The Pouring Out of the Bowls of Wrath

As we approach the Day of Wrath we find that the sealed remnant, the firstfruits of the Wife of the Lamb, are standing on Mount Zion with the Lamb.

The great multitude now are shown as standing "on the sea of glass, having the harps of God."

And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. (Revelation 15:2)

The "glass mingled with fire" speaks to us of the transparent holiness that will be wrought in the Lord’s people by the fires of the great tribulation. All the lust, pride, covetousness, malice, guile, and rebellion will be purged from those who have been chosen to stand before the Lord as His royal priesthood.

The "harps of God" refers to the song of praise that swells up within the heart of those who overcome the world and go to join the Lamb. Anyone can attend church and sing hymns. But only those who are true to the Lord have the song of God within them.

We understand, then, that neither the sealed remnant nor the great multitude of the royal priesthood will be on the earth when the bowls of wrath are poured out. The Lord Jesus will return immediately after the great tribulation but before the outpouring of Divine wrath. Those of the Lord’s people who have remained alive on the earth will be caught up to meet the Lord at His coming. This is the first resurrection from the dead.

And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest. (Revelation 15:3,4)

As soon as the Lord’s witnesses have been caught up to meet the Lord in the air the bowls of wrath will begin to be poured on the wicked of the earth, just as the fire fell when Lot was removed from Sodom.

Notice that it is the making manifest of the judgments of God that will compel all the nations of the earth to come and worship God.

The sealed remnant and the great multitude will be raised from the dead and ascend to meet the Lord at the sounding of the seventh trumpet. Remaining on the earth will be the worshipers of Antichrist, and also those small nations that were not filled with the spirit of Antichrist nor did they participate in his world system, and that were not destroyed during the great tribulation. Some of these nations, we believe, will assist the saints when Antichrist seeks to destroy them, and thus will become eligible for the reward of the righteous (Revelation 12:16; Matthew 10:40-42; 25:31-46).

The bowls of wrath will be poured out as soon as God’s witnesses are raised from the dead and ascend to meet the Lord in the air. This fulfills the concept that when Lot leaves Sodom, sudden destruction comes from the hand of God (Luke 17:29,30).

The bowls of wrath will be poured on the "civilized" nations, that is, where the worship of the Antichrist world economic system is conducted—the centers of politics, finance, and education.

And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in the heaven was opened: (Revelation 15:5)

The "testimony" is the law of God. It is time now for God to execute the sentence of judgment on those who have despised His law and sought to establish their own way on the earth.

And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. (Revelation 15:6)

It is possible the seven angels are seven saints, the term "angel" meaning messenger.

It is the saints who will judge the world.

Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; (Psalms 149:6,7)

Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? . . . (I Corinthians 6:2)

The following judgments are not prunings of the earth in preparation for the coming of the Lord. They are the visitation of wrath on those who have rebelled against God. They do not strike a third part but the whole.

The first bowl.

And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image. (Revelation 16:1,2)

No doubt this is a literal, physical sore that erupts on the body. Even today we see the afflictions coming upon those who persist in improper sexual behavior. God is not mocked. The people who are content to live in a world system in which man takes the place of God will discover that an "evil and grievous sore" will break out on their body. The pain and unsightliness of this sore will remind people constantly that man is not God. Man is the dust of the ground and it is unseemly for him to pursue his own way apart from his Creator. It is possible this sore will not yield to medical treatment.

When the Philistines attempted to take liberties with the Ark of the Covenant, boils broke out in their private parts (I Samuel 5:9). In our own time, as we have said, there are plagues coming upon people who are living in immorality. The governments of the afflicted populations are describing the statistical relationships between sexual promiscuity and the sicknesses; yet, they refuse to discuss the moral implications or the Scriptural explanation of the relationships. This is an example of the perverse spirit of Antichrist in the governments of the world.

Man will not bow the knee to God. Society will do all in its power to combat the diseases and to help the afflicted. But society will not lift up its voice and condemn the immorality, demanding that it cease. In the last days, when the plagues become so prevalent society no longer is able to make even a pretense of overcoming the various sicknesses and disasters, society will raise its fist against God, cursing Him for bringing pain and catastrophe on human beings.

We notice today a peculiar attitude toward the disease termed AIDS. There are other diseases in our time that are common, and often fatal, sometimes causing severe pain and distress to the afflicted.

