December 30: Revelation 12-18

December 30, Revelation 12-18

Revelation continued…

The entire summary/commentary is from my wife Dana Parriera! 

Revelation 12 12:1-6. Talks about the spiritual issues that have happened in the past and some think that even the star constellations in the sky will reveal what is happening. As the war against Satan and God’s chosen children will be drawing to a finale. As the 2 Witnesses are gone, that puts us into the messy time of things. 

Revelation 12:7-17. Where Satan is battling Angels in heaven and is eventually thrown to Earth for the remainder of the ‘End of the World’ as we know it. Satan will attack the Jews and they will be saved and preserved by the Lord. Meanwhile, Satan will make his war on the saints of Yahweh. On those who ‘keep the Commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.’ How do we know what to do to continue to be faithful to Yahweh? We need to obey His Commandments and remember to put our faith and trust in Jesus the Christ. This is what will separate us from everyone else. There might be those who hold to the testimony of Jesus, but fail to keep the Commandments of God. This is how we know - who the enemy will be going after and who is going to heaven... Keep the faith and fight the good fight, by trusting in Jesus to save you and showing fruits of repentance by obeying YHWH by keeping the Commandments of God. 

Revelation 13 Talks about 2 beasts. We don’t know if these are literal beasts or spiritually looked as though they are beasts. Daniel tells us that beasts are how the Lord spiritually sees certain kingdoms (Daniel 7). So we have knowledge. The question is are these beasts - kingdoms or something else? Could it be a global community? The United Nations? Or the unity of the whole World? Are they men? Are they fallen angels who come to earth? Are they leaders of something bigger? We just don’t know. But what we do know, is that the plans of these beasts will be bent on hating the God of the Bible and His people. And by this - we will know who they are.

Revelation 13:1-10. The 1st beast will have the power of Satan behind it (Satan is the dragon) and through this power it will demand worship of people. It will be allowed by God to make war on the saints and to conquer them. The martyrs will be many, as this godless beast rises to power. And did you know that today, in 2015 - more Christians are being killed then throughout all History. In fact, today - every 3 seconds someone in the world dies for being a Christian. And this will be the goal of the beast. And everyone who is not a Christian, will accept this new way of life and serve the beast. And for the Christian death and prison will be for us, and happily we will go - knowing that the End of sin, evil, and death is close upon us. As Jesus will save us by helping us endure to the end of our lives. 

Revelation 13:11-18. The 2nd beast will force all to worship the 1st beast. And that some image, statue, or robot will be given demonic power to be able to speak to the people and all the people who do not love God will worship and submit to it. This is where Christians get the jitters when people start talking about placing biometric chips in people. This technology, which couldn’t have been guessed years ago, was written thousands of years ago in the Bible. On the right hand or the forehead, there will be some sort of technology that will allow those who receive it, to buy and sell. Without it - they can not be apart of society. What is this ‘mark’? The Greek word is ‘Seal’. Like in the 1800‘s when someone sealed a letter with wax and placed their singeing ring seal embedded into the wax to prove the ownership. This is the wording for what is going to physically happen. Just as the Lord will spiritually seal His servants as in Rev 9:4. The enemy copycats the same thing and desires to place a ‘seal’ on his people. And since the enemy can’t put a spiritual seal on them, he will place some sort of branding on them - which maybe could be biometric as computer chips are meant to keep track of such things. That means: without this ‘mark’ or ‘seal of Satan’ that you could not be active in society, no buying groceries, no driving, no drivers license, no house, no job, no - nothing. You would be homeless and cast out of society. There will be consequences to not receiving this ‘mark of Satan’ and it seems the only ones who will be denying this mark will be true Christians. Although, even some ‘Christians’ will be tricked into getting this mark. And once marked by Satan, the Lord will not have you... 

Revelation 14 Revelation 14:1-5. Talks about the Lord’s first fruits, the 144,000 that were talked about in Chapter 7. It seems as all those who were marked are now in heaven. Whether raptured or martyred for their faith. These ‘first fruits’ are Gods. This reminds me of the First Fruits in the Old Testament. Where the first boy that opened the womb was His and dedicated to the Temple. The parents could buy back their kids by offering a special offering to the Temple in replacement of giving their child to the Lord’s service in the Temple. These servants of the Lord will be Gods. And while this is all going on Heaven, meanwhile chaos is happening on Earth. 

