Understand current events in the light of God - Presentation of the Book (4/8)

1. Presentation of the Book

The Revelation holds the prophecies that pertain to the return and final fall of Israel. This State will never reappear again. It is the end of its time. This is what Jesus called "the age of the pagans is completely over" in Luke 21,24; which means the end of the Antichrist’s time, and, according to St. Paul, the end of "Rebellion is at work already, but in secret" (2 Thess 2,7-8). It was to warn his like. “His like” today are those who believe in Him. In fact, this Book begins as so:

“This is the Revelation (Apocalypse) given by God to Jesus Christ (gives it to Jesus) so that HE could tell His servants ( believers) about the things which are now to take place very soon; he (Jesus) sent His angel to make it known to His servant John (Revelation 1,1)…
Happy the man who reads this prophecy, and happy those who listen to him, if they treasure all that it says, because the Time is close” (Revelation 1,3).

Like many Christians, St. John was exiled to the island of Patmos in 95 A.D. by the emperor Domitian. It is on this island that he received numerous Apocalyptic visions:

“I, John… was on the island of Patmos on account of the Word of God and of witness to Jesus” (Revelation 1,9).

He reveals, at two reprisals, to have received the order from Christ to write his visions in a book: “Write down all that you see in a book, and send it to the seven Churches” (Rev 1,11). “Write down all that you see of present happenings followed by what is still to come” (Revelation 1,19). This book that John wrote is the Apocalypse. It should be well established that there are two different periods here: "the present happenings", followed by "that are still to come". The second period concerns a particular time in the future. It is our time.

Thus, this Book, which is composed of 22 chapters, is divided into two well distinct parts: a premier part that concerns John’s period, "the present happenings", and a second part that concerns a future period, "that are still to come". The mission of the second Apocalyptic messenger, the Angel of the Apocalypse (Revelation 10,1-2), is specific: to explain the prophecies that concern this second period, "the future", now accomplished and actual.

1.1. The first part

It is composed of chapters 1 to 3 and is addressed to the seven principal Churches of Asia Minor (Turkey) founded by John. It comports of exhortations to faith.

This first part, contrary to the second, is well structured. We note its logical sequence, well-ordered and rather understandable. We will not stop on these three chapters, which are not the purpose of our study.

1.2. The second part

It goes from chapters 4 to 22. It sharply contrasts from the first part, and starts as follows: “Then, in my vision, I saw a door open in heaven and heard the same voice speaking to me … saying: ‘Come up here: I will show you what is to come in the future” (Revelation 4,1). Here then, it is about future events already mentioned in Revelation 1,19.

Some think that the chapters of the second part are like those of the first. That is, that they are applicable for all times and places, and speak of the struggle against evil in general. This is not the case, since God designates a particular time after John, and a well specified place, Palestine, as shown in the verses below:

1.2.1. A particular time and a well-specified place

1. “This is the revelation given by God to Jesus Christ so that he could tell his servants about what will arrive soon” (Revelation 1,1).

2. “Now write down all that you see of present happenings, and things that are still to come (the return of the Beast)” (Revelation 1,19).

3. “Come up here: I will show you what is to take place in the future (also about the return of the Beast)” (Revelation 4,1).

4. “An Angel (Jesus)… with an enormous chain in his hand… overpowered the devil, Satan, and chained him up for a thousand years. He hurled him into the Abyss, and shut the entrance and sealed it over him… until the thousand years had passed. At the end of that time, he must be released, but only for a short while” (Revelation 20,1- 3). “When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to lead astray all the nations…” (Revelation 20,7).

5. “The Beast you have seen once was and now is not; he is yet to come up from the Abyss, but only to go to his destruction” (Revelation 17,8).

We ascertain three important points here:

The “Beast” existed in the past (“once was”), before the writing of the Revelation. This applies neither to Communism, nor to Islam, nor to Hitler, nor to nuclear weapons too
The “Beast” no longer exists in John’s time (“now is not”). We cannot therefore say that it symbolizes evil in general, as this exists always; nor to the Roman Empire, as some interpreters claim, because this empire still existed in 95 A.D.
It returns after John, since it “is yet to come up from the Abyss” (in the future). Its return coincides with the liberation of Satan (Revelation 20,7). Both come out from “the Abyss” (Revelation 11,7 / 20,1-3).

