Revelation Study: An Overview of Eschatological Events

May 16, 2018February 24, 2022 ~ L. Alan Schuetz ~ 24 Comments

Revelation 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” 2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. 3 And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones; and upon the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white garments, and golden crowns on their heads. (NASB 1995)

In most Christian churches we are taught that if we believe in Christ, upon death — we will immediately go to Heaven. We know with great certainty that is untrue! Even Christ’s soul descended into the Paradise of Heb. She’ol/Gr. Hades (Luke 16:19-31; Acts 2:22-36) before conquering death at His resurrection after three days AND nights.

Secondly, we are taught that believers in Christ will not suffer during the Great Tribulation — that they will be taken up or “raptured” beforehand (aka the Pre-Tribulation Rapture). Again, that is a falsehood. IN CHRIST’S OWN WORDS:

Matthew 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. 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. 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. (NASB 1995)

Mark 13:24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven. (NASB 1995)

Is Christ a liar or are we being taught false traditions and the precepts of men — both of which we were warned against?

We are also taught preposterous exegesis regarding Daniel’s Seventy Weeks. Because most “Biblical scholars” and “theologians” believe that they are of “New Testament-only churches” and that the Old Testament is of no consequence, they cannot comprehend that this is speaking of jubilees (Leviticus 25). A jubilee is comprised of 49 years broken down into “weeks of years.” This is how God Most High (Heb. El Elyon) accounts for time, and the days from the Creation Week until the Israelites crossed over the Jordan River into the Promised Land at Bethabara, meaning “house of the ford/place of crossing,” is recorded in the Book of Jubilees. Why is this significant? Seventy jubilees equates to 3,430 years (i.e., 70 x 49 = 3,430). To keep it simple, Christ provided the following hint:

Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” (NASB 1995)

A more significant hint is found in 2 Peter 3:

The Coming Day of the Lord

2 Peter 3:3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” 5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

A New Heaven and Earth

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. (NASB 1995)

The Book of Jubilees definitively states that the Law was given to Moses at Sinai in 2410 AM and the Israelites crossed into the Promised Land in 2450 AM (i.e., at the end of the 50th jubilee; 50 x 49 = 2,450). We know that Heaven and Earth will pass away, and a New Heaven and New Earth will be created (Isaiah 65:17-25; 2 Peter 3:10-18; Revelation 21). The problem is that no one knows with certainty how 2450 AM correlates to ANY modern method of year accounting — even that of the Masoretic calendar as it is based on the Babylonian model. Most estimate it to be c. 1400 BCE. Let’s examine what Daniel states on the subject:

Daniel 9:24 “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. 25 So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. 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. 27 And he will make a firm 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 on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” (NASB 1995)

The modern Jerusalem, the “holy city,” was under Ottoman control (another allusion to Isaac vs. Ishmael!) in the period that would have coincided with “sixty-two” weeks from the giving of the Torah, and there was a rebuilding period in Jerusalem. Then, we have the following from the same article:

“In 1700, Judah HeHasid led the largest organized group of Jewish immigrants to the Land of Israel in centuries. His disciples built the Hurva Synagogue, which served as the main synagogue in Jerusalem from the 18th century until 1948, when it was destroyed by the Arab Legion. The synagogue was rebuilt in 2010.” — Wikipedia, “History of Jerusalem” article, Early Ottoman period section.

Again, this is what Christ said:

Matthew 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), 16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. 17 Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. 18 Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. 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. 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. 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him. 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. 25 Behold, I have told you in advance. 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. 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. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. (NASB 1995)

This is reiterated in Mark 13:14-23. How do we know that this is speaking of the Latter Days (modern times) and not the desecration and destruction of the Second Temple during the First Jewish-Roman War? Because of the immediate passages in Matthew 24:29-31 and Mark 13:24-27 that follow and were listed above. Has the sun darkened or the moon stopped giving light? Have the stars fallen from the sky or the heavens been shaken? No. But, they will as was prophesied.

To summarize… Four (4) ages (Gr. aión/Heb. zeman) are documented in the canonized Bible and the Book of Jubilees, the sixth most frequent manuscript discovered among the Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS):

2,450 years (=50 jubilees): Creation (Jubilees 2:1-33; Genesis 1:1-2:3) to the Israelites’ crossing into the Promised Land (Jubilees 50:1-5; Joshua 1-4) [Map]
3,430 years (=70 jubilees): Daniel’s Seventy “Weeks” culminating with the Great Tribulation (Daniel 9:24-27; Matthew 24:15-28)
1,000 years: Christ’s Millennial Reign (Revelation 20:1-6)
120 years: Satan (aka Belial) released to deceive the nations (Revelation 20:2-3,7-10; Genesis 6:3*) culminating with Judgment Day (Revelation 20:11-15)

That totals 7,000 years which is inextricably tied to the Creation Week (2 Peter 3:3-9 concentrating on v8). Afterwards, the defiled Heaven and Earth will be destroyed by fire (2 Peter 3:10-13 concentrating on vv10,12) and a New Heaven and New Earth will be created (Revelation 21:1-22:5). This event is more than 1,120 years in the future as of this writing, so do not believe the false narrative of #ClimateChange. Examine my accompanying Jubilee accounting and calculator; the latter is an Excel workbook based on the best available information but is subject to change based on actual observation.

*Note: Abraham lived to be 175 years old in the postdiluvian world (Genesis 25:7); therefore, Genesis 6:3 is NOT referencing a lifespan cap although most — including Moses (Deuteronomy 34:7) — did not live longer than 120 years.

