Chapter 05 – The Day of the Lord.

The Day of the LORD and the Great Tribulation.

The day of the revelation of the Lord.

The plagues of the trumpets.

The second coming of the Lord.

The day of the wrath of God.

The destruction of Babylon.

The Battle of Armageddon.

The reorganization of heaven and earth.

Table – The Great Tribulation.

Is the Great Tribulation identical with the Day of the Lord and the Wrath of God?   /   Discourse 61

The assignment to the appropriate time.

The "Day of the Lord" is the second half of the seventieth week of seven years and with that the period of the last days, which follows after the "Great Tribulation" and ends up in the "Millennium", the kingdom of peace of our Lord Jesus Christ that will last for a thousand years.

Within this "Day of the Lord" we distinguish several events. In the first part, the day of the revelation of the Lord, the first event is the return of the Lord with the plagues of the trumpets and the gathering of his elect in the raising of the dead in Christ and their Rapture, together with the still living faithful. In the second part, the day of the wrath of God, the main events are the judgment of the bowls 1 – 6, the Battle of Armageddon and as the last event of this period of time, the reorganization of heaven and earth in the 7th judgment of the bowls, as preparation of the "Millennium", the next period of the last days.

The Day of the LORD and the Great Tribulation.

This "Day of the Lord" is a period in the history of the last days, which has not yet been recognized at all in the right way and in its full extent by many exegetes. First of all this is certainly due to the fact that the Day of the Lord follows right upon the Great Tribulation with regard to time and secondly, another reason is that the effects of both events are similar, namely a great distress for the people on earth. This is why it often happens in the exegesis that both periods are mixed up and are seen under the common title of the Great Tribulation. But for the faithful these two events are entirely different.

The Great Tribulation is the time, when the people are persecuted and killed by the antichristian regime because of their faith in Christ and because of their refusal to worship the beast. The "Day of the Lord", however, is for the faithful the salvation and redemption, since it brings for them the return of their Lord and with that the Rapture. At the same time the Lord takes over his reign as the king over the kingdoms of this world (Rev 11:15) in Jerusalem. In the events that follow afterward, the Day of the Lord is, however, the "day of the wrath of God". In that time the Judgment of God comes over all godless and impenitent with the 7 judgments of the bowls.

(See also Chapter 03: The Great Tribulation.")

The day of the revelation of the Lord.

The last event of the preceding period of the last days, of the Great Tribulation, was the great darkness. The sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky.

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 and the moon into blood.

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,

Then, in the midst of this worldwide darkness, the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Just as the lightning that shines over the whole world, this sign will be seen in the sky round the earth.

Just as a lightning, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Mt 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 24,26-28;

And then men will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky. So, it is not true – as some people think – that the Lord comes for the Rapture of his elect silently and quietly and unseen by the world population. Or that he even came already in the year 1914 "invisibly", as Jehovah’s Witnesses maintain. No, the Lord comes well visibly for all men on earth.

The hint at several passages in the Scriptures that the Lord will come "like a thief in the night", does not mean that the Lord comes secretly and in the hidden, but that the time of his coming is not known to anybody – except his Father – , in a similar way as one does never know when a thief comes. And just as one cannot prepare for the breaking and entering of a thief, if one does not know when he comes, also Satan and his marionette, the Antichrist, cannot prepare for the coming of the Lord.

This is the day when the Lord takes over his reign, how should he come secretly then! The whole world will see him. The faithful can now raise their heads, because their salvation is drawing near. The godless will tremble and weep, because the wrath of God will come over them now.

Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him.

Rev 1,7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. Rev 1,7;

And now the Lord sends his angels with great trumpets, which will call for the first part of the Judgments of God to come over the earth. When the last, the seventh trumpet sounds, below, these angels will gather together the elect, who will be then caught up to the Lord, into the air, together with the raised dead in Christ.

They will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.

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 ma 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;

Then they will see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory.

Mk 13,24 "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light0, 13,25 And the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. 13,26 "Then they will see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 13,27 "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. Mk 13,24-27;

The dead in Christ will rise first and will be caught up together with those who are alive.

1The 4,15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 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. 1The 4,15 – 17;

The plagues of the trumpets.

The first six trumpets.

Just as it is the case in the plagues of the seals, also in the plagues of the trumpets, a coherent group can be discovered in the first four plagues. It is each time a third of the earth, the sea, the rivers, the springs of waters, and the celestial bodies, which is affected by the individual plagues.

