The Great Tribulation – distress for the faithful or for the world?
Table – The Great Tribulation – classified by events.
The distress of the faithful in Jesus.
The first beast, the Antichrist.
The Antichrist kills the two witnesses in Jerusalem.
The conquest and dispersion of
Jerusalem.
Is there a connection between environmental catastrophes and cultural development?. / Discourse 1133
The "Great Tribulation" is the period, with which the
last days set in. The first half of this period of time (the beginning of birth
pangs) is characterized by the worldwide catastrophes and the two witnesses of
God in Jerusalem, who are killed at the conquest and dispersion of Jerusalem by
the Antichrist. The subsequent three and a half years are the time of the reign
of the Antichrist and of the persecution of the faithful in Jesus.
The last event of this period is the Great Darkness, which already announces the
next period, the "Day of the Lord" with the eclipse of the celestial bodies.
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Postscript: (See also Discourse 05: "The
parallel course of events of Mt 24 and Rev 6 and 7") In this connection we also come to realize, on the
basis of 2The 2,1-4 and Rev 13,1-11, that there cannot be just one
Antichrist who will dominate in the Last Days, but two: a human
dictator (the rider on the white horse, Rev 6,1-2) in the Great
Tribulation (Rev 6,1-8; Mt 24,1-25) and a demonic spiritual being
(the beast from the sea, Rev 13) on the Day of the Wrath of God. (See also Discourse 86: "The
first and second Antichrist.") In view of the fact, however, that this new point of
view in principle only results in transpositions in the temporal
sequence of events, while the content – apart from a few
exceptions – essentially remains the same, the documents based on
the old interpretation (taking these indications into account)
remain fully valid and so have been retained here. A summary of the
changes may be found in Discourse 48. (See also Discourse 48: "An
alternative view on the sequence of events in the Last Days.") |
In the circles of many faithful the Great Tribulation is
well-known as the center of two divergent views on Rapture. On the one hand the
view of pretribulationism, that is to say the teachings of the Rapture before
the Great Tribulation, and on the other hand the view of posttribulationism,
that is to say the teachings of the Rapture after the Great Tribulation.
In this connection it is over and over again interesting to see that here, on
both sides, the argumentation is put forward in a very committed way and with
much knowledge of the Scriptures, but that nevertheless – as it seems – in most
cases an essential and central aspect in the discussion is left out of
consideration or possibly taken for granted that it is known. Namely the Great
Tribulation itself and the events, which dominate this phase of the last days
and which lend its name to it.
The prevalent opinion concerning this question is the interpretation which
believes that the Great Tribulation is the persecution of the faithful (Mt
24,21-24) under the reign of the Antichrist, followed by the return of the Lord
and the "gathering of the elect" (Mt 24,30-31).
Other exegetes on the other hand proceed from the assumption that the Great
Tribulation is identical with the "Day of the Lord" (John F. Walvoord,
"Focal points of biblical prophecy", page 246) and is thus a time of
worldwide catastrophes with an eclipse of the celestial bodies, etc. according
to Joel 2,28-32, and therefore set the Rapture before this, their interpretation
of the Great Tribulation.
In order to clarify this question – as far as possible – we want to examine it
in some more detail.
We proceed from the text of the Scriptures, which is usually
quoted in connection with the "Great Tribulation", namely Mt 24,15-28:
There will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now.
Mt 24,15 "Therefore when you see the
abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet,
standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 24,16 then those who are
in Judea must flee to the mountains. 24,17 "Whoever is on the housetop must
not go down to get the things out that are in his house. 24,18 "Whoever is
in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 24,19 "But woe to those
who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 24,20
"But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath.
24,21 "For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not
occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.
24,22 "Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been
saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 24,23
"Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There
He is,’ do not believe him. 24,24 "For false Christs and false prophets
will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible,
even the elect. 24,25 "Behold, I have told you in advance.
24,26 "So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not
go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them. 24,27
"For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the
west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 24,28 "Wherever the corpse
is, there the vultures will gather. Mt 24,15-28;
The designation "distress" in some texts for the
tribulation is not surprising, these are only synonyms for one and the same
Greek word. So, here there is talk about a great tribulation "such as has
not occurred since the beginning of the world until now". Therefore the
question arises, what the contents, the nature of this distress is. Are the
events mentioned after this statement the exclusive characteristics of this
time? If this were the case, the great tribulation would then be a time of
temptation of the faithful by false Christs and false prophets. Or are these
phenomena of this time only the consequence of another, considerably greater
event?
Now we have some verses before that also the mention of a
"tribulation":
And you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
Mt 24,9 "Then they will deliver you to
tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations
because of My name. 24,10 "At that time many will fall away and will
betray one another and hate one another. 24,11 "Many false prophets
will arise and will mislead many. Mt 24, 9-11;
Also here the false prophets are mentioned and therefore one
could assume that these two texts – Mt 24,9-14 and Mt 24,21-27 – are quite
simply parallel passages of one and the same event and are to be seen side by
side or "in one another" at the exegesis, as represented in the
following.
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We see that in both passages there is not only talk about a
tribulation and about false prophets, both texts also stretch in their
statements as far as to the "end". One of the passages from the
Scriptures concludes with the coming of the Lord, which – according to Mt
24,29-30 – completes the tribulation, and the other one says expressly
"then the end will come", namely the end of this tribulation, and
hints with that indirectly at the coming of the Lord, too.
Then the text goes on, subsequent to verse Mt 24,28, with the signs of the
celestial bodies:
After the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.
Mt 24,27 "For just as the lightning comes from
the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
24,28 "Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
24,29 "But immediately after the tribulation of those days the
sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars
will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
24,30 "And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky,
and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of
Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. Mt 24,27-30;
With that we have in verse 29 the third hint at a tribulation in
this chapter. We proceed from the assumption that this is a reference to the
"Great Tribulation" from verse 21, which is already terminated here
("but immediately after the tribulation") and that with that
the announcement from verse 27, namely the coming of the Son of Man, becomes
reality now in verse 30.
However, the parallelism of the first two texts from Mt 24,9-14 and 21-27 is
over and over again doubted because of a relatively small difference of the
statements. In Mt 24,9 there is talk about a "tribulation", whereas in
Mt 24,21 it says "then there will be a great tribulation". We
will touch upon this difference below.
So, according to this interpretation the Great Tribulation is a time of
temptation of the faithful and the elect by false prophets and false Christs.
Those who do not let themselves be tempted, will be persecuted and killed.
So, as far as this is concerned, this text seems to be unambiguous and the
connection seems to be clear, if there were not a hint in Mt 24,21 at quite a
particular characteristic of this tribulation:
Mt 24,21 "For then there will be a great
tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until
now, nor ever will. Mt 24,21;
And this statement is also corroborated by the parallel text
from Dan 12,1-2:
A time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time.
Dan 12,1 "Now at that time Michael, the great
prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there
will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until
that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in
the book, will be rescued. 12,2 "Many of those who sleep in the dust of the
ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and
everlasting contempt. Dan 12, 1- 2;
We see here in Dan 12,1-2 an unambiguous parallel to Mt 24,21.
In both texts, in the Old Testament as well as in the New Testament, this Great
Tribulation is called a time of distress, such as has not occurred since the
beginning of the world until now. And no matter how dreadful scenes of horror
one may imagine under the persecution of the faithful, one will not find any
atrocities, which have not been already committed to men by other men in the
course of history.
Especially the people of Israel has already endured all sufferings in its past
which people can inflict upon each other. No matter if these were now the
tortures of the faithful Jews under Antiochus Epiphanes, which we can look up in
the Epistles to the Maccabees (2Mac 7,1-42), the conquest of Jerusalem by the
crusaders, the pogroms against the Jews in the whole of Europe or the crime
against the Jewish people at our time, under Hitler, to mention only a few.
But also the distress of the Christians, starting with the persecution of
Christians in the Roman Empire, via the inquisition of the Roman Church up to
the Counter-Reformation, has already contained all sorts of torments, such as
mauling by wild beasts, tortures in the "embarrassing interrogation"
or burnings at the stake.
One can torment individual persons or also an entire people "only" up
to death. And precisely this has already all too often happened in world
history. Therefore, an aggravation "such as has not occurred since the
beginning of the world until now" is not conceivable under the title of a
persecution of people alone.
But there is still a further hint in the text of Mt 24, which makes it seem
advisable, to see the Great Tribulation not only as a distress for the faithful.
It says there in
Mt 24,22 "Unless those days had been cut
short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect
those days will be cut short. Mt 24,22;
So, if those days will be cut short "for the sake of the
elect", this implies that there are also non-elect at that time and that
those also have to be affected by that distress. This is also confirmed by the
first part of the sentence, where it says that "no life" would be
saved. Under the designation "no life" now faithful as well as godless
are to be subsumed. And after all, the godless cannot be persecuted because of
their faith in Christ.
So, in terms of logical consistency, this kind of distress – namely the
persecution of the faithful – cannot be the "Great Tribulation" such
as "has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever
will".
But what is now this Great Tribulation? Possibly the global, the worldwide
aspect of this distress is lacking here. An aspect, which we might make out in
the second line of interpretation mentioned above. There one thinks that by the
Great Tribulation those worldwide catastrophes have to be understood which will
shake the world on the Day of the Lord.
Out of the many hints which we have in the Scriptures about that time, only two
shall be mentioned here:
The great and awesome day of the LORD.
Joel 2,31 "The sun will be turned into
darkness And the moon into blood Before the great and awesome day of the LORD
comes. 2,32 "And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of
the LORD Will be delivered; For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem There will be
those who escape, As the LORD has said, Even among the survivors whom the LORD
calls. Joel 2, 31-32;
A great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth.
Rev 16,17 Then the seventh angel poured out his
bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne,
saying, "It is done." 16,18 And there were flashes of lightning and
sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there
had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it,
and so mighty. Rev 16,17-18;
Also here above in Rev 16,18 the great earthquake – just as the
Great Tribulation in Mt 24,17 and/or Dan 12,1 – is provided with the attribute
"such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth". And
here one has for the first time really the impression that these will be
catastrophes such as have not occurred so far.
However, also this interpretation of the Great Tribulation cannot be seen
without a contradiction. The "Day of the Lord" which is mentioned in
this text, is preceded by the "great darkness" mentioned in Mt 24,29.
The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky.
Mt 24,29 "But immediately after the
tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not
give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the
heavens will be shaken. Mt 24,29;
Also in the Old Testament we have hints at this special event:
The great day of the LORD is a day of clouds and thick darkness.
Zeph 1,14 Near is the great day of the LORD,
Near and coming very quickly; Listen, the day of the LORD! In it the warrior
cries out bitterly. 1,15 A day of wrath is that day, A day of trouble and
distress, A day of destruction and desolation, A day of darkness and gloom, A
day of clouds and thick darkness, 1,16 A day of trumpet and battle cry
Against the fortified cities And the high corner towers. Zeph 1,14-16;
But now it says above, in Mt 24,29, "But immediately after
the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened …".
According to that the "Day of the Lord" starts with the darkening of the sun and the moon only
after the tribulation of those days and consequently cannot be its contents therefore.
The temptation and persecution of the faithful or also of other people according
to Mt 24,9-14 cannot exclusively be the event, of which it says in Mt 24,21,
"then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the
beginning of the world until now, nor ever will", because there is no
conceivable qualitative aggravation of torture and torment of man, which would
not have been already committed to man by man in the history of mankind.
The possibility of a "quantitative" interpretation of this distress -
that is to say of the dying away of the people of the whole world "like
gnats" (Isa 51,6; / RSV) – would fit better into this picture and would
also be to be made out at the events on the "Day of the Lord" in the
Scriptures. The fact, however, that this period of time starts only after the
Great Tribulation according to Mt 24,29, proves it as an independent event
taking place afterward and prevents that it is interpreted as the contents of
the event of the Great Tribulation itself.