Revelation 14:6-13. The Messages of the 3 Angels. The Angels pronounce some facts for us to know. 

The 1st Angel states to all people to fear the Lord because His Wrath is coming on the Earth. 

The 2nd Angel states Babylon is fallen in judgment to the Lord, for sinning against God. 

The 3rd Angel states that this Judgment for taking the Mark of Satan will be spiritually condemning for all eternity. 

Can you take this mark and still be saved? Can you get a chip placed in your hand or in your brain and still be obedient to God in your heart? Can you accept this new way to live on Earth and still have entrance into heaven? The answer is no! Jesus makes it very clear that all those who take the mark. Or accept this. Will enter in Judgment from God. God has warned us for 2000 years to not accept this. Jesus will watch over hell (vs. 10 as Jesus is the Lamb) and He will watch over all who accepted the mark of Satan to live a life on Earth. 

But the Lord gives hope to those who will not take the mark. And although they will endure pain and death - they will be blessed as those who die during this time period will get to reign with Jesus for 1000 years. But I will talk about this in a little bit. But just remember that Jesus is here for His people and will reward them for going through such painful things... 

Can I pause here for a second and speak truthfully to you? The ‘mark’ of Satan, isn’t going to be black and white. Nowhere does it say that you have to deny Jesus to take the mark. Instead, later in Revelation 20:10 it talks about how the devil deceived those who took the mark. You see. It will all be a deception. Some people will take the mark and think “well, I still worship Jesus in my mind, so a physical thing isn’t important.” Or, “I don’t have to deny Jesus to get it, so it is fine.” You see, deception will be everywhere. So then, how are we to know what it is? How can we make sure that we aren’t going to be deceived in taking the mark of the beast? 

I had a recent trip to the DMV, The Department of Motor Vehicles, to get a new drivers license. When I was filling out my info, I read through all the paperwork and was filling it all out. I then came to the first question. When I read that they wanted to put a microchip into my drivers license. It seemed optional, so I didn’t want to put it in. I walked up to the guy at the counter - to ask him about it. I asked if I could opt out of getting the chip in my drivers license, since it seemed optional. He looked at me and stated, “Yeah, it is optional.” I said that is great. So do I just check ‘no’? He looked at me and said something like, “Listen, it is optional. The option is not getting a drivers license if you don’t want the chip.” I looked at him and said, “So if I check ‘no’ then I don’t get a drivers license? That doesn’t sound like an option to me.” He said, “Listen, if you don’t like the idea of having a chip, don’t get a drivers license while it isn’t mandatory. Because soon, it will be mandatory and then you won’t have a choice, to not have one.” I was stunned. So I looked at him, trying to wrap my brain around it. And he sat back and stared at me. I was thinking and so I tried again, to understand this. He looked at me and stated, “Yup. Listen, if you don’t like the chip, while it is an option - don’t get a license or a passport.” I still couldn’t let it go. I looked at him and asked again, “So I couldn’t drive or cross the border, if I don’t check this box to get a license with a microchip in it?” He looked at me and stated, “Yup.”  I sat down and debated what I was going to do. Meanwhile, my number was called and I went to the counter where this lady was. She mentioned to me that I didn’t check the number 1 box and stated that I needed to do it. 

I stated, “So what if I fill out all my paperwork and just check the ‘no’ box. What then?”  She looked at me and said, “If you don’t check the box, we just never send you your license.” I stood there shocked. I said, “So, I would fill all the paperwork out, get my picture taken, get a paper copy that expires in a month, and I just would never get sent my real license?” She nodded her head. I was stunned. 

I sat at the DMV for some time, debating. And eventually I caved and checked the box. But it was a great example to me, what it will soon be like for those of us who challenge this mark that is coming. And the pressure to regain normal life, if we just get the mark...