Christians are routinely taught that “the church” is the “bride of Christ.” Nothing could be further from the truth, and that fact was touched upon in Revelation 21 above:

Revelation 21:9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

The New Jerusalem

10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper. 12 It had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels; and names were written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east and three gates on the north and three gates on the south and three gates on the west. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (NASB 1995)

There it is — straight from the Word of God! NEW JERUSALEM IS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST! Think about it for just a second… If Christ were to marry the “body of Christ” (aka “the church”), then who would be invited to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb?

Revelation 19:7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” 8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.” (NASB 1995)

New Jerusalem is the HEAVENLY KINGDOM that descends from the New Heaven to the New Earth! Study Revelation 21. We are NOT going to Heaven, folks. The domain of the Elohim (pl. of Eloah), or family/tribe of El the Father (aka “the sons of God”) is in Heaven. Because they are not of Earth, they are, by definition, extraterrestrials! The domain of humans (aka “the sons and daughters of men”) is Earth — whether the current incarnation or the New Earth that is to come. When we die, our souls go DOWN to Heb. She’ol/Gr. Hades awaiting resurrection.

Next, most Christians are taught that once Christ returns, there is no more war; everything is peace and love. When He returns, only Behemoth and Leviathan are thrown into the lake of fire known as Gehenna, and Satan is bound. We still have more than a thousand years to go (i.e., His Millennial Reign and a short time thereafter) before everything is made anew! This is always dismissed by Christian clergy:

Revelation 19:20 And the beast [Leviathan] was seized, and with [her] the false prophet [Behemoth] who performed the signs in [her] presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast [Leviathan] and those who worshiped [her] image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse [Christ; see vv11-16], and all the birds were filled with their flesh. (NASB 1995)

Revelation 20:1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. (NASB 1995)

Revelation 20:7 When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. 9 And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast [Leviathan] and the false prophet [Behemoth] are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (NASB 1995)

Who is taught this in their church or synagogue? None that I have attended, and I have attended many denominations. They are simply “tickling the ears” just as we have been warned against:

2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (NASB 1995)

Before jumping into the timeline of events in Revelation, let’s review one more topic: the resurrection of the dead. This one is interesting because the Bible clearly states that there is a “resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked” (Acts 24:14-16 concentrating on v15b). If the righteous were already in Heaven as we are taught, then how can they be resurrected? We know the answer; we have been lied to again and again and again by our churches. What is interesting is that Revelation does not speak of just one, mass resurrection but TWO! One is for those who were beheaded during the Great Tribulation for their testimony of Christ, and the other is before the “great and terrible day of the Lord [Yahoah]” (aka Judgment Day) — these are separated by a millennium as was discussed above. The FIRST RESURRECTION:

Revelation 20:4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. (NASB 1995)

So, those beheaded DURING the Great Tribulation will be resurrected and will serve as priests during Christ’s millennial reign. Again, there is no pre-Tribulation rapture, and there is another thousand years plus a short time between the Tribulation and Judgment Day. Now, for the SECOND RESURRECTION on Judgment Day:

Revelation 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (NASB 1995)

Just as Acts 24:15 states, both the righteous and wicked are resurrected; the wicked, who disbelieved in Christ, are judged by the Law of Moses, found guilty, and thrown in Gehenna, the lake of fire — thus, they experience the “second death” mentioned in Revelation 20:14b. Again, who is taught this in their church or synagogue?

We know that Christ raised individuals from the dead with the most famous being Lazarus. There was a third, mass resurrection that occurred just after Christ’s resurrection on 18 Abib 36 CE, and they entered Jerusalem on that weekly Sabbath.

Note: There is a three-day gap (15-17 Abib) between vv50-51 at His crucifixion on 14 Abib and vv52-53 at His resurrection on 18 Abib in 36 CE.

Matthew 27:50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51 And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54 Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (NASB 1995)

Again, is this mass resurrection taught in your church or synagogue or is it glossed over entirely (just as the TaNaKh readings gloss over the Suffering Servant passage in Isaiah 53)? See more here.

Start studying the Scriptures PLAINLY and SIMPLY, and its true meaning will be revealed to you just as it has to me. Quit relying on rabbis, pastors, ministers, priests, or whatever your clergy is called; they are just people who disregard the Scriptures — just like the Jewry has for millennia. They are promoting their own “brand of religion,” but it is not of God; lies mixed with the truth are still lies. The Holy Spirit was sent to be our Helper on the Feast of Weeks (aka Pentecost) in 36 CE. Also, Christ was born on that date in 6 CE.

The following outline forms the basis of my second book tentatively entitled Apokàlypsis: The TRUTH Behind the Visions of Yochanan at Patmos. For the record, John was not “of Patmos;” he hailed from Ephesus. He was exiled to Patmos by the Roman emperor Domitian (Lat. Titus Flavius Caesar Domitianus Augustus) after allegedly being unharmed upon being immersed in a vat of burning oil in the Colosseum circa 90-95 CE. Although Tertullian was far from being an eyewitness, he did record this event in Chapter 36 of The Prescription Against Heretics. Regardless, PLEASE study this for yourself, and pray for the Seven Spirits of Yahoah.

