Jehoshua is on the throne of David in New Jerusalem and He is the King of a New Israel
In this study I will look into the identity of the sea beast, antichrist, false prophet (earth beast) and Mystery Babylon. This will not be an exhaustive verse by verse study but rather an overview. As an amillennialist with a historicist eschatology my view of who the sea beast and antichrist is must fit a perspective that spans the age of the new testament Church.
Not all amillennialists or historicist take this approach as some take the numbers 42 months, time, times and half a time, a thousand two hundred and three score days as literal for the very last period of Church history or symbolizing years meaning instead of instead of 1,260 days they believe this numbers refers to 1,260 years. Adventists determine this time period to begin in 538 AD and end in 1798 AD. I posit the numbers to be symbolic of the entire new covenant Church age. How you understand these numbers will have an influence on you in determining the identity of the sea beast, earth beast, Mystery Babylon and the antichrist. Some believe the antichrist to be a system rather than a specific individual and believe that the antichrist is one and the same as the sea beast. Some believe that it is both a system and an individual who runs that system and that the antichrist is the sea beast or head of the sea beast system. Some may identify the antichrist as the false prophet because the false prophet has obvious religious overtones. Some modern amillennialists spiritualize Revelation 13, 17 and 18 away to say that antichrist is any institution that is against the Messiah and His Church. While technically this is true it way over spiritualizes what seem to be specific information about the antichrist, false prophet and Babylon. Some of this over spiritualize is due to the fact that the identifying the identity of the beasts and Babylon can be difficult, however we are told in Revelation 1: 3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. We are actually blessed when we hear (understand) the words of the book of Revelation. We are also told in Revelation 13: 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. John tells the brethren that they with wisdom can understand the number of the beast. We will start in Revelation 11 that speaks of the time period in which these things will take place, persecution of the Church by the world. Already in chapter 1 of Revelation, John said these things were to shortly come to pass and that the time was at hand. These statements by John would be strange if prophecies of the book of Revelation were reserved for 2,000 years into the future in a literal 7 year period. Remember that the book of Revelation is codified (signified) (Rev 1:1) in symbols. This is important to understand when we read of numbers, beasts, judgments and plagues. Revelation 11:1-3 (KJV) 1And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.2But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.3And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. In verse 2, John sees the Gentiles treading the holy city for 42 months which is the same time periods mentioned in chapter 12 and 13. Remember that John identified the Church as already going through tribulation in chapter 1. John wrote Revelation in the first century. So the tribulation of the Church started in the first century and chapter 12 corroborates this. The Gentiles are unbelievers, those natural Gentiles who have been converted are grafted into the Commonwealth of Israel and are the Israel of God along with believing Jews (Ephesians 2; Galatians 6) as there is no more Jewish-Gentile distinction in the new covenant Israel. Paul confirms this and Jehoshua confirmed that this was part of His mission to make one fold (the Church) out of two sheepfolds (Jew and Gentile). With that said, the world persecutes the holy city (the Church) for 42 months which is the duration of the new covenant Church age. Futurists think that the Holy city is referring to earthly Jerusalem, however this is hard to believe since Paul described Jerusalem as a city in bondage (Galatians 5:25-26) and that the heavenly New Jerusalem was free and the mother of us all. Also the author of Hebrews said we (the Church) have no continuing city here meaning earth (Hebrews 13:14) but that we seek one to come (from heaven). Hebrews 11 stated that even the heroes of old didn't seek an earthly city but rather a heavenly one built by Jehovah God. Hebrews 12 that we as believers go to Mount Zion for our worship which he says is the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem where the Church of the firstborn is Headquartered. Revelation 21:2 describes New Jerusalem as a bride, the Church is referred to as the bride of Messiah. In verse 1 of Revelation 11 the reference to the temple of Jehovah and those who worship therein is speaking about the Church which consistently is called the temple of God in the new testament (Ephesians 2). The world has been given to the unbelievers as they are the Gentiles who are outside the temple i.e. the Church. They tread on the Church for the duration of the new covenant Church age (42 months). History has bore out that indeed the Church has been persecuted consistently by the unbelieving world throughout the new covenant Church age. Even today throughout Africa, the middle