Therefore we want to have a look at the passage under discussion
in Mt 24,21 once more:
Mt 24,21 "For then there will be a great
tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until
now, nor ever will. Mt 24,21;
It can by no means be inferred from this statement that this
tribulation should be only restricted to the faithful. The hint "such as
has not occurred since the beginning of the world" on the contrary rather
seems to point to the fact that this is a unique event worldwide. It is true
that the immediate context hints at the temptation of the faithful, however, it
does not mention with a single word that these temptations should at the same
time also represent the "Great Tribulation".
Solely in the text of Mt 24,9 we have the statement "Then they will deliver
you to tribulation, and will kill you". And here the question which has
already been touched upon above arises again: Are the texts of Mt 24,9-14 and
24,21-27 to be seen as parallel and are consequently both mentions of a
tribulation to be seen as identical or not? Considering the argumentation just
put forward, we can identify Mt 24,9-14 unambiguously as the distress of the
faithful, whereas Mt 24,21-27 seems to represent rather a "Great
Tribulation" with worldwide catastrophes.
And also another passage of the Scriptures is concerned with worldwide
catastrophes, which deals with the last days as well – in fact even exclusively:
In the Revelation of John we do not only have the announcement of the most
dreadful judgments of God, which shall come over the earth, we have there also a
text, which must not be overlooked in connection with the Great Tribulation.
Here, in Rev 7, 9-17, John sees a great multitude from all peoples in heaven,
standing before the throne of God.
These who come out of the great tribulation, they will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore.
Rev 7,9 After these things I looked, and behold, a
great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and
peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed
in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; 7,10 and they cry out
with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb."
7,11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders
and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne
and worshiped God, 7,12 saying, "Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and
thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever.
Amen." 7,13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "These who
are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come
from?" 7,14 I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to
me, "These are the ones who come out of he great tribulation, and
they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
7,15 "For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve
Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His
tabernacle over them.7,16 "They will hunger no longer, nor thirst
anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; 7,17 for the Lamb
in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to
springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their
eyes." Rev 7, 9-17;
It is one of the twenty-four elders, who reveals to John that
this great multitude before the throne "from every nation and all tribes
and peoples and tongues", represents those people, "who have come out
of the great tribulation". So, they are obviously the faithful, who have
met their death in the Great Tribulation and who are now standing here, in
heaven, before the throne of God and who are praising God and the Lamb. This
great multitude must now not be confused with the martyrs, who get to the First
Resurrection in Rev 20,4. Those there were "beheaded", these here
obviously also died because of hunger, thirst, and great heat according to Rev 7,16.
Three statements of this passage of the Scriptures are interesting for our
considerations:
– First of all the confirmation in verse 14 that this
is really the description of the Great Tribulation. It does not need an
interpretation here, here it says unambiguously and expressly "Great
Tribulation" as we also find it in Mt 24,21.
– Second, the hint in verse Rev 7,9 that here men
"from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues" are
concerned. This is the confirmation for the opinion that the Great Tribulation
has global dimensions and cannot be restricted to a certain country or people
(e.g. Israel).
– And third, the statement from verse Rev 7,16, where
it is pointed out that these risen people "will hunger no longer, nor
thirst any more; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat". If you
look at it the other way round, this means that these people had to hunger and
thirst and suffer from the great heat of the sun while they were still alive -
namely during the Great Tribulation.
So, it is with a high degree of certainty that we can proceed
from the assumption that the text above from Rev 7,9-17 refers to the Great
Tribulation, to be more precise to exactly that great tribulation which is also
mentioned by the Lord in Mt 24,21 and which we have taken as the starting point
for our analysis. As here the faithful are already standing in heaven, before
the throne of God, they must have died in the time before that event.
Under the assumption that the prophecies of the Revelation are to be seen
chronologically – at least in this part -, the text before that, that is to say,
the text before Rev 7,9, must therefore describe those events, which we
are looking for here and which make up the contents of the Great Tribulation.
CORRECTION:The statements in Rev 7,14 and Mt 24,29 are quite consistent. This multitude from all nations -
those who have been raptured- comes out of the Great Tribulation, but: "after the tribulation of those days" (Mt 24,29), thus after the first five judgments of the seals, at the sixth seal judgment. The Great Tribulation – classified by events. (LANDSCAPE)
A further indication in support of this reading is the earlier announcement,
in Rev 6,17, that now – that is, after the sixth seal – the
Day of Wrath of God (the second part of the Great Tribulation) has arrived.
(See also Discourse 141: "The
sixth seal – the Second Coming of the Lord.) |
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If we now trace back the text from Rev 7,9 and leave the sealing of the 144,000
from Rev 7,1-8 out of consideration for the time being, we get to the breaking
of the sixth seal in Rev 6,12-17.
The sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood.
Rev 6,12 I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and
there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of
hair, and the whole moon became like blood; 6,13 and the stars of the sky
fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a
great wind. 6,14 The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and
every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
6,15 Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the
rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and
among the rocks of the mountains; 6,16 and they said to the mountains and to the
rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the
throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; 6,17 for the great day of their wrath
has come, and who is able to stand?" Rev 6,12-17;
Also here there is talk about dreadful catastrophes which are in
store for mankind. And if we compare here the statements from Mt 24,29 and Rev
6,12-13, we see the parallelism of the texts.
The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.
Mt 24,29 "But immediately after the
tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not
give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the
heavens will be shaken. Mt 24,29;
With that it is certain: Rev 6,12-13 describes the same event as
Mt 24,29 and with that we also have a further confirmation of the assumption
that the Great Tribulation must have taken place before this event of the
darkening of the celestial bodies. So, the great darkness comes already after
the Great Tribulation in the correct chronological order and the events we are
looking for must therefore be found still further back in chapter 6 of the
Revelation.
This finding also confirms the often doubted view that the Revelation has to be
interpreted here – as it is also the case with other passages -
chronologically, and that – on the basis of Mt 24,29 – both Rev 7,9-17 (the
great multitude) and Rev 6,12-17 (the darkening of the celestial bodies), mark
the Great Tribulation as an event taking place before the breaking of the sixth
seal.
(See also Table 11: "The
chronology in the Revelation of John.")
On top of that, the parallelism of the texts from Mt 24,29 and
Rev 6,12-13 gives rise to the presumption that there could be an identity
between the statements from Mt 24 and Rev 6 and the following verses, anyway.
This would not be surprising at all in so far as both prophecies do come from
one and the same mouth – namely the mouth of the Lord Jesus.
Therefore, we want to examine the statements subsequent to Mt 24,29 for an
analogy in the Revelation of John as far as contents and chronology are
concerned.
They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky.
Mt 24,29 "But immediately after the
tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not
give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the
heavens will be shaken.
24,30 "And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and
then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man
coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 24,31 "And
He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together
His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. Mt
24,29-31;
It is the coming of the Son of Man which is mentioned in Mt
24,30-31, subsequent to the darkening of the celestial bodies, as the next
event. In order to be able to localize this coming of the Lord for the gathering
of the elect in the Revelation, we make use of a prophecy of Paul, which he
conveyed to the Thessalonians and the Corinthians in his First Epistle in both
cases.
The Lord Himself will descend from heaven and we who are alive and remain will be caught up.
1The 4,16 For the Lord Himself will descend from
heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet
of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 4,17 Then we who are
alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet
the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 4,18 Therefore
comfort one another with these words. 1The 4,16-18;
The trumpet will sound, and we will be changed.
1Cor 15,51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will
not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 15,52 in a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will
sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
1Cor 15,51-52;
So, when the last trumpet sounds, the Lord will descend from
heaven and then those who are alive and remain will be changed and caught up in
the clouds to meet the Lord.
With those who "are alive and remain" the elect are meant who will be
gathered by the angels of the Lord, will be clothed with a spiritual body and
will be caught up to the Lord in heaven together with the raised dead in Christ.
What is now important for our further analysis in this prophecy of Paul, above,
in 1Cor 15,51, are three statements:
– He is speaking here of the coming of the Lord.
– The elect who are still alive and have remained are gathered.
– All of this happens when the last trumpet sounds.
The first two statements allow an assignment of these texts from
1The 4,16-18 and 1Cor 15,51-52 to Mt 24,30-31 (The coming of the Son of Man and
the gathering of the elect). The third statement of the "last
trumpet", however, gives us the hint at the last, the seventh trumpet in
Rev 11,15-19 (but see also the postscript at the beginning of this document!). At the same time we have here also the connection to Mt 24,31:
"And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they
will gather together His elect."
With that it seems to be proved that the text from Mt 24,29-31 corresponds with
the prophecies in Rev 6,12-17; 8,6-9; and 11,15-19. Consequently there is an
identity of the statements from Mt 24 and these passages of the Revelation of
John both with regard to the contents and the chronology.
Now this important finding consistently leads to the next step, namely to the
examination in how far the statements before the text from Mt 24,29 have an
analogous equivalent in the Revelation.
For this purpose we want, however, to immediately commence with the text of the
Revelation and – starting with the breaking of the first seal in Rev 6,1-2 –
compare the parallel passage, especially, however, the statements from Matthew,
chapter 24 and parallel texts.
The first seal: The conqueror on the white horse.
Rev 6,1 Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the
seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice
of thunder, "Come." 6,2 I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he
who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out
conquering and to conquer. Rev 6, 1- 2;
Basically it can be observed with the plagues of the seals that
they – just as the plagues of the trumpets and the judgment of the bowls – are
subdivided into a group of four and a group of three. Here, with the plagues of
the seals, it is the four figures from Rev 4,6-8 and 5,6-14, who call out the
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse with their plagues and send them to the earth.
In the case of the first horseman, the one on the white horse
from Rev 6,2 there are various possibilities for interpretation. Some think, by
analogy with Rev 19,11-16, where the white horses and the white clothes are to
be interpreted as the distinguishing features of the saints, and where also the
Lord Jesus rides on a white horse, followed by the army of heaven, the one who
goes out conquering is also here the Lord.
But there are some details speaking against it. "A crown (authority) is
given" to the horseman from Rev 6,2. The Son of Man already has this
authority, he is the Lord of lords and King of kings. The horseman has a bow.
The weapon of the Lord is not the bow, but the sword from his mouth (Rev 1,16;
2,12.16; 19,15.21). Moreover, the Lord would be present in this vision both as
Lamb and as white horseman and would call himself to come. Finally, this
horseman is "urged" by one of the four living creatures. It shouts at
him with a voice of thunder, "Come!" – that is to say as much as
"come on" or "hurry up". It is inconceivable that these
living creatures should command their god.
However, if one wants to be objective, one has to admit that the white horse
gives the impression that this horseman does not only bring a plague for mankind
as his successors do in the two next plagues of the seals, but that he also
represents in some way or other an authority given by God or perhaps also only
tolerated by God and initiates these subsequent events.
The second possibility would be therefore to interpret this
horseman as the Antichrist. The fact that he is called "conquering"
here in Rev 6,2, would correspond with the statement about the Antichrist in Rev
13,7 "and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was
given to him". And also the hint "authority was given to him"
fits very well together here with the one in Rev 6,2 "and a crown
(authority) was given to him".
Authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.
Rev 13,7 It was also given to him to make war with
the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people
and tongue and nation was given to him. 13,8 All who dwell on the earth
will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the
foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. Rev
13, 7- 8;
Finally, also the bow of the white horseman refers to the text
in Rev 19,17-21 and its parallel passage in the Old Testament, namely in Ezk
39,1-4, where the Antichrist is also described with a bow in his hand in the
Battle of Armageddon.
