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UNDERSTANDING THE KINGDOM OF GOD
THE BOOK OF REVELATION - PART 13
By John S. Torell

February 24, 2002

CHAPTER EIGHT
God is now revealing to the Apostle John the severity of the judgments, which are to take place on the earth during the reign of the Antichrist.   In order to fully understand the severity and the intensity of these judgments, look at the chart on the back of this sermon outline. (Will be included if ordering cassette).

Verse 1: It is now time to destroy another myth which we have accepted, without having looked upon the facts. There is no place in the Bible where it states that the Tribulation period is going to last seven years. The pre-tribulation rapture teachers always talk about the 70^th week of Daniel. Let us now take a look at the book of Daniel.

In Daniel, Chapter 9:1-3 Daniel is seeking an answer from God concerning how long the people from Jerusalem are going to be kept captive. He is referring to Jeremiah 25:11 and 29:10. Jeremiah states 70 years, and the captivity lasted 70 regular earth years as we have defined as humans. When the angel from the Lord arrives, he is using the time measurement "week."  If we are going to be true to the text, a "week" is the same as "one earth year." Thus if we look at Daniel 9:25-27 we must use years for the time table given.

Verse 25 talks about 7 years and 62 years. Verse 26 talks about another 62 years, and the so-called "70^th" week of Daniel is in reality a period of one year.

If we compare this time measurement with Daniel 12:7, it is obvious that we cannot understand what time measures are used by God.  If we then go to 2 Peter 3:8, we find another definition: One hour for God is 41.67 years for man.

One minute for God is 8 months and 8 days for man.

One second for God is 3 days and 22 hours for man.

Looking at Revelation  8:1 and 17:12, my personal belief is that the time table in the book of Revelation is the same as described in 2 Peter 3:8. This means that the silence in Revelation 8:1 is talking about 20.84 years and if we add this to Revelation 17:12, it means that the Tribulation period is going to last more than 62.51 years!

Verses 2-4: We are here informed that the prayers of the saints are saved before the Lord God in heaven, and that no prayer is ever wasted. Psalm 141:2; Acts 10:1-4

Verse 5: God is getting his attention from the people on the earth, as the fire is cast down to the earth, it is a sign to what is going to happen next.

Verse 6: The seven angels are now ready to blow their trumpets.

Verse 7: This judgment will be an ecological disaster, one third of all trees gone, it is going to lower the oxygen level in the air, and men shall have difficulty breathing. Compare this with Ezekiel 38:18-23.

Verse 8- 9: This judgment will be an ecological disaster, as the oceans produce the rain. With more than 33% of the oceans turning into blood, it is going to create havoc on the earth. Compare this with Exodus 7:17-21.

Verses 10-11: I believe that the reference here is to the Devil, who up to this time has been the prince of the air - Ephesians 2:1-2; he is now going to be thrown to the surface of the earth and making great damage. Anyone drinking at the well of the Devil is going to become bitterly disappointed and destroyed.  John 10:10.

Verse 12: God has in the past used darkness as a judgment. But by reducing light on this planet, is going to be another ecological disaster, that will alter the climate, the growing of food and bring diseases upon people, as there is less light. Compare this with Exodus 10:22-23.

Verse 13: It is going to get worse yet!  Matthew 6:19 (Bonus Scripture)