A Study of Revelation TRIBULATION

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1 A Study of Revelation PART 2 Revelation 4:1-11:19 TRIBULATION LESSON 6 Revelation 8:10-9:21 THE WOE TRUMPETS Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. (Revelation 22:7) REV 8:10 9:21 Wormwood REV 8:10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; 11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. As in the previous judgment we see here an intruder from space. It is a "star" burning as a "lamp." It may be that this indicates that the particles striking earth will be in a molten form as the star disperses itself upon entering the atmosphere. Its chemicals will poison a third of the seas and rivers of the earth. The Greek word translated "fountain" also means "well," so it refers to the subterranean water also. Many people will die from drinking the poisoned water. 1 "Wormwood" is a deadly liquor ingredient known as "absinthe," from the Greek word "absinthos." In the Old Testament "wormwood" is a translation of the Hebrew word "laanah." The King James once translated the word as "hemlock." 2 Ingesting the plant known as wormword is not normally fatal, but many will die from the poison from this star. In Scripture, it is a symbol of bitterness, sorrow, calamity, and divine punishment (see Deuteronomy 29:18; Jeremiah 9:15; 23:15; Lamentations 3:15) 3 Because the Jews were disobedient God would feed His people "wormwood." JER 9:13 And the LORD saith, Because they have forsaken my law. 15 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink. REV 8:12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. 1 Morris, THE REVELATION RECORD, pp. 148, Morris, THE REVELATION RECORD, pp. 148, Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, pp. 111,

2 This may refer to some upheaval in the heavens. The heavenly light givers will somehow have their normal output reduced by a "third." The word translated "third part" is a single word probably better understood as "a third." There will be darker days and even darker nights. 4 ISA 13:10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. AMO 8:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day: LUK 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; 26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. Notice this parallel with the plagues of Egypt. EXO 10:21 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. 22 And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days: 23 They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. Three Woes REV 8:13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound! An angel now proclaims three "woes" on earth's inhabitants. This signifies that the next three trumpets are to be worse than the previous four. 5 The phrase inhabiters of the earth or earth dwellers is used throughout Scripture to indicate unbelievers, who are against God, particularly the followers of the Antichrist. 6 The Spiritual Plague REV 9:1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. The wording, to him, of this verse makes it obvious that the star is not a literal star. Stars in Scripture are often symbolic for angels. Notice this meaning as explained in Revelation 1:20. 7 REV 1:20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. Many believe that this verse refers to Satan falling from heaven. This interpretation would require Jesus to turn over the keys of the pit to Satan. 8 However, his verse does not specifically refer to a fallen angel, only that an angel appeared to fall, come down, or descended. 9 This angel was "given" the key to the bottomless pit, which he uses to unlock it. This is likely the same angel we will encounter in Revelation chapter 20 who uses the same key to lock the pit after first casting Satan 4 Morris, THE REVELATION RECORD, pp. 150, Phillips, EXPLORING THE FUTURE, p Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p Morris, THE REVELATION RECORD, p Larkin, THE BOOK OF REVELATION, pp. 73, Larkin, THE BOOK OF REVELATION, pp. 73, 74. Walvoord, THE PROPHECY KNOWLEDGE HANDBOOK, p

3 into it. 10 This is an angel sent by God to release demons from the pit to punish the earth dwellers, i.e. unbelievers. 11 REV 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. key. Jesus Christ, who we saw had the keys in Revelation chapter 1, has most likely given this angel the REV 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. The Evil Abyss REV 9:2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. The "bottomless pit," or the "abyss," is a place of confinement of "fallen angels," or "demons." The "bottomless pit" is the place where Satan will be bound for a thousand years as we saw earlier in Revelation 20:2 and 3. These angels may be the angels ("sons of God") that left their "first estate" in the pre-flood period that produced offspring with the "daughters of men." GEN 6:1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. 4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. day." These "fallen angels" were destroyed in the Flood, and were chained "unto the judgment of the great JUD 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. The Bible refers to two types of evil spirit, free and imprisoned. 12 We have seen that some were imprisoned as described in Jude 6. Now look at 2 Peter where "God spared not the angels that sinned." 2PE 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; But, there are free evil spirits that torment and possess men today. LUK 8:26 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. 27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not. 29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound 10 Larkin, THE BOOK OF REVELATION, pp. 73, 74. LaHaye, REVELATION ILLUSTRATED AND MADE PLAIN, p Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p LaHaye, REVELATION ILLUSTRATED AND MADE PLAIN, pp. 135,