6. “Seven angels were bringing the seven plagues that are the last of all, because they exhaust the anger of God” (against the Beast, putting an end to its existence) (Revelation 15,1)

7. “Ten kings who have not yet been given their royal power but will have (in the future) royal authority… with the beast” (Revelation 17,12).

8. “Four angels that are chained up at the Great River Euphrates (Iraq) who had been put there ready for this hour of this day of this month of this year…” (Revelation 9,14-15).

It is about a well-specified place and historical moment: the Euphrates. This applies perfectly well to the international war against Iraq. Indeed the U.S.A., presided by George W. Bush senior, and their European allies had threatened this country in 1990, to intervene militarily, fixing a deadline: midnight (the hour), 15th (the day), January (the month), 1991 (the year). Effectively, this threat was immediately executed after midnight of the day announced. The international war against this country of the Euphrates is an indisputable Apocalyptic sign for all those who have a spirit of prophecy. It is the unique war in the History of the world that was fixed, in advance, “to the hour, the day, the month and the year” (Revelation 9,15). It’s a well-sounded Apocalyptic trumpet whom only the deaf cannot hear.

In highlighting the importance of this event, the Revelation mentions the Euphrates a second time as well: "The sixth angel emptied his bowl over the Great River Euphrates …" (Revelation 16,12). This second mention of the Euphrates refers to the second war launched by the United States on the 19th of March 2003 against Iraq, on the Euphrates. These two wars were launched by two American Presidents, father and son of the same name: George W. Bush (father), and George W. Bush (son).
The first, George Bush senior, is one of the "10 kings at the Beast’s disposal who have not yet been given their royal power" at John’s time (Revelation 17,12), (see next chapter about these "10 kings"). His son, George Bush Jr. – who providentially, carries the same name – is therefore the 11th king. Yet, he is one of the ten predecessors (among those whose matching name is already found), because it is his father’s work that he aspires to complete. He is therefore one of the ten kings in the same prophetic spirit by which the 8th king of the Beast is called "at the same time one of the seven", because he strives to fulfill the works of the previous seven (Revelation 17,10-11).

9. The second war against Iraq thus comes to accomplish the 2nd prophecy concerning the Euphrates (Revelation 9,14 / 16,12). It is the war of Armageddon (Revelation 16,16). The crossing of the Euphrates by “the kings of the East” will be understood at the time of its accomplishment (Revelation 16,12).

10. “The Lord God who inspires his prophets has sent his angel to reveal to his servants what is soon to take place. I (Jesus) am Coming soon” (Revelation 22,6-7).

It is clear that these events are the signs of the Time of Christ’s Return. Understand, those who can!

11. The three verses that follow indicate that the consequent Apocalyptic events are essentially of a spiritual nature: it is about the final battle between the Christ and his like versus the Antichrist and his like. This decisive battle unfolds in a specific geographical location, namely Palestine, notably Jerusalem:

“The pagans will trample on the Holy City (Jerusalem) for forty-two months” (Revelation 11,2).
“… the Beast that comes out of the Abyss is going to make war on them and overcome them and kill them. Their corpses lie in the main street of the Great City…in which their Lord was crucified” (Revelation 11,7-8). It is in Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified.
“When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to lead astray all the nations in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, and mobilize them for war… over the entire country (Palestine) and besiege the camp of the saints, which is the Beloved City (Jerusalem)” (Revelation 20,7-9).

1.2.2. The Beast is the Antichrist

All the biblical interpreters recognize that the Beast is the Antichrist whom John wrote of, and the Wicked One or the Enemy (of Christ: the Antichrist) foreseen by Paul. He must appear on the eve of Christ’s Return: John says: “The man who denies that Jesus is the Christ, he is the liar, he is the Antichrist!” (1 John 2,22).

Solely the Israelis deny that “Jesus is the Christ”, God’s Messiah. Islam proclaims this Truth. Even more so, the Qur’an recognizes that Jesus is the “Word of God and the Spirit of God” (Qur’an III; The Family of Imran,45).

Paul says: “About the Coming (the Return) of our Lord Jesus Christ… it cannot happen until has appeared the Wicked One, the Lost One, has appeared. The enemy (the Antichrist)… Surely you remember me telling you about this when I was with you?” (2 Thessalonians 2,1-5).