Cancer is one such disease. Numerous people die each year from cancer. Sometimes the cancer is due to cigarette smoking and thus is a self-inflicted disease. It is possible that all cancer is due to improper diet or stress and that cancer is preventable. However, we do not know as yet all the causes of cancer. Unlike AIDS, cancer is not a communicable disease.

Multitudes die each year due to cancer, heart disease, crime, and drunken drivers. These causes of death are viewed with dismay by all of us.

AIDS appears to be treated differently. Whereas vigorous efforts are being made to protect people from the dangers of smoking, including attempts to stamp out cigarette smoking, the attitude toward AIDS seems to be significantly different. It is obvious that if people ceased from immoral behavior, and people who have contracted AIDS were placed under quarantine, as is done with other infectious, fatal diseases, the prevalence of AIDS would soon decrease.

A concerted effort is made to work with people with leprosy. Why not with AIDS? The public attitude toward AIDS, at least in America, is that the patient with AIDS is a helpless victim who ought to be allowed to cook in a restaurant so there is no breath of "discrimination" against him or her. The individual who would object that other people might be infected by this practice is viewed with scorn as though he is insensitive to handicapped people or racial minorities.

Recently the government of the United State has set aside a cemetery as a national monument. It is a cemetery for the victims of AIDS. The idea seems to be that dying of AIDS is somehow on a level with dying for one’s country.

Why don’t we do the same for pneumonia or heart disease? Why don’t we do the same for those who are killed by drunken drivers? Why not a national monument for heavy smokers who die of lung cancer?

We are not suggesting that we should be harsh and unloving toward people who have needs. Rather we are stating that the public attitude in America toward AIDS is different from leprosy, typhoid, or any other highly dangerous infectious disease.

Surrounding the AIDS problem is the attitude that the AIDS patient is some kind of a martyr. In one city the flag over the administrative offices was flown at half-mast to honor those who have died of AIDS. Why was it not flown in honor of all who had lost their lives during the same period of time? What is the difference? The only comparable attitude is that toward those who have died in the service of their country.

In our point of view, the public attitude toward AIDS, the concept that the AIDS victim is a hero, a martyr even though he had caused his own death by immorality or drug abuse, is the beginning of a revolt against God. Because AIDS is caused by homosexual activity, a behavior condemned in both the Old Testament and the New Testament, there is a fear that the Judaic-Christian values may somehow be involved in how the AIDS victim is treated. The idea is, someone is causing harm to the homosexual, to the drug addict, or to the promiscuous individual. The homosexual must be permitted to continue his "lifestyle," and anyone who claims otherwise is an enemy of man.

In one hospital a few years ago the nurses were not permitted to wear gloves when treating a victim of AIDS in order not to offend the patient. (But how about the danger to the life of the nurse?)

The prevailing sentiment is that we must not condemn the homosexual or the drug addict for his behavior. Rather we must condemn whoever is causing the homosexual or drug addict to suffer. We must condemn the government for not providing more money for AIDS research or the drug laboratories for charging so much for medicine.

Although the truth is vehemently denied at the present time, it eventually will dawn on the minds of people that the enemy is God!

Homosexuality and drug addiction are no worse than other sins. But they are sins. Whoever practices such behavior is destroying the temple of the Holy Spirit and will suffer at the hands of God. The Lord Jesus Christ came to forgive us our sins, to deliver us from the chains that compel us to keep on sinning, and to heal us from the effects of our ungodly behavior.

The second bowl.

And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea. (Revelation 16:3)

We do not know whether the term "sea" is a general concept indicating all the oceans and seas of the world, or just the Mediterranean Sea or some other sea or ocean, or the sea of mankind (as in Revelation 13:1), or a combination of these.

If this is a literal, physical occurrence, and it appears probable to us that such is the case, it is a tremendous judgment indeed. The blood of a dead man is thick and corrupt—a foul-smelling mass. It may result in the death of all marine life. If the Mediterranean Sea becomes as the blood of a dead man it will result in much trouble for Jacob, for the nation of Israel.

Perhaps the Lord is referring to the sea of the wicked and is saying that the spiritual life the wicked do have will be as the blood of a dead man. Unsaved people have a lingering remnant of spiritual life—a sense of God and also a conscience. It would be a fearful thing for them to have the last vestige of their sense of God and also their conscience removed from them.

We know from the first chapter of the Book of Romans that those who practice abominations receive a mind void of judgment (Romans 1:28). The wicked lose their sense of right and wrong. This is a terrible loss, a frightful judgment. But we see it happening in the viewpoint toward AIDS, as mentioned above, and in the current campaign for the presidency of the United States where the ethics of one of the candidates is questionable and yet the individual is likely to win the highest office in the land.

