is judged: the Beast and Second Beast. And, this is precisely why this strange verse occurs just prior to the Battle of Armageddon, which is My Sacrificial Meal, the Feast of the Great God. “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed (as a fulfillment of the “Blessed is he who waits unto the 1335th day” (Dan. 12:12) is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame” for, prior to this 30 days, “we shall be changed” (I Corinth. 15:52)! Then, Revelation 16:16 and Armageddon.
“Behold, I come as a thief.
Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments,
lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.”
(Rev. 16:15-16)
[Adapted, with permission, from asecond e-mail dated January 14, 2013]
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