In this week’s study, I continue in Chapter 16 verses 15 to 19.
Quote by Voltaire “To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.”
Comparing Matthew 24 to Revelation16
How do we know that the events remaining in the 7th Vial – great earthquake, Babylon is judged, mountains and islands are moved and great hail – are what happens at Armageddon? All we have to do is compare them with Ezekiel 38:18-22. Ezekiel 38 is the Battle of Gog and Magog. We compared this with the 7th Vial and found that it was one and the same. In both cases there is a great earthquake, mountains and islands move and there are great hailstones. We definitely know that the items remaining in the 7th Vial are Armageddon!
In chapter 11, we saw that the two witnesses in Jerusalem will be prophesying and pronouncing plagues upon the earth during the 1260 days of the great tribulation (Rev 11:3), and those plagues shall do enormous harm to the earth. The plagues will stop when Antichrist finally succeeds in killing the two witnesses (Rev 11:7). In response to their deaths, the unbelieving world bursts into joyous celebration. In their minds, Antichrist will have saved the world. For the unbelieving world, this will be a time of victory, relief, and praise for Antichrist.
The 1260 days in which the two witnesses served on earth corresponds to the 42 months given for Antichrist to reign on earth (Rev 13:5). When the two witnesses ascend to heaven, it marks the conclusion of both (1) their 1260 days of service and (2) Antichrist’s 42 months to reign as king.
As Antichrist’s reign ends, Yahshua Messiah’s reign begins (Rev 11:17). What happens next is that Antichrist’s kingdom shall be forcibly taken away and destroyed forever (Dan 7:26). This transition takes place during the Day of the Lord, which corresponds to the period in which the bowl events strike the earth.
This morning we will pick up this wrath of Yahweh beginning with verse 16.
16 they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon – The invading kings gathered in a place called “Har-Magedon” (or “Armageddon”). The name comes from the Hebrew words: “Har Megiddo” which means “Hill of Megiddo”.
He - rather, 'they (the three unclean spirits) gathered them together.' "He" (if retained) will refer to Yahweh giving them over to the delusion of the three unclean spirits, or else the sixth angel ( Rev. 16:12).
The Seventh Vial (16:17-21).
17. Upon the air (epi ton aera). All men breathe the air and this is worse than the smiting of the earth (Rev. 16:2), the sea (Rev. 16:3), the fresh waters (Rev. 16:4), the sun (Rev. 16:8).
Now keep in mind that John may be talking about the spiritual realm at this point.
A great voice = The voice of Yahweh as in verse 1.
It is done = Perfect active indicative of ginomai. Like Gegonan in Rev. 21:6. The whole series of plagues is now complete.
18. voice ... thunders ... lightnings =This is the same close as that of the seven seals and the seven thunders; but with the difference that they do not merely form the conclusion, but introduce the consequence, of the last vial, namely, the utter destruction of Babylon and then of the Antichristian armies. Similar results take place at the opening of the seventh Seal (8:5); and at the sounding of the seventh Trumpet (11:19).
earthquake = which is often preceded by a gloomy state of air, such as would result from the vial poured upon it.
men were — so agrees with the manuscripts B, Vulgate, Syriac, and Andreas. But manuscript A and Coptic read, “A man was.”
so mighty = “such as is or that is.”
Join me as we go Chapter by Chapter, Verse by Verse, Unraveling the Words of Yahweh!