A third of the earth and a third of the trees and all the green grass burned up.

Rev 8,6 And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound them. 8,7 The first sounded, and there came hail and fire, mixed with blood, and they were thrown to the earth; and a third of the earth was burned up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up. Rev 8, 6- 7;

A third of the sea became blood, and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died.

Rev 8,8 The second angel sounded, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea; and a third of the sea became blood, 8,9 and a third of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died; and a third of the ships were destroyed. Rev 8, 8- 9;

A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died.

Rev 8,10 The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of waters. 8,11 The name of the star is called Wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter. Rev 8,10-11;

A third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck.

Rev 8,12 The fourth angel sounded, and a third of the sun and a third of the moon and a third of the stars were struck, so that a third of them would be darkened and the day would not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way. 8,13 Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in midheaven, saying with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!" Rev 8,12-13;

The sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit, and then out of the smoke came locusts.

Rev 9,1 Then the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him. 9,2 He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit. 9,3 Then out of the smoke came locusts upon the earth, and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

9,4 They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 9,5 And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man. 9,6 And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will long to die, and death flees from them. 9,7 The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads appeared to be crowns like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men.9,8 They had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions. 9,9 They had breastplates like breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to battle. 9,10 They have tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt men for five months. 9,11 They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon. 9,12 The first woe is past; behold, two woes are still coming after these things. Rev 9, 1-12;

In Rev 7,1-4 we can read about the sealing of the 144,000 from all tribes of Israel. There those four angels, to whom authority was given, to do harm to the earth, the trees, and the sea at the subsequent plagues of the trumpets, are still held back until those 144,000 are sealed.

One hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel.

Rev 7,1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree. 7,2 And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea,

7,3 saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads." 7,4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel. Rev 7, 1- 4;

And now we read above, at the fifth plague of the trumpet, in Rev 9,4-5, that precisely those 144,000, who were bearing the seal of God on their foreheads, should be exempted from the plague of the scorpions. First of all, with that it is proved that the fifth trumpet – that is to say Rev 9,1-12 – necessarily has to take place after 7,1-4 and thus – also on account of other connections – it can be assumed that the plagues of the trumpets as a whole take place after the plagues of the seals. But what seems to be even much more important is the fact that, seen the other way round, the text from Rev 7,1-4 – which is, as mentioned before, an inserted text and consequently not a part of the happenings at the judgment – takes the place where it is situated - namely before the fifth trumpet – rightly so.

The fact that the distress of men at this fifth plague of the trumpet will last for five months, shows us that the plagues will not necessarily be happenings of some few days. If one extrapolates and supposes a duration of five months for all 21 judgments of the seventieth week of seven years, this would be a little bit too short for the period of the Great Tribulation which lasts for three and a half years, with the seven plagues of the seals and the 35 months calculated here. But with the altogether 14 trumpets and judgments of the bowls on the Day of the Lord, nearly twice as much time as the three and a half years would be reached with 70 months. If you look at it the other way round, this means that there must be here – on the Day of the Lord – some plagues, which last considerably shorter than five months.

Fire and smoke and brimstone – a third of mankind was killed by these three plagues.

Rev 9,13 Then the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 9,14 one saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." 9,15 And the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released, so that they would kill a third of mankind.

9,16 The number of the armies of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. 9,17 And this is how I saw in the vision the horses and those who sat on them: the riders had breastplates the color of fire and of hyacinth and of brimstone; and the heads of the horses are like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths proceed fire and smoke and brimstone. 9,18 A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths. 9,19 For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm.

9,20 The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; 9,21 and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts. Rev 9,13-21;

The second coming of the Lord.

This is now the moment, when our God rises. He stands up and gets ready to put an end to the rule of the godless in this world. But first of all, he takes home his elect, who suffered during this last time of the Great Tribulation, together with the dead in Christ.

The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.

Rev 11,15 Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever." 11,16 And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 11,17 saying, "We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign.

11,18 "And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth." Rev 11,15-18;

In the days when the seventh angel is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished.

Rev 10,5 Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven, 10,6 and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that there will be delay no longer, 10,7 but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets. Rev 10, 5- 7;

To bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy.

Dan 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. Dan 9,24;

The last trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

1Cor 15,50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 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. 15,53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 1Cor 15,50-53;

The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with the trumpet of God.

1The 4,15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 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. 1The 4,15-17;

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;

The day of the wrath of God.

