Disciples Global Network

SYNOPSIS  -  The first appearance of the “beast” is at its ascent from the “Abyss” to wage “war” against the “two witnesses”  –  Revelation 11:7 .  In  Revelation , the “ Abyss ” first appears when the “ fifth trumpet ” sounds , a dark pit from which a cloud of smoke and demonic creatures “ ascend ” to afflict the “ inhabitants of the earth .” Several times in the book, satanic forces “ ascend ” from this place to wreak havoc on the earth and to wage war against the “ saints .” In the vision of the “ two witnesses ,” the “ beast ascended ” from this pit to “ slay ” the “ two witnesses ” after they “ completed their testimony ” - ( Revelation 9:1-3 ). [ Photo by  Mick Haupt  on Unsplash ].

SYNOPSIS  –  Hated by the impenitent, the “inhabitants of the earth” rejoice over the deaths of the two witnesses  -  Revelation 11:8-14 .  The “ second woe ” does not end or the “ third woe ” begin until the mission of the " two witnesses " is completed, just as John was told after he had received the “ little scroll " from the mighty angel. Moreover, the completion of their testimony means their deaths at the hands of the " beast from the Abyss " - ( Revelation 10:7  – “ It behooves you to prophesy against peoples and nations and tongues, and many kings ”). - [ Photo by  Hello I'm Nik  on Unsplash ].

SYNOPSIS  –  In Revelation, the “forty-two months” and “1,260-days” both refer to the same prophetic period when the saints are persecuted .  In several of its visions,  Revelation  provides a chronological key - a coming period of three and one-half years. However, the period is presented in three different but mathematically equivalent forms – “ forty-two months ,” “ 1,260-days ,” and “ season, seasons, and half a season .” So, is there any rhyme or reason behind this variation, or do the figures point to three separate prophetic periods, each being three and one-half years in length? - [ Photo by Aron Visuals on Unsplash ].

SYNOPSIS  –  The “war against the saints” endures only for a “time, times, and part of a time”  -  Daniel 7:25 .  In the interpretation of the “ fourth beast ,” Daniel received the limits for the time allotted to the “ little horn ” to wage war “ against the saints ” – “ Time, times, and part of a time .” Afterward, he would lose his domain. While this is an ambiguous description, it becomes more detailed with each subsequent vision received by Daniel. Centuries later, the  book of Revelation  used this chronological marker as the basis for the “ short while ” during which the “ beast from the sea ” was authorized to “ make war ” on the “ saints .” - [ Photo by  Paula Guerreiro  on Unsplash ].

SYNOPSIS  –  Literary context is vital for understanding the “Abomination that Desolates” in the book of Daniel  -  Daniel 9:27 .  The climax of the “ seventy weeks ” prophecy is the appearance of the “ abomination that desolates ” in the final half of the “ seventieth week .” What is this “ abomination ”? When did it appear? Is it a yet future reality? Investigations seeking to answer these and similar questions must begin with what  book of Daniel  has to say about it. Moreover, the reference to it in the “ seventy weeks ” prophecy is neither the first nor the last word on the matter. Interpreting the “ abomination ” in isolation from the larger context of  Daniel  will not produce accurate answers. - [ Photo by  Yoal Desurmont  on Unsplash ]