Plague

The very word Revelation means to reveal or make known. When you are studying Revelation, always remember much of this book is symbolically written. Understand the symbology and the book will flow with simplicity.

REVELATION 6:9-11
And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

10 And the cried with a loud voice saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?"

11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their bretheren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Blood shed is one thing God won't let slide. The souls of them waiting under the altar were told to wait yet a little while until the souls of their fellowservants join them. The two witnesses, for example, will join them. God has instructed Satan not to kill anyone, when he returns to earth as antichrist.

Satan has also been told not to touch one hair on the heads of those with the seal of God in their forehead or mind. My point, I don't think there will be many more fellowservants slain for the word of God.

REVELATION 6:12-13
And I beheld when He had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

What is being said here? What happens when you shake a fig tree before the harvest time? Unripened fruit not fit to eat falls to the ground. Do you understand the symbology? As the figs are taken out of season, so shall those that are deceived by antichrist be taken out of season.

Those of you with ears to hear and eyes to see will hold fast until the return of the real Jesus Christ. Those of you that believe the great tribulation will occur when the real Jesus returns will be harvested out of season when antichrist shakes the fig tree.

REVELATION 6:14-15
And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

Those that were harvested out of season and deceived will pray for mountains to fall on them in their shame. In review, we see the souls of those slain for the word of God asking, "How long?" in the fifth seal and the untimely harvest as a result of the coming of antichrist in the sixth seal. How befitting? After all, six is the number man often thinks of in relation to Satan.

Now let's take a look at the fifth and sixth trumpets to see if there's a correlation with the fifth and sixth seals.

REVELATION 9:1-2
And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit;

2 and there arose smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

When the true Christ returns, his brightness will make everything else dull by comparison. At the fifth trumpet we see Satan creating an illusion that darkens the sun to make his countenance appear brighter.

REVELATION 9:3-4
And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth; and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.

4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

The fact that the locusts are commanded not to hurt the grass or trees proves they will not be actual locusts. Deception will be Satan's only tool. He will have no power over those who really know who he is.

In the next few verses we are told that the reign of Abbadon and Appolyon, both meaning the destroyer, will be the five month season of the locusts. We know that this season begins in May and ends in September. That covers the fifth trumpet. Now let's take a look at the sixth trumpet.

REVELATION 9:13-14
And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,

14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, "Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates."

The river Euphrates has always been the border between Babylon, or confusion, and the house of Israel. The four angels loosed are not nice guys.

REVELATION 9:15
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.

The word slay might be better translated, to deceive. Remember, God instructed Satan not to kill anyone.

REVELATION 9:16-17
And the number of the army of horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.

17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.

Most of you have studied the horses of the Bible. The horses are a form of transportation. If you are not familiar with these horses, you might consider ordering tape #431, Horses of the Bible.

REVELATION 9:18
By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.

What comes out of the mouth? Words. The words may be truth or lies. In this case, the words are lies and deception.

REVELATION 9:19
For their power is in their mouth, and their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads; and with them they do hurt.

The only power Satan will have is in his mouth. At the fifth trumpet, we see the coming of antichrist and how long he will reign. At the sixth trumpet, we see the actual coming of antichrist and his method of operation, lies and deceit.

Again we see a six. Antichrist will come in the sixth seal and the sixth trumpet. Let's continue our analysis by taking a look at the fifth and sixth vials, commonly referred to as the plagues.

REVELATION 16:10-11
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,

11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

Antichrist is not yet on earth at this point, but Michael is getting ready to boot Satan out of heaven.

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

Keep a close eye on the events going on with the kings of the east. North Korea might come to mind. You are a watchman.

REVELATION 16:13
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.

Again, Satan is only equipped with his mouth. In this verse we see unclean spirits coming from the mouth of the false prophets, or antichrist's mouth, which obviously means he is on the earth at this point.

REVELATION 16:14
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 great day of God Almighty.

This is looking forward to the second advent.

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

Jesus will come as a thief in the night (I Thess. 5:2). The garments we will wear are woven from the cloth of our good works. Some will be as naked as a jaybird.

REVELATION 16:16
And he gathered them into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

There you have it. Antichrist appears in the sixth seal, the sixth trumpet, and the sixth plague. You might have noticed that is 6-6-6. Here is wisdom. Count the number. Know the season. Here is a second witness to our understanding of the number 666.

Always remember, the antichrist's power will be in his mouth. Don't fear something that isn't able to hurt you. There is no plague that will cause you to be deceived, if you have eyes to see and ears to hear. In fact, if you abide in the Lord, you are promised immunity from any plague. Let's turn to the Old Testament.

PSALMS 91:9-10
Because thou hast made the Lord, Which is my refuge, Even the Most High, thy habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall thee, Neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

Is your habitation with the Most High? I hope so. Your immunity from deception of the plague is dwelling with the Father.

PSALMS 91:11-12
For he shall give His angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Does this sound familiar? It should. Satan twisted the scripture, when he was tempting Christ in Matthew 4. Satan added the words "at any time" to these verses making it seem man could ask God for a proof or a sign at any time. Christ answered him, "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."

PSALMS 91:13
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and the adder: The young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

It is written in Revelation 3:10, "Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation."

We will not be tempted by Satan, because we see him as an abomination. Psalms 91:13 promises we will have part in taking names and "kicking dragon." With God on our side, I say bring him on.

PSALMS 91:14-15
Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known My name.

15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

Do you know His name? More importantly, will you know the True Christ from the false one? If you understand the events that will happen in the sixth seal, sixth trumpet, and sixth plague, I know you won't be deceived.