Now, after the elect – the dead and the living in Christ – have been caught up into heaven, the wrath of God befalls the earth. The great day of the wrath of God has come and the people on the earth, the worshipers of the beast, will from now on suffer one plague after the other. But as we can gather from the individual texts, they are far from repenting. On the contrary, as it says in Rev 16,21 "and men blasphemed God because of the plague".

However, we also have some few texts which make us realize that even in that, then predominantly godless world, there will be faithful men. On the one hand there is the statement from Rev 14, 9-13. Here it is prophesied to all who worship the beast and its image that the wrath of God will come over them. So, it is the time of the reign of the Antichrist and the false prophet. And here it says then in Rev 14,13, "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on".

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!

Rev 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, 14,10 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.

14,11 "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." 14,12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

14,13 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." Rev 14, 9-13;

Of course, this promise is in the first place meant for those men who are killed by the antichristian regime. But there seems to be more in the statement "from now on" than meets the eye. For no limitation in time is given for this promise. And therefore the assumption seems to be absolutely justified that even later on, namely here, on the day of the wrath of God, and also during the subsequent days up to the bitter end, the tremendous earthquake at the reorganization of heaven and earth, men will still return to God and take on the belief in the one and true God.

This is also corroborated by a passage from the Old Testament, which relates its promise to the "Day of the Lord" and covers with that the entire period, up to the reorganization of heaven and earth.

Whoever calls on the name of the LORD will be delivered.

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;

So, it seems to be certain: The Lord does not forget the one, who converts to him. No matter how far time may be advanced, no matter how severe the plagues may be which come over mankind and no matter how great the wrath of God may be: Those who convert to him, will be delivered.

But those who do not do that, will be hit by this wrath of God with all severity and without mercy. And then it will be of no help to hide in the rocks and gorges. Nobody can hide from God. There are only two possibilities: return to God or eternal damnation.

The great day of the wrath of God and the Lamb.

Rev 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 6,16-17;

The day of the LORD’S wrath.

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. 1,17 I will bring distress on men So that they will walk like the blind, Because they have sinned against the LORD; And their blood will be poured out like dust And their flesh like dung. 1,18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the day of the LORD’S wrath; And all the earth will be devoured In the fire of His jealousy, For He will make a complete end, Indeed a terrifying one, Of all the inhabitants of the earth. Zeph 1,14-18;

The day of the LORD will be darkness instead of light, even gloom with no brightness in it.

Amos 5,18 Alas, you who are longing for the day of the LORD, For what purpose will the day of the LORD be to you? It will be darkness and not light; 5,19 As when a man flees from a lion And a bear meets him, Or goes home, leans his hand against the wall And a snake bites him. 5,20 Will not the day of the LORD be darkness instead of light, Even gloom with no brightness in it? Amos 5,18-20;

For the LORD of hosts will have a day of reckoning against everything that is proud and lofty.

Isa 2,10 Enter the rock and hide in the dust From the terror of the LORD and from the splendor of His majesty. 2,11 The proud look of man will be abased And the loftiness of man will be humbled, And the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.

2,12 For the LORD of hosts will have a day of reckoning against everything that is proud and lofty And against everything that is lifted up, That it may be abased. 2,13 And it will be against all the cedars of Lebanon that are lofty and lifted up, Against all the oaks of Bashan, 2,14 Against all the lofty mountains, Against all the hills that are lifted up, 2,15 Against every high tower, Against every fortified wall, 2,16 Against all the ships of Tarshish And against all the beautiful craft. 2,17 The pride of man will be humbled And the loftiness of men will be abased; And the LORD alone will be exalted in that day, 2,18 But the idols will completely vanish. 2,19 Men will go into caves of the rocks And into holes of the ground Before the terror of the LORD And the splendor of His majesty, When He arises to make the earth tremble. Isa 2,10-19;

The time came to destroy those who destroy the earth.

Rev 11,18 "And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth." Rev 11,18;

It is a day of vengeance and a year of recompense for the cause of Zion.

Isa 34,8 For the LORD has a day of vengeance, A year of recompense for the cause of Zion. Isa 34, 8;

Who worships the beast will drink of the wine of the wrath of God.

Rev 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, 14,10 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.

14,11 "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." Rev 14, 9-11;

The great wine press of the wrath of God.

Rev 14,14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.

14,15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "Put in your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe." 14,16 Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped. 14,17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. 14,18 Then another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe."

