Posted by Elana Janson on August 26, 2004 at 14:57:41:
Four angels
In Revelation angels are grouped together and this has a special significance in the understanding of how Revelation brings its meaning together in 2004. Specific note should be taken of the mention of “four angels” in Rev 7:1 and 9:14 and “three angels” in Revelation 8:13.
Four angels standing on the four corners of the earth.
Firstly, Rev 7:1 (part of the opening of the sixth seal) “And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea nor any tree.” As I mentioned in the previous post, “The Sixth
Seal”, I place the time of this verse in August 2003, the same time that the planet Mars was at its nearest point to the earth, and appeared from earth at that time as a very bright morning star. (Venus at that point could not be seen as it was below the horizon.)
In Rev 8:7-12, the first four angels sounding the first four trumpets, are grouped together. Later in Revelation we notice a link between these four angels and the first four angels that pour out the wrath of God in Rev 16:2-9.
The link in the sounding of the first trumpet and the pouring out of the first bowl of wrath is the repetition of the word “earth” in the similar phrases “into the earth” (Rev 8:7) and “upon the earth” (Rev 16:2). In the sounding of the second trumpet and the pouring out of the second bowl of wrath the link is the repetition of the word “sea” in the similar phrase “cast into the sea” (Rev 8:8) and “upon the sea” (Rev. 16:3). In the sounding of the third trumpet, the link is the repetition of the words “rivers and upon the fountains of waters” in Rev 8:10 and “rivers and fountains of waters” in Rev 16:4. The link between the sounding of the fourth trumpet and the pouring of the fourth bowl of wrath is the word ”sun” as used in Rev 8:12 and 16:8.
In Rev 8:13, Revelation groups the last three angels that sound the last three trumpets together. “And I beheld and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound.”
It seems that the reason for the grouping of the seven angels that sound the seven trumpets, in ‘four angels’ and ‘three angels’ in a way correspond to the opening of the seven seals. There is a distinction in the opening of the first four seals and the last three seals. The “Lamb” opens the seven seals (Rev 6:1). Therefore, because the Lamb, which is symbolic of Jesus Christ, is part of the Trinity, the understanding of the seals can only come from the Trinity. The times of the opening of the first four seals relate to the years 216, 790, 1896 and 1947. This was made known to me through the Divine intervention. Broadly speaking, these times relate to the ruling of the nations in the spread of the Christian faith in the history of the nations. Later, Revelation reveals how satan in the images of the “dragon”, the “beasts” and “whore” deceived and misled the nations. This deception would constantly follow (image of the “dragon” pursuing the “woman” in Chapter 12), and ultimately undermine the spread of the message of Salvation through Jesus Christ to the generations of the second half of the twentieth century (symbolised by the rider on the grey horse that is death and Hades). Revelation reveals that the reason or one of the reasons for the punishment of man is because of the death of the prophets, of the saints and all that were slain. Rev 18:24 “And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all that were slain on earth”. Revelation reveals that the Trinity ‘allowed’ the history of the past two thousand years to continue, and will continue up to a certain point when the words of God shall be fulfilled. Therefore all that is prophesied in Scripture will ultimately take place. “For God has put it into their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled”(Rev 17:17). The undermining of the message of Jesus Christ (expressed symbolically in Revelation 5:6 as “a Lamb as it had been slain”) is allowed to a point that Revelation refers to as the time when “there should be time no longer” (Rev 10:6). The opening of the first four seals therefore deals with “man” against the forces of evil, but Revelation reveals that the Trinity has been totally aware and in control of all that has taken place.
The time of the opening of the fifth seal could only be finally established through almost a total knowledge of Revelation, but more specifically the understanding of the “beast out of the earth” and the relationship of the words of Revelation to Scripture. It seems that the fifth seal was opened in 2002 and we are in the time of the “little season” mentioned in Revelation 6:11. The sixth seal was understood through a sequence of global and cosmic events that took place in 2003. Because the events of the 2003 correlated with the opening of the sixth seal, we are also in the time of the opening of the sixth seal, but all that is prophesied in the opening of the sixth seal has not yet been revealed. With the correlation of a reverse sequence of events with the first verses of the opening of the sixth seal, Revelation indicates that certain time measures come to an end in December 2003. These time measures were, as shown in the previous posts, the time of “temple” and the time of “altar”.