The third bowl.

And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments. (Revelation 16:4-7)

The same judgment came on the Egyptians because of the gods they worshiped.

And the Lord spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone. (Exodus 7:19)

The peoples of the earth will be forced to drink blood, to bathe in blood, to cook with blood—for man cannot live without water, without liquid. What a severe punishment!

The judgment of the blood is entirely righteous because mankind has shed the blood of the saints and the prophets whom God has sent to bring guidance and blessing to people. God’s judgments are true and righteous. If we choose to shed blood an abundance of blood will be given to us. If we choose to live in righteousness an abundance of righteousness will be given to us. If we choose violence an abundance of violence will be given to us. If we choose peace an abundance of peace will be given to us.

Whatever a person sows he reaps. This is an inviolable law of the Kingdom of God.

A current error is the doctrine that if we "accept Christ" we do not reap what we sow.

The Lord Jesus did not come into the world in order to destroy the basic laws of the Kingdom of God. The Lord Jesus came to enable us to conform to the laws of the Kingdom so we will not be destroyed.

The Lord Jesus did not come so we will not reap what we sow. The Lord came to forgive us our past ignorance and sin, bearing the consequences of our misconduct on Himself, and to enable us to sow righteousness, holiness, and obedience to God. Eternal life comes to those who sow righteousness, holiness, and obedience to God.

If the believer in Christ continues to sow sin he will reap death. This is the teaching of the sixth chapter of the Book of Romans.

We will receive the consequences of our behavior in this world. The Christian believers of our day (by the millions) are almost totally unprepared for the coming Gentile holocaust, for what they will experience when they die physically, and for what they will experience in the Day of the Lord.

Each person, Christian or not, will be rewarded according to his works.

"Accepting Christ" does not change how a person behaves unless his accepting of Christ results in a genuine, actual cleaving to the Man, Christ, so that a new creation is born. What we are, we are; and we take our place in the Kingdom of God according to what we have become through the Lord Jesus, not according to the doctrine we believe.

The fourth bowl.

And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. (Revelation 16:8,9)

Let us remind the reader that these terrible plagues will fall primarily on the major cities of the earth, the centers of commerce, entertainment, politics, and education. We think there will be many smaller nations, tribes, villages that will not be partaking of the Antichrist system, as today there are numerous peoples on the earth who are relatively untouched by the commerce, entertainment, politics, and education of the larger nations. It is the larger nations that have become an expression of the antichrist spirit, and this may continue until the Lord returns.

One of the worst torments that can be imagined is an increase of the temperature on the surface of the earth without any means of escaping the burning heat. Severe cold is not nearly as tormenting. When one becomes extremely cold, drowsiness sets in. Freezing to death is like going to sleep.

To be "scorched with great heat" is another matter. There is no escape except in death. Sleep is difficult or impossible. There is no rest, no refuge, except in water or by means of a mechanical cooling system. If the waters are blood, and the cooling systems fail, people may begin to dig in the ground to attempt to find a cooler place.

The response of mankind will be to blaspheme the name of God. Men will recognize, finally, that God has authority over the calamities that have fallen on the earth. Instead of repenting the wicked of the earth will shake their fists toward Heaven and curse their Creator.

Today people are unwilling to recognize that God is the One who is in control of the volcanoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other catastrophes and afflictions that plague mankind. To mention publicly that God is in control and is warning us of our sins and self-will is to become the target of ridicule and anger. People are determined to go on believing God is "too good" to be responsible for anything that appears to harm people; that the worldwide increase of problems is unrelated to human behavior.

By the time society is willing to recognize that God has authority over these plagues, wickedness will be so far advanced in the personalities of the inhabitants of the earth, particularly of the larger nations, that people will curse and blaspheme the name of God. Many members of the civilized nations will become the body of Antichrist, of Satan.

The fifth bowl.

And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. (Revelation 16:10,11)

The kingdom of the Beast will include the world centers of commerce and politics. It is likely that the seat of the Beast will be in a rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem.

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: (Matthew 24:15,16)

The only "holy place," outside the human heart, is Jerusalem—in particular, the Most Holy Place of the Temple in Jerusalem.

If, as we believe, Antichrist (in imitation of Christ) will take his place between the cherubim in the Most Holy Place of a rebuilt Temple, then there would be standing in the Holy Place an abomination that causes desolation.

