My claim was that the literal revealing of the antichrist is not dictated by a symbolic key and unlocking of the abyss at the 5th trumpet judgment. It’s symbolism. The 5th trumpet (first woe), and the unlocking, have little to do with the antichrist. We’ll get to that later.
Meaning, the antichrist does not need the angel to unlock the abyss. He's already present on earth (in human form). The title “beast of the abyss” is a picture of the human receiving the power, throne, and authority of Satan (Rev 13:2) which transforms the human to the supernatural beast of the abyss, or in other words, Satanic empowerment.
As I mentioned in my comment:
The beast's "ascent" isn't a single, literal moment tied to the fifth trumpet's opening—it's more about his demonic origin and empowerment.
Rev 11:7 is an anticipatory (parenthetical) introduction to the Antichrist. The topic of Rev 11:1-14 is the two witnesses. John is describing the two witnesses and events tied to them exclusively. The two witnesses are the subject matter.
Upon establishing this, I then add support that the revealing of the antichrist, killing the two witnesses, breaking the covenant and the abomination either at or around the 7yr midpoint must occur after the abyss is opened in the 5th trumpet.
Your understanding seems to be hinging on something you see as a literal event. If I understand you correctly, you believe that the abyss must be literally unlocked, with a literal key, before the antichrist can literally pop out of the abyss.
The two witnesses are not killed until the end of the 70th week - this is supported below. They come on the scene at the midpoint and are given authority for 1,260 days. They're preaching, defending themselves with fire from their mouths, controlling the weather, etc. during the second half of the 70th week in the presence of the Antichrist.
Your statement above places the two witnesses in the first half of the 70th week when Israel is at relative peace. You're claiming that the witnesses come into play before Israel even begins their daily sacrifices again.
Your claim means: as soon as we see the two witnesses, we'll know the 70th week has begun. It also means that they will be killed 1,260 days later - the midpoint. It also means that the Antichrist kills them at the same time he sets up the abomination at the midpoint. This would also mean that the midpoint marks the end of the second woe (see below). It means the third woe begins the same day as the abomination. You’re going from Daniel’s midpoint (the abomination) to the second/third woe all occurring on the same day. None of this works.
The two witnesses are present during the reign of Antichrist in the second half of the 70th week.
The two witnesses are contextually tied to the Sanctuary, the altar, and those who worship in it (Rev 11:1). These are being measured/counted prior to the abomination being setup - it’s about to be desolated. This measurement occurs elsewhere in Scripture also - it’s symbolic of God’s presence returning at some point.
There is no worshipping at the altar once the abomination has been setup. The Sanctuary, altar, and those worshipping will cease once the abomination is setup. The point is that this measuring occurs before the desolation at the midpoint.
The two witnesses are also tied to: Gentiles will trample the holy city for 42 months (Rev 11:2). It has been noted that John's use of "42 months" is directing us specifically to the deeds of Satan and his children. The only other time "42 months" is used is in Revelation 13 concerning the Antichrist and the second half.
This "trampling" will happen in the second half of the 70th week. Not the first half.
Next, we see "I will give authority" to my two witnesses for 1,260 days (Rev 11:3).
“And when they finish their witness”, after 1,260 days, they will be killed by the “beast that comes up out of the abyss” (Rev 11:7). John is giving a description of who kills them (parenthetically) not when they are killed.
When they are resurrected, in that hour, there will be a great earthquake, etc. (Rev 11:13) after which we’re told - “the second woe is past” and “the third woe” is coming quickly (Rev 11:14).
The second woe (sixth trumpet) concludes after the resurrection of the two witnesses. The second woe does not occur at the midpoint of the 70th week. Both “woes” are clearly tied to the end of the 70th week.
The third woe is the seventh trumpet, which announces the bowl judgments, which are the final wrath of God, and the proclamation of God’s Kingdom. “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and His Christ” (Rev 11:15).
By your logic, you're placing the arrival of Antichrist after God's wrath has already begun and is almost finished. The abomination on the same day of the third woe? You're placing the arrival of the Antichrist after the 6th seal when we are raptured. Is that what you're claiming? That the Church is raptured out of this world before the arrival of the Antichrist during the birth pains? Maybe you answer this below...
Your reasoning does not work.
In relation to the fifth trumpet:
When is this seal delivered? Before the seventh seal - before the first trumpet. These are the 144,000 who were sealed after the midpoint of the 70th week. Why would they be sealed, and flee to the wilderness, before the Antichrist even arrives?
Consider the angels message, which is delivered before God's wrath, after the midpoint of the 70th week:
There is no explicit Scriptural support. The exact timing of the seals, trumpets, and bowls have been argued for centuries.