The Vision of End Time Events Commences (Revelation 4)
The Scroll with Seven Seals (Revelation 5)
1st Seal – Rider on White Horse – Conqueror (Revelation 6:1-2)
2nd Seal – Rider on Red Horse – War (Revelation 6:3-4)
3rd Seal – Rider on Black Horse – Famine (Revelation 6:5-6)
4th Seal – Rider on Sickly Pale/Ashen Horse – Death of a Fourth of the Earth (Revelation 6:7-8)
5th Seal – Martyrs (Revelation 6:9-11)
6th Seal – Earthquake, Sun Darkened, Moon Blood Colored, Stars Fall to Earth, Great Wind Shaking Unripe Figs, Sky Split Apart and Rolled Up Like a Scroll, Mountains and Islands Moved, All Proclaim Judgment Day Has Arrived (Revelation 6:12-17)
Four Angels Holding Back the Winds and a Fifth Ascending from the Rising Sun with the Seventh Seal (Revelation 7:1-3)
Sealing of the 144,000 (Revelation 7:4-8)
Multitude From the Great Tribulation in White Robes Becoming Priests (Revelation 7:9-17)
7th Seal – Silence in Heaven for a Half Hour, Seven Trumpets Distributed, and Thunder, Lightning, and Another Earthquake (Revelation 8:1-6)
1st Trumpet – Hail and Fire Mixed with Blood Burns a Third of the Earth and Trees and All Grass (Revelation 8:7)
2nd Trumpet – Something Like a Mountain Burning with Fire was Thrown into the Sea Turning a Third of the Sea into Blood, Killing a Third of All Sea Life, and Destroying a Third of All Ships (Revelation 8:8-9)
3rd Trumpet – Wormwood, a Burning Star Fell from Heaven and Made a Third of All Freshwater Bitter and Undrinkable (Revelation 8:10-11)
4th Trumpet – A Third of the Sun, Moon, and Stars Are Darkened; A Woe is Announced for What is to Come (Revelation 8:12-13)
5th Trumpet – A Key is Given to One of the Heavenly Host to Unlock the Bottomless Pit; Something Like Stinging Locusts with Tails Like Scorpions Torment Unbelievers for Five Months; They Wish for Death But It Does Not Come (Revelation 9:1-12)
6th Trumpet – Four of the Fallen Angels Bound at the Euphrates River are Released and Kill a Third of Mankind; They Control 200 Million “Horsemen” (Revelation 9:13-21)
Angel with Little Book (Revelation 10:1-3a)
Seven Peals of Thunder [Unrevealed!] (Revelation 10:3b-4)
Seventh Angel Preaches the Gospel (Revelation 10:5-7)
John Instructed to Eat the Little Book so that He May Prophesy (Revelation 10:8-11)
Enoch and Elijah Prophesy for 42 Months and No One Can Harm Them (Revelation 11:1-6)
Leviathan Kills the Two Witnesses in Jerusalem [=Sodom and Egypt], Lie in the Streets of Jerusalem for 3-1/2 Days, and Are Taken Up to Heaven (Revelation 11:7-12)
Earthquake in Jerusalem Where a Tenth Falls and 7,000 Killed (Revelation 11:13-14)
7th Trumpet – Christ’s Reign on Earth Foreseen (Revelation 11:15-19)
Great Signs in Heaven (Revelation 12:1-6)
War in Heaven; Satan and His Angels are Thrown Down to Earth and Make War with the Saints (Revelation 12:7-17)
Leviathan Appears for 42 Months and Satan Gives Her His Power and Authority; Most of the World Worships Her (Revelation 13:1-10)
Behemoth Appears and Makes Great Signs Like Fire Coming Down from Heaven; the Mark of Leviathan for Buying and Selling [Verse 18 is Unrevealed!] (Revelation 13:11-18)
Christ with the 144,000 from The Way on the Original Mount Zion [Lower Eastern Hill in the City of David] (Revelation 14:1-5)
Angel in Mid-Heaven Preaching the Gospel (Revelation 14:6-7)
Second Angel Proclaiming Woes to Babylon [=Jerusalem] (Revelation 14:8)
Third Angel Foretelling Doom of Those Who Worshipped the Beast [=Leviathan] (Revelation 14:9-12)
Voice from Heaven with Blessing Those Who Die in the Lord [=Yahoah] from Then On (Revelation 14:13)
The Reaping of The Righteous and the Wicked During the Tribulation (Revelation 14:14-20, 15:2-4)
Seven Angels with the Last Seven Plagues (Revelation 15:1,5-8, 16:1)
1st Bowl of Wrath on the Earth – Loathsome and Malignant Sores on the Worshippers of the Beast [Leviathan] (Revelation 16:2)
2nd Bowl of Wrath on the Sea – Became Like Blood and Everything in the Sea Died (Revelation 16:3)
3rd Bowl of Wrath on Rivers and Springs – Became Like Blood of the Saints and Prophets (Revelation 16:4-7)
4th Bowl of Wrath on the Sun – Scorched Men with Fire (Revelation 16:8-9)
5th Bowl of Wrath on the Throne of the Beast – Kingdom Darkened and They Gnawed Their Tongues in Pain (Revelation 16:10-11)
6th Bowl of Wrath on the Euphrates – It Dried Up (Revelation 16:12)
Three Unclean Spirits Like Frogs Coming out of the Mouths of Satan, Leviathan, and Behemoth Gathering Those Together at Har-Magedon [Armageddon] (Revelation 16:13-16)
7th Bowl of Wrath on the Air – Largest Earthquake Ever that Splits Jerusalem in Three Parts, No More Mountains or Islands, Huge Hailstones [Weight of a Talent or ~130 lbs] (Revelation 16:17-21)
Doom of Babylon [=Jerusalem] (Revelation 17:1-13)
Gathering of the Armies for Battle of Har-Megedon [Armageddon] (Revelation 17:14-18)
Angel Announces that Babylon is Defeated (Revelation 18:1-3)
Voice from Heaven Telling His People to Come Out of Babylon [=Jerusalem] and Not Receive Her Judgments (Revelation 18:4-8)
The World Laments for Babylon [=Jerusalem] (Revelation 18:9-24)
The Fourfold Hallelujah from the Multitudes in Heaven (Revelation 19:1-6)
Announcement of the Marriage of the Lamb [Christ] (Revelation 19:7-10)
Christ’s Second Coming on a White Horse and Waging War Against the Kings of the Earth (Revelation 19:11-19)
Leviathan and Behemoth are Thrown into Gehenna (Revelation 19:20-21)
Angel Binds Satan for 1,000 Years (Revelation 20:1-3)
First Resurrection of Those Beheaded During the Tribulation Who Did Not Worship Nor Accept the Mark of Leviathan; These Serve as Priests During Christ’s Millennial Reign on Earth (Revelation 20:4-6)
After the Millennial Reign, Satan is Released, Attempts to Deceive the Earth, Joins with Gog and Magog Who Are Destroyed by Fire Outside of Jerusalem, then Thrown into Gehenna Where Leviathan and Behemoth Were Thrown a Thousand Years Before (Revelation 20:7-10)
Second Resurrection and Judgment Day – All Those NOT Found in the Book of Life are Thrown into Gehenna [aka the Second Death] (Revelation 20:11-15)
New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem Descending from the New Heaven to the New Earth (Revelation 21)
River of Water of Life and Tree of Life (Revelation 22:1-7)
Closing (Revelation 22:8-21)