Such a blasphemy would cause enormous desolation and destruction in the earth, beginning in Jerusalem. The devout Jews would be well advised to flee for their lives from Judea in that day.

It may be at this point that the spiritual darkness converges with the physical realm so there is an actual, tangible, visible darkness surrounding the people who have striven to gain security, pleasure, and achievement apart from the Presence of God and His Christ.

The "civilized," sophisticated peoples of the earth, the nations that just a short time before had been boasting of peace and safety under their godless world system, will find themselves in spiritual and perhaps physical darkness, their bodies swollen with grotesque tumors, boils, and other disfigurements. They will be in agony from their pain. The superheated sun will enhance the effect of monsters moving about in a hell, roaring their obscenities in their rage against their Creator.

How different this will be from the scene of the first man and woman in the garden of Eden!

Rather than repent of their deeds, the response of the wicked to the pain and darkness will be to blaspheme the God of Heaven.

The sixth bowl.

And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. (Revelation 16:12)

The Scripture declares that Antichrist will maintain his headquarters in or near Jerusalem.

And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace [the tents of his palace] between the seas in the glorious holy mountain [toward the holy mountain of beauty]; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Daniel 11:45)

Although there are variant readings of Daniel 11:45, it appears that Antichrist will be encamped in or near, Jerusalem—perhaps in the Jezreel Valley, maintaining a standing army in the Great Plain. Megiddo, the site of the Battle of Armageddon, is in this area. So is Nazareth, the city of the true Christ.

The "holy mountain" of Jerusalem is between the Mediterranean Sea and the northern tip of the Dead Sea. The Jezreel Valley and the Great Plain are toward Jerusalem and between the seas. They are surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf, and the Red Sea.

"Between the seas" may be interpreted spiritually to mean between the nations of the East and the West, which would be true of any site from Babylon to the land of Israel.

The drying up of the Euphrates and the establishing of a highway on its bed would create an excellent vantage point for the Lord and His army (the kings coming from the east, that is, from the dawning of the Day of the Lord). We know that the army of the Lord will be on horseback. The saints will not fight in the air but on the surface of the earth.

And the armies which were in the heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (Revelation 19:14)

We know also that the Lord Jesus will descend to the Mount of Olives. However, this area may be too small to receive the army the Lord will be leading. The Mount of Olives will split in the middle so half of the mountain moves northward and half of it southward, leaving a valley running east and west—straight toward the wall of Jerusalem.

Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. (Zechariah 14:3,4)

It appears that this will be a large valley and the people of Israel will use it as a means of fleeing from the city of Jerusalem.

And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. (Zechariah 14:5)

If Antichrist and the kings of the earth gather together in the Great Plain, then it may be true that when the Lord comes to the Mount of Olives His generals will descend with the legions of glorified saints to the highway created by the drying up of the Euphrates. This would give the saints a strategic location (Revelation 16:12).

If the Lord’s generals appear on earth in the region of Mesopotamia, moving their forces on the highway on the bed of the Euphrates River, and if the Mediterranean Sea is as the blood of a dead man, Antichrist and the kings of the earth would be caught between the army of Christ on the east and north and a sea of blood on the west. Antichrist would make his stand at Megiddo and there be surrounded and destroyed by the encircling army of Christ.

A glance at the map reveals the perilous position of Antichrist. He is cut off on the east and north by the Lord’s legions riding on the bed of the Euphrates. He is cut off on the south by the Arabian Desert, and also by the Lord Jesus Himself—perhaps accompanied by some of the Lord’s most trusted and valiant warriors. They would be able to ride through the new valley dividing the Mount of Olives, coming against Antichrist’s right flank and cutting off any hope of retreat to the south. There is a sea of blood at his back. Antichrist and the armies of the earth are surrounded by fierce soldiers in glorified bodies—warriors who have learned faith and courage in the fires of their probation on the earth. Antichrist and the armies of the earth are finished. They shall be destroyed utterly by soldiers who will show no mercy.

Why saints in glorified bodies would need a highway we are not sure. However, it is likely the events of the future will be much more realistic, much more of the physical realm, than we have imagined.

The Kingdom of God is the convergence of the spiritual and physical realms. When we are raised from the dead our bodies, like that of the risen Lord Jesus, will be flesh and bones. Even though they will be clothed with incorruptible resurrection life our bodies still will be flesh and bones. They will be able to move about on the surface of the earth. How else could a war on earth be fought? The Scriptures teach that we will be kings "on the earth."

