God’s Judgment

“Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.’” Rev. 14:6-7.

Now the hour of God’s judgment has come. We have already seen that where this takes place, the earthly Israel will have been gathered in Palestine, and the spiritual Jews—the bride of Christ—will have been raptured, standing on Mount Zion together with the Lamb. At this point in time, what has been restraining—the salt that has strength (Norw.)—has been removed, and the time has come for the salt that has lost its strength to be trodden underfoot.

The beast with seven heads and ten horns will have arisen, but it is still tame enough for the harlot to sit on its back. However, as soon as the bride is caught up, the harlot’s time will be over. The next thing John saw was another angel following the first one, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” Rev. 14:8.

The beast on which the harlot sat was scarlet and was full of blasphemous names. Rev. 17:3. The harlot should have had enough sense to jump off the beast of her own accord, but she undoubtedly thought she was doing a good work by trying to tame it. “We must not shirk our responsibility,” she says. “We have to fulfill our responsibility to society. We must be actively engaged in every area of society in order to influence it with our Christian principles.” And so she tries to “Christianize” films, the theater, sports, and whatever else she can. All this sounds so broad-minded and self-sacrificial, but the truth of the matter is that she wants to be great and have a name in this world. “The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls.” Rev. 17:4. She has been supported by the beast, but now the end has come. The beast will not be bound any more; it no longer wants to support these Babylonian businessmen, subsidizing their churches and paying their salaries.

“Then he said to me, ‘The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.’” Rev. 17:15-17.

This will be a terrible time. This is the fate awaiting the five foolish virgins as well as those among God’s people who are not obedient to the voice from heaven that says, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.” Rev. 18:4. This is God’s judgment of the religious world and those who are not obedient to the voice from heaven.

From this point on, the beast will have free rein. Everyone will have to submit or be killed. And in order to control each individual, he will cause everyone, both great and small, rich and poor, slave and free, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead so that no one can buy or sell except those who have the mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name. Rev. 13:16-17.

And yet, by God’s grace, even in these times a gospel will be preached, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” Rev. 14:7.

This will be exactly the message that is needed when everyone begins to worship the beast. The beast has brought prosperity to everyone, as we have already seen. It has managed to institute “Christianity in practice” without saying, “Lord, Lord.” Should not all those who resist the beast be slain without mercy? “Of course,” they will say. “All you have to do is receive the mark, and you will be fine.” Antichrist—the false prophet, the man of sin—is a great orator. He will perform signs and wonders and deceive those who dwell on earth. Yet even now there will be a voice that cries out against the beast.

“Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.’” Rev. 14:9-11.

It looks as if things will go very well for those who worship the beast, but the angel says the opposite. What Peter wrote is still valid: “He who believes will receive the glory.” 1 Pet. 2:7. (Norw.) The five foolish virgins woke up when the wise virgins were raptured. They went to buy oil but were too late for the wedding feast. These will understand what is going on because they have the knowledge of God and are able to hear the angel’s voice. We must assume that some of them will not sell themselves just for bread. They will defy the beast and refuse to take his mark. Now their lamps will be burning, and many of God’s people who had not left the harlot will undoubtedly join them. When it comes to the point of denying God’s name and receiving the mark of the beast, some will say “No” and rather lay down their lives.

“Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.’” Rev. 14:13.

These people must take a firm stand and separate themselves. They have died to the world, and now they must also lay down their lives for their faith. But praise God they die in the Lord! They rest from their labors. They would never have had rest if they had worshiped the beast. Now the beast begins the extermination of those saints who are left on the earth and who are obedient to the gospel of the angel.

“Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, ‘Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.’ So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.” Verses 14-16.

These are the secondfruits that will be gathered into God’s storehouse. Even now this word applies: “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Matt. 10:29-30. Of course it is the beast that kills them, but He who held the sickle was like a Son of Man, and on His head was a golden crown. Just as when Stephen was being stoned, and the Son of Man stood at God’s right hand watching what was taking place, so also now He watches over each individual who lays down his life for His name’s sake.

“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” There is still a victor’s prize to be won. “Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees.” Heb. 12:12. “Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him.” Verse 5. Take up the battle against the beast and the false prophet with all your heart. It will win you the martyr’s crown. Then you will be blessed and will enter into rest.

You may ask, “Doesn’t receiving the mark of the beast apply to the time before the bride is raptured?” Yes, it has always been like that, but only after the rapture has taken place will it be fulfilled literally, in its fullest sense. Of course this will not happen in just one day. Everything has a development, and as these times approach, everything will become increasingly more difficult. It has always been like this: If you want to be successful in this world, you have to worship the beast. So if you want to become rich, you will drift away from God and pierce yourself with many sorrows. If you covet a high position, you have to think as the beast thinks, and you’ll receive its mark on your forehead; and you must act like the beast acts, and as a result, you receive its mark on your hand. And the pressure will become increasingly intense as the beast with the seven heads and ten horns is revealed more and more; so even if you do not want to be rich, it will be difficult for you to be unaffected by it. This pressure will be extremely intense just before the bride is raptured; this is the first half of the night. But the beast can only literally carry this out after the rapture has taken place. Now the time for God’s judgment of the harlot and, we can also say, of His disobedient children has arrived, and this proverb will be fulfilled: “If you can’t learn from goodness, then evil will teach you.” He chastens every son He loves. Heb. 12:6. These are the dark autumn nights and storms that the secondfruits must endure in order to mature. Take this to heart so you can be among those who give themselves for what is good and are taken in the rapture.