I will strike your bow from your left hand and dash down your arrows from your right hand.
Ezk 39,1 "And you, son of man, prophesy
against Gog and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am against you,
O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal; 39,2 and I will turn you around, drive
you on, take you up from the remotest parts of the north and bring you against
the mountains of Israel. 39,3 "I will strike your bow from your left
hand and dash down your arrows from your right hand. 39,4 "You will
fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are
with you; I will give you as food to every kind of predatory bird and beast
of the field. Eze 39, 1- 4;
(See also Chapter 07: "The
Battle of Armageddon.")
So, it seems to be obvious that this horseman represents the
Antichrist. But what is the white horse supposed to mean in this case?
We learn here above, in the same passage from the Scriptures Rev 13,8 that
people will worship the beast, the Antichrist. The Antichrist (this word does
not only mean "Counterchrist", but also "instead of Christ"
or – what is the same – "instead of the Messiah") will appear in the
authority and power of Satan according to Rev 13,2. The fact that people will
worship him, gives rise to the assumption that he – in the well-known satanic
way – will ape the outward appearance of the Son of God and will pretend to be
the "Messiah".
As also the true Messiah rides on a white horse from heaven in Rev 19,11, it
would be conceivable that the white horse of the Antichrist is supposed to give
us just that hint. The one who goes out conquering here in Rev 6,2 has the
authority and power tolerated by God of an angel – even if this is a fallen
angel, namely Satan. He calls himself Messiah and is worshiped by the people
whose names are not written in the Book of Life, as "Messiah", but he
is a fake.
It is true that it is the white horse – that is to say the supernatural power
and authority – but the one who is sitting on it, is not the Son of God, but the
"son of destruction", the "man of lawlessness" (2The 2,3).
But in the final analysis also this interpretation is not completely satisfying
and therefore, it is not really an explanation of the happenings round the
horseman on the white horse.
We can also observe that no connection at all can be found
between the first seal and Mt 24 and parallel passages. This could have its
reasons in the fact that the appearance of this white horseman takes place
before the "beginning of birth pangs" described in the Gospels and
therefore is not mentioned at all by the Lord in his address concerning the last
days.
While the identification as Antichrist represents the white horseman as the
primal cause and trigger of especially also the subsequent wars, one could
therefore – under the aspect of the second seal, whose horseman is given the
authority "to take peace from the earth", and the hint from 1The 5,3:
"While they are saying, ’Peace and safety!’ then destruction will come upon
them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not
escape." also take the line that consequently before, that is to say at the
time of the first seal and at the time of the white horseman, there must have
been peace.
The consequence of this would be that the white horseman would be a bringer of
peace, and that only after that time, at the time of the second seal, in the era
of the horseman on the red horse, the wars of the nations would break out among
each other. And there are also some hints which could support this theory quite
well. In the scrolls from the Dead Sea – and not only there, but also at many
passages from the Scriptures (e.g. Mal 3,23; Mt 11,14; 17,11 etc.) – Elijah is
mentioned as the one who paves the way for the Messiah. In the Jewish tradition
he is ascribed the task of the Messianic herald, who will solve all conflicts
and bring peace to the world in a miraculous way.
A rather worldly interpretation of this line of thinking sees the horseman on
the white horse as a political power – maybe a Great Power -, which "went
out conquering and to conquer" and which consequently would, in the final
analysis, unite the peoples of the world – politically or also militarily -
and thus would make peace possible on earth for a limited period of time.
A last conceivable interpretation would be the fact that this horseman from the
first seal is not at all an actual, real power or figure, but a symbol, which is
supposed to announce the forthcoming plagues of the seals, just as the last, the
seventh seal does not bring any judgments, but indicates a kind of turning point
in the development of the events.
The situation is different, however, with the following plagues
of the seals. Here, there are quite essential correspondences with the address
concerning the last days of the Lord in Mt 24 and parallel passages as we will
see immediately.
The second seal: Men will slay one another.
Rev 6,3 When He broke the second seal, I heard the
second living creature saying, "Come." 6,4 And another, a red horse,
went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the
earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to
him. Rev 6, 3- 4;
The breaking of the second seal and the hint that peace will be
taken from the earth shows on the one hand a parallelism to the statement of
Paul in his First Epistle to the Thessalonians:
While they are saying, "Peace and safety!".
1The 5,1 Now as to the times and the epochs,
brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. 5,2 For you
yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief
in the night. 5,3 While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then
destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with
child, and they will not escape. 5,4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness,
that the day would overtake you like a thief; 1The 5, 1- 4;
On the other hand, this statement of the Revelation here, in the
continuation of the texts of the Gospels, corresponds with the second warning of
the Lord in his address concerning the last days. What is meant here is the
prophecy of the "beginning of birth pangs", where there will be wars
and rumors of wars.
You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars.
Mt 24,6 "You will be hearing of wars and
rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take
place, but that is not yet the end.24,7 "For nation will rise against
nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be
famines and earthquakes. Mt 24, 6- 7; Lk 21, 9-11; Mk 13, 7- 8;
The world sinks into war. But as it seems, this will not be a
world war, but many small, locally limited wars, in which one people will fight
against the other one and one nation against the other one. They will kill each
other and during that time those people will be endangered most who have to live
as foreigners in a foreign country. With Isaiah we have a text which actually
refers to the day of wrath of the Lord, but which could also find a
prefulfillment in this time before it.
They will each turn to his own people, and each one flee to his own land.
Isa 13,14 And it will be that like a hunted
gazelle, Or like sheep with none to gather them, They will each turn to his
own people, And each one flee to his own land. 13,15 Anyone who is found
will be thrust through, And anyone who is captured will fall by the sword. Isa
13,14-15;
The third seal: increasing cost of living.
Rev 6,5 When He broke the third seal, I heard the
third living creature saying, "Come." I looked, and behold, a black
horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6,6 And I heard
something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, "A
quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do
not damage the oil and the wine." Rev 6, 5- 6;
The fact that here Rev 6,5-6 actually deals with famines,
emerges quite unambiguously from verse 6: A quart of wheat or three quarts of
barley for a denarius. The "quart" means a daily ratio, that is to say
a daily ration for one man. The "denarius" was at that time the daily
wages of a worker (Mt 20,2) and one can assume that here the costs of foodstuffs
have gone up to ten times as high according to the circumstances of that time.
Also these plagues were already announced by the Lord in his address concerning
the last days to his Disciples. There will be great earthquakes and famines and
epidemics in various places ("across the regions") and great signs
will occur from heaven.
And in various places there will be famines.
Mt 24,7 "For nation will rise against nation,
and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and
earthquakes. 24,8 "But all these things are merely the beginning of birth
pangs. Mt 24, 7- 8; Lk 21,10-11; Mk 13, 8;
What was now the cause of this famine? Some people think it was
a consequence of the second plague of the seals and the wars and devastations of
the land connected therewith. We even would have to assume this unless we had an
indirect hint at another cause.
In the second half of the sentence of Rev 6,6 it says, "and do not damage
the oil and the wine!". That means the vines and the olive trees will be
spared. So, if this famine were a consequence of the acts of war, such an
avoidance could hardly be possible. Therefore, there must be another cause of
this food shortage.
If we proceed from the assumption that this third seal implies an independent
judgment and is not only a consequence of the preceding judgment, the assumption
seems to be justified that this must be a period of drought for a longer period
of time.
This is also confirmed by the following consideration: When we take a closer
look at verse 6, we see that grain is on the market all right, but in a very
little amount. This is also the reason for the high price. This may be grain
from regions where the weather was favorable and where it was still possible to
harvest (this is insinuated by Lk 21,11 "in various places
famines"), or it is quite simply stock from the time before the drought,
which are now sold at a high profit.
Also the fact that grain is affected all right, but not wine and oil rather
hints at a longer period of drought, which becomes apparent immediately with
grain, whereas a limited period of drought does not damage vines and olive trees
to that extent.
And such a long period of drought is known to us from the two witnesses, who
appear just at that time and will shut up the sky for three and a half years.
The mention of the great signs from heaven in Lk 21,11 seems to be an
anticipation of Lk 21,25 and the parallel passages to that in Mk 13,24 and Mt
24,29, the latter ones, in turn, having their correspondence in the sixth seal,
where the celestial bodies will also be darkened and where the stars will fall
from the sky.
In his address concerning the last days the Lord warns us that
during that time of the "beginning of birth pangs" many false Christs
will try to tempt people. With the assertion that they themselves were the
returned Lord and that now the special time had come, they will dissuade many
from their faith and lead them astray.
Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ’.
Mt 24,3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives,
the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these
things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the
age?" 24,4 And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one
misleads you.
24,5 "For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and
will mislead many. Mt 24, 3- 5; Lk 21, 7- 8; Mk 13, 3- 6;
However, these temptations will affect not only Christians. The
Lord says here, in Mt 24,5, "For many will come in My name, saying, ’I am
the Christ’, and will mislead many". That is to say, the name under which
these tempters will appear, is "Christ".
Now, "Christ" is only the Latin derivation from the
Greek word "Christos", by which the Hebrew term "Messiah"
(originally Hebrew: maschiach, Aramaic: meschicha) was translated in the
Septuaginta (= LXX, Greek translation of the Old Testament). Literally Messiah
means "anointed" and stands in the Mosaic faith for the glorious king
and descendant of David, who is supposed to lead Israel to world supremacy once
according to the prophecies of the Old Testament. But also the Christian faith
expects – according to the statements of the New Testament – the return of the
Lord and the accession to power in the world by the Son of God and thus also
Christ and/or the Redeemer and Savior.
These two aspects will then below, when the Antichrist appears, overlap
congruently. This man of lawlessness will be acknowledged and worshiped as
"Christ" and/or "Messiah" both by the apostate Christian
World Church and by those Mosaic Jews, who reject Jesus as the Son of God. But
here, in the time before that, at the "beginning of birth pangs",
there will be obviously not only one "Christ", but – possibly caused by
the great distress on the earth and the helplessness of men – many frauds and
charlatans, who will give themselves out to be "Christs" and
"Saviors".
Now the question arises, however, in how far these false Christs will appear as
religious or as political leaders. The expectation of the Jews will probably be
also at that time then – in a similar way as at the time of Jesus – rather a
political leader. The Christians, on the other hand, will bear the return of
their Lord in mind and it will be rather possible to tempt them with religious
motives.
The greater plausibility is, however, presented by the assumption that these two
events, the temptation by false Christs and the wars among the peoples, take
place parallel in time, but at different – namely political and religious -
levels.
This period of the Great Tribulation is, in its turn, a part of
the seventieth week of seven years. And in this seventieth week of seven years
God sends his two witnesses to Jerusalem in order to induce the discerning men
to change their ways and to repent, to prophecy their perdition to the godless
and the impenitent and to announce the judgment on the coming Day of the Lord to
the world.
And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1260 days.
Rev 11,1 Then there was given me a measuring rod
like a staff; and someone said, "Get up and measure the temple of God and
the altar, and those who worship in it. 11,2 "Leave out the court which is
outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations;
and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.
11,3 "And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will
prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."
11,4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the
Lord of the earth. 11,5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of
their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must
be killed in this way.
11,6 These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall
during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to
turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as
they desire. Rev 11, 1- 6;
Apart from the hint here in Rev 11,2 at the temple and the
statement that these two witnesses will prophecy in the "holy city",
we also perceive below, in Rev 11,8, that Jerusalem is meant here. There it says
that their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically
is called Sodom and Egypt, "where also their Lord was crucified".
At the same time it can be also inferred from this text that
Jerusalem will be at that time anything else but a city of God. Although the
population is made up of Jews by birth, the major part – as it is also the
case today, by the way – will be godless and consequently count – according to
Rev 11,1-2 – as Gentiles just as the faithless, non-Jewish population.