The only timings we can be certain about are the midpoint and the end of the 70th week. Everything in between has to be taken at face value with Scripture answering Scripture. We are not given the exact timing of the seals, trumpets, and bowls though.
What we do know is that the seals come sequentially in order before the trumpets. The seventh seal allows the opening of the large scroll and announces the trumpets and the Day of the Lord. The trumpets are sequential in order. We know that the seventh trumpet announces the bowls which are the final wrath of God.
Gonna bite this off in chunks... will be back for the rest.
To start; I read 4 different beasts, 1 from the sea, 1 from the earth, 1 from the abyss, and the image of the sea beast. As I have shown above, the locusts are not the only ones that come from the abyss.
Specifically, only Abaddon is mentioned with the locusts at the 5th trumpet.
sea = Antichrist; earth = false prophet; abyss = Antichrist (now empowered by Satan).
If you take the beasts in Daniel 7, that is a lion with wings, a bear, a four headed leopard, and a ten-horned beast, and you combined them all into one beast, you would have a seven-headed ten-horned beast with characteristics of a bear, a leopard and a lion, exactly what we see in Revelation 13.
I have multiple blogs on Daniel as it's one of my favorite books in Scripture.
I will come back to this later.
Your understanding seems to be hinging on something you see as a literal event. If I understand you correctly, you believe that the abyss must be literally unlocked, with a literal key, before the antichrist can literally pop out of the abyss.
[Rev 1:1 KJV] The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.
The underlying Greek verb is ἐσήμανεν (esēmanen), from the root σημαίνω (sēmainō). It literally means “to indicate,” “to make known,” “to give a sign,” “to point out,” or “to communicate by signs/symbols.”
The key and the unlocking are symbolic of God's Divine permission.The two witnesses are not killed until the end of the 70th week - this is supported below. They come on the scene at the midpoint and are given authority for 1,260 days. They're preaching, defending themselves with fire from their mouths, controlling the weather, etc. during the second half of the 70th week in the presence of the Antichrist.
Your statement above places the two witnesses in the first half of the 70th week when Israel is at relative peace. You're claiming that the witnesses come into play before Israel even begins their daily sacrifices again.
Your claim means: as soon as we see the two witnesses, we'll know the 70th week has begun. It also means that they will be killed 1,260 days later - the midpoint. It also means that the Antichrist kills them at the same time he sets up the abomination at the midpoint. This would also mean that the midpoint marks the end of the second woe (see below). It means the third woe begins the same day as the abomination. You’re going from Daniel’s midpoint (the abomination) to the second/third woe all occurring on the same day. None of this works.
The two witnesses are present during the reign of Antichrist in the second half of the 70th week.
The two witnesses are contextually tied to the Sanctuary, the altar, and those who worship in it (Rev 11:1). These are being measured/counted prior to the abomination being setup - it’s about to be desolated. This measurement occurs elsewhere in Scripture also - it’s symbolic of God’s presence returning at some point.
There is no worshipping at the altar once the abomination has been setup. The Sanctuary, altar, and those worshipping will cease once the abomination is setup. The point is that this measuring occurs before the desolation at the midpoint.
The two witnesses are also tied to: Gentiles will trample the holy city for 42 months (Rev 11:2). It has been noted that John's use of "42 months" is directing us specifically to the deeds of Satan and his children. The only other time "42 months" is used is in Revelation 13 concerning the Antichrist and the second half.
This "trampling" will happen in the second half of the 70th week. Not the first half.
Next, we see "I will give authority" to my two witnesses for 1,260 days (Rev 11:3).
“And when they finish their witness”, after 1,260 days, they will be killed by the “beast that comes up out of the abyss” (Rev 11:7). John is giving a description of who kills them (parenthetically) not when they are killed.
When they are resurrected, in that hour, there will be a great earthquake, etc. (Rev 11:13) after which we’re told - “the second woe is past” and “the third woe” is coming quickly (Rev 11:14).
The second woe (sixth trumpet) concludes after the resurrection of the two witnesses. The second woe does not occur at the midpoint of the 70th week. Both “woes” are clearly tied to the end of the 70th week.
The third woe is the seventh trumpet, which announces the bowl judgments, which are the final wrath of God, and the proclamation of God’s Kingdom. “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and His Christ” (Rev 11:15).
By your logic, you're placing the arrival of Antichrist after God's wrath has already begun and is almost finished. The abomination on the same day of the third woe? You're placing the arrival of the Antichrist after the 6th seal when we are raptured. Is that what you're claiming? That the Church is raptured out of this world before the arrival of the Antichrist during the birth pains? Maybe you answer this below...
