 From 1974 and until he passed away in June of 2005, Frank Caw devoted a considerable amount of time to research and study in Bible prophecy and related philosophical and theological issues. This website is dedicated by his family to his memory and work and is as he presented it at the time of his death. The family of Frank Caw, Jr. would like to thank Tim McHyde of EscapeAllTheseThings.com for hosting his website.
While always insisting on a plain, literal and sensible approach to scriptural exegesis,
he has pieced together many new scriptural insights on a number of extraordinary
prophetic developments that are poised to be fulfilled in our immediate
future!
Thus, it is safe to say that things are not going to happen the way many people think
they will happen.
But, this book will give you the scriptural keys for truly understanding what God has
preordained will happen, and how you can survive the incredible scenario of prophetic
events about to unfold! |
This ministry is dedicated to the loving memory of my
late wife, Debbie, who went to be in the presence of God on October 23, 1997, and who was
so instrumental in helping me to prepare for my ministry during those many long, difficult
years.
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Why Revelation 11 Portrays The
Second Coming And Armageddon
The Seventh Plague
An Ipsos poll says that 25 percent of adults believe it is at least somewhat likely that Jesus Christ will return to Earth in 2007 2008. Of white evangelical Christian adults it's 66%. Want to know why Jesus won't come in 2007 2008, before most find out in Jan 1, 2008 2009? »» Read Featured Article
Revelation 11:15-19
15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. (KJV)
Revelation 16:17-21
17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.
21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great. (KJV)
“A great earthquake.” The greatest earthquake in human history will occur during this catastrophic Trumpet-Vial plague, the last of the horrific three woes. This earthquake will be so devastating and cataclysmic in its destructive impact that it will actually obliterate all the cities and islands and mountains throughout the entire world! Moreover, this astounding global earthquake will be accompanied by huge, colossal hailstorms featuring gigantic pieces of hail weighing about 100 pounds each, and originating from the ice caps at both the North and South poles! (Job 38:22-23).
“Lightnings, and voices, and thunderings.” Several times throughout the book of Revelation, we read of these powerful and mysterious phenomena. Most interestingly, they always seem to accompany God’s judgment and wrath as an outward, visible indicator of God’s righteous anger towards sin.
The last few verses of chapter 11 most definitely conclude with the events of Armageddon and the Second Coming of Christ:
“The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord.” This is very similar to how Daniel expressed this same truth in his visions. After Christ vanquishes His enemies at the Battle of Armageddon, He will establish God’s Kingdom throughout the earth, and His Kingdom will replace all earthly kingdoms by destroying their political sovereignty and military power even though the nations, themselves, will be allowed to survive and enter into the Millennium.
“He shall reign for ever and ever.” God’s Kingdom is eternal.
“Nations were angry and Thy wrath is come.” This is an obvious reference to the nations gathering at Armageddon in an attempt to prevent Christ and the saints from taking physical possession of the earth in the final phase of its redemption. But, numerous biblical scriptures vividly describe the massive slaughter of sinful people that will ensue at Christ’s Return during the Battle of Armageddon.
“That thou shouldest give reward.” At first glance, this scriptural passage seems to indicate that believers will be rewarded at the time of Christ’s Return. However, Strong’s Hebrew-Greek Dictionary presents two different reference numbers for the scriptural phrase, “That thou shouldest give.” First, the scriptural phrase itself is translated from the Greek word DIDOMI, which is defined as “a prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an altern. in most of the tenses); to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection).” It is translated in the King James Version into a variety of English words and phrases.
But, the second reference number associated with this scriptural phrase is Strong's Greek Number 5780, which indicates that the tense of the Greek word DIDOMI is Second Aorist Tense, defined in the following manner: “The second aorist tense is identical in meaning and translation to the normal or first aorist tense.” Then Strong’s Hebrew-Greek Dictionary defines the meaning of the Aorist Tense this way: “The aorist tense is characterized by its emphasis on punctiliar action; that is, the concept of the verb is considered without regard for past, present, or future time. There is no direct or clear English equivalent for this tense...” Thus, the scriptural statement regarding believers’ rewards is made without any regard for its precise time of fulfillment, i.e., past, present or future.
Accordingly, based on other scriptures, rewards for believers will be given to various groups of believers at differing times. Believers who will be Raptured during the pre-trib Rapture will receive their rewards immediately thereafter. Tribulation Saints executed by the Antichrist will be resurrected immediately after the Great Tribulation is over, and then subsequently given their rewards. Likewise, Tribulation Saints not executed by Antichrist will be translated just before the Return of Christ, and then rewarded soon thereafter so that they can return with Christ and the other groups of saints who will be “arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” Then finally, the Two Witnesses, presumably, will be rewarded immediately after they are resurrected and translated to Heaven, just before Armageddon begins.
So, obviously the biblical scripture in Revelation 11:18 is making short, summarized statements concerning various major objectives that will be accomplished during the broad, general period of time when Christ Returns to establish God’s eternal Kingdom on the earth. That explains why Revelation 11:18 also makes the statement, “the time of the dead, that they should be judged,” when we know from other scriptures that the final judgment of the dead will take place after the Millennial Reign of Christ is concluded, not during the actual Second Coming of Christ.