Even if Jerusalem is compared to Sodom and Egypt in that time to come, or maybe
just because of that, the Lord considers it necessary to have his two witnesses
prophesied precisely in Jerusalem. And although the contents of their prophecies
is not mentioned, one can find out from the context that they will warn men of
the forthcoming Judgment of God, the Day of the Lord and that they will exhort
them to change their ways.
In spite of all the love for the land and people of Israel we must be aware of
the fact that today a major part of the people of Israel is not a "people
of God" from God’s point of view. And this does not only concern those
Israelites, who are – especially in the cities – completely godless, but in
particular also the religious, orthodox Jews, who reject Jesus as the Messiah -
as their fathers did. Already Paul says of them:
For the heart of this people has become dull, and with their ears they scarcely hear.
Acts 28,25 And when they did not agree with one
another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, "The
Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, 28,26
saying, ‘go to this people and say, "you will keep on hearing, but will
not understand, and you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;
28,27 for the heart of this people has become dull, and with their ears they
scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes ; otherwise they might see
with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and
return, and I would heal them."‘ Acts 28,25-27;
But their minds were hardened.
2Cor 3,14 But their minds were hardened; for
until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains
unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. 2Cor 3,14;
And with the prophet Hosea we find one of the many appeals to
Israel to return to its God, which even today are still unheard.
Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God.
Hos 14,1 Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God,
For you have stumbled because of your iniquity. 14,2 Take words with you and
return to the LORD. Say to Him, "Take away all iniquity And receive us
graciously, That we may present the fruit of our lips. Hos 14, 1- 2;
But also at the worldly level Israel hardly differs from the
rest of the world today. Many politicians of Israel are just as corrupt and
godless as the politicians of other countries. Today they lay claim to the land
of Palestine with military means, which, however, has never been promised
precisely to them – the faithless, that is to say the Gentiles. This promise
was and is meant exclusively for the people of God and the Israel that confesses
its God and his son Jesus, the Christ and Messiah and that also acts
accordingly. It is this blessed people of God that will only convert at the
return of our Lord, at the coming of their Messiah, to whom we must extend our
joyful hope and fraternal affection.
The identity of the two witnesses is not mentioned expressly,
however, the accompanying circumstances of their appearance remind us very much
of Elijah and Moses. One time it is Moses and Elijah, who are seen by Peter,
John, and James in a transfigured apparition, when they were standing with the
Lord on a high mountain and when the Lord was talking with Moses and Elijah
about his forthcoming end in Jerusalem.
And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah.
Lk 9,30 And behold, two men were talking with
Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, 9,31 who, appearing in glory, were
speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 9,32
Now Peter and his companions had been overcome with sleep; but when they were
fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him. 9,33 And as
these were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to
be here; let us make three tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and
one for Elijah – not realizing what he was saying. Lk 9,30-33;
It can be concluded from that that these two servants of God are
already in heaven with God. Then we read in the Scriptures that Elijah had
already once – during his life on earth – shut up the sky in Israel for
likewise exactly three years and six months (as in Rev 11,6), so that it did not
rain.
In the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months.
Lk 4,25 "But I say to you in truth, there were
many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for
three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land; 4,26
and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of
Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. Lk 4,25-26;
Jam 5,17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed
earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three
years and six months. 5,18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain and
the earth produced its fruit. Jam 5,17-18;
1Kg 17,1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of
Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I
stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my
word." 17,2 The word of the LORD came to him, saying, 17,3 "Go
away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which
is east of the Jordan. 17,4 "It shall be that you will drink of the brook,
and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there." 1Ki 17, 1- 4;
And on the other hand it was Moses, who, too, already once, by
the order of the Lord, turned the waters of the Nile to blood in Egypt, in order
to prove that he was speaking in the name of the Lord.
The water that is in the Nile will be turned to blood.
2Mo 7,17 ‘Thus says the LORD, "By this you
shall know that I am the LORD: behold, I will strike the water that is in the
Nile with the staff that is in my hand, and it will be turned to blood.
7,18 "The fish that are in the Nile will die, and the Nile will become
foul, and the Egyptians will find difficulty in drinking water from the Nile.""
Ex 7,17-18:
2Mo 4,8 And the LORD said to Mose,
"If they will not believe you or heed the witness of the first sign, they may believe the witness of the
last sign. 4,9 "But if they will not believe even these two signs or heed
what you say, then you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the
dry ground; and the water which you take from the Nile will become blood on the
dry ground." Ex 4, 8- 9;
Also the prophecies in the Old Testament and in the New
Testament that the prophet Elijah is supposed to come before the Day of the
Lord, in order to clear the way for the Lord and in order to restore the hearts
of the fathers and the sons to each other, are an important hint here.
I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the terrible day of the LORD.
Mal 4,5 "Behold, I am going to send you Elijah
the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. 4,6
"He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts
of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land
with a curse." Mal 4, 5- 6;
Mal 3,1 "Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he
will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly
come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight,
behold, He is coming," says the LORD of hosts. Mal 3, 1;
Isa 40,3 A voice is calling, "Clear the way for the LORD in
the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. 40,4 "Let
every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the
rough ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley; 40,5
Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together;
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." Isa 40, 3- 5;
In the above passage from Isaiah, Isa 40,3-5, we find the first
hint at the geological upheavals on the Day of the Lord. However, these radical
changes of the earth’s surface in Isa 40,4 affect for the time being only the
land of Israel, which becomes one single plain from Geba to Rimmon.
(See also Chapter 08: "The
reorganization of heaven and earth.")
And the Lord Jesus reveals to us below, in Mt 11,10-14, that the
spirit of Elijah had already come in John the Baptist and that the kingdom of
peace could have started already nearly two thousand years ago. However, at that
time only Israel, as the elected people, would have been saved. Due to the fact
that Israel did not want to acknowledge the Messiah at that time, these promises
passed over to the faithful in Christ of the whole world.
It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah.
Lk 1,13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be
afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth
will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. 1,14 "You
will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 1,15 "For
he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor,
and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.1,16
"And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.
1,17 " It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and
power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children and
the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people
prepared for the Lord." Lk 1,13-17;
This is the one about whom it is written, ‘behold, I send my messenger ahead of you’.
Mt 11,10 "This is the one about whom it is
written, ‘behold, I send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your
way before you.’ 11,11 "Truly I say to you, among those born of women
there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one
who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Mt 11,10-11;
And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come.
Mt 11,12 "From the days of John the Baptist
until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by
force. 11,13 "For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 11,14
"And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to
come." Mt 11,12-14;
But I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him.
Mt 11,12 "But I say to you that Elijah already
came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished.
So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." 11,13 Then the
disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist. Mt
17,12-13;
And finally we learn in Zech 14,11-14 also where these two
witnesses, who are called "the two olive trees" in Rev 11,4, come
from. These two anointed ones are standing on both sides of the Lord in heaven.
These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.
Rev 11,3 "And I will grant authority to my two
witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in
sackcloth." 11,4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands
that stand before the Lord of the earth. Rev 11, 3- 4;
The two olive trees are the two anointed ones who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth.
Zech 4,11 Then I said to him, "What are these two
olive trees on the right of the lampstand and on its left?" 4,12 And I
answered the second time and said to him, "What are the two olive branches
which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from
themselves?" 4,13 So he answered me, saying, "Do you not know what
these are?" And I said, "No, my lord." 4,14 Then he said, "These
are the two anointed ones who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth."
Zech 4,11-14;
During the days of their prophesying in Jerusalem the two
witnesses are invincible. If anyone attacks them, fire comes out of their mouth
and kills their enemies. On first sight one could ask oneself who would try to
kill two men who only "prophesy" and exhort men to return to God,
anyhow.
Fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies.
Rev 11,4 These are the two olive trees and the two
lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 11,5 And if anyone wants
to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if
anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way. Rev 11, 4- 5;
But as we will see below, in the commentary to Rev 11,6, not
only the inhabitants of Jerusalem have every reason to be afraid of them, but
the whole world is looking spellbound to Jerusalem, and is waiting, who will
finally succeed in eliminating these two saints of God, who have brought about
drought, famine, and water shortage all over the world.
And the statement "if anyone wants to harm them" implies that there
will be some attempts in doing so. But these anointed ones have the spirit of
God in them and can only be defeated, after they have completed their mission.
So, these two prophets will try to "restore the hearts of
the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their
fathers". And even if their prophecies will not affect the major part of
men very much, the plagues, which the two witnesses make come over the earth on
account of their power that has been given to them by God, do that all the more.
They will shut up the sky during the time of their prophesying – that is to say
for 1260 days or 3 ½ years – so that it will not rain. They also have the power
to turn water into blood and to strike the world with epidemics and other
plagues.
Rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying and waters will turn into blood.
Rev 11,6 These have the power to shut up the
sky, so that; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood,
and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire. Rev
11,6;
The fact that this climatic catastrophe will not be a locally
restricted one, but will have worldwide effect, also follows from Rev 11,6 above
… have the power … to strike the earth …", in
particular, however, from Rev 11,10:
These two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.
Rev 11,9 Those from the peoples and tribes and
tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half
days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. 11,10 And those
who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will
send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who
dwell on the earth. Rev 11, 9-10;
So, these two prophets will effect among other things that there
will be no rain on this planet for three and a half years.
The full meaning of this statement becomes aware to us only, when it is analyzed
a little bit closer and when one tries to work out above all the consequences.
We know from comparable events at our time, e. g. in Africa (Ethiopia), that
even the absence of rain for eight to ten months means great catastrophes of
drought and famine for millions of people.
Then, however, drought and with that also famine will be worldwide. And that for
three and a half years! Also the water of the rivers will be undrinkable. Even
if it were possible to clean a part of the water by purification, this will
hardly suffice for the necessary amount of drinking water, let alone for water
for the irrigation of the desiccated fields. The consequence of that will be
famine, thirst, and worldwide deaths. Especially on account of the water
shortage epidemics and diseases such as typhoid fever, cholera, jaundice, and
others will even aggravate the situation.
On account of the statements above it is to be assumed that the whole world is
informed of the activities of the two prophets in Jerusalem, and that therefore
also the causers of this global climatic catastrophe are known to all people.
Therefore, attempts will be made to eliminate the two prophets in Jerusalem in a
joint effort. But to the dismay of everyone it will be discovered that these two
men are invulnerable. No guns, no revolvers, and no other weapons either will be
able to harm them. Well, even on the contrary, every commando that marches out
in order to eliminate them, will be destroyed up to the very last man. And with
every attack the extent of the plagues will be increased.
As the attempt to defeat the two witnesses is not successful,
the whole rage now turns against their brothers in faith. All people, who
profess God and His Son Jesus Christ, will be persecuted, arrested, and killed.
They will be hated by all nations because of the name of Jesus.
Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you.
Mt 24,9 "Then they will deliver you to
tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of
My name. 24,10 "At that time many will fall away and will betray one
another and hate one another. Mt 24, 9-10;
You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake.
Mt 10,17 "But beware of men, for they will
hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; 10,18 and you
will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony
to them and to the Gentiles. Mt 10,17-18; Lk 21,12-13; Mk 13, 9-10;
So, they will be persecuted, brought before the ruling powers,
handed over to the courts, scourged and some of them even killed. And all of
that for the sake of the name of Christ. Here, the question arises if this
persecution affects therefore all those who call themselves
"Christians" today. This question has to be answered in the negative,
however. It is precisely at such a time of persecution, when the chaff will
separate from the wheat very soon. All so-called Christians by name – as we
will see below also parents and children, and even former brothers and sisters
in the Lord – will not only fall away from the right faith, but will also
react with hatred and rage.