Your reasoning does not work.
In relation to the fifth trumpet:
[Rev 9:1 LSB] Then the fifth angel sounded. Then I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth, and the key of the pit of the abyss was given to him.
John didn’t see the star fall to earth… he says he saw a star “which had fallen”.
It’s not a literal star, and it’s not a literal key. The key “was given to him” so we know it is a personal entity. Stars are often symbolic of angelic beings throughout Scripture.
This is symbolism emphasizing Divine permission - permission (the key) was given to him by God.
As I mentioned, the beast of the abyss is symbolic of the Antichrist’s demonic/satanic influence. The antichrist gets his power from Satan, after Satan is cast to earth.
[Rev 9:4 LSB] And they were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.
[Rev 7:3 LSB] saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the slaves of our God [the 144,000] on their foreheads.”
They are already sealed prior to the fifth trumpet according to the passage above.
Consider the angels message, which is delivered before God's wrath, after the midpoint of the 70th week:
[Rev 14:9-10 LSB] Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, [10] and he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His rage, and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
Why would the angel warn them about a beast that hasn't even come on the scene yet (according to your line of thought)?
The angel is warning them not to follow the Antichrist... is everyone on earth asking "who is this beast you speak of?" Of course not... the beast is already on the scene.
Upon reading a number of your blogs I note you do quote a lot of scripture about a topic but then you add "assumptions" about "when" this happens in the Revelation timeline without any support or clarity as to why something happens during that time. Strong scriptural support is my challenge for you.The angel is warning them not to follow the Antichrist... is everyone on earth asking "who is this beast you speak of?" Of course not... the beast is already on the scene.
There is no explicit Scriptural support. The exact timing of the seals, trumpets, and bowls have been argued for centuries.
The only timings we can be certain about are the midpoint and the end of the 70th week. Everything in between has to be taken at face value with Scripture answering Scripture. We are not given the exact timing of the seals, trumpets, and bowls though.
What we do know is that the seals come sequentially in order before the trumpets. The seventh seal allows the opening of the large scroll and announces the trumpets and the Day of the Lord. The trumpets are sequential in order. We know that the seventh trumpet announces the bowls which are the final wrath of God.
Gonna bite this off in chunks... will be back for the rest.
To start; I read 4 different beasts, 1 from the sea, 1 from the earth, 1 from the abyss, and the image of the sea beast. As I have shown above, the locusts are not the only ones that come from the abyss.
Specifically, only Abaddon is mentioned with the locusts at the 5th trumpet.
sea = Antichrist; earth = false prophet; abyss = Antichrist (now empowered by Satan).
If you take the beasts in Daniel 7, that is a lion with wings, a bear, a four headed leopard, and a ten-horned beast, and you combined them all into one beast, you would have a seven-headed ten-horned beast with characteristics of a bear, a leopard and a lion, exactly what we see in Revelation 13.
I have multiple blogs on Daniel as it's one of my favorite books in Scripture.
I will come back to this later.
The abyss is described as a holding place for demons being a place "Legion" wanted to avoid in Luke 8:31 "And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss." Why would they say this if they can leave anytime they want? Because the abyss has a lock as seen in Rev 9:1 "The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss." and again in Rev 20:1 "I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss" and Rev 20:3 "He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him." This strongly says that no-one can leave the abyss unless it is opened. The 1st time it is opened in Revelation is at the 5th trumpet.
The beast from the sea has 7 heads and are also 7 kings/kingdoms that have existed through the ages according to Rev 17:10 "Five have fallen, one is (Rome at the time of writing), the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while."
This 7th king/kingdom being described as "has not yet come" & "remains for a little while" will happen prior and separate from the beast from the abyss as shown below. I expect the the 7th king/kingdom (7th sea beast head) to come is the one that suffers a fatal wound.
The beast from the abyss is not the same as the "7 kings" of the 7 headed sea beast but described as an EIGHTH king that comes later (eight follows seven) in Rev 17:8,11 "The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss" "The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction. [perdition KJV]" He will also kill the 2 witnesses in Rev 7:11 "Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them."
So your above claim that the beast from the abyss is the same as the beast from the sea is not accurate. The 7th head/kingdom of the beast of the sea comes first, then the 10 kings will rule the sea beast (10 crowns), then the beast from the abyss arrives sometime after the (locked) abyss is opened in the 5th trumpet.
Daniel describes the differences between the sea beast and abyss beast in Dan 7:24-25 "The ten horns (same as sea beast Rev 13:1) are ten kings who will come from this (7th) kingdom. AFTER them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a -time, times and half a time.-" 3.5 years.