east and Asia this happening intensely. In America and Europe the persecution of believers is happening more in a cultural shift type of way where those who stand up for the faith are marginalized socially and economically but not necessarily physically. In verse 3 of Revelation 11 we learn that the two witnesses testify (prophesy) for a thousand two hundred and threescore days which is the same as the 42 months mentioned in verse 2. The two witnesses prophesy during the duration of the new covenant Church age. These are not as some suppose Moses and Elijah resurrected as the bible teaches that the heroes of old will not be made perfect (resurrection) without us (Hebrews 11:40). Moses and Elijah will be resurrected at the same time as all the other saints which is at the second advent. I have a study on the two witnesses and I show that the two witnesses are the Church as scripture teaches that the two witnesses are the office of king and priest which the Church is called a Royal (king) priesthood (1 Peter 2:9; Rev 1:5-6; Rev 5:10). Verse 3 describes the Church preaching the gospel during the new covenant era before the advent of Jehoshua. Lets now go to verses 7-11 of Revelation chapter 11: 7And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.8And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.9And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.10And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.11And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. Verse 7, Even though the beast is active against the Church from the time of Messiah's ascension onwards, there is a final increase in intensity in the persecution of the Church by the anti-Messiah. Verse 8, the martyred saints lie dead in that great city which is the same city described in Revelation 18 which is Mystery Babylon. Some say this is Jerusalem because it mentions where our Lord was crucified. This however is not so because Jerusalem doesn't match the description of Mystery Babylon detailed in Revelation 18. This should be taken as symbolic as stated by John: "the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Eygpt" This city spiritually has the characteristics of Sodom (Homosexuality), Eygpt (paganism) and Jerusalem (hatred and rejection of our Lord Jehoshua Messiah). Revelation 18 details the economic side of Mystery Babylon and the United States of America is a perfect fit. Also, the characteristics of Sodom, Eygpt and Jerusalem are rampant in America and increasing exponentially. Verse 9, we saw a time period of 42 months in verse 2 now we see a shorter time period of 3 and a half days. This like the 42 months is symbolic and indicates a shorter time period of intense persecution against the Church immediately prior to the second advent of Jehoshua. The 3 and a half days represent a brief time period right before the Son of God's coming, whereas the 42 months represent the whole of the new covenant Church age. Verse 10, those who dwell on the earth will celebrate the killing of God's people because it was the two witnesses (Church) testifying against their sin that tormented them. This will include unbelieving family members and spouses who will be glad that their loved ones have been killed. Some may think that this is unthinkable but look at the social and political climate today and see and hear the hatred that the left wing liberals have for Christians and their morals. The sentiment today in America is that you better change with the times or you will be marginalized. This marginalization is economic and social right now but the time is coming when it will become violent. We have already seen violent confrontations between liberals and conservatives. In the eyes of liberals, bible believing Christians represent all that is wrong with society. Bible believing Christians stand in the way of the Utopia the liberals desire for the world. This is because we refuse to remain silent on issues such as abortion and Homosexuality. Those that practice such sins look at Christians as a thorn in their side. Verse 11, after the 3 and a half days i.e. the brief period of intense persecution, the breath of life from God will be breathed into the martyred saints and they will stand on their feet and ascend into heaven as verse 12 states: "And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them" Many believe that this refers to the resurrection and rapture of the Church and indeed this is that event. This proves that the saints go to heaven after the resurrection and rapture not earth. Other passages in the book of Revelation confirm that the saints have a heavenly destination after their resurrection and translation from the earth. We will come back to the rest of chapter 11 later but now we will go to Revelation 12 as my primary goal is to identify the antichrist, false prophet and Mystery Babylon. Revelation Chapter 12 1And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:2And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.3And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.4And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.5And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.6And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. 