As promised, this is the order of End Time events as I currently understand them, and do not ask me for a specific date (Matthew 24:35-37):

Great Tribulation Begins (Sign in the Heavens; Satan and His Angels are Thrown Down to Earth; Includes Seal, Trumpet, Thunder, and Bowl Judgments Throughout the 3-1/2 Year Tribulation and in that Order)
Two Witnesses: Enoch and Elijah Begin Prophesying for 42 Months; 1,260 yomim; “time, times, and half a time” (=3-1/2 Enochian calendar years less 14 yomim for the equinoxes and solstices).
Leviathan Kills the Two Witnesses; Two Witnesses are Resurrected and Brought Up to Heaven After 3-1/2 Days
Armageddon
Jerusalem Partially Destroyed by God
Great Tribulation Ends
Christ’s Second Coming and the First Resurrection (of the Elect Beheaded During the Tribulation)
Leviathan (aka the Beast) and Behemoth (aka the False Prophet) are Thrown into Gehenna (aka Lake of Fire)
Satan Bound and Thrown into She’ol in Torment for a Thousand Years
Christ’s Millennial Reign (Those Beheaded During the Tribulation Become Priests of God and Serve During the Millennial Reign)
Satan Released (For a Short Time)
The Final Battle with Satan Joined by Gog and Magog
The Second Resurrection (of Both the Righteous and Wicked from She’ol — from Abel Forward)
Judgment Day (of Those from She’ol)
Satan Thrown into Gehenna Followed by the Wicked not Written in the Book of Life
Heaven and Earth Destroyed; New Heaven and New Earth Created
New Jerusalem (aka the Heavenly Kingdom) Descends from New Heaven
Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Between Christ and New Jerusalem)

If anyone teaches anything close to this, please contact me; I would be interested in talking to them. The Book of Revelation is MEANT to be understood; it is NOT a complete mystery. Yes, two things have been concealed until they actually come to fruition:

The meaning of the Seven Peals of Thunder in Revelation 10:3b-4 and
The mysterious name that calculates to be either 616 or 666 in Hebrew gematria or Greek isopsephy in Revelation 13:18.

Most state that Revelation is not written in chronological order, but IT IS except for minor exceptions. For example, when the prophecy discusses the two witnesses of Enoch and Elijah in Revelation 11:1-6 vs. 7-13; verses 1-6 occur during the 42 months/1,260 yomim (which is slightly longer than a SI day)/3-1/2 years of the Tribulation (i.e., “time, times, and half a time” of Daniel 7:25; 12:7 and Revelation 12:14), and verses 7-13 occur at the culmination of that period. So, although vv7-13 are “out of order” overall, they complete the topic explained within the context of the chapter or passage.

Be sure to read the companion articles in the Revelation Study series:

Shema Yisrael! (Hear, Israel!)

2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. (NASB 1995)

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Revelation Study: Behemoth

February 5, 2018September 17, 2021 ~ L. Alan Schuetz ~ 13 Comments

A beast of the Earth — aka the false prophet — who performs signs in the presence of Leviathan and was created on the sixth “yom” to fulfill End Time prophesy. He has two horns like a lamb, speaks like a dragon, and will deceive most people into worshipping the image of Leviathan and receiving her mark during the Great Tribulation. Behemoth currently resides in a subterranean desert east of Paradise in Sheol. He eats grass like an ox, has a tail that moves like a cedar, and bones as strong as brass and like bars of iron. Behemoth’s ultimate demise is be thrown into the lake of fire (i.e., Gehenna) with Leviathan.