“Destroy them which destroy the earth.” This is an extraordinary thing to say. Although Satan is a destroyer and a liar, even he has never tried to destroy the world; he would much prefer to rule over it as he once did during the pre-Adamite creation. But, now humanity has horrific weapons that can devastate the entire globe; nuclear bombs, biological agents, high-tech weaponry. However, that will never happen because God exercises complete sovereign control over the affairs of humanity, and He has already preordained what will happen, and when it will happen.
Compare the following scriptural phrase: “That there should be TIME NO LONGER: but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be FINISHED.” (Rev. 10:6-7). A more accurate rendering of this passage would say something to the effect that the fulfillment of the “mystery of God” will not be delayed any longer. This is based on the Greek word for “time,” which is CHRONOS, and it means a space of “time”; by implication, a “delay.” Accordingly, this passage clearly states that the Seventh Plague will usher in a new and different era for humanity; an era when everyone will understand precisely what God has planned for both the earth and the universe as God begins to establish His Kingdom throughout the earth.
Therefore, the passage in Revelation 4-11 clearly ends with a brief description of Armageddon and the Return of Christ after narrating the Rapture and subsequent events which will occur between the time of the Rapture and Armageddon. However, chapters 12-16 in Revelation also describe these very same events, thus verifying the testimonial prophecy within the first parallel account. So, both biblical scriptural accounts in Revelation commence with a description of the Rapture, then correlate through a long series of apocalyptic events, and then finally conclude with a description of Armageddon and the Return of Christ Jesus. This remarkable harmony between the two parallel accounts in Revelation is vividly demonstrated by the chart located at the end of this chapter, entitled Harmony Of The Parallel Accounts. Moreover, an offering of dual testimony is completely harmonious with the Bible because several scriptural passages state that testimony should be confirmed by two or more witnesses. Thus, the scriptural evidence clearly confirms the validity of the parallel accounts.
“The temple of God...in heaven, and...the ark of his testament.” Both the temple and the ark which the Jews had on earth were patterned after the temple and the ark in Heaven. Generally, the ark looked forward to the Second Coming of Christ even though it contained the mercy seat upon which blood was sprinkled in a symbolic anticipation of atonement through Christ. However, it was also the symbol of God’s power and victory. Accordingly, as we observed in a previous chapter, the earthly ark of the Jewish covenant may possibly make its reappearance during Israel’s Second Crisis. Nevertheless, since all of its symbolism will be fulfilled at the Second Coming of Christ, it will be forgotten after Christ begins His Millennial Reign on the earth. (Jer. 3:16-18).
Luke 21:25-27
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
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.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (KJV)
Matthew 24:27-31
27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (KJV)
Just prior to the Return of Christ with all His saints, the “angels” will gather or translate certain “elect” people still living on the earth. These “elect” individuals will be surviving Tribulation Saints, including 144,000 Jews, who will have been given God’s seal of protection after escaping execution by Antichrist during the Great Christian Tribulation. However, they will also be a part of the saintly group of believers who will return with Christ at His Second Coming to fight the Battle of Armageddon.
Moreover, just before the “elect” are translated, the 7th Trumpet-Vial Plague will be released upon the earth, causing amazing signs and wonders to erupt throughout the heavens as the world is shaken very violently. At that time, the world will undergo tremendous distress and anguish and perplexity as gigantic ocean tidal waves roar and the whole earth quakes and rocks in its orbit. So, it is no wonder that people’s hearts will fail as the entire world will appear to be dissolving and crumbling apart.
The Time Element In Revelation
Please refer to the chart located within this same section. A careful survey of the events narrated in chapters 4-11 will show there are approximately 10½ years between the Rapture and Armageddon. We can make this determination because all of the major events are NUMBERED in their sequence of occurrence; there will be 7 seals opened, one after the other, and then during the Seventh Seal, there will be 7 horrific plagues released upon the earth, one at a time. There are even scriptures stating exact time-lengths for some of the more important events. Additionally, there are five scriptures which say that people converted to salvation, after the Rapture, will be martyred during a 3½ year period of time and then resurrected into Heaven at the conclusion of that same time-period. Next follows a period of time during which several plagues will be unleashed upon the earth; one of these plagues will last for five months while one of the other plagues will continue for over 13 months. Then finally, we encounter another 3½ year period of time, according to several scriptures, during which the rebuilt temple will be subjected to desecration.
