Having we hope provided both the historical and the scriptural account of the rise of the Beast “THAT WAS” and “IS NOT” (i.e. the reasons for its subsequent disappearance), the next question naturally is,
When will it “COME AGAIN”, when will it makes its appearance a second time?
According to what we have learned thus far 1/10th of “the great city”, BABYLON THE GREAT (Rev 17:5, 18; 18:21), likewise spiritually referred to as Sodom and Egypt,” (Rev 11:8) fell during a “great earthquake” Rev 11:13 (the French Revolution). The other 9/10ths of this city would not meet its demise until the final trouble of the Laodicean period.
It is during the Laodicean period of the Church that the Seven Last Plagues take place, the final trouble of course being the SEVENTH PLAGUE the last of the seven bowels of the wrath of God (Rev 16:1), specifically, ARMAGEDDON.
NOTE: Remember the Seven Last Plagues do not follow in the same sequence as did the Church’s, Seals, and Trumpets. In other words each of the first six periods of the church only experienced their perspective seals and the trumpets. It is only during the seventh or last period of the church, the Laodicean stage that the seven last plagues are poured out. The seven last plagues as you recall are the just consequences of previous lessons unlearned, thus because the world didn’t listen to the trumpets, felled to heed the lessons, now the truths of the trumpets must be forced upon them by the plagues.”
In Rev 6:12 and 11:13 we read of “a great earthquake” which we have come to understand represented (the French Revolution) when 1/10th of “the great city” Babylon the Great fell, thus leaving 9/10ths of the city remaining. The Scriptures however imply that in due time what remains of this great city will likewise meet the same fate, viz.
“Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore.” (Rev 18:21)
This finale demise of Great Babylon will occur during ANOTHER great earthquake (revolution), the likes of which the world has never seen.
“And the seventh (angel) poured out his bowl upon the air; and there came forth a great voice out of the temple, from the throne, saying, It is done: and there were lightning’s, and voices, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since there were men upon the earth, so great an earthquake, so mighty. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nation’s fell: and Babylon the great was remembered in the sight of 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 great hail, [every stone] about the weight of a talent, comes down out of heaven upon men: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof is exceeding great.” (Rev 16:17-21)
This will be the time of trouble which both the Prophet Daniel (Dan 12:1), and our Lord spoke of saying:
“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.” (Matt 24:21, 22)
The severity of these times as in comparisons with any which had occurred previously is expressively implied in both texts, viz. such an earthquake “SUCH AS WAS NOT since there were men upon the earth”, such great tribulation (trouble, strife, revolution) “SUCH AS HAS NOT BEEN since the beginning of the world until this time.”
In our next post we will take a closer look at Rev 16:17-21 and the seventh plague.