4 with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.) 30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him. See also Matthew 12: This pit most likely was a foul place with fire, smoke and brimstone. The smoke belching forth from the open pit would be thick, darkening the sky. Throughout Revelation, smoke is associated with judgment doom, and torment. 13 REV 9:3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. Besides the smoke, swarms of locusts are often so large that they block the sunlight. A swarm near the Red Sea was estimated to cover an area of about two thousand square miles. 14 These are no ordinary locusts. The plague of locusts in Egypt was of no ordinary locusts either. EXO 10:14 And the locust went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such. These locusts from the abyss were even more extraordinary. There seems to be no doubt that these locusts are fallen angels, or demonic spirits, since the description a few verses later indicates that they are as or like locusts, rather than actual locusts. 15 "Andreas of Cesarea, A.D. 500, held that the locusts mean evil spirits, permitted to come on the earth and afflict men with various plagues." 16 REV 9:4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. The locusts of Egypt devoured all that grew on the land. EXO 10:15 For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt. These locusts were on a mission. They were not to touch the fruit of the earth. They were to torment men "which have not the seal of God in their foreheads." All believers, whether of the 144,000 or not, may possibly be protected, since believers are elsewhere said to have the seal of God CO 1:21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God. 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. See also 2 Timothy 2:19 and Ephesians 1:13, 14. This does not mean that tribulation saints will be exempt from persecution and death at the hand of Antichrist. The Torment of the Locusts REV 9:5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. 13 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p Walvoord, THE PROPHECY KNOWLEDGE HANDBOOK, p Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p Jamieson, Fausset, Brown, A COMMENTARY: CRITICAL, EXPERIMENTAL, AND PRACTICAL ON THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS, Vol. III, Part III, p Emphasis in the original; Spelling in context. 17 Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p

5 The torment was to last for five months. Five months is the season, or time limit, of ordinary locusts, May to September. 18 Their sting is like the sting of a scorpion, which causes excruciating pain. REV 9:6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. The sting of the scorpion often causes such pain that the person afflicted would prefer death. 19 Scorpion venom is usually not fatal, but it affects the veins and nervous system of the victim. Parts of their bodies will swell and hurt. Some will suffer from seizures and convulsions. 20 Remember that the first trumpet caused the burning of a third of the trees and green grass. Compare the progression now in Joel as we move from the destruction by fire to the torment of men. JOE 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; 2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. 3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. 4 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. 5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. 6 Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. 7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: 8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. 9 They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. 10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: 11 And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? The locusts cannot be killed. Those they torment cannot find death. Notice that Joel said that this will take place in the "day of the Lord." It will begin with the sound of a trumpet. REV 9:7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. 8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. 9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. According to J. Vernon McGee: The likeness of a locust to a horse, especially to a horse equiped with armor, is so striking that the insect is named in German heupferd (hay-horse), and in Italian cavaletta (little horse). 21 Locusts make a sound by rubbing their ridged hind legs on their front wings, causing the wings to vibrate, and thus producing the noise. 22 These locusts are like a demonic imitation of God's cherubim. Remember that the cherubim were described as like a lion, a calf, a man, and an eagle. 18 Larkin, THE BOOK OF REVELATION, p. 76. Phillips, EXPLORING THE FUTURE, p. 84. Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p Larkin, THE BOOK OF REVELATION, p. 76. Walvoord, THE PROPHECY KNOWLEDGE HANDBOOK, pp. 565, Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p