14,19 So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God. 14,20 And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses’ bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles. Rev 14,14-20;

The judgment of the bowls.

Also in the judgment of the bowls the first four bowls of wrath can be perceived as a unity in so far as they correspond with the first four plagues of the trumpets – which are in themselves also a group of four – in their sphere of activity – earth, sea, rivers, springs of waters, sun.

But on closer examination, also in the remaining three judgments of the bowls similarities with the plagues of the last three trumpets can be found. The seventh bowl brings – just as the fifth trumpet - a darkening; here only the realm of the beast, there the sun and with that the whole earth. The sixth bowl is poured out over the river Euphrates, when the sixth trumpet sounds, the four angels, who are likewise bound at the river Euphrates, are released. And when the seventh bowl is poured out there are lightnings, voices, thunders, and earthquakes – just as when the seventh trumpet sounds and when the seventh seal is broken. However, the earthquake that takes place when the seventh bowl is poured out differs from the other earthquakes in quality by being such a tremendous earthquake "such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now" (Rev 16,18).

Seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.

Rev 15,1Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.

15,2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, holding harps of God. 15,3 And they sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations! 15,4 "Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy; For all the nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed."

15,5 After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened, 15,6 and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded around their chests with golden sashes.

15,7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. 15,8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power; and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished. Rev 15, 1- 8;

The first bowl of wrath.

A malignant sore on the people who had the mark of the beast.

Rev 16,1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God." 16,2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; and it became a loathsome and malignant sore on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image. Rev 16, 1- 2;

While it said with the plagues of the seals, "Behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals" and with the plagues of the trumpets, "And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them" (Rev 8,2), here a direct order is issued by the voice of God from the temple to all seven angels, "Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath…".

The first bowl was poured out on the earth; and it became a malignant sore on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image. According to Rev 13,4.16 these are those people who worship the Antichrist and consequently Satan. We realize here, just as with the third and fifth bowl that it is still the time of the reign of the Antichrist.

But this statement could also involve another, concealed information. In a similar way as above, in Rev 14,13, it is quite explicitly expressed that also at that time people can still "die in the Lord", it could also here mean – however, if you look at it the other way round – that at that time there will be also people without the mark of the beast, that is to say faithful, still living on earth, who will not get this sore. Just as at the fifth plague of the trumpet only those were done harm to by the scorpions, who did not have the seal of God, here only those are struck by the malignant sore, who worship the beast.

The second bowl of wrath.

The sea became blood like that of a dead man; and every living thing in the sea died.

Rev 16,3 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood like that of a dead man; and every living thing in the sea died. Rev 16, 3;

The second bowl was poured out into the sea so that the sea became like the blood of a dead man and every living thing in the sea died and with that also all maritime food resources were lost. Taking into consideration that also crude oil is something like "the blood of a dead man", namely biomass which was transformed being hermetically sealed, under high pressure and under the action of bacteria, and knowing furthermore that already today heavy metals, pesticides, and above all crude oil residues are dumped into the oceans at an amount of 12 tons every minute, we realize also here that we only have to go on with our doings without interruption, in order to fulfill these prophecies.

The third bowl of wrath.

The rivers and the springs of waters became blood.

Rev 16,4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters; and they became blood. 16,5 And I heard the angel of the waters saying, "Righteous are You, who are and who were, O Holy One, because You judged these things; 16,6 for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it." 16,7 And I heard the altar saying, "Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments." Rev 16, 4- 7;

The third bowl was poured out by the angel into the rivers and springs of waters, and the waters became blood and thus completely brackish, that means it came to a worldwide water shortage. At the plagues of the trumpets, which show at least up to the fourth trumpet a certain parallelism with the judgments of the bowls, a "great star" falls from heaven "burning like a torch" when the third trumpet sounds. And also this star falls upon rivers and springs of water. Its name is "wormwood" and it says there further, "the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the waters, because they were made bitter". If one knows that the Russian word "Tschernobyl" means "wormwood" in English, also this gets a certain meaning.

The fourth bowl of wrath.

It was given to the sun to scorch men with fire.

Rev 16,8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given to it to scorch men with fire. 16,9 Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory. Rev 16, 8- 9;

And the fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and men were scorched with fierce heat. Here there is apparently talk about fierce heat by insolation. This is a consequence of missing clouds and with that also of missing rain. A further consequence of such a climatic development is therefore a worldwide drought and famine connected therewith and thirst by water shortage. Also here we have to ask ourselves, if our reckless money-grubbing, with its now as before increasing pollutant emission into the air, which already caused two ozone holes today and which probably will bring about a climatic change in the near future, is not the main cause here, too.