Isn’t it interesting that within the realm of sci-fi people believe that concepts like terraforming are completely plausible? Or, that in the world of fantasy, they are comfortable with dragons like Smaug having the ability to speak? Yet, when put into the perspective of the Bible, these would be beyond ridiculous. We are told explicitly how our world was created through a higher power that can be proven through evidence-based intelligent design. However, we readily accept ludicrous, unproven theories — with little to no scientific evidence — such as the Big Bang and macroevolution because “men of science” would not steer us wrong, right? What if there REALLY were (and is!) a creature named Behemoth who does have the ability to communicate with humankind?

Let’s examine what the Bible says about this “beast of the Earth.” The most descriptive passage of Behemoth occurs in Job 40:

Job 40:15 “Look at Behemoth,
which I made along with you
and which feeds on grass like an ox.
16 What strength it has in its loins,
what power in the muscles of its belly!
17 Its tail sways like a cedar;
the sinews of its thighs are close-knit.
18 Its bones are tubes of bronze,
its limbs like rods of iron.
19 It ranks first among the works of God,
yet its Maker can approach it with his sword.
20 The hills bring it their produce,
and all the wild animals play nearby.
21 Under the lotus plants it lies,
hidden among the reeds in the marsh.
22 The lotuses conceal it in their shadow;
the poplars by the stream surround it.
23 A raging river does not alarm it;
it is secure, though the Jordan should surge against its mouth.
24 Can anyone capture it by the eyes,
or trap it and pierce its nose? (NASB 1995)

What if the lotuses of Job 40:21-22 were actually lotus trees? Diospyros lotus could certainly be a candidate as they grow upwards of 30m (~98 feet) tall. Some Biblical translators have mistakenly identified this beast as the hippopotamus, but do they have a tail that “sways like a cedar” in verse 17? Certainly NOT! Although hippos are exceptionally dangerous, could men trap them and pierce their noses? Absolutely! Based on the description provided, does this not sound more like a relative of the extinct sauropods of which the Brachiosaurus is one of the larger exemplars?

The third most frequent manuscript discovered among the Dead Sea Scrolls is 1 Enoch — behind Psalms and Deuteronomy. The Book of Enoch is DIRECTLY QUOTED by the canonized Book of Jude in Jude 1:14-15; examine footnote a. So, if a canonized book quotes an apocryphal book, does that mean that both should have been canonized or both considered apocryphal? It can’t be both ways. What has been hidden from us?

Regardless, this is what 1 Enoch states about Behemoth (and Leviathan):

1 Enoch 60:7 And on that day were two monsters parted, a female monster named Leviathan, to dwell in the abysses of the ocean over the fountains of the waters. 8 But the male is named Behemoth, who occupied with his breast a waste wilderness named Dûidâin, on the east of the garden where the elect and righteous dwell, where my grandfather was taken up, the seventh from Adam, the first man whom the Lord of Spirits created. 9 And I besought the other angel that he should show me the might of those monsters, how they were parted on one day and cast, the one into the abysses of the sea, and the other unto the dry land of the wilderness. 10. And he said to me: ‘Thou son of man, herein thou dost seek to know what is hidden.’

Note: The “seventh from Adam” was Enoch, so his grandson mentioned here is Lamech, the father of Noah.

The “garden where the elect and righteous dwell” — awaiting the resurrection of the dead — is none other than Paradise, where Christ descended for the three days and NIGHTS after his crucifixion. Paradise is part of Sheol, which is an undergound abyss created on the first “yom.” Look at the meaning of the Greek paradeisos; it is “a park, a GARDEN, a PARADISE!” So, where is Behemoth now? In “a waste wilderness named Dûidâin,” to the east of Paradise in Sheol, which is UNDERGROUND!

Now, let’s examine the prophesy of Revelation regarding the “beast of the Earth” or Behemoth:

Revelation 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. (NASB 1995)

Examine the two, bony protuberances atop the head of the Brachiosaurus in the image at the top of this article. Could that be “two horns like a lamb?”

Revelation 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. (NASB 1995)

The “first beast” spoken about in v12 is Leviathan, the “beast coming up out of the sea” in Revelation 13:1.

Revelation 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. 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. 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. 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, 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. (NASB 1995)

Behemoth will perform “great signs” including making fire come down from Heaven. How could he deceive men without “telling” them to make an image of Leviathan? Even the image of Leviathan will “speak.” And, what is the infamous “mark?” It is the MARK OF LEVIATHAN on the right hand or forehead! How many eschatological lies and mis-/disinformation have we been told about the mark?

Revelation 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. (NASB 1995)

The earliest extant manuscript states 616. Regardless, we are going to have to sit tight for this one to be revealed. The gematria of Leviathan (Heb. lamed-vav-yod-tav-nun) is 496 (lamed=30 + vav=6 + yod=10 + tav=400 + nun=50). Even Leviathan the Great in Hebrew equals 544. In Greek, the isopsephy for Leviathan adds to 398 (lambda=30 + epsilon=5 + beta=2 + iota=10 + tau=300 + alpha=1 + nu=50); Leviathan the Great equals 1427. Does verse 18 invalidate this research? No, because of verse 1:

Revelation 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. (NASB 1995)

At least one of those “blasphemous names” (or a combination thereof) will yield the number prophesied.

So, what happens if you accept the mark of Leviathan?

Revelation 14:9 Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” 12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.” (NASB 1995)

We already know that Satanists will worship Leviathan; it’s spelled out on their Sigil of Baphomet. Again, Satan’s minions know more about the End Times than most “Christians.”

