Come to Understanding

Come to Understanding

They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding,

and they that murmured shall learn doctrine. — Isaiah 29:24

So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense,

and caused them to understand the reading. — Nehemiah 8:8

March 1, 2012
Volume 11 Number 5

The Sixth Angel

(Part 3)

Much Bible prophecy is presented in symbolic language, hiding its clear interpretation from plain view. Such was the case with the prophet Daniel. Even though Yahweh had graphically showed him many awesome prophecies, He also told Daniel to
"shut up the words" and "seal the book" until a certain time in the future, which is called "the time of the end." That is a time characterized by dramatically increased access to both travel and knowledge:

4 But you, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. -Daniel 12

Because these prophecies were sealed and closed until "the time of the end," even Daniel could not understand them:

8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?

9 And he said, Go your way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. -Daniel 12

Each generation is closer to "the time of the end" than all of those that have preceded it. Our present generation is no exception. Still not knowing what the future holds, we do know that this present generation is the one with the greatest access to travel and information (knowledge) than all of the generations that have preceded it. Therefore, we are closer to the time of the opening up of the sealed prophecies than any previous generation.

Prophecies about the "time of the end" are often ignored. Yahweh foretold the destruction by the flood:

7 And Yahweh said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repents me that I have made them. -Genesis 6

Almost everybody in the world ignored His prophecy, continuing to live as they had been living:

38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. -Matthew 24

Yahweh clearly spoke to Judah through Jeremiah, warning them of impending destruction of an unrepentant people:

6 You have forsaken me, says Yahweh, you have gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against you, and destroy you; I am weary with repenting.

7 And I will fan them with a fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children, I will destroy my people, since they return not from their ways. -Jeremiah 15

Instead of repenting and turning back to Yahweh, these people concluded that there was no hope for them anyway, so they might as well continue in the evil that was in their hearts:

12 And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart. -Jeremiah 18

Judah rejected the prophecies concerning their impending destruction, just as the northern kingdom of Israel had rejected them before they were destroyed:

11 For thus Amos said, Jeroboam shall die by the sword, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of their own land.

12 Also Amaziah said to Amos, O you seer, go, flee you away into the land of Judah, and there eat bread, and prophesy there:

13 But prophesy not again any more at Bethel: for it is the king’s chapel, and it is the king’s court. -Amos 7

By ignoring Yahweh’s prophecies, we somehow feel justified in continuing on our present course. Even many that know prophecies prefer to continue on with life without repentance. Such was the case of the people of Judah:

12 And in that day did the Lord Yahweh of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:

13 And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we shall die. -Isaiah 22

Such "scoffers" were foretold by Peter to continue on even into the "last days." They have heard the prophecies, but reject them by believing that they will never come to pass:

3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. -2 Peter 3

In the Book of Revelation, there are three sets of major prophecies. They begin with a book that is completely sealed with seven seals:

1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. -Revelation 5

This sounds much like the sealed book described in Daniel 12. Regardless of what many may claim, no man has the power or authority to open the sealed book:

2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. -Revelation 5

The only One that can loose the seven seals that completely seal the book is He that has all power (having seven horns), all knowing (having seven eyes), and is anointed with fullness of the Spirit of God (having the seven Spirits of God):

5 And one of the elders said to me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. -Revelation 5

This Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, is the Lamb of God, whom John the Baptist revealed as being Yahshua (Jesus), the Savior of the world:

29 The next day John saw Yahshua coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world. -John 1

As He opens the seals, the prophecies that had been shown to Daniel are opened up, revealing "a time of trouble:"

1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of your people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. -Daniel 12

The "time of trouble" becomes clearer as the seven seals of the book are opened showing the trials that will come upon the whole earth. After the seventh seal is opened, seven angels sound their trumpets and seven angels pour out vials containing plagues, both of which are centered at the "great river Euphrates." The plague released by the sounding of the sixth trumpet appears to be physical:

15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. -Revelation 9

The final plague released when the sixth angel pours out his vial appears to be spiritual. The great final battle is the spiritual battle of deception, which is led by global leaders that are filled with demonic spirits:

14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. -Revelation 16

The victors in this battle will be those that believe in Yahweh, as Abraham did, and are counted as righteous (see Genesis 15:6). Those that remain in faith are those that watch and are clothed in their garments of righteousness:

15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walks naked, and they see his shame. -Revelation 16

Through faith, they remain as a chaste bride clothed in the garment of "the righteousness of saints:"

8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. -Revelation 19

They are prepared for the final battle, which is for souls:

16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. -Revelation 16

Those that keep their faith in Yahweh, know that the final battle belongs to Him and that the victory is won!

17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. -Revelation 16

Yahweh, through His Messiah, takes all power from the leaders of this world and reigns forever and ever!

15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Messiah; and he shall reign forever and ever. -Revelation 11

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Scriptures are taken from the Proper Name Version of the King James Bible.