So, it is not the "Christian Churches" which will be persecuted – for
instance by Islam – , but it is the remaining truly faithful all over the world,
who will stand by their faith and their Lord even under tribulations and
therefore will endure betrayal, persecution, and even death.
Do not worry about how or what you are to say, for it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
Mt 10,19 "But when they hand you over, do
not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that
hour what you are to say. 10,20 "For it is not you who speak, but it is
the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. Mt 10,19-20; Lk 21,14-15; Mk
13,11;
The Lord says to his loved ones here, in Mt 10,19-20 and
parallel passages, that they shall not worry about how they are to defend
themselves, for the Holy Spirit itself will speak out of them and for them to
their judges. This will be doubly embarrassing for these judges and rulers. For
they can neither contradict nor resist this wisdom. This will probably even add
more fuel to the hatred of men toward the faithful in Jesus.
You will be hated by all nations because of My name.
Mt 24,9 "Then they will deliver you to
tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because
of My name. 24,10 "At that time many will fall away and will betray
one another and hate one another. Mt 24, 9-10;
You will be hated by all because of My name.
Mt 10,22 "You will be hated by all because
of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.
Mt 10,22; Lk 21,17-19; Mk 13,13;
Many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another.
Mt 24,10 "At that time many will fall away and
will betray one another and hate one another. Mt 24,10;
Children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
Mt 10,21 "Brother will betray brother to
death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and
cause them to be put to death. Mt 10,21; Lk 21,16; Mk 13,12;
Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.
Mt 24,11 "Many false prophets will arise and
will mislead many. 24,12 "Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s
love will grow cold. Mt 24,11-12;
But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.
Mt 24,13 "But the one who endures to the
end, he will be saved. Mt 24,13;
Who has endured to the end will be saved.
Mt 10,22 "You will be hated by all because of
My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.
Mt 10,22; Lk 21,17-19; Mk 13,13;
But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next.
Mt 10,23 "But whenever they persecute you
in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish
going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes. 10,24 "A
disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. 10,25 "It
is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like
his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more
will they malign the members of his household! 10,26 "Therefore do not
fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or
hidden that will not be known. Mt 10,23-26;
This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world.
Mt 24,14 "This gospel of the kingdom shall
be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then
the end will come. Mt 24,14; Mk 13,10;
With the fourth seal these plagues reach now their climax: wars,
drought, famine, and epidemics culminate in a singular, terrible, worldwide
catastrophe.
The fourth seal: sword, famine and pestilence kill a fourth of the earth.
Rev 6,7 When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I
heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come." 6,8 I
looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death;
and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of
the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the
wild beasts of the earth. Rev 6, 7. 8;
Death and Hades bring in the harvest. And if by this
"fourth part of the earth" the fourth of this world with the highest
population density – namely Europe, Asia, and all North Africa – is meant,
even more than half of the world population could be affected by it. But also if
by that only the fourth part of people is meant, it is more than one billion of
people, who will be carried off by wars, famine, thirst, and epidemics. People
will perish like gnats. This is now really a completely new, unparalleled
category of horror.
(See also Table 14: "The
Great Tribulation – classified by events.")
Also the additional mention here of "pestilence" and
"wild beasts" seems to be quite plausible, because this is a
consequence of the innumerable dead bodies lying round and which on the one hand
pollute the waters and the air and thereby cause diseases such as typhoid fever,
cholera, and hepatitis, but which on the other hand, of course, also lure the
ravenous animals.
With the fourth seal the first phase of the judgments of God upon this world
ends. And if the interpretation above is correct, – according to today’s level
– almost two billion people will have perished in these worldwide
catastrophes.
So we can certainly proceed from the assumption – and rightly so – that this
will be the biggest catastrophe of all times for mankind until then. Although at
the Flood also all people – except for Noah and his family – perished, the world
population in those days made up hardly more than some million people and
therefore is hardly comparable to these orders of magnitude here.
As it seems, we have made a discovery with that on our search for the
"Great Tribulation". This seems to be the "great distress upon
the earth", which the Lord is speaking of in Lk 21,23.
(See also Discourse 1133: "The Great Tribulation – God’s third and last wave of destruction.")
Now, as the world is on the verge of sinking into a chaos by
worldwide catastrophes, the time has come. Satan plays his supposed
"trump". He lets him rise from the depths of the sea.
(See also Table 06: "The
Antichrist, the ‘queen’ in the devil’s chess game.")
And the dragon stood on the sand of the sea.
Rev 12,17 Then the dragon was angry with the
woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep
the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus. And he stood on the sand
of the sea. Rev 12,17;
A beast was coming up out of the sea and the dragon gave him power, throne and great authority.
Rev 13,1 And the dragon stood on the sand of the
seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten
horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and
on his heads were blasphemous names. 13,2 And the beast which I saw was like a
leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of
a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.
Rev 13, 1- 2;
His coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,
2The 22,9 That is, the one whose coming is in
accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,
2,10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they
did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 2The 2, 9-10;
And the dragon vests the beast with his own, quite considerable
power and authority. This text reminds us now very much of Mi 5,3, where it says
of the Lord Jesus that he will arise in the strength and majesty of the Lord,
his God.
The Messiah will arise in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD His God.
Mi 5,2 "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to
be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of
eternity." 5,3 Therefore He will give them up until the time When she who
is in labor has borne a child. Then the remainder of His brethren Will return to
the sons of Israel. 5,4 And He will arise and shepherd His flock In the
strength of the LORD, In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God. And
they will remain, Because at that time He will be great To the ends of the
earth. Mi 5, 2- 4;
Here we already realize that the Antichrist will not be only a
"Counterchrist". The Greek word anti can just as correctly be
translated with "instead". And thus the assumption is obvious that
officially the Antichrist will appear to the world not as a wicked antagonist of
God, but, on the contrary, he will give himself out to be the
"Messiah" and "Christ" – of another "god",
however. He will deny God, the Lord, and his son, Jesus Christ, and will have
himself and his father, Satan, worshiped. And in order to furnish evidence for
his own genuineness, he must, of course, deny that in Jesus of Nazareth the Son
of God, the Christ and Messiah, has already become flesh.
This is the antichrist, who denies that Jesus is the Christ.
1Jn 2,22 Who is the liar but the one who denies
that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the
Father and the Son. 1Jn 2,22;
This circumstance finally also leads to the fact that every man
who believes and spreads this "wrong teachings" of Jesus as the
Christ, will be persecuted and killed.
Nevertheless, the Christians remain a great danger for the antichristian regime.
Therefore, all who have the "right" antichristian faith, must have a
mark made on their foreheads or on their right hands. Those who do not bear this
mark then and are recognized somewhere, will be arrested and eliminated.
And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast, whose fatal wound was healed.
Rev 13,3 I saw one of his heads as if it had
been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth
was amazed and followed after the beast; 13,4 they worshiped the dragon
because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast,
saying, "Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?"
Rev 13, 3- 4;
And authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.
Rev 13,7 It was also given to him to make war with
the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people
and tongue and nation was given to him. 13,8 All who dwell on the earth will
worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the
world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. Rev 13, 7- 8;
This is the antichrist, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh.
2Jn 1,7 For many deceivers have gone out into the
world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This
is the deceiver and the antichrist. 1,8 Watch yourselves, that you do not
lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. 1,9
Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not
have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the
Son. 1,10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not
receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 1,11 for the one
who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds. 2Jn 1, 7-11;
From the assumption that the Antichrist will appear as the
"true Messiah" it can be also concluded that at the beginning he will
not at all appeal for the most part to the godless and unfaithful, but rather to
those who – as John writes above – do not abide in the teaching. Possibly
this will be first of all those large religious groups among the Jews, who are
still waiting for the Messiah. They will – unlike at the time of Jesus –
cheer to the "anointed one of God" they have been longing for such a
long time in sheer enthusiasm.
But also Christian groups, such as for instance Jehova’s Witnesses, the
Adventists, and many others more, which are even today preached to expect the
"coming of the Lord soon", without being informed of the fact that
first the Antichrist must come, will possibly be tricked by this false Christ
and think that now the time of the reign of God has come.
He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth.
Rev 13,11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of
the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. 13,12 He
exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the
earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound
was healed. 13,13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come
down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. 13,14 And he
deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given
him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the
earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and has come
to life. Rev 13,11-14;
Through great signs and wonders, which the false prophet
performs on behalf of the Antichrist, he will now also succeed in convincing the
godless and unfaithful of his authority and force, and even more: as the Lord
predicts us in Mt 24,24, in this time even the elect will be in danger of being
misled. And the Antichrist would also succeed in doing so, unless the Lord
shortened the days of his reign, so that these elect can be saved by a close
shave. Until that time, however, he will probably acquire absolute rule. This is
also corroborated by the statements of Rev 13,3-4:
They worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast.
Rev 13,3 I saw one of his heads as if it had
been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed
and followed after the beast; 13,4 they worshiped the dragon because he gave
his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is
like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?" Rev 13, 3- 4;
So, people will consider the Antichrist to be the Messiah, the
Son of God, and his father, Satan, who gives him this power and authority, to be
God. The power of this deceit can be presaged if one bears in mind that even the
elect will be in danger of being misled. It can be hardly assumed that these
men, these elect of God, could be dissuaded from their faith by primitive and
false teachings. That means, however, that this will be actually quite a subtle
and fiendish copy of the "manifestation of Christ", so that even these
servants of God could be deceived.
But the Lord Jesus foresaw precisely this when he said, "I have come in My
Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name,
you will receive him." (Jn 5,43).
And so men will consider Satan to be God, the Antichrist to be the Messiah, and
the false prophet to be the third person of this satanic "trinity".
They will venerate and worship them. The admiring statement of the people in Rev
13,4 "Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?" is
to be seen in the context of the "revival" of the beast. It was
fatally wounded, and its fatal wound was healed.
The beast who had the wound of the sword and has come to life.
Rev 13,12 He exercises all the authority of the
first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to
worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. 13,13 He performs
great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in
the presence of men. 13,14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because
of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast,
telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who had
the wound of the sword and has come to life. Rev 13,12-14;
This satanic creature will now get into worldwide power as a
religious and political leader within a very short time due to deceitful signs
and wonders. He will probably be welcomed by the pseudo-Christian World Church
as the "returned" Christ, but he will also be acknowledged as the
Messiah by the Jews of the whole world, because he will fulfill exactly those
conceptions, which the Jews demanded of him already at the time of Jesus and did
not get: He will set up his kingdom and thanks to the supernatural power which
is given to him by Satan, he will destroy all enemies, who oppose him.
But let us now come back to the beginnings of this false Christ.
He opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle.
Rev 13,5 There was given to him a mouth speaking
arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was
given to him. 13,6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to
blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven.
Rev 13, 5- 6;
This horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts.
Dan 7,8 "While I was contemplating the horns,
behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the
first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn
possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts. Dan
7, 8;
And he will speak monstrous things against the God of gods.
Dan 11,36 "Then the king will do as he
pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak
monstrous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the
indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done. Dan 11,36;
He will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings.
Dan 7,23 "Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast
will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the
other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it.
7,24 ‘As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and
another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones
and will subdue three kings. Dan 7,23-24;
One of the first actions of this new leader will be to free the
world from the saints of the Highest One, the two witnesses of God, the two
prophets in Jerusalem. He will take into his hands what many have already tried
in the past three and a half years, but which no one has succeeded in so far,
and he will show his authority to the world.
The Antichrist goes to war with his Gentile armies against
Jerusalem and fights there himself with the power that Satan gave to him against
the two men of God. As the service of the two anointed ones as witnesses is over
now, it is given to the Antichrist to defeat and to kill them. It is probably
just this victory then which evokes the admiration of the whole world for this
false "Messiah" and which finds its expression in Rev 13,4: "Who
is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?".