The opening of the seventh seal can only be known through a knowledge and understanding of the opening of the first six seals. As was shown in How Near Armageddon, the opening of the seventh seal, deals with history. Revelation measures time back from seven points in the end time that are indicated by the sounding of the seven trumpets.
Therefore in this understanding of the opening of the seven seals there is a distinction between the opening of the first four seals and the last three seals. The distinction is that the opening first four seals relate mainly to the history of the nations and “man”, whereas the opening of last three seals are mainly about the Trinity revealing final control of the resurrection of the believers who died for their faith through the ages and the dire situation of the peoples of the earth in the time from 2002.
The total understanding of Revelation reveals that the opening of the seven seals in Revelation cover the total time span of Revelation that is about two thousand years. Within this time frame the “four angels” of Revelation measure certain periods of time that pertain to specific words, for example, “earth”, “sea”, “waters”, “sun”, as mentioned earlier in this post. Therefore, it seems that by the present time August 2004, the concepts that are revealed by “four angels” in Revelation, relating to the words “earth”, “sea”, “waters” and “sun” have either come to an end or are in the process of coming to an end. This is indicated by the word “loose” in the sounding of the sixth trumpet in Rev 9:14 “Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates”. Revelation is at this point in time revealing that the four key words relating to “four angels”, that is, “earth”, “sea”, “waters” and “sun”, and what they represent in relation to “four angels” in Revelation is now coming together. These words all have meaning pertaining to history, but also an accumulative meaning pertaining to the sounding of the first four trumpets in the end time. All the ways that men were led astray have brought about a situation in which the Trinity has to intervene.
Earth and the sounding of the first trumpet
In How Near Armageddon and on this website it was explained how “earth” relates to the “thirds” of the earth in the sounding of the first trumpet (Rev 8:7), but also to the time measure of the “beast out of the earth”. In that time measure that was correlated with certain times in history, it was shown that Revelation revealed the years of certain discoveries by man pertaining to his knowledge of the elements of the earth. The very fact that Revelation reveals its meaning in relation to discoveries by man indicates that it was known to the Trinity from the beginning of time that in a specific year man would discover, dynamite (1966), nuclear fission (1932) and in 1953 have the ability to clone a frog. Unfortunately scientific discoveries, as we know today, would bring man no great spiritual revival. Instead those who find no pleasure in Christian teaching and only believe what can be proven by the human intellect, use scientific advancement to try to undermine the truths of Scripture. These anti Christians, Revelation says bear “the mark” of the beast. Knowledge of the elements of the earth would bring about great wealth and prosperity to many nations, but the wealth and disease free living of man would contribute to further distance each following generation from Christian truth. (Rev 18:17 “How much she has glorified herself and lived deliciously”). Spiritual death in the younger generations is expressed in Rev 8:7 “And all the green grass was burnt up.”
Through the insight that we now have of the very special way that the words of Revelation are placed and why no one was allowed to tamper with the words of Revelation, we can discover why the time that man was ‘allowed’ to make the most remarkable scientific discoveries in the last some six hundred years is about to come to an end. Revelation gives the reason why the time of “earth “ has come to an end, and the first trumpet is sounded. It is in man’s ability to clone. In 2002 and 2004 legislation has been passed in the United Kingdom and this I believe has bearing on the reason that the angel sounding the first trumpet sounds in the time 2003 and 2004. This argument will be taken further in the post “three angels”. Readers should refer back to the Q&A section of this website and the question dealing with Rev 16: 13 “the three evil spirits like frogs”.