And again in Dan 8:8-11 "The goat became very great, but at the height of its power the large horn was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven. Out of one of them came another horn, which started small but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land. It grew until it reached the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them (6th seal and Rev 12 sign). It set itself up to be as great as the commander of the army of the Lord; it took away the daily sacrifice from the Lord (antichrist), and his sanctuary was thrown down." The angel then explaines this vision in Dan 8:21-25 "The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between its eyes is the first king. The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power. In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue (antichrist), will arise. He will become very strong, but not by his own power (likely by satan/10 kings of sea beast). He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people. He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power. (perdition)" Dan 9:27 adds "He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."
While these provide a very strong link to the beast from the abyss that forms/possesses the antichrist, the strongest tie I could find is both the beast from the abyss and the antichrist are both uniquely predestined to perdition (a final judgment). Jesus expresses this unique single entity being one who has already been judged and predestined to perdition in John 17:12 “none of them is lost, but the son of perdition”. Paul then links the same "son of perdition" to the antichrist in 2 Thess 2:3 “…that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition…” Perdition is also specifically applied to the the beast from the abyss in Rev 17:8 "The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its perdition." Rev 17:11 "The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction [perdition KJV]." In Daniel we can tie the perdition to Dan 7:11 “…the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.” which describes the place of final judgment for those who are not found in the book of life Rev 20:14 "Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire." a.k.a. perdition, with no following judgements possible
Conclusion:
Since the abyss is a place where demonic spirits reside it is likely the beast from the abyss is an antichrist spirit. The abyss is locked without escape until the 5th trumpet. Sometime after the abyss is opened the beast from the abyss likely posseses or takes the form of the antichrist. Only then will he kill the two witnesses and causes the abomination that causes desolation by entering the holy place (temple in Jerusalem) declaring himself to be God. This says both the antichrist (destined for perdition) is revealed at the abomination and can only occur after the abyss is opened (5th trumpet), not before. Scripture also tells us the antichrist comes AFTER the 7 headed beast of the sea and AFTER the 10 kings (10 horns/crowns/toes) are established Dan 7:24 "The ten horns (sea beast) are ten kings who will come from this (7th) kingdom. AFTER them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings." It is likely these 10 kings give their authority to the beast of the abyss (antichrist) rather than the beast (system) of the sea that they already rule (not giving crowns to themselves). So while the beast system of the sea and its image and the false profit may come on the scene prior to the 5th trumpet when the abyss is unlocked, the revealing of the antichrist is at the 7 year midpoint marked by the abomination 2 Thess 2:3–4 “…that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God… so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”
Beast from Abyss (abyss opened at 5th trumpet) - Rev 17:8
Was, is not, and will arise again - Rev 17:11
Is an 8th king who rises after the 7 headed (kings) sea beast - Rev 17:10
Causes global astonishment- Rev 17:8
Kills the two witnesses - Rev 11:7
Goes to perdition - Rev 17:8, 11
The above also argues the midpoint being sometime after the abyss is opened in the 5th trumpet separates the two 3.5 years as the 2 witnesses killed (6th trumpet) are the prior 3.5 years (Rev 13:5 & 11:3 as well as the beast system (mark) as seen at the start of bowls. in Rev 15:1-2 "I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues.. And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea (which is before the heavenly throne Rev 4:6), those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name." And the latter 3.5 years where Israel flees for the remaining 3.5 years during the antichrist 3.5 year rule in Dan 7:25 “…they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” after the abomination while the bowls are poured out.
time line:
7th head beast system (mark) & 2 witnesses (3.5yr) -> THEN (Dan 7:24-25) 10 kings -> 5th trumpet/abyss opened -> THEN (Dan 7:24-25) Antichrist/kills witnesses/abomination (midpoint) -> Israel flees (3.5 years)
Dan 7:24-25 "The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. 25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time."
The beast from the sea has 7 heads and are also 7 kings/kingdoms that have existed through the ages according to Rev 17:10 "Five have fallen, one is (Rome at the time of writing), the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while."
This 7th king/kingdom being described as "has not yet come" & "remains for a little while" will happen prior and separate from the beast from the abyss as shown below. I expect the the 7th king/kingdom (7th sea beast head) to come is the one that suffers a fatal wound.
The beast from the abyss is not the same as the "7 kings" of the 7 headed sea beast but described as an EIGHTH king that comes later (eight follows seven) in Rev 17:8,11 "The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss" "The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction. [perdition KJV]" He will also kill the 2 witnesses in Rev 7:11 "Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them."