What did I learn from my trip? I learned that my DMV trip was no more then peer pressure to do what they wanted me to do. I learned that those whose foundation isn’t firm against getting the ‘mark’ - will cave, as I did with my drivers license with a biometric chip imbedded into it. You see - what ever the ‘mark’ is going to be. Whether a microchip, a biometric tattoo, or some coming technology; whatever the ‘mark’ will eventually be - it will become mandatory on our right hand or forehead - we must decided now if we want it or not. We must decide now to not get it. That we have to understand that if we deny this coming ‘mark’ that we will have to give up our right to buy, to sell, to drive, to have a job, to live... This will be our cost for not being a part of this ‘beast’ system, that is coming. And the truth is, we won’t have to deny Jesus to get the mark. That will be the greatest deception ever. And it is already starting, as I experienced. People will believe the lie - that they can have the mark and still be saved. Instead, Jesus states in this chapter, verse 11 that ‘whoever receives the mark’ will be punished for eternity. And that we are called to endure the hardships that are to come, and to keep the Commandments of the Lord. 

Revelation 14:14-20. The Lord is dealing with the Earth as a farmer gathers in the crops. Jesus talked about this when He was alive as a man on Earth in the Parable of the Weeds in Matthew 13:24-30 and Matthew 13:36-43. And we are seeing the end of that parable here, when the reapers (the Angels) will gather them all and place them in judgment. And the blood from the people of Earth will reach the top of a horse’s bridle. We don’t know how it is that the Lord will do this, but with this much blood, it doesn’t sound pretty. 

Revelation 15 Revelation 15. Is about the Wrath of God that is placed in bowls and given to 7 Angels. These judgments of God’s Wrath are 7 plagues that will be unleashed on mankind. Meanwhile, those in martyred in Heaven are singing to Yahweh, as they know that the time is coming to a close and the rejoicing in Heaven is for Jesus’ Kingdom to Come. This new Kingdom of Jesus will be the final, winning Kingdom. And those of us who hate death and sin, suffering and evil - will long for this glorious day. 

Revelation 16 The 7 Bowls of God’s Wrath poured on mankind.

1. Painful sores on those who are apart of the ‘beast’ kingdom.
2. All the seas turned into blood.
3. All the rivers turned into blood.
4. The sun became hot and burned people. 
5. The beast kingdom starts loosing. (Just as Egypt kingdom lost)
6. The Euphrates river dried up and demons aren’t hiding any longer.
7. The biggest earthquake ever, with hailstones 100 pounds each. 

Even with all of this, those that hate the God in Heaven, will still curse Him. How can this be? Watch a disaster film and what is something they all say when they are running for their lives? Something like, “Oh my go@#!” Crazy isn’t it? But that is the point. They blaspheme with words they don’t believe, and in doing so - denying the very God that could save them. This is how those who this is happening to will (vs. 21) ‘curse God for the plagues...”  Unbelievable.

Revelation 17 This Chapter is all about the ‘Prostitute’ and the Beast. There has been much debate to who or what this ‘Prostitute’ is. But if it is alright. I would like to show you what the Lord has revealed to me through asking Him what this means. I believe that the ‘Prostitute’ is the whole world. Mother Earth. This global community on Earth will rule with the help of the enemy, the Beast. She will hate those who love Jesus and desire to kill them. Loving Jesus will go against everything that this global Prostitute will set up with the Enemies Kingdom. The Beast in return will want to destroy the world. Instead of the Enemy loving the world he wants to rule, he will long to destroy it. 

Revelation 18  Revelation 18 is all about the Prostitute who is called Mystery Babylon. Since I believe that Babylon is the whole world, it gives some clues to what the Prostitute will look like. When Scripture relates Babylon to the word ‘city’ it is translated from the term ‘dwelling place’ so it can mean anything where people can dwell. Keep in mind, this is what the ‘Mother Earth’ has turned into. A dwelling place for demons, selling human slaves, full of magic and sexuality - surely this is no place that any of us want to live in. But this is what Earth will look like when the enemy finally gets to rule. It will be full of evil. And the Lord will have great relief in bringing Earth and the wickedness that was done in her to an end.

To sum it all up: 

• The Spiritual world is just as real as our physical world - be aware of what is going on around you. 
• Our enemy, Satan, is powerful. But he is limited by God as to the power he has. Do not play with fire or you will get burned. Do not give the enemy a foothold over your life or access into your life. 
• Jesus is there for you - in all circumstances.
• Do not take the mark - be aware of the deception that will come.
• Be willing to accept the consequences for obedience.