It is interesting to note that Revelation uses the words of the creation in Genesis to reveal the spiritual desolation in the end time. It symbolically returns to the days before the creation of man. It seems that man’s rejection of the truths of Scripture in the time 2004 is expressed by the return to “earth” and “dry land”. Genesis 1:11 “Let the earth bring forth grass”. Rev 8:7 “And all the green grass was burnt up”
Genesis 1:10-11 “And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together under one place, and let the dry land appear and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth; And the gathering together of the waters called he Seas:” Therefore where Revelation uses the words “dried up”, in Revelation 16:12 “And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up”, there is a profound meaning of spiritual desolation in the time that the waters of the Euphrates are literally drying up. (See the post on this forum concerning the Euphrates River).
Sea and the sounding of the second trumpet.
How do we know that in 2004 the second angel is sounding the trumpet? We know this through an understanding of what the word “sea” represents in Revelation. The meaning of the word “sea” pertains to the understanding of the “beast out of the sea”, and how this satanic influence on the ruling of the nations would ultimately have bearing on the spread of the Christian faith over the entire globe (Rev 16:3 “and every living soul died in the sea”). Rev 13:1 “I saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon the horns ten crowns, and upon his head the name of blasphemy.” As was shown in How near Armageddon the “beast out of the sea” and words relating to “sea” reveal a gigantic time span that almost covers the entire second millennium. It was shown how, in the Middle Ages, a sequence of seven monarchs, in seven countries of Europe (“seven heads” Rev 13:1) came into conflict with the Christian Church. These conflicts ultimately led to the deaths of the leaders of the Church and ultimately thousands of Christians. The time measure of “one hour” (Rev 17:12 “And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet: but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.”), which is a period of about 24 years, could be applied to the reigns of ten kings in Europe. During that time those ten kings were no longer absolute rulers, but ruled with representatives of ordinary citizens who wished to put an end to the unity of the Christian state and church that was vested in the monarch. In 2004 almost the entire earth has moved from the rule of kings to the rule of men.
Revelation reveals that this transition would come about because the ruling of the European nations that would spread to the ends of the earth would be dominated by a drive for wealth (symbolized by “the great whore” Rev 17:1). This drive for wealth and riches would undermine the spreading of the message of Salvation through Jesus Christ (“made drunk with the wine of her fornication” Rev 17:2). Therefore even though it is Gods desire that we should be “kings and priests” (Rev 1:6), that there should be harmony in the unity of the ruling of the people and the Christian church, he was prepared that this should gradually change in the time of the second millennium. (Rev 17:17 For God has put it in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree and to give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.”) Although it was a form of ruling that undermined the Christian truths, by equalizing the Christian faith to all other faiths, it had to come about because of man’s inability to maintain harmony between the Christian church and the ruling of the nations. A new form of ruling, the rule of men, replaced the monarchs and this ruling would spread to nations that had not heard of Jesus Christ (Rev 17:3 “in the wilderness”). The reason for this seems to be that those to whom the Christian faith spread in the new lands, and were oppressed because of man’s drive for wealth, would have the opportunity to live without domination and in freedom until the time that God would allow this ruling of the nations to continue, would come to an end. Revelation reveals that this form of ruling would unfortunately lead to much spiritual death. Revelation reveals that the sinful nature of man cannot for an unlimited time maintain the responsibility of a free society. Rev 8: 9 “and the third part of the creatures that were in the sea died” and Rev 16:3 “and every living soul died in the sea”. In other words if one believes that man can live freely and not adhere to the teachings of Scripture and is misled in 2004 to believing that the Christian faith, and the redemption of sin through the death of Jesus Christ may be equalized to other faiths, his name is probably not in the book of life. Rev 13:8 “And all that dwell on earth shall worship him (the beast out of the sea) whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
Almost the entire earth is under the rule of men and the Christian Church and State and separated. Because it was made known to me that we are near the end time, the status quo of the nations will remain. 2004 is the time that the Euphrates River is literally “drying up” and the time that it seems the meaning of Revelation is coming together (Rev 6:14” scroll, when it is rolled together”). Revelation predicts in Rev 13:4 that modern man will not be able to gauge the influence of satan on the destiny of man. “And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying: Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war against him?)