The Apocalyptic times are thus recognized by the reappearance of the Antichrist in Palestine, in the very heart of Jerusalem, to lead the final battle against the Christ. The latter will defeat it and the Antichrist will disappear forever (Revelation 17,8). This confirms what Jesus had already revealed to his Apostles concerning the End of Times: " When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you must realize that she will soon be laid desolate" (Luke 21,20). Let us also consider that it is the Hour of Christ’s Return.

In the parable of the fig tree, Jesus exhorts us to recognize this Time when the Beast will appear, and which precedes His Return:

“Take the fig tree as a parable: as soon as its twigs grow supple and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. So with you when you see all these things (the Beast in Palestine): know that He (the Son of Man, Jesus) is near, at the very gates” (Matthew 24,32-33).

It is therefore imperative! One should discover the identity of the Beast to realize that the Hour of Jesus’ Return has struck.

1.2.3. The Revelation: A Book of Judgment

The Book of Revelation is a book of judgment: It condemns the Beast and its allies (Revelation 14,9-11), but accords Eternal Life to those who unmask it and fight it. The judgment is presented in the following way:

“Then I saw a great white throne and the One who was sitting on it… The Books (the Holy Scriptures) lay open! And another Book (the Revelation) was opened, which is the Book of Life, and the dead were judged from what was written in the Books” (Revelation 20,11-12).

These “dead” represent the whole of humanity, plunged in the mortal darkness of ignorance; they are not the souls who left this earth for the Hereafter. All those who, from here on, hear the Message of this open Book and put it in practice, come back to spiritual Life: “Happy the man who reads this prophecy, and happy those who listen to him, if they treasure all that it says…” (Revelation 1,3). In the past, Jesus employed the same language: “The hour is coming - indeed it is already here - when the dead will hear the Voice of the Son of God, and all who hear it will live” (John 5,25). It is, of course, to retake life spiritually. It is the “1st Resurrection”, which the Revelation speaks of (Revelation 20,5). The “Small Open Scroll” comes to give this Life – to those who hear it, people of the whole world who “hear what the Spirit is saying” (Revelation 3,22).

So, this “other Book”, opened after the first, is the Revelation. It was kept closed, “sealed with seven seals in the hand of the One (God) sitting on the Throne” (Revelation 5,1). It is opened to our intelligence after the other Biblical Books, for it is the last one that has been understood. Today, as in the past with the first Apostles, Jesus returns to His new Apostles “to open their spirits to understand the Scriptures”, and particularly to the Revelation (Luke 24,45).

It should be pointed out that “the One sitting on the white Throne” (Revelation 20,11) no longer holds in His hand this Book that He kept closed in chapter 5,1 of the Revelation. The reason being that “The Lamb (Jesus) came forward to take the Scroll from the right hand of the One sitting on the throne” (Revelation 5,7), to handover to the Angel who “had in his hand a small scroll, unrolled” (Revelation 10,2), as was previously explained in chapter I. This Book (scroll) is the Apocalypse, small in volume, yet grand in Wisdom.

From the instant this “Small Book” opened (Revelation 10,2), the judgment of the world is in course: Those who take sides for the Beast, the Antichrist, be they Christians, oppose Christ; and those who fight it, be they pagans, join Christ’s spiritual army. The Divine Judgment is brought about by the Jesus’ triumph and his like, and by the definite defeat of the Beast and its allies: “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings … They are all of one mind in putting their strength and their powers at the Beast’s disposal, and they will go to war against the Lamb … but He will defeat them, He and his followers, the called, the chosen, the trustworthy … (Revelation 17,12-14) … Then I saw the Beast, with all the kings of the world and their armies, gathered to fight the Rider (Jesus) and his army. But the Beast was taken prisoner, together with the false prophet who had worked miracles on the Beast’s behalf… These two were hurled alive into the fiery lake of burning sulphur” (Revelation 19,19-21).

So, we take notice of two opposing camps: that of the Beast versus that of the Rider. The protagonists of the first camp are: the Dragon, the Beast, the ten kings and their armies.

The protagonists of the 2nd camp: the Rider, His army, the Woman, the two Witnesses, the Angel. In the following chapter, we give more ample details on the protagonists.