The fifth bowl of wrath.

The kingdom of the beast became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain.

Rev 16,10 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became darkened; and they gnawed their tongues because of pain, 16,11 and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds. Rev 16,10-11;

It can be concluded also from the text of the fifth bowl of wrath that the judgments of the bowls falls within the time of the antichristian reign over the world. The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and the kingdom of the beast became darkened.

When the beast is "appointed" by Satan, it says in Rev 13,2, "And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority". So, here it is not only the throne of the beast, but it is the throne of Satan himself, which he "gave" to the beast, that is to say which he put at his disposal, which will be affected by this plague.

We read about this throne of Satan also in the Epistle to the angel of the church of Pergamum.

I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is.

Rev 2,12 "And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:

2,13 ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. Rev 2,12-13;

It is, however, uncertain if there is actually a connection here, and if therefore the area round Pergamum – which lies today in Turkey – will be the headquarters of the Antichrist or, the capital of the antichristian world empire, anyway, which is struck by this plague of the fifth bowl of wrath.

The sixth bowl of wrath.

The water of the Euphrates was dried up, as a way for the kings of the east.

Rev 16,12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east. Rev 16,12

These kings from the east are now presumably a part of those ("ten") kings of the world, who are called by the satanic trinity subsequently in the text, in Rev 16,13-14, for being gathered together with their armies in Armageddon.

The kings of the world are gathered together for the war of the great day of God.

Rev 16,13 And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; 16,14 for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. Rev 16,13-14;

They receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.

Rev 17,12 "The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. 17,13 "These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast. 17,14 "These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful." Rev 17,12-14;

The destruction of Babylon.

So, the ten kings will receive authority together with the beast and fight against the Lamb in the Battle of Armageddon. Before this fight, however, these same ten kings will plunder the harlot Babylon and destroy her by fire. It is also here God, who "put it in their hearts". Just as with the "turning round" of the Antichrist for the Battle of Armageddon, in Eze 39, also here it is documented that it is God who steers and controls the satanic powers. And he controls them in a way that they mutually destroy each other.

And the ten horns and the beast, these will burn up the harlot with fire.

Rev 17,15 And he said to me, "The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues. 17,16 "And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and will burn her up with fire.

17,17 "For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be fulfilled. 17,18 "The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth." Rev 17,15-18;

The oracle concerning Babylon: the kingdoms of the world will destroy the whole land.

Isa 13,1 The oracle concerning Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw. 13,2 Lift up a standard on the bare hill, Raise your voice to them, Wave the hand that they may enter the doors of the nobles. 13,3 I have commanded My consecrated ones, I have even called My mighty warriors, My proudly exulting ones, To execute My anger. 13,4 A sound of tumult on the mountains, Like that of many people! A sound of the uproar of kingdoms, Of nations gathered together! The LORD of hosts is mustering the army for battle. 13,5 They are coming from a far country, From the farthest horizons, The LORD and His instruments of indignation, To destroy the whole land. Isa 13,1-5;

In the above text from Isa 13,1-5 we can see both very well. Verse 4 is about the gathered kingdoms, that is to say the ten kings and their armies, who will spoil Babylon and the whole earth. From verse 3 it emerges, however, that also the end of these armies has already come. The Lord Jesus is ready with his heavenly host, the "mighty warriors of God who are exulting at his glory", to destroy the gathered kingdoms of the nations in the Battle of Armageddon.

The cup of wrath for Jerusalem and all the kingdoms of the earth and Babylon after them.

Jer 25,15 For thus the LORD, the God of Israel, says to me, "Take this cup of the wine of wrath from My hand and cause all the nations to whom I send you to drink it. 25,16 "They will drink and stagger and go mad because of the sword that I will send among them."

25,17 Then I took the cup from the LORD’S hand and made all the nations to whom the LORD sent me drink it: 25,18 Jerusalem and the cities of Judah and its kings and its princes, to make them a ruin, a horror, a hissing and a curse, as it is this day; 25,19 Pharaoh king of Egypt, his servants, his princes and all his people; 25,20 and all the foreign people, all the kings of the land of Uz, all the kings of the land of the Philistines (even Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron and the remnant of Ashdod); 25,21 Edom, Moab and the sons of Ammon; 25,22 and all the kings of Tyre, all the kings of Sidon and the kings of the coastlands which are beyond the sea; 25,23 and Dedan, Tema, Buz and all who cut the corners of their hair; 25,24 and all the kings of Arabia and all the kings of the foreign people who dwell in the desert; 25,25 and all the kings of Zimri, all the kings of Elam and all the kings of Media; 25,26 and all the kings of the north, near and far, one with another; and all the kingdoms of the earth which are upon the face of the ground, and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.