6 REV 4:7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. These locusts were a combination of horse, man, woman, lion, and scorpion. 23 possessed, and appear part animal and part human. 24 These are demon REV 9:10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. Locusts are symbolic of utter desolation and destruction. When faced with the type of desolation depicted by these locusts it should not be surprising that men would seek, or prefer, death. Locusts devour everything in their path. They are impervious to plants that are normally poisonous or irritating to animals or man. They consume everything -- "vegetable matter, linens, woolens, silk, leather, and etc." Pliny indicates that even the doors of houses are not safe from them. They even have been known to consume the varnish of furniture. Locusts symbolize an "all devouring army," or "a great multitude of people committing ravages, and sweeping off everything in their march. 25 General Sherman in his Civil war "march to the sea" torched everything in his path. Psychological Warfare While I believe that what John is describing will be seen by those who remain on earth, it is possible that what John saw, and described, will not actually be seen by men. In this case, the effect will instead be spiritual, possibly demon possession, inflicting an awful intense persecution in the psychological realm, causing great pain and anguish. 26 Remember that the demon possessed man of the Gadarenes could not see the demons possessing him, but felt the torment nevertheless (Luke 8:26-30). Imagine the anarchy of a demon possessed mob on a world scale. Remember the L.A. riots of a few years back where mindless individuals took to the streets perpetrating destruction and mayhem on law-abiding citizens. Remember the scene of a Korean man on a rooftop protecting his store and possessions with a gun. Remember the senseless beating of an innocent truck driver who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now magnify this on a world scale in every street in every city and you may have some idea of the intensity of the scene, never ending for five, seemingly eternal months of shear terror. The Demon King REV 9:11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. This king is most likely not Satan himself since he is not yet chained in the pit. It may instead be one of his generals. 27 The Hebrew "Abaddon" means "destruction" while the Greek "Apollyon" means "destroyer." 28 Since his name is given in both Hebrew and Greek it may indicate that both Jew and Gentile will be attacked. The name given twice may further indicate a double warning. 29 REV 9:12 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter. The symbolic interpretation of all this is the unbelieving world, rejecting the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the truth of the Gospel, is handed over to the distorting influence of evil spirits. People will be deceived by 23 Larkin, THE BOOK OF REVELATION, p Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p Barnes, NOTES ON THE NEW TESTAMENT: REVELATION, pp. 212, Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p LaHaye, REVELATION ILLUSTRATED AND MADE PLAIN, p LaHaye, REVELATION ILLUSTRATED AND MADE PLAIN, p Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, p Bullinger, THE COMPANION BIBLE, Notes to Revelation 9:11. Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY- INEPT, p Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p Duck, Richards, REVELATION: GOD'S WORD FOR THE BIBLICALLY-INEPT, pp. 131,

7 the "strong delusion" and will "believe a lie." This will torment their souls to the extent that they will despair and long for death. This lie will set the stage for the world-rule of the Antichrist. 30 2TH 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. The Demonic Horsemen REV 9:13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, 14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. 15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. The altar with the four horns signifies Divine judgment. 31 Some of the world's greatest events took place near the Euphrates River. The Euphrates River One of the boundaries of the Garden of Eden was the Euphrates River. 2. The first sin was committed inside the Garden of Eden. 3. The first murder was committed outside, but near, the Garden of Eden. 4. Nimrod built Babylon at this river. 5. Idolatry originated at Babylon, and from there false religion spread throughout the world, even infecting ritualized Christianity. 6. The Tower of Babel, representing man's defiance of God, was built in sight of this river. 7. From this river man migrated to the furthermost parts of the earth after the "confusion of speech." 8. According to Genesis 15:18 this river was to be a boundary of Israel. 9. The children of Israel were taken captive to this place by Nebuchadnezzar. 10. It was here that Daniel prophesied of the "time of the end" in the Book of Daniel. 11. Ezekiel also prophesied of the end times from this place. 12. It may also be that this location is to eventually be the seat of the Antichrist's power in a rebuilt Babylon. As the seat of the Antichrists power, from here the final sin of man will culminate. Since these angels are "bound," they must be demons, or fallen angels, since holy angels are never bound. 33 The angels were kept ready for that particular hour, day, month, and year for their special purpose of killing a third of mankind. After this judgment, coupled with the other judgments, the population of the earth will have been reduced to fifty percent or less. More than three billion people will have probably perished. 34 CNN's founder, Ted Turner, may yet see his dream fulfilled of a world population of no more than 250 million. 35 Judgment will come at the time of God s choosing, not a minute or a day later. 36 REV 9:16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. 30 Phillips, EXPLORING THE FUTURE, p E.W. Bullinger, NUMBER IN SCRIPTURE, Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1967, p Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p LaHaye, REVELATION ILLUSTRATED AND MADE PLAIN, p Walvoord, THE PROPHECY KNOWLEDGE HANDBOOK, p Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p Walvoord, THE PROPHECY KNOWLEDGE HANDBOOK, p Ray, Guzzo, ENVIRONMENTAL OVERKILL; Whatever Happened to Common Sense?, p Walvoord, THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, p