The beast will make war with the two witnesses and overcome them and kill them
Rev 11,7 When they have finished their testimony, the
beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome
them and kill them. 11,8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of
the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord
was crucified. 11,9 Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations
will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit
their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb. 11,10 And those who dwell on the earth
will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another,
because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. Rev 11, 7-10;
It was also given to the beast to make war with the saints and to overcome them.
Rev 13,7 It was also given to him (cs. the beast) to
make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every
tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. Rev 13, 7;
The horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them.
Dan 7,21 "I kept looking, and that [eleventh]
horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them 7,22 until the
Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the
Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of
the kingdom. Dan 7,21-22;
The [eleventh] king will wear down the saints of the Highest One.
Dan 7,25 ‘He [the eleventh king] will speak out
against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he
will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into
his hand for a time, times, and half a time. Dan 7,25;
Some exegetes are of the opinion that by the "saints of the
Highest One" in the above texts the people of God in Jerusalem is meant. In
fact, it is, however, obvious from Rev 11,3-10 that the Jerusalem of that time
is comparable to "Sodom and Egypt". That means that the people there
are godless and that the inhabitants of Jerusalem even prevent that the two
witnesses of God are buried. So, they are no "saints" at all, as Rev
13,7 presupposes.
Other interpreters, on the other hand, see in the "saints" of the
above three passages from the Scriptures again and again "the
congregation". It seems, however, that we see our role as the congregation
in the exegesis much too uncritically. This is for instance also shown by the
fact that the First Resurrection is over and over again interpreted as the
Resurrection of the "entire congregation", although in Rev 20,4 there
is expressly only talk about those who were beheaded because of the word
of God and their testimony for Jesus. That means that there is unambiguously
only talk about the martyrs, who were killed because of their faith, and
that therefore only those can take part in the First Resurrection then.
So, here the "saints" do not mean the members of the congregation, but
the "saints of the Highest One", the two prophets of God. Luther’s
translation with "destroy" is here somewhat misleading. Literally it
should probably rather mean "overcome", as we find it approximately
also in Rev 11,7 and 13,7. For these two prophets are actually killed all right,
as it is prophesied in Rev 11,7, they will, however, resurrect according to Rev
11,11 at the end of three and a half days and ascend to heaven, so they will not
be "destroyed" at all.
The special interpretation of the Seventh-day-Adventists, who want to see the
"Old and the New Testament" in these two witnesses, does not need any
detailed explanation. Bearing in mind the statements of the text, that these two
witnesses are called prophets, that fire comes out of their mouths and destroys
their enemies, that they are killed, that their dead bodies lie in the streets
of the city of Jerusalem and that they "stand on their feet" after
three and a half days and go up into heaven in a cloud, an identification with
the "Old and the New Testament" cannot be construed at all – not even
symbolically.
Here it becomes evident – as it is also the case with some other exegetes -
that whenever the Scriptures is examined only superficially and no time is
invested into a thorough analysis of the text, of the context and the parallel
passages, the real understanding is naturally lacking and then, recourse is
always taken to "symbolism" as an emergency solution, where then
everything can be interpreted into it.
The attribute "holy" or "saints" is now again and again used
- especially also with Daniel – for designating angels or other creatures of
heaven:
Dan 4,13 ‘I was looking in the visions in my mind
as I lay on my bed, and behold, an angelic watcher, a holy one, descended
from heaven. Dan 4,13
Dan 4,17 "This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers
And the decision is a command of the holy ones, In order that the living
may know That the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, And bestows it
on whom He wishes And sets over it the lowliest of men." Dan 4,17
Dan 4,23 ‘In that the king saw an angelic watcher, a holy one,
descending from heaven and saying, "Chop down the tree and destroy it; yet
leave the stump with its roots in the ground, but with a band of iron and bronze
around it in the new grass of the field, and let him be drenched with the dew of
heaven, and let him share with the beasts of the field until seven periods of
time pass over him," Dan 4,23;
Dan 8,13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one
said to that particular one who was speaking, "How long will the vision
about the regular sacrifice apply, while the transgression causes horror, so as
to allow both the holy place and the host to be trampled?" Dan 8,13;
Therefore we can start out from the assumption that also above,
in Dan 7,21 and 25 "saints" and "saints of the Highest One"
mean such creatures of heaven, namely, as Rev 11,4 says, "the two olive
trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth". They
are the two witnesses in Jerusalem who were sent to the earth by God, who came
down from heaven in order to prophesy here for three and a half years. Also here
this connection follows expressly from Rev 11,7. The term "overcome"
which is used here is identical with the one from Rev 13,7 also in the Greek
original text.
So, the three and a half years are over and the mission of the two witnesses is
completed. God calls them to come back to him and lets the Antichrist kill them.
Seen from this point of view the identity of the two witnesses may be somewhat
elucidated also here. We know that in the First Resurrection only the martyrs
will rise and will rule together with the Lord in the Millennium.
If the Lord wants now Elijah and Moses to join his reign, and if the
precondition of the death of a martyr applies to really everyone with the just
Lord, those who did not die a violent death – such as Moses – or those who
did not die at all, but were caught up into heaven already during their lifetime
– such as Elijah, but possibly also Hennoch -would have to come once again to
this earth, in order to be killed as martyrs and thus to fulfill the
precondition for the First Resurrection.
However that may be, the dead bodies of these two men are now lying in the
streets of the city where also their Lord was crucified – that is to say in
Jerusalem. Raptures of joy break out among the people of the whole world. They
congratulate each other, and in order to be able to present this picture of
"redemption" to the people all over the world, they prevent these two
dead men from being buried.
After three and a half days the two prophets will arise.
Rev 11,11 But after the three and a half days,
the breath of life from God came into them, and they stood on their feet;
and great fear fell upon those who were watching them.
11,12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up
here." Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies
watched them.
11,13 And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city
fell; seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were
terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.11,14 The second woe is past;
behold, the third woe is coming quickly. Rev 11,11-14;
But in the middle of these joyful celebrations a frightening
news is being spread. After three and a half days these two dead men suddenly
come to life again and go up into heaven in a cloud. And at the same time there
is a tremendous earthquake in Jerusalem. Seven thousand people are killed and a
tenth of the city tumbles down. And only now the remaining people in Jerusalem
think of their God and honor him.
But the Antichrist does not let himself be impressed by all
that. Up to that time Jerusalem has been a prohibited zone of the two witnesses
- so to speak. Whoever had tried to attack them, was destroyed by them. But now
the spell is broken. After the elimination of the two witnesses the Antichrist
occupies the whole city with his troops. They plunder the houses, the women are
ravished, and half of the population of the city is exiled by them.
For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle.
Zech 14,1 Behold, a day is coming for the LORD when
the spoil taken from you will be divided among you. 14,2 For I will gather
all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be
captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished and half of the city exiled,
but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city. Zech 14, 1- 2;
The tremendous earthquake in Jerusalem at the Rapture of the two
witnesses claimed seven thousand victims. The surviving population of the city
that remained returned to God and repented. So, at that time all people in
Jerusalem are faithful and worship the right God. And this may be now one reason
more for the Antichrist to persecute people, to kill them, and to expel them.
For a little while our adversaries have trodden down Your sanctuary.
Isa 63,18 For a little while Your holy people
had been expelled, our adversaries have trodden down Your sanctuary. 63,19
We have become like those over whom You have never ruled, Like those who were
not called by Your name. Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down, That
the mountains might quake at Your presence. Isa 63,18-19;
They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations.
Lk 21,20 "But when you see Jerusalem
surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is near. 21,21
"Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains, and those who are
in the midst of the city must leave, and those who are in the country must not
enter the city; 21,22 because these are days of vengeance, so that all things
which are written will be fulfilled.
21,23 "Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in
those days; for great distress shall be upon the earth and wrath upon
this people; 21,24 and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will
be led captive into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be trampled under
foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. Lk
21,20-24;
The nations will tread under foot Jerusalem for forty-two months.
Rev 11,1 Then there was given me a measuring rod
like a staff; and someone said, "Get up and measure the temple of God and
the altar, and those who worship in it. 11,2 "Leave out the court which is
outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the
nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.
Rev 11, 1- 2;
Reading these passages from the Scriptures about the conquest of
Jerusalem, the impression could easily arise that this, too, is a description of
the destruction of the city in the year 70 A.D., at the end of the first Jewish
insurrection against the Romans. At that time the city and the temple were
conquered and completely destroyed by Titus after five months of siege. And as
we have seen above, there are also passages from the Scriptures, which refer to
this event (Lk 19,41-44; Isa 29,1-4) so that one really has to differentiate
quite clearly. An important clue for the exegesis in this connection is the fact
that in the year 70 also the temple was completely torn down, in the seventieth
week of seven years, however, it is just the temple which is left undamaged.
We know this on the one hand from Rev 11,2, where only the outer dooryard – that
is to say the area outside the temple – is affected by the destruction, on the
other hand also from the fact that somewhat later the Antichrist has set up his
image in the temple and has worshiped it (Mt 24,15; Dan 9,27; 11,31), which
presupposes that this temple still exists. Apart from that one has to realize
that the statement in Rev 11,2 "they (namely the Gentiles) will tread under
foot the holy city for forty-two months" was written in the nineties of the
Christian era, that at that time the conquest by Titus had taken place already
at least twenty years before and that therefore this text – as a prophecy -
cannot at all be related to this event.
But the connection with regard to time can also be deduced from Zech chapter 14.
In the verses 1-2 (see above) the conquest and pillage of the city by the
Gentiles is prophesied. In the verses 3, 12 ,and 16 of this chapter reference is
made to those nations / Gentiles, who went to war against Jerusalem before and
who are then – in the Battle of Armageddon – defeated by the Lord.
Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations.
Zech 14,3 Then the LORD will go forth and fight
against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. 14,4 In that
day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem
on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to
west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the
north and the other half toward the south. 14,5 You will flee by the valley of
My mountains, for the valley of the mountains will reach to Azel; yes, you will
flee just as you fled before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah.
Then the LORD, my God, will come, and all the holy ones with Him! Zech 14, 3- 5;
The LORD will strike all the peoples who have gone to war against Jerusalem.
Zech 14,12 Now this will be the plague with which the
LORD will strike all the peoples who have gone to war against Jerusalem;
their flesh will rot while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will rot in
their sockets, and their tongue will rot in their mouth.
14,13 It will come about in that day that a great panic from the LORD will fall
on them; and they will seize one another’s hand, and the hand of one will be
lifted against the hand of another. 14,14 Judah also will fight at Jerusalem;
and the wealth of all the surrounding nations will be gathered, gold and silver
and garments in great abundance.
14,15 So also like this plague will be the plague on the horse, the mule, the
camel, the donkey and all the cattle that will be in those camps. 14,16 Then it
will come about that any who are left of all the nations that went against
Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of
hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths. Zech 14,12-16;
So, the verses Zech 14,3, 12 and 16 refer directly to verse 2.
However, neither an epidemic nor a confusion among the Roman soldiers is handed
over to us about the capture of Jerusalem in the year 70. Another point is that
the statement of verse 16 that the Gentiles who are left will come up to
Jerusalem every year to worship the Lord, has not been fulfilled yet in this
form so that we have to place this prophecy into the Millennium. And there it
would be hardly understandable if the hint at "any who are left of all the
nations that went against Jerusalem" referred to the troops of Titus
already nearly two thousand years ago by now.
The anger of the LORD has burned against His people and he has struck them down.
Isa 5,25 On this account the anger of the LORD
has burned against His people, And He has stretched out His hand against
them and struck them down. And the mountains quaked, and their corpses lay
like refuse in the middle of the streets. For all this His anger is not
spent, But His hand is still stretched out.