Waters and the sounding of the third trumpet
In Revelation the words relating to “water” and “waters” have a spiritual meaning. In contrast to “dry land”, the word “waters” in Revelation symbolises the abundance of the living spirit present in all mankind, who has through the grace of God, the potential of inheriting everlasting life. “Waters” is better understood when examined in the various places that it appears in Revelation. Rev 7:17 “Lead them unto living fountains of water.” The Trinity will lead those that open up their hearts and minds to the message of Salvation through Jesus Christ (“the Lamb”) to everlasting life.
Through knowledge of history we can know why Revelation says in Rev 8:11 “The waters became wormwood, and many died because the waters became bitter.” The word “wormwood” is repeated in Revelation 8:11. It therefore has two meanings. Through the word “wormwood”, a wood that in Biblical times came from the East, Revelation reveals that it is in the way that the Christian nations spread the message of Christianity to either the Far East section of the earth or a “third” of the new lands (through harsh methods of subduing or wiping out local populations for the sake of the wealth of minerals or other trading monopolies), that the will of the people to accept the message of Christianity was hampered and made ‘distasteful’ or bitter. Many nations would rise up against the colonial rule and methods of subjection and many would die. (‘Rev 8:11 “many died of the waters, because they were made bitter”).
Revelation reveals that the living spirit in all mankind that is capable of inheriting everlasting life was attacked by satan in the form of the “whore”. (The “great whore that sits on many waters” Rev 17:15.) Revelation reveals that the living spirit is in all the nations of the earth, but that satan would try and prevent conversion to Christianity. “The waters which thou saw, where the whore sits, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues” (Rev 17:3). In this onslaught of satan the influence of the “beast” and the “whore” work together. (Rev 17:3 and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.)
Revelation combines the symbol of the “sea”, “rivers”, and “fountains of waters “ in Rev 16:3 and 4, with the words of “the angel of the waters”. The angel announces that in all that took place in history and that is still happening today, in relation to the symbols of “water” in Revelation, God is righteous. In Rev 11:6, Revelation confirms that the Trinity responds with drought (“shut up the sky”), and war (“power over waters to turn them to blood”) and plague against those that harm any true believers “two witnesses” (Rev 11:3).
At this point it should be noted that between the pouring of the third and fourth bowls of wrath, that another angel’s voice “another out of the altar” Rev 16:7, confirms that Almighty God is true and righteous. It is significant in the bringing together of the symbols of Revelation that the “angel out of the altar” announces at this point. Revelation confirms that the end time of “altar” and “four angels” are at the same time 2002 and 2004.
Sun and the sounding of the fourth trumpet.
It was mentioned in the previous post, ‘The Sixth Seal’, that in the bringing together of the symbols of Revelation in the end time, that the words of Rev 6:12, “the sun became black as sackcloth of hair” is placed at the time November 2003, because of the corresponding of the words of the opening of the sixth seal to the sequence of events from August to December 2003. Therefore, it seems that the fourth angel has sounded and that the symbolic darkening of the light from the sun in Rev 8:12 has taken place. It seems that the pouring of the time of the fourth bowl of wrath on the “sun” has also come to an end, because man has through nuclear fission and fusion, the ability to “make fire come down from heaven” Rev 13:13 and “scorch men with fire” Rev 16:8. (In How near Armageddon, the time measures of “the beast out to the earth” and the times of the pouring of “the bowls of wrath” were applied to history. These time measures as well as the repetition of key words in Revelation, (Rev 13:13 “make fire” and Rev 16:8 “And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire”) revealed the times of the discoveries of nuclear fission (1932) and nuclear fusion (1952)).
Revelation is revealing that since man was allowed to discover destructive weapons on earth, Almighty God was, and still is in 2004, in control of all that is taking place in the wars of the nations.
(Rev 9:14, where the words”four angels” appear, will be incorporated in the following post “three angels”, that deals with the sounding of the last three trumpets. The sounding of the first trumpet also has bearing on the gathering of the Gog and Magog (Rev 20:8). This will be discussed in a future post.)