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| My Opinion on Bible Prophecy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Today we will discuss the Witnesses in Heaven and The Three Angelic Messengers|
The Witnesses in Heaven
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"Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mt. Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads.... and they sang, as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. These are the ones who are not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being first fruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault before the throne of God" (Revelation 14:1,3-5) After witnessing the 144,000 Jewish witnesses being sealed by God to protect them on the earth during the Tribulation, John reveals that the 144,000 will be taken to the throne of heaven to worship the Lord. Some writers suggest that these are two separate groups of people. However, the whole tenor of the book of Revelation strongly suggests that John is describing the same 144,000 Jewish witnesses. The first vision describes them in their role on earth. John's second vision describes these same witnesses after they have been supernaturally "raptured" to heaven. The fact that the specific number 144,000 is used for both groups provides the strongest indication that the same people are involved in both visions. John's phrase explaining that they "were redeemed from the earth" and 'redeemed from among men" confirms that these 144,000 are the same men we read about in Revelation 7. In Revelation 14 the 144,000 in heaven are descnbed as "not defiled with women, for they are virgins." This phrase could legitimately refer to righteous Jewish men from the twelve tribes that have been specially chosen by God to witness to the nations. The phrase 'virgins" and "undefiled" does not necessarily demand that these 144,000 be unmarried men. The sense of the passage is that they are morally and sexually pure of sinful relations with women. Since "the marriage bed is undefiied" it is possible that these are faithful, married Jewish followers of the Messiah. |
The Three Angelic Messangers
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"Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth-to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people--saying with a loud voice,'Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.' And another angel followed, saying, 'Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.' Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice,'If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. And he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.' (Revelation 14:6-10). In addition to the two witnesses and the 144,000 Jewish witnesses, Revelation declares that God will send three angels during the Great Tribulation to warn men to repent and turn from their sinful rebellion. Over the centuries many saints have wondered why God didn't simply send His angels to proclaim His Holiness by miraculously appearing in the sky to prodaim the words of God. During the terrors of the Tribulation, God will finally declare His message through angelic messengers that cannot be ignored by sinful men. The first angel will fly "in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth--to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people" (Revelation 14:6). The phrase "in the midst of heaven" indicates the second heaven, the atmosphere close to the earth. Flying close enough to the earth to be visible to mankind, this first angel will preach the same gospel of the kingdom to mankind that will be preached by the two witnesses and the 144,000. The supernatural messenger will proclaim in "a loud voice" that men must "fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come." While the Church calls men to forgiveness of sin, this angel, knowing there is little time left, will preach that the "hour of His judgment has come." The second angel will follow proclaiming "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication'' (verse 8). Flying in the midst of the heavens, this angel will proclaim the final destruction of the literal city of BabyIon. The city will become a towering inferno of fire and smoke when the seventh vial judgment is poured out from heaven. Babylon, which is being rebuilt by Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi government today, will become one of the three capitals of the Prince of Darkness during the Tribulation From the earliest history of man recorded in Genesis, Babylon has been the center of opposition to God. As the center of witchcraft and Satan worship during the reign of Antichrist, God will utterly destroy it during the Great Day of the Lord. The third angel will follow the other two angels and cry out with a loud voice to warn those living in the kingdom of Antichrist against receiving the Mark of the Beast. The angel warns,'Lf anyone worships the beast and his image, and rec~eives his mark on his forehead, or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wrath of God." (Revelation 14:9-10). The Lord's declaration about the fate of those who reject His command is final. The third angel declares, "He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presenct of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends up forever and ever" (Revelation 14:10,11). Many theologians have searched the Scriptures in an attempt to discover verses that would support their views that those who reject God's mercy might be either annihilated or placed in hell for a limited period of time. However, the clear and consistent teaching of the Bible, as we read in the above passage, Revelation 14:10,11, is that the punishment of sinners who refuse God's salvation is an eternity in hell. Jesus Christ spoke | about the horrors of hell far more than He spoke of the glories of heaven. Jesus paid the awesome price of His crucifixion on the Cross because He knows that the destiny of unrepentant men and women will be an eternity in hell.
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