So your above claim that the beast from the abyss is the same as the beast from the sea is not accurate. The 7th head/kingdom of the beast of the sea comes first, then the 10 kings will rule the sea beast (10 crowns), then the beast from the abyss arrives sometime after the (locked) abyss is opened in the 5th trumpet.
Daniel describes the differences between the sea beast and abyss beast in Dan 7:24-25 "The ten horns (same as sea beast Rev 13:1) are ten kings who will come from this (7th) kingdom. AFTER them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a -time, times and half a time.-" 3.5 years.
And again in Dan 8:8-11 "The goat became very great, but at the height of its power the large horn was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns grew up toward the four winds of heaven. Out of one of them came another horn, which started small but grew in power to the south and to the east and toward the Beautiful Land. It grew until it reached the host of the heavens, and it threw some of the starry host down to the earth and trampled on them (6th seal and Rev 12 sign). It set itself up to be as great as the commander of the army of the Lord; it took away the daily sacrifice from the Lord (antichrist), and his sanctuary was thrown down." The angel then explaines this vision in Dan 8:21-25 "The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between its eyes is the first king. The four horns that replaced the one that was broken off represent four kingdoms that will emerge from his nation but will not have the same power. In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue (antichrist), will arise. He will become very strong, but not by his own power (likely by satan/10 kings of sea beast). He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people. He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power. (perdition)" Dan 9:27 adds "He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."
While these provide a very strong link to the beast from the abyss that forms/possesses the antichrist, the strongest tie I could find is both the beast from the abyss and the antichrist are both uniquely predestined to perdition (a final judgment). Jesus expresses this unique single entity being one who has already been judged and predestined to perdition in John 17:12 “none of them is lost, but the son of perdition”. Paul then links the same "son of perdition" to the antichrist in 2 Thess 2:3 “…that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition…” Perdition is also specifically applied to the the beast from the abyss in Rev 17:8 "The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its perdition." Rev 17:11 "The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction [perdition KJV]." In Daniel we can tie the perdition to Dan 7:11 “…the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.” which describes the place of final judgment for those who are not found in the book of life Rev 20:14 "Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire." a.k.a. perdition, with no following judgements possible
Conclusion:
Since the abyss is a place where demonic spirits reside it is likely the beast from the abyss is an antichrist spirit. The abyss is locked without escape until the 5th trumpet. Sometime after the abyss is opened the beast from the abyss likely posseses or takes the form of the antichrist. Only then will he kill the two witnesses and causes the abomination that causes desolation by entering the holy place (temple in Jerusalem) declaring himself to be God. This says both the antichrist (destined for perdition) is revealed at the abomination and can only occur after the abyss is opened (5th trumpet), not before. Scripture also tells us the antichrist comes AFTER the 7 headed beast of the sea and AFTER the 10 kings (10 horns/crowns/toes) are established Dan 7:24 "The ten horns (sea beast) are ten kings who will come from this (7th) kingdom. AFTER them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings." It is likely these 10 kings give their authority to the beast of the abyss (antichrist) rather than the beast (system) of the sea that they already rule (not giving crowns to themselves). So while the beast system of the sea and its image and the false profit may come on the scene prior to the 5th trumpet when the abyss is unlocked, the revealing of the antichrist is at the 7 year midpoint marked by the abomination 2 Thess 2:3–4 “…that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God… so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”
Beast from Abyss (abyss opened at 5th trumpet) - Rev 17:8
Was, is not, and will arise again - Rev 17:11
Is an 8th king who rises after the 7 headed (kings) sea beast - Rev 17:10
Causes global astonishment- Rev 17:8
Kills the two witnesses - Rev 11:7
Goes to perdition - Rev 17:8, 11
The above also argues the midpoint being sometime after the abyss is opened in the 5th trumpet separates the two 3.5 years as the 2 witnesses killed (6th trumpet) are the prior 3.5 years (Rev 13:5 & 11:3 as well as the beast system (mark) as seen at the start of bowls. in Rev 15:1-2 "I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues.. And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea (which is before the heavenly throne Rev 4:6), those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name." And the latter 3.5 years where Israel flees for the remaining 3.5 years during the antichrist 3.5 year rule in Dan 7:25 “…they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” after the abomination while the bowls are poured out.
time line:
7th head beast system (mark) & 2 witnesses (3.5yr) -> THEN (Dan 7:24-25) 10 kings -> 5th trumpet/abyss opened -> THEN (Dan 7:24-25) Antichrist/kills witnesses/abomination (midpoint) -> Israel flees (3.5 years)
Dan 7:24-25 "The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. 25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time."
No comments:
Post a Comment