7And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,8And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.9And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.10And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.12Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.13And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.14And 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.15And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.16And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.17And 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. Revelation 12 starts another cycle (recapitulation) of the events of bible prophecy as it takes us back to the birth of Jehoshua. This woman in verse 1 is the nation of Israel with the 12 stars representing the 12 tribes. Verse 2 describes the Messiah being born out of the nation of Israel, again the woman in view is the nation of Israel. The labor pains represent the very long waiting period that Israel had to endure for the arrival of their Messiah. It had been over 600 years since their had been a Davidic king on the throne. Verse 3, this dragon is Satan symbolizing his spiritual dominion of earthly kingdoms (seven heads and 10 horns). Verse 4, Satan drew away a third of the angels in his rebellion against God. Satan pictured as the Dragon sought to kill the Messiah as soon as he was born. This alludes to Herod who sought to kill Jehoshua upon hearing that the Messiah had been born. Also, the Dragon in this instance represents the Jewish religious leaders and the Romans who sought the life of Jehoshua and ended up killing him on the cross. Verse 5, the woman i.e. Israel brought forth the Messiah who was the predestined Son of God who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. This Messiah had to be of the seed of David (2 Sam 7) in order to be the rightful King (Psalm 89). Jehoshua being caught up to God's throne is a reference to His ascension into heaven. The verse actually says "caught up to God, and His throne." Jehoshua sat on God's throne on His right hand and this throne is also the throne of David (Acts 2:29-36; Heb 1:8-9; Psalm 89:37). Its the throne of David, since now, a Davidic King sits on it. The throne of David was also called the throne of Jehovah God. Verse 6, the woman "Israel" i.e the Church goes into the wilderness right after the Messiah's ascension into heaven which shows us that the 1,260 days is figurative for the new covenant Church age. There is no reason to insert a nearly 2,000 year gap as the futurists do. Some think that the woman i.e. Israel doesn't go into the wilderness until the events having to do with AD 70. I subscribe that the wilderness experience starts right after the ascension of the Messiah. Like the Israel of the old testament, the new covenant Israel sojourns and suffers and believe this began to be the case immediately once the Messiah ascended to heaven. Wilderness denotes an experience in addition to a geographical location. The new covenant Church wilderness experience is a spiritual one in nature and does not always have to be a literal location. However, because the Church is a sojourning body it will often be driven into the literal wilderness in order to hide from its persecutors. This happened when the early Messianic's in Jerusalem went to Pella to escape the events of AD 70. Also, the Messianic's were often on the run from their own non unbelieving countrymen. Paul speaks of this showing that even before AD 70 the Church was driven into the literal wilderness. Later, Christians in the Roman empire went through this suffering severe persecution under Nero, Domitian in the 1st century. There were other persecutions during the early centuries by the Roman empire up until 312 AD. Later, Arians, Albigenses, Waldenses, Huggenots and Anabaptists all experienced this. What this verse shows is that the woman i.e. the true Church was never the mainstream Church system i.e. Orthodoxy the Catholic Church meaning the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox and Protestantism/Evangelicalism. The true Church was in hiding from the time of Messiah's ascension and has always been a remnant in the wilderness not in so called Church buildings or ecclesiastical organizations. This remnant is marked by 3 main characteristics which we will address shortly. Verses 7 and 8 of Revelation 12, Michael and his angels fought against Satan and his angels expelling them from heaven, as up until Messiah's ascension the devil had access to heaven to accuse the brethren. The war symbolizes the effect of Jehoshua's exaltation upon Satan and his forces. Colossians 1:16-17 and 1 Peter 3:21-22 are good verses to go to that correspond with this verse. All angels fallen and unfallen, all dominions, powers and authorities were made subject to the Son of God upon His ascension into heaven. Verse 9, restating the effects of the war in that Satan and his angels were cast out of heaven and to the earth as a result of the Son of God's ascension into heaven and enthronement as King of Israel. Verse 10 of Revelation 12 "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." A voice in heaven is heard saying that Now salvation is come and the Kingdom of God and His Messiah. The key word is "Now" and in context this has to do with the ascension of the Messiah into heaven and His enthronement. Remember, it was because of the Son of God's ascension into heaven that Satan and his angels were cast out. The voice in heaven connects the arrival of