25,27 "You shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, "Drink, be drunk, vomit, fall and rise no more because of the sword which I will send among you."‘ 25,28 "And it will be, if they refuse to take the cup from your hand to drink, then you will say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: "You shall surely drink! 25,29 "For behold, I am beginning to work calamity in this city which is called by My name, and shall you be completely free from punishment? You will not be free from punishment; for I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth," declares the LORD of hosts.’

25,30 "Therefore you shall prophesy against them all these words, and you shall say to them, ‘The LORD will roar from on high And utter His voice from His holy habitation; He will roar mightily against His fold. He will shout like those who tread the grapes, Against all the inhabitants of the earth. 25,31 ‘A clamor has come to the end of the earth, Because the LORD has a controversy with the nations. He is entering into judgment with all flesh; As for the wicked, He has given them to the sword,’ declares the LORD."

25,32 Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Behold, evil is going forth From nation to nation, And a great storm is being stirred up From the remotest parts of the earth. 25,33 "Those slain by the LORD on that day will be from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be lamented, gathered or buried; they will be like dung on the face of the ground.

25,34 "Wail, you shepherds, and cry; And wallow in ashes, you masters of the flock; For the days of your slaughter and your dispersions have come, And you will fall like a choice vessel. 25,35 "Flight will perish from the shepherds, And escape from the masters of the flock. 25,36 "Hear the sound of the cry of the shepherds, And the wailing of the masters of the flock! For the LORD is destroying their pasture, 25,37 "And the peaceful folds are made silent Because of the fierce anger of the LORD. 25,38 "He has left His hiding place like the lion; For their land has become a horror Because of the fierceness of the oppressing sword And because of His fierce anger." Jer 25,15-38;

Then heaven and earth will shout for joy, for the destroyers of Babylon will come to her.

Jer 51,47 Therefore behold, days are coming When I will punish the idols of Babylon; And her whole land will be put to shame And all her slain will fall in her midst. 51,48 "Then heaven and earth and all that is in them Will shout for joy over Babylon, For the destroyers will come to her from the north," Declares the LORD. 51,49 Indeed Babylon is to fall for the slain of Israel, As also for Babylon the slain of all the earth have fallen. Jer 51,47-49;

Just as the slain of the whole world once fell for Babylon, now Babylon falls for the slain of Israel.

Babylon is fallen.

Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great.

Rev 14,8 And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality." Rev 14, 8;

Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!

Rev 18,1 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory. 18,2 And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird.

18,3 "For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality." Rev 18, 1- 3;

Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets.

Rev 18,20 "Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her." 18,21 Then a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer. Rev 18,20-21;

His judgments are true and righteous, for He has judged the great harlot.

Rev 19,1 After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God; 19,2 because His judgments are true and righteous, for He has judged the great harlot who was corrupting the earth with her immorality, and He has avenged the bond of His bond-servants on her." Rev 19, 1- 2;

Hallelujah! Her smoke rises up forever and ever.

Rev 19,3 And a second time they said, "Hallelujah! Her smoke rises up forever and ever." 19,4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, "Amen. Hallelujah!" Rev 19, 3- 4;

Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.

Rev 19,5 And a voice came from the throne, saying, "Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great." 19,6 Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns. Rev 19, 5- 6;

While the angels are exulting in heaven, after the destruction of Babylon the huge army of the Antichrist continues its march to its destination proper: Armageddon.

The Battle of Armageddon.

The name "Armageddon" is a direct transcription of the Hebrew term Har=mountain, Megiddo=the name of a city in the plain of Jesreel. The city of Megiddo (Jos 17,11; Zech 12,11 and others) was situated strategically favorably at the Via Maris in the plain of Jesreel and was the arena of many battles (Jude 5,19; 2Kö 23,29; 2Chr 35,22).

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!