5,26 He will also lift up a standard to the distant nation, And will whistle
for it from the ends of the earth; And behold, it will come with speed
swiftly. 5,27 No one in it is weary or stumbles, None slumbers or sleeps; Nor is
the belt at its waist undone, Nor its sandal strap broken. 5,28 Its arrows are
sharp and all its bows are bent; The hoofs of its horses seem like flint and its
chariot wheels like a whirlwind. 5,29 Its roaring is like a lioness, and it
roars like young lions; It growls as it seizes the prey And carries it off
with no one to deliver it.
5,30 And it will growl over it in that day like the roaring of the sea. If one
looks to the land, behold, there is darkness and distress; Even the light is
darkened by its clouds. Isa 5,25-30;
(See also Chapter 02: "The
conquest and the dispersion of Jerusalem.")
The text below from Dan 9,27 is the key passage for the
comprehension of the connection with regard to time between the 1260 days of the
two witnesses and the 42 months of the Antichrist. When the latter comes, he
will first defeat the two witnesses and then he will put those in a predicament
who are given into his hands for 3 ½ times by making alterations in their
holytides and in their religious law.
But in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering.
Dan 9,27 "And he will make hard the covenant
with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop
to sacrifice and grain offering; and in the temple there will be abomination
of desolation, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured
out on the one who makes desolate." Dan 9,27;
And they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.
Dan 7,25 ‘He will speak out against the Most High
and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make
alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a
time, times, and half a time. Dan 7,25;
The regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up.
Dan 12,9 He said, "Go your way, Daniel, for
these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time. 12,10
"Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act
wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight
will understand.
12,11 "From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the
abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. 12,12
"How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days! 12,13
"But as for you, go your way to the Dan 12, 9-13;
He rules for three and a half years, when the dispersion of the holy people is brought to an end.
Dan 12,6 And one said to the man dressed in linen,
who was above the waters of the river, "How long will it be until the end
of these wonders?" 12,7 I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the
waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and
swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a
time; and when the dispersion of the holy people is brought to an end, all these
events will be completed. Dan 12, 6- 7;
The Antichrist has now made it. He has defeated the two
prophets, who struck the earth with famine and epidemics and has conquered the
city of God – Jerusalem. He is the "Savior" of the world, he is the
"Messiah" and the one, who sent him, is "God".
Now men will worship this "God", Satan. And this "Messiah",
who seems to have come now finally in order to set up the kingdom and the reign
on the earth, will also be acknowledged by the Jews. He hardly has to push
things forward; the whole world wants him to become the ruler of the world. The
"Messiah" in his kingdom of peace! The kingdom which will last for a
thousand years seems to have started. He gets power over all nations and
peoples.
But appearances are deceptive. Also this power of his is only tolerated by the
true God. And he has only little time to exercise it. Three and a half years,
that is to say 42 months are given to him. Then also his rule will be brought to
an end.
The nations will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.
Rev 11,1 Then there was given me a measuring rod
like a staff; and someone said, "Get up and measure the temple of God and
the altar, and those who worship in it. 11,2 "Leave out the court which is
outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the
nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.
Rev 11, 1- 2;
He will speak monstrous things against the God of gods and he
will deny the Father as well as the Son. He will lure all those to
unrighteousness, who are lost, for God sends the power of temptation to them so
that they believe the lies, and in order that all those are judged, who did not
believe the truth.
And he will speak monstrous things against the God of gods.
Dan 11,36 "Then the king will do as he
pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak
monstrous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the
indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done. 11,37
"He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the desire of
women, nor will he show regard for any other god; for he will magnify himself
above them all.
11,38 "But instead he will honor a god of fortresses, a god whom his
fathers did not know; he will honor him with gold, silver, costly stones and
treasures. 11,39 "He will take action against the strongest of fortresses
with the help of a foreign god; he will give great honor to those who
acknowledge him and will cause them to rule over the many, and will parcel out
land for a price. Dan 11,36-39;
The texts from Dan 11,31-39, which are related in this chapter
to the Antichrist, have already found their prefulfillment at the time of
Antiochus IV Epiphanes in the years 175-171 B. C. But while the verses Dan
11,31-36 can be interpreted without any problems with the historical events
handed down to us from the time of Antiochus, the interpretation into this
direction becomes more and more difficult from verse 37 onward.
So, here we have the same situation as in Dan 9,26 and 27: Whereas the prince in
Dan 9,26 can still be interpreted quite unambiguously as being Titus, in verse
27 this prince already means the Antichrist – although the "he" of
this verse still refers to the "prince" in verse 26. And we have quite
a similar situation also here: The verses Dan 11,21-36 can be assigned quite
unambiguously to Antiochus and his time. From verse 37 onward, however, the
historical relation to Antiochus grows less and we see more and more clearly the
traits of the Antichrist, whom we can unambiguously identify from verse 40
onward.
(See also Table 04: "What is
written in the Book of Truth.")
After Satan has made the first beast, the Antichrist, come out
of the sea, he makes rise even a second beast. This time out of the earth. It is
the false prophet, and this one acts on behalf and in the authority of the first
beast. He, too, performs great signs and finally achieves that the whole world
worships the first beast, the Antichrist. They worship him as the
"Redeemer", and the false prophet induces the people to make an image
of him and to worship it, too. Everyone who is not willing to worship this
image, is a "blasphemer" and will be killed.
Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns.
Rev 13,11 Then I saw another (second)
beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb
and he spoke as a dragon.
13,12 He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he
makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose
fatal wound was healed.13,13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes
fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. 13,14 And he
deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given
him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the
earth to make an image to the beast who had the wound of the sword and
has come to life. Rev 13,11-14;
And, in his authority, this false prophet also succeeds in
making this image speak. One of the first statements of the image is now that
all men must make a mark on their forehead and on their right hand. Those who do
not have this mark, will be persecuted and killed.
And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast.
Rev 13,15 And it was given to him to give breath
to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and
cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 13,16
And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the
free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their
forehead, 13,17 and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to
sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the
number of his name. 13,18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding
calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his
number is six hundred and sixty-six. Rev 13,15-18;
The false prophet has this image set up for being worshiped in
the holy place, in the temple in Jerusalem. After that he makes alterations to
the holytides and the laws of the Jewish service and abolishes the daily
sacrifice.
He will intend to make alterations in times and in law.
Dan 7,25 ‘He will speak out against the Most High
and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make
alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a
time, times, and half a time. Dan 7,25;
And in the temple there will be abomination of desolation.
Dan 9,26 Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah
will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will
destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come
with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.
9,27 And he will make hard the covenant with the many for one week, but in
the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and
in the temple there will be abomination of desolation, even until a complete
destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.
Dan 9,26-27;
Dan 12,11 "From the time that the regular
sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will
be 1,290 days. Dan 12,11;
But from the above parallel passages in Dan 7,25; 9,27 and 12,11
we can come to realize even a further point: sacrifice and grain offering are
integral parts of the Jewish service in the temple. So, this service can be
carried out only in the temple. But as there has been no temple any more in
Jerusalem since the destruction by Titus in the year 70, it has not been
possible up to today to hold a service that is conforming with the law.
This long time without service is also prophesied by the prophet Hosea.
Israel will remain for many days without king or prince.
Hos 3,4 For the sons of Israel will remain for many
days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar and
without ephod or household idols. 3,5 Afterward the sons of Israel will return
and seek the LORD their God and David their king; and they will come
trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days. Hos 3, 4- 5;
If now at this time, in the middle of the seventieth week of
seven years, sacrifice and grain offering are to be abolished and holytides and
the law are to be altered, they must have existed before and a regular service
must have been possible. This and the fact that also the abomination of
desolation will be in the "sanctuary" or "in the holy
place", presupposes that there is a temple in Jerusalem.
We see here quite clearly that between Dan 9,26: "…and the people of the
prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary…"
– that is to say Titus in the year 70 A. D. – and the next verse, Dan 9,27:
"… And in the temple there will be abomination of desolation…"
there is a period of time of so far almost two thousand years.
The fact that this temple – the third one, by the way – will presumably be built
already at our time, is explained in more detail in chapter 10. So, we can
proceed from the assumption that there is a temple in Jerusalem at the beginning
of the seventieth week of seven years and that Jewish service is celebrated with
sacrifice and meal offering.
(See also Chapter 10: "The
Millennium.")
This abomination of desolation in the temple, of which we read
above, in Dan 9,27 and 12,11, is repeatedly mentioned also in the New Testament.
So Paul writes to the Thessalonians in his Second Epistle of the "man of
lawlessness", who takes his seat in the temple, displaying himself as being
God.
The man of lawlessness takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.
2The 2,3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for
it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is
revealed, the son of destruction, 2,4 who opposes and exalts himself above
every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the
temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 2The 2, 3- 4;
And also in the Gospels the Lord points out that the abomination
of desolation in the temple should be a sign for the faithful that it is time to
flee.
When you see the abomination of desolation, standing in the holy place.
Mt 24,15 "Therefore when you see the
abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet,
standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 24,16 then those
who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.24,17 "Whoever is on the
housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. 24,18
"Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 24,19
"But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in
those days! 24,20 "But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or
on a Sabbath.
24,21 "For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not
occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. 24,22
"Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved;
but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Mt 24,15-22;
Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.
Mk 13,14 "But when you see the abomination
of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then
those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 13,15 "The one who
is on the housetop must not go down, or go in to get anything out of his house;
13,16 and the one who is in the field must not turn back to get his coat. 13,17
"But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in
those days! 13,18 "But pray that it may not happen in the winter.
13,19 "For those days will be a time of tribulation such as has not
occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and
never will. 13,20 "Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life
would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He
shortened the days. Mk 13,14-20;
They will do away with the regular sacrifice set up the abomination of desolation.
Dan 11,31 "Forces from him will arise,
desecrate the sanctuary fortress, and do away with the regular sacrifice. And
they will set up the abomination of desolation. 11,32 "By smooth words
he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the
people who know their God will display strength and take action. 11,33 "Those
who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many; yet they
will fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder for many days.
Dan 11,31-33;
A time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time.
Dan 12,1 "Now at that time Michael, the great
prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there
will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until
that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the
book, will be rescued.
12,2 "Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these
to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. 12,3
"Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the
expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars
forever and ever. Dan 12, 1- 3;
From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished, there will be 1,290 days.
Dan 12,11 "From the time that the regular
sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will
be 1,290 days. 12,12 "How blessed is he who keeps waiting and
attains to the 1,335 days! 12,13 "But as for you, go your way to the
end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at
the end of the age." Dan 12,11-13;
Also the passage from Matthew above with its parallel with
Daniel is interpreted by some exegetes as being an allusion to the year 70 A.D.
and the conquest of Jerusalem by Titus. Of course, then these people will be put
in the embarrassing position to have to explain the "great tribulation,
such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever
will".
It says then "that the fall of the city of Jerusalem has caused such a
dreadful horror of dismay and despair, such a terrible affliction for Israel as
nowhere else in world history" (Fritz Rienecker, "The Gospel according
to Matthew", WStB, page 319). But it is easily to be seen that all that
despair of the Jews, however terrible it might have been, cannot nearly make up
for the weight of the statement in Mt 24,21. The point here is not the grief at
a city, but a catastrophe of worldwide dimensions.
This is reflected in particular in the passage from Daniel quoted by Matthew,
where this distress is called such as never occurred since there was a nation
until that time. And then it says there, "at that time your people,
everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued". Now the people
of Israel was not rescued in the year 70 of our time, but was dispersed nearly
completely.