God and Messiah's Kingdom with the casting out of Satan showing us that the ascension is in view here. There is no need to push this verse 2,000 years into the future as futurists do. Verse 11 of Revelation 12 "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." Believers overcome through faith in Messiah's death and resurrection, which frees them from the fear of death, enabling them to present a fearless testimony. Verse 12 of Revelation 12 "Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." The devil roams about like a roaring lion. The earth, since the time of Jehoshua's ascension, has Satan's full attention. His doom is sure as he has only a short time before the Son of God destroys him. Verse 13 of Revelation 13 "And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child." Right after the ascension of the Son of God, Satan starts persecuting the new covenant Church. Its important to understand this because it shows that the events of Revelation 12 started right at Jehoshua's ascension and not 2,000 years into the future. History also bears out that the persecution of the Church began right away after the Son of God ascended to heaven. Verse 14 of Revelation 12 "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." Right after the ascension of the Messiah into heaven, Satan starts persecuting the woman i.e. the Church. Right after Satan starts persecuting the Church, two wings of an eagle are given to the Church to fly into the wilderness. This is symbolic of the Church's wilderness experience and also it can be literal as often times believers have to go into hiding for fear of persecution. Again, this happens right after the Messiah's ascension not 2,000 years into the future. The reference to a time, times and half a time is the same time period mentioned in Revelation 11:2-3 "42 months and 1,260 days. The fact that this time period starts right after the Messiah's ascension into heaven shows it to be symbolic of the whole new covenant Church age. History shows that the Church has been in the wilderness far longer than a literal 1,260 days so this number is likely symbolic. Understanding that this time period starts right after the Messiah's ascension into heaven is key in a proper view of eschatology. It will help us identify the antichrist, false prophet and Mystery Babylon and who the true Church has always been. Verses 15 and 16 of Revelation 12 15And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.16And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. The flood of water represents persecution. The fact that this persecution follows the woman going into the wilderness and was also said to take place once Satan was cast out of heaven again shows us that these events started taking place right after the Son of God's ascension into heaven. This hurts the futurists doctrine as they arbitrarily put many of these things far into the future. Here is the chronology * Son of God ascends into heaven and is enthroned. *Satan and his angels are cast out of heaven right after the Messiah's ascension into heaven. *Satan persecutes the woman i.e the Church right after being cast out. *the Church goes into the wilderness right after being persecuted for 1,260 days (symbolic). * Satan sends a flood of persecution right after the woman flees into the wilderness. Nowhere in this chronology does scripture insert a 2,000 year gap but rather these events happen one right after the other and history also proves these events started taking place right after the Messiah's ascension into heaven. Verse 17 of Revelation chapter 12 "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 Jehoshua Messiah." This verse is a death blow to mainstream Orthodox Christianity as it shows that from the time of Jehoshua's ascension the Church has been a remnant and never the majority. Why is this a death blow to Orthodoxy? For one, they don't keep God's commandments as they reject the Sabbath either by saying its done away with or that Sunday replaced it. This happened in the 2nd century with what became known as the "Catholic" (universal) Church. Most if not all mainstream denominations come from the "Orthodox" family tree including the Evangelicals. The dragon i.e. Satan was wroth with the woman (the Church) which follows the chronology of sending a flood of persecution after her. Again this is all happening right after the Messiah's ascension into heaven and continues throughout the Church age. The woman is Israel and her seed is her offspring which is believers in the Son of God who make up the new covenant Israel (Galatians 6:12-18). The fact that the woman is Israel destroys the idea that "Orthodoxy" i.e. the Catholic Universal Church. This is devastating to the modern mainstream Church system which is a really a product of Constantine the Roman emperor and "Orthodoxy". The proof that the woman was never the "Orthodox Catholic system" is the fact that the remnant (small number) of the seed (believers in Messiah) of the woman (Israel, the Church) keep the commandments of God. This is an obvious reference to the 10 commandments. The 10 commandments are featured in connection with the judgment of the world twice in the book of Revelation showing us that one the main reasons for the Father's disapproval of the world is the breaking of His 10 commandments.
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