Joel 3,14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. 3,15 The sun and moon grow dark And the stars lose their brightness. 3,16 The LORD roars from Zion And utters His voice from Jerusalem, And the heavens and the earth tremble. But the LORD is a refuge for His people And a stronghold to the sons of Israel. Joel 3,14-16;

But the outcome of this battle is already decided since the very beginning of the world. It can never be completely clarified in the interpretation if the satanic forces do not know God’s plan or do not want to know it. According to the laws of logic it ought to be the latter one.

For even if Satan were not able to know the will of God directly, one had at least to start out from the assumption that he can read the Bible. And here he could, if he only wanted to, learn the outcome of each single step of his. But obviously he does not admit it to himself. He believes up to the very last second that he will succeed in seizing power.

The armies of the whole world gathered.

And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon.

Rev 16,15 "Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame." 16,16 And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon. Rev 16,15-16;

I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat.

Joel 3,1 "For behold, in those days and at that time, When I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, 3,2 I will gather all the nations And bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. Then I will enter into judgment with them there On behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; And they have divided up My land. 3,3 "They have also cast lots for My people, Traded a boy for a harlot And sold a girl for wine that they may drink. Joel 3, 1- 3;

Here above, in Joel 3,1-3, we also have the reason why God gathers these Gentiles and will destroy them in the battle. It is the retaliation for Jerusalem. Because they occupied the land and sold and scattered his people all over the world.

Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare a war!

Joel 3,9 Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare a war; rouse the mighty men! Let all the soldiers draw near, let them come up! 3,10 Beat your plowshares into swords And your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, "I am a mighty man." 3,11 Hasten and come, all you surrounding nations, And gather yourselves there. Bring down, O LORD, Your mighty ones. 3,12 Let the nations be aroused And come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, For there I will sit to judge All the surrounding nations. Joel 3, 9-12;

The battle.

So, the antichristian armies are already gathered in Armageddon. There are multitudes and multitudes of men in this valley of decision. And then the Lord will utter his voice in Jerusalem so that heaven and earth will tremble.

The LORD roars from Zion, and the heavens and the earth tremble.

Joel 3,14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. 3,15 The sun and moon grow dark And the stars lose their brightness. 3,16 The LORD roars from Zion And utters His voice from Jerusalem, And the heavens and the earth tremble. But the LORD is a refuge for His people And a stronghold to the sons of Israel.

3,17 Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, Dwelling in Zion, My holy mountain. So Jerusalem will be holy, And strangers will pass through it no more. 3,18 And in that day The mountains will drip with sweet wine, And the hills will flow with milk, And all the brooks of Judah will flow with water; And a spring will go out from the house of the LORD To water the valley of Shittim. 3,19 Egypt will become a waste, And Edom will become a desolate wilderness, Because of the violence done to the sons of Judah, In whose land they have shed innocent blood. 3,20 But Judah will be inhabited forever And Jerusalem for all generations. 3,21 And I will avenge their blood which I have not avenged, For the LORD dwells in Zion. Joel 3,14-21;

And behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it is called Faithful and True.

Rev 19,11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. 19,12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. 19,13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

19,14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. 19,15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. 19,16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." Rev 19,11-16;

The statement from Rev 19,15 "From his mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations …" suggests that this battle will not last for a long time. Although it took much time to gather and position these armies in Armageddon, their destruction will be over as quick as a flash. The Lord and his heavenly host with all his saints will defeat them.

(See also Chapter 07: "The Battle of Armageddon.")

The reorganization of heaven and earth.

With that we have come to the seventh and last bowl of wrath. This is the climax of the judgments of God and an event, which is very similar to the one of the Flood. And in a similar way as also the Flood was not only a judgment upon the godless men of those days, but at the same time reorganized and renewed the living space on this earth for the succeeding generations of Noah’s family, also the seventh bowl of wrath with its worldwide earthquake does not only bring a reorganization of the earth, but also a reorganization of heaven.

Heaven and earth will be shaken to remove them.

Hbr 12,26 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven." 12,27 This expression, "Yet once more," denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Heb 12,26-27;

The LORD will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken from its place

Isa 13,13 Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, And the earth will be shaken from its place At the fury of the LORD of hosts In the day of His burning anger. 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. Isa 13,13-14;

Heavens and earth will be changed and will wear out like a garment.

Ps 102.,25 "Of old You founded the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 102,26 "Even they will perish, but You endure; And all of them will wear out like a garment; Like clothing You will change them and they will be changed. Ps 102,25-26;

The heavens will pass and the earth and its works will be burned up.

2Ptr 3,10 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. 3,11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 3,12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 3,13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 2Pet 3,10-13;

The day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.