Although the “lake of fire” called Gehenna — aka the “second death” — is the ultimate fate of those who receive the mark of Leviathan, they will be tortured during the Great Tribulation as is described in Revelation 16 — climaxing in the infamous battle of Armageddon.

Just as for those who will worship and take the mark of Leviathan, the two beasts — Leviathan and Behemoth, the false prophet — will meet their demise in the lake of fire as well:

Revelation 19:20 And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh. (NASB 1995)

To whom is verse 21 referring? None other than Christ Himself!

Amen! (So be it!)

Be sure to read the companion articles in the Revelation Study series:

Shema Yisrael! (Hear, Israel!)

2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. (NASB 1995)

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Revelation Study: Leviathan

February 4, 2018September 17, 2021 ~ L. Alan Schuetz ~ 9 Comments

An armored, scarlet-colored, fire-breathing, seven-headed sea monster with ten horns and full of blasphemous names that leaves behind a shiny wake. This beast was created on the fifth “yom” and resides in a watery abyss. Leviathan will kill the two witnesses of Enoch and Elijah at the conclusion of their 42-month testimony in Jerusalem, then Yahoah will slay her with His sword. Leviathan’s skin will be used for sukkah and her flesh served at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

What is the seven-headed beast of the sea in Revelation? It is none other than Leviathan, the sea monster of the abyss — likely the Calypso Deep. Most believe this is a figment of one’s imagination — a complete fantasy, but Leviathan is a very REAL beast created specifically on the fifth “yom” of Creation to fulfill End-Time prophesy. This is exactly why “New Testament-only churches” need to study the Old Testament (OT). Leviathan is mentioned by name in Job, Psalms, and Isaiah with the most vivid description in Job 41:

Job 41:1 “Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook?
Or press down his tongue with a cord?
2 Can you put a rope in his nose
Or pierce his jaw with a hook?
3 Will he make many supplications to you,
Or will he speak to you soft words?
4 Will he make a covenant with you?
Will you take him for a servant forever?
5 Will you play with him as with a bird,
Or will you bind him for your maidens?
6 Will the traders bargain over him?
Will they divide him among the merchants?
7 Can you fill his skin with harpoons,
Or his head with fishing spears?
8 Lay your hand on him;
Remember the battle; you will not do it again!
9 Behold, your expectation is false;
Will you be laid low even at the sight of him?
10 No one is so fierce that he dares to arouse him;
Who then is he that can stand before Me?
11 Who has given to Me that I should repay him?
Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine.
12 I will not keep silence concerning his limbs,
Or his mighty strength, or his orderly frame.
13 Who can strip off his outer armor?
Who can come within his double mail?
14 Who can open the doors of his face?
Around his teeth there is terror.
15 His strong scales are his pride,
Shut up as with a tight seal.
16 One is so near to another
That no air can come between them.
17 They are joined one to another;
They clasp each other and cannot be separated.
18 His sneezes flash forth light,
And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth go burning torches;
Sparks of fire leap forth.
20 Out of his nostrils smoke goes forth
As from a boiling pot and burning rushes.
21 His breath kindles coals,
And a flame goes forth from his mouth.
22 In his neck lodges strength,
And dismay leaps before him.
23 The folds of his flesh are joined together,
Firm on him and immovable.
24 His heart is as hard as a stone,
Even as hard as a lower millstone.
25 When he raises himself up, the mighty fear;
Because of the crashing they are bewildered.
26 The sword that reaches him cannot avail,
Nor the spear, the dart or the javelin.
27 He regards iron as straw,
Bronze as rotten wood.
28 The arrow cannot make him flee;
Slingstones are turned into stubble for him.
29 Clubs are regarded as stubble;
He laughs at the rattling of the javelin.
30 His underparts are like sharp potsherds;
He spreads out like a threshing sledge on the mire.
31 He makes the depths boil like a pot;
He makes the sea like a jar of ointment.
32 Behind him he makes a wake to shine;
One would think the deep to be gray-haired.
33 Nothing on earth is like him,
One made without fear.
34 He looks on everything that is high;
He is king over all the sons of pride.” (NASB 1995)

In footnote b for Job 41:1, Leviathan is identified as a crocodile; all others refer it it as a sea monster. Psalm 74:14 states that Leviathan has multiple heads, so a crocodile can certainly be ruled out. Isaiah 27:1 identifies it as a twisted serpent or dragon who lives in the sea. Leviathan and other sea monsters (Heb. tanninim) were created on the fifth day (Genesis 1:21).

Revelation 17:1-13 — concentrating on v3 — states that the beast that rises out of the sea has SEVEN heads. Many will state that this is figurative only due to vv9-13, but it is both literal and figurative. The literal beast that will arise from its watery abyss and align with the forces of darkness is Leviathan. Isn’t it interesting that mythology borrowed from reality in the form of the Lernaean Hydra? It even has regenerative properties when a head is fatally wounded.

Note in Isaiah 27:1 that Yahoah will kill the “twisted serpent” and “dragon who lives in the sea” with His fierce, great, mighty sword. How did Heracles/Hercules kill the multi-headed Hydra? With his sword and fire! In Sumerian, Babylonian, and Assyrian mythology, Ninurta slayed the seven-headed serpent. The only difference is that the Biblical account has been prophesied and has not yet occurred. Did the Biblical authors borrow from mythology or vice versa? Just like the Biblical Flood, mythology had a basis in reality. Some of us may actually witness this FIRST HAND towards the end of the Great Tribulation!