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:10)

Perhaps when Antichrist sees the Euphrates dried up he may realize that soon the Lord’s army will be attacking his forces in the Holy Land.

And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. (Revelation 16:13,14)

It will be the working of miracles that will cause the peoples of the last days to take the side of Antichrist. We see this today. People have a hunger for the supernatural. Whoever is able to perform works of supernatural power is able to gain fame and amass much money. People will flock to him from everywhere, especially if he is able to heal the sick.

These particular unclean spirits will work such miracles that government leaders will be drawn into the use of spiritual power to attain the goals of mankind. The inevitable end of the use of miracles for man’s purposes is to produce antagonism toward the Lord Jesus Christ.

Since the Lord Jesus does not come to promote man’s interests but God’s interests, those who employ supernatural powers to accomplish man’s goals soon discover Christ is not on their side. They have become part of Antichrist and his army of followers.

Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. (Revelation 16:15)

The world is being prepared for Armageddon.

The fact that "the spirits of devils" will go forth to gather the kings of the earth to battle shows that occult forces will inspire and assist the nations in their warfare against Christ and His saints. Satan and human beings, utilizing supernatural wisdom and power, will be resisting Christ and His saints now clothed in glorified bodies.

Some of the nations of our day are exploring the possibility of using metaphysical power for military purposes.

And he [perhaps Antichrist] gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. (Revelation 16:16)

The area of Megiddo, which is a few miles southeast of Mt. Carmel, is a natural battleground. It may be here that the army of Christ, riding from the east, will surround Antichrist and the armies of the earth and destroy them. We say "may" because we cannot be positive about these things until the Lord shows us what actually will take place. What we know from the Scriptures we state as clearly as we can, and the rest we present as being our opinion at the present time. Let the reader pray and obtain the mind of the Lord for himself.

The seventh bowl.

And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of the heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fell upon men a great hail out of the heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. (Revelation 16:17-21)

"It is done"! God has avenged Himself of the behavior of man on the earth. He has demonstrated His wrath: first in the pruning judgments of the great tribulation; and then in the plagues and catastrophes of the bowls of wrath.

The voices of God and His saints speak, and the voices of Satan and his followers speak. Thunder and lightning rock the heavens and the earth. It is the Day of Wrath—the Day of Vengeance of our God on all who despise His law and ways.

The most dreadful earthquake of all time will shake and rend the earth until the islands and the mountains remove from their places.

Notice the expression, "the great city." It is our point of view that the city mentioned here will be the center of Christianity, or possibly of the combined religions of the world. It appears it will be established at the original site of Babylon, as we stated previously. Shinar is the land in which the city of Babylon was located, the plain where the Tower of Babel was erected.

The ministry of the two witnesses of Revelation, Chapter Eleven, which we believe to be the ministry of the Lord and His saints, will result in the testimony of the Kingdom of God being given to every nation on earth (Matthew 24:14). We think the majority of the peoples of the earth will repent and be baptized because of the cataclysmic acts performed by the end-time witnesses.

The result of the conversion to Christianity of millions—perhaps billions—of earth’s population may be the establishing of Shinar as the religious capital of the world. The leaders of this center may be skillful enough to gather into one headquarters the Catholic and Protestant organizations, and perhaps the other principal religious groups as well.

It is possible that the religious capital of the world will be located in Rome. But Rome is associated so strongly with the Catholic Church that it seems a different location would be more appealing to the majority of the religious people of the world. The site of ancient Babylon might appeal to the eastern cultures and not be repugnant to the western religious leadership. Certainly a supremely powerful organization including various persuasions would have a problem choosing Rome as the new headquarters.

If we are correct, there will be two main types of leadership in the last days: first, the secular leadership, headed by Antichrist; second, the religious leadership, presided over by a supreme pope, or bishop. Although both of these are expressions of Satan they eventually will clash. The kings who follow Antichrist will destroy the Christian organization (Revelation 17:16,17). Then Antichrist will declare he alone is God (II Thessalonians 2:4).

When the "kings of the east" ride in triumphal procession on the bed of the Euphrates they will receive no opposition from Babylon because that city, along with the cities of the nations, will fall because of the massive earthquake.

In the days of the seventh angel, God will remember the sins of Babylon and will cause the great whore to drink the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.

Huge hailstones will fall from the heaven, killing people and destroying their property. These hailstones are from God’s arsenal and will prepare the way for the invasion of the earth by the Lord Jesus Christ and His army of saints.

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