And there cannot be found any explanation at all either for the statement in Dan
12,11: "From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the
abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1290 days" as having
taken place at the time of Titus, whereas, on the contrary, there is very well
an explanation for the assumption that this will take place at the seventieth
week of seven years, in the middle of which the Antichrist sets up the
abomination in the temple and is then destroyed by the Lord after 42 months of
his reign.
Finally, there is still a last sound argument for the fact that this statement
from Mt 24,15-16 cannot be assigned to the time of Titus. For it says there,
"Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of
through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader
understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains". So,
the abomination of desolation will be in the holy place – in the temple in
Jerusalem. And now comes the appeal to all those who are "in Judea" to
flee to the mountains. In fact that quickly that they shall not even take their
clothes with them, as the verses 24,17-18 say.
Now, before the year 70, Judea was a Roman procuratory together with Samaria and
Idumea. The extension of Judea from north (Antipatris) to south (Hebron) was
approximately 80 km, from the Mediterranean coast in the west to the Dead Sea
and/or the Jordan river in the east approximately 80 km as well. Jerusalem was
relatively centrally situated so that the information about an event, which took
place in Jerusalem, had to be transported for approximately 40 km in all
directions, in order to become known to the people in the country.
And now the question arises first, why the people living at a distance of 40 km
from Jerusalem should have fled to the mountains at that time, when the city
itself was in distress. Being at that distance from the city and taking into
account the range of the weapons of that time, there would not have been any
danger for them.
Second, however, problems arise with the explanation, how these people in the
country should have got this information – namely that an image of abomination
was put up in the temple in Jerusalem – so quickly. Those Jews, who were in
Jerusalem, had their hands full being busy to flee to the mountains in time. And
the Romans did not have any interest to inform anyone outside Jerusalem of this
event.
The situation would be different if that happened at our time. In this case,
media probably would be the first on the spot in order to be able to send such
an event live. And not only all inhabitants of Judea, but probably the whole
world would be informed in every second of what is going on in the temple in
Jerusalem.
And so it will also be in the last days. Just as the death of the two witnesses
from Rev 11,7-10 can be made known within a very short time to the "peoples
and tribes and tongues and nations" only by means of today’s information
technology, so that they could be happy about it, also the event in the temple
of Jerusalem will be broadcast at the same time all over the world.
And then this act of desecration of the Jewish temple will not have a military,
but a religious background. The putting up of the image of the beast in the
sanctuary and the order to worship it otherwise death penalty will be imposed,
as we read it above, in Rev 13,15, obviously is the prelude to outlawry,
persecution, and killing of the remaining faithful in Jesus.
However, if we want to be objective, we have to ask ourselves also here, what
forms the background of this appeal to flee. Here, too, one could, of course,
assume that it is the attack of the Antichrist on Jerusalem with his armies,
which puts people to flight. But just as above, this does not at all concern the
remaining population in the area of the former Judea. And even today it is not
the common practice to destroy a city completely, which one wants to capture –
and the Antichrist needs this city and its temple intact and undamaged.
So, if we ask ourselves therefore, what could be the reason for advising the
population of a city to flee to the mountains, we will pretty soon come to think
of the danger of an earthquake. An earthquake – especially a tremendous one
– always is more dangerous in the city than outside the city due to the
collapsing buildings of all kinds.
Now we already had such a "tremendous earthquake" when the two
witnesses in Jerusalem were caught up into heaven. Seven thousand people lost
their lives in that earthquake. However, that earthquake cannot be the one which
people are apparently warned of here for two reasons. First of all, this
earthquake took place at the beginning of the reign of the Antichrist over
Jerusalem – but here we are already further advanced in time: the false
prophet already performs his functions, the image is standing in the temple, and
the worshipers of the beast persecute the faithful in Jesus.
Second, however, also here the argument above has an effect that it does not
seem to be a threat to the city of Jerusalem – or not only to the city of
Jerusalem. For it says, "those who are in Judea", and consequently the
forthcoming threat which is warned of above, in Mt 24,15-22 and parallel
passages, must apply to the entire country. If an earthquake is meant by that,
this must be therefore a by far more tremendous earthquake than the one that
took place when the two witnesses were caught up into heaven.
And we find such a really tremendous earthquake right afterward with the sixth
seal, at the end of this period of the "Great Tribulation", when the
great darkness takes place. There, a worldwide earthquake does not only cause
the darkening of the celestial bodies, but also the displacement of mountains
and islands.
With that we would really have a good reason for the flight of the population
from Judea to the mountains.
The fifth seal: The souls of the martyrs in heaven.
Rev 6,9 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal,
I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the
word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; 6,10 and
they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true,
will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the
earth?" 6,11 And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they
were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number
of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they
had been, would be completed also. Rev 6, 9-11;
It is the martyrs in heaven who demand here, when the fifth seal
is broken, from God that he takes revenge on the godless and unfaithful on the
earth. But it is still too early. As they are told, they have to wait for a
little while until also their brethren are killed. It is the faithful in Jesus
who are meant here, who are still persecuted, arrested, and sentenced all over
the world even during that time.
Before the "Day of the Lord" sets in now, the day of
redemption for his elect and the great and dreadful "day of wrath" for
the godless and impenitent, there is a tremendous, worldwide earthquake.
Subsequently a great darkness befalls the earth: the sun and the moon will be
darkened and the stars will fall from the sky.
The sixth seal: The sun became black, the moon became like blood, and the stars fell to the earth.
Rev 6,12 I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and
there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as
sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; 6,13 and the
stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when
shaken by a great wind. 6,14 The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is
rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
Rev 6,12-14;
The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky.
Mt 24,29 "But immediately after the
tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give
its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the
heavens will be shaken. Mt 24,29;
The sun will be turned into darkness, the moon into blood before the great day of the LORD comes.
Joel 2,30 "I will display wonders in the sky
and on the earth, Blood, fire and columns of smoke. 2,31 "The sun will
be turned into darkness And the moon into blood Before the great and awesome day
of the LORD comes. 2,32 "And it will come about that whoever calls on
the name of the LORD Will be delivered; For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem There
will be those who escape, As the LORD has said, Even among the survivors whom
the LORD calls. Joel 2,30-32;
The day of the LORD is coming; a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness.
Joel 2,1 Blow a trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm
on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
For the day of the LORD is coming; Surely it is near, 2,2 A day of
darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness. As the dawn is
spread over the mountains, So there is a great and mighty people; There has
never been anything like it, Nor will there be again after it To the years of
many generations. Joel 2, 1- 2;
When these things begin, lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.
Lk 21,25 "There will be signs in sun and
moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the
roaring of the sea and the waves, 21,26 men fainting from fear and the
expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the
heavens will be shaken. 21,27 "Then they will see the Son of Man coming in
a cloud with power and great glory. 21,28 "But when these things begin
to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is
drawing near." Lk 21,25-28;
(See also Chapter 04: "The
Great Darkness.")
After the sixth and before the seventh seal we find an inserted
text, a so-called parenthesis. In Rev 7,1-8 on the one hand the 144,000 from
each of the 12 tribes of Israel are sealed. (An analysis relating to this can be
found in the chapter: "The Day of the Lord".)
(See also Chapter 05: "The Day
of the Lord.")
The second part of this inserted text deals with the great
multitude of those who came out of the Great tribulation "from every nation
and all tribes and peoples and tongues". We already discussed this text at
the beginning, when we were looking for the Great Tribulation.
Now, after we have clarified the contents of the Great Tribulation and its
assignment to the appropriate time, we can also establish the connection to
these statements without any difficulties and now this text also fits
excellently into the line.
Those who come out of the great tribulation will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore.
Rev 7,9 After these things I looked, and behold, a
great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and
peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed
in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; 7,10 and they cry out
with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation to our God who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb."
7,11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders
and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne
and worshiped God, 7,12 saying, "Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and
thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever.
Amen." 7,13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "These who
are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come
from?" 7,14 I said to him, "My lord, you know." And he said to
me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and
they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
7,15 "For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve
Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His
tabernacle over them. 7,16 " They will hunger no longer, nor thirst
anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; 7,17 for the Lamb
in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to
springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their
eyes". Rev 7, 9-17;
Among the billion of people all over the world who had to perish
during the Great Tribulation there were obviously millions of faithful who are
now standing before the throne and before the Lamb in heaven and are praising
God and the Lamb. "They have washed their robes and made them white in the
blood of the Lamb", that means they accepted the offering of the Lord Jesus
for their sins and these sins have been forgiven them. The horror of this time
of Great Tribulation is now over for them. The Lamb will guide them to springs
of the water of life, and their God will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
Rev 8,1 When the Lamb broke the seventh seal,
there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 8,2 And I saw the seven
angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.8,3
Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; and much
incense was given to him, so that he might add it to the prayers of all the
saints on the golden altar which was before the throne.
8,4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up
before God out of the angel’s hand. 8,5 Then the angel took the censer and
filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it to the earth; and there
followed peals of thunder and sounds and flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
Rev 8, 1- 5;
With the breaking of the seventh seal by the Lamb the scroll is
now opened completely. If we now try to subject these seven seals to a final
judgment, the suspicion arises here that these plagues of the seals are not
direct judgments of God. The breaking of the seals also symbolizes rather the
opening of gates, which have been closed so far, and one gets the impression
that here God now lets those catastrophes take their course, which he has always
prevented so far, in their total extent.
(See also discourse 1133: "Has he who restrains already been taken out of the way?")
In contrast to the plagues of the trumpets and the judgment of the bowls which
follow afterward, where the executors are always angels, here the power is
"given" to the plagues themselves. God lets these forces take their
course, so to speak. No matter if this is the first horseman, who was
"given" a victor’s wreath and with that the power to conquer all the
world, the second horseman, who was "given" the power, to take peace
from the earth, the third horseman, who was "given" the power, to
damage all field crops – with the exception of wine and oil – , or finally
the fourth horseman, who was "given" the power to kill a fourth of the
earth’s population. So, it seems that these first four plagues of the seals are
caused by men themselves.
And here it seems to be interesting to point out a detail which, in general,
rather hardly receives notice in the interpretation of this passage of the
Scriptures: Namely the fact that these four horsemen get their "operational
order" from the four living creatures. On the one hand this corroborates
the assumption that it is not God himself who is the acting one here, but that
he has entrusted this decision to the four living creatures. And if we now
proceed from the assumption – as explained in excursus 11 – that these four
creatures are the representatives of the entire living Creation before the
throne of God, the impression intensifies more and more that this here is a
reaction of nature, of the living Creation of God.
(See also Excursus 11: "The
throne of God.")
At our time today, with the deliberate and systematic
destruction of soil, air, and water, which is pursued by the money-grubbing of
man, it would not be at all that far-fetched to presume that these plagues are
no judgments of God in the sense that God "pours them over us" – such
as for instance the judgment of the bowls – but rather that God lets us go on
our way of exploitation and destruction of the environment of this planet. This
way is sure to lead us to catastrophe, too.
The fifth seal brings the complaint of the martyrs in heaven, and is no judgment in the
truest sense of the word, but offers a possible guidance for interpretation. Here – as, by
the way, in Rev 14,13, too – it is pointed out that even after the tribulation servants of
God will still die as martyrs. While the sixth seal brings then a worldwide catastrophe
with earthquakes and geological upheavals, which, from today’s point of view, could be
quite well also "homemade", we find in the seventh seal something like a turning point,
that is to say the conclusion of the hitherto happenings and the beginning of a new
period. It is the calm before the storm, so to speak, which presents itself in the seventh
seal. And finally the argument of the first seal, according to which the horseman there on
the white horse is not the Lord Jesus, because he cannot be the Lamb and the horseman at
the same time, holds true for all plagues of the seals, which are – each separately –
broken by the Lord.