The following passage is certainly referencing Leviathan: she “was” at Creation, no one has seen her since so currently she “is not,” and she certainly “will come” in the End Times:

Revelation 17:8 “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come. (NASB 1995)

But, before her destruction, she will kill the two witnesses of Enoch and Elijah; even the Jewry knows to expect the latter before the conquering Messiah comes (Malachi 4:5)! More information on the allusion of Jerusalem’s being Mystery Babylon may be found here. Recall that numerous cities were allegedly built on seven hills, but few realize that Jerusalem is among them. As is discussed in my Mystery Babylon article, the modern Jewry follows a Babylonian calendar, places more faith in the Talmud Bavli than the TaNaKh (OT), and recites “Adonai” for the Tetragrammaton invoking the Greek Adonis (who is the assimilation of the Babylonian Tammuz). That is why Jerusalem is referenced as Mystery Babylon — not to mention the divination and sorcery performed by “learned” Kabbalists; see Revelation 18:21-24 concentrating on v23.

While on the subject of divination and sorcery, the Sigil of Baphomet spells out Leviathan (Heb. lamed-vav-yod-tav-nun) counter-clockwise starting from the bottom on their pentagram. THIS IS THE MARK OF THE BEAST – THE SIGIL OF BAPHOMET! Even Satan‘s minions understand what is to come more than most “Christians.” Within the context of Judgment Day on a future Yom Kippur, it makes perfect sense that Satanists would select a Sabbatic Goat within an inverted pentagram in light of Matthew 25:31-46 concentrating on vv32-34, 41 and 46.

Jewish eschatology expects that Leviathan will be slain and that her skin will be used as a covering for a sukkah (=booth or tabernacle). The most pertinent quote from that article is as follows:

“In the Talmud Baba Bathra 75a it is told that the Leviathan will be slain and its flesh served as a feast to the righteous in [the] Time to Come, and its skin used to cover the tent where the banquet will take place. The festival of Sukkot (Festival of Booths) therefore concludes with a prayer recited upon leaving the sukkah (booth): ‘May it be your will, Lord[/Adonai] our God and God of our forefathers, that just as I have fulfilled and dwelt in this sukkah, so may I merit in the coming year to dwell in the sukkah of the skin of Leviathan. Next year in Jerusalem.'”

Folks, this great banquet on Sukkot is none other than the Marriage Supper of the Lamb between Christ and New Jerusalem described in Revelation!

To recap: A beast/sea monster created on the fifth yom* will kill Enoch and Elijah, the two witnesses, at the conclusion of their testimony, then she will be slain by Christ Himself. “NT-only churches” cannot completely understand Biblical prophecies without understanding the OT. Who is currently taught this in their church or synagogue and why not?

*As is discussed in this article, a Biblical “yom” is slightly longer than a SI day — 4 minutes 58.2129230769 seconds to be exact — with the basis being a sidereal year. This can be proven at the equinoxes.

Be sure to read the companion articles in the Revelation Study series:

Shema Yisrael! (Hear, Israel!)

2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. (NASB 1995)

Follow @alan_schuetz

Revelation Study: The Seven Spirits of Yahoah

February 1, 2018October 2, 2021 ~ L. Alan Schuetz ~ 22 Comments

In Revelation 4:5, it speaks of the Seven Spirits of God:

Revelation 4:5 Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God (NASB 1995)

The “seven lamps” are a picture of the Golden Menorah, or lampstand, in Heaven. The construction of the Tabernacle and implements — including the menorah (Exodus 25:31-40) — were a “copy and shadow” of the original in Heaven:

Hebrews 8:4 Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; 5 who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “See,” He says, “that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.” (NASB 1995)

The seven Spirits are mentioned three other times in Revelation:

Revelation 1:4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne (NASB)

Revelation 3:1 He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. (NASB 1995)

Revelation 5:6 And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. (NASB 1995)

These seven Spirits are explained as follows:

Isaiah 11:2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him,
The spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The spirit of counsel and strength,
The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. (NASB 1995)

For the text in Hebrew; see here.

So, the Seven Spirits of God (with the Tetragrammaton incorrectly translated as “Lord” by pagan tradition above) are:

The Spirit of Yahoah,*
The Spirit of wisdom,
The Spirit of understanding,
The Spirit of counsel,
The Spirit of strength/might,
The Spirit of knowledge,** and
The Spirit of the fear/reverence of Yahoah.

*Tetragrammaton: yod-he-vav-he. The “vav” is pronounced like the “o” in Torah [tav-vav-resh-he], menorah [mem-nun-vav-resh-he], Eloah [aleph-lamed-vav-he] (=the singular form of Elohim), and Yehoshu’a [yod-he-vav-shin-ayin] (=Christ’s Hebrew name: Joshua, meaning “Yahoah saves;” Gr. ‘Iesous). This was confirmed in a Dead Sea Scroll fragment (4Q120) in which His Name was spelled iota-alpha-omega in Koine Greek; the omega corresponds to the vav. He truly is the “alpha and omega” (Revelation 22:13) — it is LITERALLY in His Name (HaShem)!

Image courtesy of the University of Pennsylvania College of Arts and Sciences

**The Hebraic root of “knowledge” is “yada.” So, now you know the origin of yada, yada, yada…

PLEASE pray for these seven Spirits of Yahoah; I have for nearly 20 years.

Be sure to read the companion articles in the Revelation Study series:

Shema Yisrael! (Hear, Israel!)