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;

In most cases one aspect of these global events escapes our notice: when a catastrophe of these dimensions, with worldwide tremendous earthquakes and with the geological restructuring of entire continents, occurs, inevitably also all subterranean oil fields and natural gas fields will explode and burn, and therefore, there will not be any fossil fuels any more either.

If now those passages in the Scriptures which speak of the fact that at the time afterward "horses and chariots" will be employed, are still given a condescending smile by some exegetes today, one should bear in mind that at that time there will not be neither gasoline, kerosene nor diesel worldwide. There will be simply and plainly no fuel any more for any possibly still existing automobiles, ships, tanks, airplanes, machines, etc. Therefore there will not be any other choice but to take recourse to the possibilities of the era of the horse-drawn vehicle.

(See also Chapter 08: "The reorganization of heaven and earth.")

The seventh bowl of wrath.

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;

The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell.

Rev 16,19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath. Rev 16,19;

Every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

Rev 16,20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 16,21 And huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, came down from heaven upon men; and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, because its plague was extremely severe. Rev 16,20-21;

(See also Table 09: "God’s plan of salvation and its effects on Creation.")

But in Jerusalem there will be salvation.

The godless will perish, but the Lord will protect the descendants of his servants. But these are not only all men who believe in the Messiah from the people of Israel, but also all faithful in Jesus all over the world. But God even offers once more forgiveness to all those who have not adopted the faith so far, but who now, due to the revelation of the authority and the greatness of God realize that this one God exists, and that their fathers lied to them and deceived them when they told them that there was only an evolution and no Creation, because there was not a Creator either.

"Whoever calls on the name of the LORD, will be delivered". And it must be really the haughtiest and most malicious of men, who would not cry for salvation in this situation of catastrophes and destruction. If they, however, find it in their hearts to call on that God whom they have denied and derided throughout their lives, whom they have considered to be nothing and whom they have declared "dead", will probably depend on the fact if at least a little remainder of faith, love, and hope is left in them.

Whoever calls on the name of the LORD Will be delivered.

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:

The children of Your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before You.

Ps 102,25 "Of old You founded the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 102,26 "Even they will perish, but You endure; And all of them will wear out like a garment; Like clothing You will change them and they will be changed. 102,27 "But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end. 102,28 "The children of Your servants will continue, And their descendants will be established before You." Ps 102,25-28;

But for His people the LORD is a refuge and a stronghold to the sons of Israel.

Joel. 3,16 The LORD roars from Zion And utters His voice from Jerusalem, And the heavens and the earth tremble. But the LORD is a refuge for His people And a stronghold to the sons of Israel. Joel 3,16;

And it is the time of Jacob’s distress, but he will be saved from it.

Jer 30,4 Now these are the words which the LORD spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah: 30,5 "For thus says the LORD, ‘I have heard a sound of terror, Of dread, and there is no peace. 30,6 ‘Ask now, and see If a male can give birth. Why do I see every man With his hands on his loins, as a woman in childbirth? And why have all faces turned pale? 30,7 ‘Alas! for that day is great, There is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s distress, But he will be saved from it.

30,8 ‘It shall come about on that day,’ declares the LORD of hosts, ‘that I will break his yoke from off their neck and will tear off their bonds; and strangers will no longer make them their slaves. 30,9 ‘But they shall serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. Jer 30, 4- 9;

On Mount Zion there will be those who escape, and it will be holy.

Ob 1,15 "For the day of the LORD draws near on all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you. Your dealings will return on your own head. 1,16 "Because just as you drank on My holy mountain, All the nations will drink continually. They will drink and swallow And become as if they had never existed. 1,17 "But on Mount Zion there will be those who escape, And it will be holy. And the house of Jacob will possess their possessions. 1,18 "Then the house of Jacob will be a fire And the house of Joseph a flame; But the house of Esau will be as stubble. And they will set them on fire and consume them, So that there will be no survivor of the house of Esau," For the LORD has spoken. Ob 1,15-18;

With this last one of the seven judgments of the bowls the wrath of God is finished, as Rev 15,1 tells us.

The last seven plagues, in them the wrath of God is finished.

Rev 15,1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels who had seven plagues, which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished. Rev 15, 1;

Now the way is cleared for the next period of the last days, the Millennium, the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ which will last for a thousand years.

(See also Chapter 10: "The Millennium.")

(See also Table 21: Sequence and Duration of events in the Last Days.)