So, in conclusion, we have a period of 3½ years, and then an unknown period of time, and then finally another period of 3½ years. But, if we also permit the unknown period of time to represent 3½ years, we allow complete scriptural harmony. First, we allow enough time for everything to happen because the seven plagues of fire will be unleashed upon the earth, one at a time, and one plague will not be permitted to happen until the previous one has either endured for a specified amount of time or has accomplished all of the destruction it is capable of doing! This is at least true of the sixth and seventh plagues because the 3½ year period of desecration, involving the rebuilt temple, will occur BETWEEN the time of these two plagues. We also permit the Tribulation Saints to become saved and resurrected into Heaven BEFORE beginning the Dispensation of Law with the advent of Daniel’s 70th Week. Thus, we are not forced to mix dispensations of grace and law. Furthermore, the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24 and Luke 21 is structured in such a manner that it supports this conclusion. Thus, first we observe the Dispensation of Grace during which time people will be be saved through a tumultuous period of wars, plagues, famines, earthquakes and persecutions:
Matthew 24:7-14
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (KJV)
Then (perhaps several years later) after the “end” (of the Dispensation of Grace), we are informed that the Jewish tribulation which will occur during the latter-half of Daniel’s 70th Week (Dispensation of Law) begins:
Matthew 24:15-20
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: (KJV)
As further proof that Daniel’s 70th Week will begin when the seven plagues begin, please note Revelation 15:
Revelation 15:1-8
1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.
7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. (KJV)
This scriptural passage emphasizes the symbolic relevance and importance of the holy temple in Heaven during the period of time that the seven plagues of Divine wrath and judgment are unleashed upon the earth! In fact, it is even stated that the glory of God will cause a smoke-like phenomenon to fill the holy temple during this period of time which will make it impossible for any person to enter it. Thus, God will demonstrate that after 2000 years, He is dealing with the Jews again on the basis of their ancient Mosaic covenant relationship, known theologically as the Dispensation of Law.
Finally, we observe that Daniel 12 likewise makes a very specific reference to three distinct time-periods which will occur during the time of the end, thus further confirming our belief there are three different periods of 3½ years. (Dan. 12:7, 11-12). So, even though conventional prophecy wisdom teaches there are only seven years between the time of the Rapture and Armageddon, the fact remains that no matter how many people may believe that theory, it still remains an arbitrary assumption which can not be proven. Just because Daniel’s 70th Week is in the time-period between the Rapture and Armageddon is no reason necessarily to believe there are only 7 years between the Rapture and Armageddon!
Three Time Zones Between
The
Rapture And Armageddon |
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I. EVENTS
• Rapture (Rev. 4)
• Six Seals (Rev. 6)
• Jews Sealed (Rev. 7)
• Tribulation Saints Resurrected
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3½ Years
• Rev. 12:6
• Rev. 12:14
• Rev. 13:5
• Dan. 7:25
• Dan. 12:7
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II. EVENTS
• First six plagues of the Seventh
Seal (Rev. 8-10)
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3½ Years
• Dan. 9:27
• Dan. 12:12
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III. EVENTS
• Desecration of the Temple (Rev. 11)
• Two Witnesses (Rev. 11)
• Armageddon (Rev. 11)
• Second Coming (Rev. 11)
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3½ Years
• Rev. 11:2
• Rev. 11:3
• Dan. 9:27
• Dan. 12:11
|
We should note that the passage in Daniel 12:12 allows 75 days (1335 days minus the 1260 days which comprise the first half of Daniel’s 70th Week) for the protective sealing of the 144,000 Jews which takes place immediately before the Day Of The Lord and Daniel’s 70th Week begin. Likewise, the passage in Daniel 12:11 makes allowance for an additional 30 days to transpire, after Daniel’s 70th Week concludes, in order to give time for the 7th Trumpet-Vial plague to be released. Thus, all time-periods given in scripture are completely harmonious with each other.
The Seven Plagues Are
From God
Sometimes it is alleged that the seven plagues will result from nuclear conflicts because their descriptions often resemble descriptions of nuclear warfare. However, although a convincing case can sometimes be made, the fact remains that the scriptures very clearly and emphatically state repeatedly, many times, that the plagues will be from God, and that the people on earth will know it (which explains why they will curse God for sending the plagues on them), but they will still refuse to repent. (Rev. 6:12-17) (Rev. 16:9) (Rev. 16:11) (Rev. 16:17-21). It is even stated in Revelation that the first four plagues will represent the specific and direct efforts of the “four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea.” (Rev. 7:1-3). Therefore, these scriptures make it quite clear that the seven plagues will originate from God Himself, through the agency of the saints who will carry out His program of earthly redemption, and not from any nuclear warfare that will occur on the earth between nations.
Apparently there will be no radioactive residue present after Armageddon because the Jews will begin burial of the dead soon afterwards. (Ezek. 38-39). Several scriptures even describe the weapons of war which will be used during Armageddon as being made of wood. So, obviously the impact of nuclear weapons, if they are used at all, will be very limited. Actually, that should not surprise us because the seven plagues will be designed to purge the earth of the results of sin, and weapons (and factories making such items) will not very likely be ignored. Another reason for little, if any, nuclear activity during the time of these plagues will be the fact that weapons of war will be relatively scarce just before Armageddon. Probably for two reasons. First, because money and resources that normally would have been allocated to weapons will be used, instead, to help create world peace and prosperity before the Rapture. But, I also anticipate a vigorous and determined effort in the forthcoming years to launch an ambitious program of weapon inspections and disarmament after the Antichrist secures peace for the world.
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Frank L. Caw, Jr.
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