2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. (NASB 1995)

Follow @alan_schuetz

Revelation Study: Signs in the Heavens – Engonasi(n) the Kneeler

January 31, 2018September 17, 2021 ~ L. Alan Schuetz ~ 9 Comments

Engonasi(n) the Kneeler

On September 23, 2017, many who study eschatology, or end-time prophecy, stated that a “sign” involving the constellations Virgo and Leo; the sun and moon; and planets Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, and Venus would:

Mark the fulfillment of Revelation 12:1-2;
Commence the three and a half year tribulation; and
Trigger the rapture of the church.

For more information on that now debunked “sign,” see here with an artist’s conception here. But, how could a layperson with little or no astronomy experience know that it would be debunked ahead of time?

Examine the entire chapter of Revelation 12.

Let’s dispel one of the larger lies taught in most Christian churches — a pre-Tribulation rapture:

Matthew 24:29 “But immediately AFTER THE TRIBULATION [emphasis mine] of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky [lit. heaven], and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 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. 31 And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect [lit. chosen ones] from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. (NASB 1995)

Mark 13:24 “But in those days, AFTER THE TRIBULATION [emphasis mine], the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect [lit. chosen ones] from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven. (NASB 1995)

This represents two witnesses in the synoptic Gospels. So, if ANYONE teaches a pre-tribulation rapture, they are a false teacher; it’s as simple as that. Matthew 10:22, 24:13 and Mark 13:13 all state that those who endure to the end (i.e., remain a believer in Christ until death or are still living at His return) will be saved.

Because the constellations of Virgo and Leo lie in the ecliptic, or the alleged plane of our solar system, this “sign” has likely occurred multiple times in the past. Also, Revelation 12:3-4 references a sign of a red dragon; there is no dragon constellation near Virgo — only Hydra is. However, the second sentence in Revelation 12:4 states the following:

Revelation 12:4b … And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. (NASB 1995)

The problem is that the “head” of Hydra is nowhere near Virgo.

So, what could the red dragon be referencing? The best candidate is the constellation Draco [Lat. for “dragon”]. An interesting tidbit from the Draco article is that it is “… circumpolar (that is, never setting), and can be seen all year from northern latitudes.” Note that immediately following Matthew 24:29-31 and Mark 13:24-27 is the Parable of the Fig Tree:

Matthew 24:32 “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; 33 so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. (NASB 1995)

Mark 13:28-29 states the same. How does this tie into the Parable of the Fig Tree? Draco is best seen north of the imaginary equator during the SUMMER months — particularly July! Based on these passages in Matthew and Mark, look for this sign in the late spring — just before the summer solstice — NOT the autumnal equinox.

What seals the deal regarding the seven heads of the dragon in Revelation 12:3-4 is the fact that three of the four stars comprising the head of Draco are binary stars — Rastaban, Kuma, and Grumium:

Rastaban [=head of the dragon/serpent] – β Draconis,
Etamin/Eltanin [=the great serpent] – γ Draconis,
Kuma [=at last?] – ν Draconis, and
Grumium [=serpent’s jawbone] – ξ Draconis.

But, there is no “female” constellation in the immediate vicinity of Draco, right? In mid-2014, I conducted research which proved — without a shadow of a doubt — that Eratosthenes renamed the constellation Engonasi(n) [Gr. for “the Kneeling One”] to the Greek Heracles, which in Latin is Hercules. It is known by the latter Roman designation today. Examine the following quote from the Constellation Guide for the Hercules Constellation under the Myth section:

“Hercules constellation dates back to ancient times. Its origin was unclear even to the Greeks. They knew it as Engonasin, or ‘the kneeling one.’ It was Eratosthenes who identified the kneeler as Heracles, standing over the dragon that guarded the garden of the Hesperides.”

How did women in Biblical times give birth? One example is found as follows:

1 Samuel 4:19 Now his daughter-in-law, Phinehas’s wife, was pregnant and about to give birth; and when she heard the news that the ark of God was taken and that her father-in-law and her husband had died, SHE KNEELED DOWN AND GAVE BIRTH [emphasis mine], for her pains came upon her. (NASB 1995)

Is this the first transgendered constellation? lol What was originally a woman (the kneeling one) became a man (Gr. Heracles/Lat. Hercules). The keystone asterism of Engonasi(n) forms the “womb.” The moon will be “birthed” from the keystone and will be at her feet later that evening. The original name of this constellation was preserved in its brightest star: Rasalgethi (Arabic Ras al-Jathiyy meaning “the Kneeler’s Head“).

The final part of this puzzle is found in Revelation 12:1 regarding “a crown of twelve stars.” This is likely referring to the constellation Corona Borealis (=Northern Crown). In modern times, this constellation is semicircular and is comprised of seven stars (or nine by the Chinese accounting); see here. As this constellation is not on the ecliptic, an extraordinary (unique!) event will have to occur for it to have 12 stars to complete the prophesy.

To understand this visually:

Notice how Draco is poised “… before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.” Revelation 12:4b (NASB 1995)

God gave us the sun, moon, and stars for SIGNS, seasons, days, and years; see Genesis 1:14-15. What was originally holy has been corrupted through millennia by the Egyptians, Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, et al.

When will this prophesy be fulfilled? I don’t know, so we’ll have to keep looking up. But, we were provided with a target window. Just like when the gathering of Christ’s elect (=chosen ones) occurs, only the Father knows:

Matthew 24:36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. (NASB 1995)

Be sure to read the companion articles in the Revelation Study series:

Shema Yisrael! (Hear, Israel!)

2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. (NASB 1995)

Follow @alan_schuetz