8 We see an evil army of 200 million horsemen. There are many that mistakenly relate this army to the kings of the East seen in Revelation 16:12, but the context of chapter 9 is in reference to a demonic army. While the Chinese undoubtedly could field an army of such size, given their population of more than a billion people, it is doubtful they could provide 200 million horses or sufficient modern military vehicles for that matter. This army must represent a visible, or invisible, demonic army sent forth to slay the third part of mankind. 37 REV 9:17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. Again we see a depiction of the demonic rather than an earthly army. These are most likely evil spirits riding on horse-like creatures. 38 The emphasis is on the horses, not the riders. 39 If instead, this is intended to be a literal earthly army from the east (Rev 16:12), as some suppose, then note that Russia has built a series of dams along the Euphrates. These dams make it possible to dry up the river to provide a dry crossing for a large invading army. In this scenario the horses are probably best seen as some form of modern conveyance. The "horsemen" may in fact be riding in a vehicle capable of transporting a large number of troops. 40 However, the context of Revelation chapter 9 is of a demonic army and is part of the sixth trumpet judgment. Revelation chapter 16 depicts a human army and is part of the sixth vial, or bowl, judgment. Rev 16:12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. REV 9:18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. 19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. 20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Notice that the "horses" are actually the weapons of warfare. Fire, smoke, and brimstone issued from their mouths. This could also be a first century description of a modern machine of war. 41 Satanic worship is depicted as part of the end time scenario. More and more people are abandoning orthodox Christianity and filling the void with demonic cults. 1TI 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 2TI 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. In Egypt, Pharaoh would not relent and let God s people go, and was tormented by plagues of the very demons they worshiped as idols. REV 9:21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. 37 LaHaye, REVELATION ILLUSTRATED AND MADE PLAIN, p Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p LaHaye, REVELATION ILLUSTRATED AND MADE PLAIN, p Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p Walvoord, THE PROPHECY KNOWLEDGE HANDBOOK, pp 568, Walvoord, THE PROPHECY KNOWLEDGE HANDBOOK, p

9 They did not repent of their "murders." What murders (plural) could be s aid of a large segment of society in general. I personally believe this verse is referring to abortion. This selfish society thinks more of its own comfort and pleasure than the life of the unborn. One sad testimony is that of a woman that I sat across from at a wedding a number of years ago. She turned out to be a Methodist minister. Our conversation got around to the subject of abortion, and much to my surprise (I wasn't overly surprised) she turned out to be proabortion. She objected strenuously to my referring to my position as "pro-life." She was insisting that I was instead "pro-birth," as if the words alone could somehow make it acceptable in God's eyes. In order to rationalize her pro-abortion stance, she needed to assure herself that a baby inside its mother's womb is not a life. I cannot help thinking how sad John Wesley must be to realize from heaven what has become of the work that he began. This minister must be reading from a different Gospel than I. GAL 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Do not trust man, trust the Word of God. Do not even trust your own pastor. You need to make it a habit of checking out the Scriptures for yourself. Now consider the word "sorceries." "Sorceries" is from the Greek, "pharmakia," from which we get our English word "pharmacy." Besides "magic" and "witchcraft," it can mean "drugs." 42 And finally, sexual perversions and thefts are indicated as being rampant in the end times. We should not have difficulty equating any of this with the times we are living in, unless we are living an extremely sheltered and naïve existence. Look around and see what the world is becoming. 42 W.E. Vine, (Sorcery), VINE'S EXPOSITORY DICTIONARY OF NEW TESTAMENT WORDS, U.S.A: Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, 1952, Vol 4, pp. 51, 52. Levy, REVELATION: Hearing the Last Word, p