"And those dwelling on the earth will marvel, those whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is." (Revelation 17:8).
"And all the earth marveled after the beast. And all dwelling on the earth will worship it, those whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain, from the foundation of the world." (Revelation 13:3, 8).
THE TORMENT OF
THOSE WHO WORSHIP THE BEAST
OR RECEIVE HIS MARK
The "locusts" that John saw coming out of the smoke that came out of the abyss are commanded to hurt:
"only those men who do not have the seal of God in their foreheads, and to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months. And in those days men will seek death and will not find it. And they will long to die, and death will flee from them." (Revelation 9:1-12).
"And the smoke of their torment ascends for (the) ages (aion) and ages (aion). And they have no rest day or night, those who worship the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name, because they will drink of the wine of the anger of God, having been mixed undiluted in the cup of His wrath." (Revelation 14:9-11).
THE TORMENT
"And the first went and poured out his bowl of wrath on the earth.
And a bad and grievous sore fell on the men who had the mark of the beast, and on those who worshiped his image." (Revelation 16:2).
Bowls of wrath
1. Sores upon those who worshiped the beast & received his mark.
2. Sea turn to blood.
3. Rivers & fountains of waters turn to blood.
4. Scorching heat of the sun.
5. Darkness on the throne of the beast.
They will blaspheme God because of all of this - their suffering and their sores (Revelation 16:11).
TWO WITNESSES
Moses and Aaron were God's two witnesses in Egypt. They too brought plagues of locusts by the power of God upon Egypt, and caused the water to turn to blood, etc.
God's people were kept from being harmed by the plagues:
Even more importantly, God's people were kept from the last plague to come upon Egypt (the death of the firstborn) through their faith in THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB. The angel of death passed over the houses of all those who had the blood of the Lamb sprinkled on their doorposts. The very next day God's people departed in haste, with their unleavened bread.
Those who have faith in the blood of the Lamb have the seal of God on their foreheads. The locusts will not harm them.
The "locusts" that John saw coming out of the smoke that came out of the abyss are commanded to hurt:
"Only those men who do not have the seal of God in their foreheads, and to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months. And in those days men will seek death and will not find it. And they will long to die, and death will flee from them." (Revelation 9:1-12).
"And the ones who dwell on the earth will rejoice over [Christ's two witnesses who had been killed by the beast who ascended from out of the abyss], and will make merry, and will send one another gifts, because these two prophets tormented those living on the earth." (Revelation 11:10).
The beast ascended from out of the same bottomless pit that had been opened when the 5th angel had sounded his trumpet. Then Pharaoh's the beast's armies pursued God's people.
God allowed the tribulation of His people under Pharaoh to increase until He called His two witnesses, which marked the beginning of the plagues that were poured out upon Egypt until the redemption of God's people.
- When the seventh seal was opened, we were also told that "Heaven will be silent" for "half an hour" while the prayers of the saints are being offered up from the altar, with incense.
The judgment of Pharaoh's armies coincided with the redemption of God's people through the sea. Once on the other side, God's people sang the song of Moses, as we see them doing in the Revelation:
"And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire. And those who 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. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are Your ways, O King of saints. Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You only are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your righteousnesses were made known." (Revelation 15:1-4).
--- end of page ---