“On this account be glad, you heavens and you who reside in them! Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing that he has a short period of time.”
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The world we all inhabit is about to change in ways that are literally unimaginable. An entire global system – civilization itself – is near to going into a terminal death rattle and ultimately pass away altogether.
On any given day the financial house of cards, which is to say, the vaunted London-Wall Street system of virtual money, may come crashing down. After all, it is hardly a secret that the entire banking system in Europe and the Americas is hopelessly bankrupt and only momentarily kept intact through massive fraud.
That inescapable reality is driving the keepers of the empire to activate and impel their drones and dupes in various powerful circles and institutions to incite global warfare – as a last desperate measure to ensure the empire survives the impending, calamitous death of money. To that end the political, propaganda, financial and cyber wars have already begun.
But the inevitable, shockingly swift collapse of the leading nations of the world will merely be the visible manifestation of something considerably more far-reaching and profound; and that is, the epic-ending eviction of Satan the Devil and all his wicked angels from Jehovah’s heavenly court in advance of their being locked away for a thousand years and then permanently destroyed. After all, empires and civilizations come and go, but the overthrow of Satan is monumental.
Their long-overdue expulsion from heaven’s heights will come about as a result of the long-prayed-for kingdom of Christ ultimately ascending to power. The overthrow of Satan’s evil empire, symbolized in the Apocalypse as a fiery seven-headed dragon, will initiate a prophetic period known variously in the Scriptures as “the time of the end”, “the final part of the days”, the “conclusion of a system of things”, the “last days”, Satan’s “short period of time” and the “hour of test.”
Although many persons professing belief in the Scriptures actually believe Dark Age mythology about Satan – he supposedly being the sadistic warden of a subterranean, coal-fired, torture chamber – the Scriptures reveal that the demons currently reside in heaven.
Others, though, imagine that the wicked spirits were expelled from heaven long ago, even back when Jesus walked the earth. However, the book of Revelation is a disclosure of “the things that must shortly take place” during the Lord’s Day. Or in other words: at the second coming of Jesus.
Certainly, there is nothing that anyone can point to in history as proof that the earth and sea have been subjected to great woe or that Christians have been conquered and killed by the beast. Furthermore, when Jesus bid his farewell to the disciples he told them that he was going to prepare a place for them, that where he was they would be also. Obviously, the removal of Satan and his demons is a necessary preparation before Jesus brings his virgin bride home.
Of course, for nearly the past century the Watchtower has pinpointed 1914 as the pivotal year the kingdom of God went into operation when the satanic army was violently hurled down. But what evidence is there to support that bold claim?
Mostly the belief is predicated on a specious application of chronology. The Watchtower Society teaches that the seven times of Nebuchadnezzar’s madness actually apply to the “appointed times of the nations,” about which Jesus spoke at Luke 21:24, when the nations would be allowed to trample on Jerusalem – “Jerusalem” symbolizing the Kingdom.
But the underlying premise of that questionable chronology is fatally flawed, for the simple reason that there is absolutely no justification to suppose that Jesus was referring to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans five centuries before when his disciples clearly wanted to know when the rebuilt city of Jerusalem and its restored temple were going to be thrown down in the future!
In context, when Jesus stated: “and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations until…” he also issued survival instructions. It is simply inconceivable that the apostles would have imagined Jesus to mean that Jerusalem was already being trampled by the nations. (As do Jehovah’s Witnesses) If that was how they had understood Jesus then, what would be the point in their abandoning Jerusalem when the disgusting thing stood in a holy place? (That is not to suggest that the appointed times began in 70 CE either. See article The Gentile Times)
Secondarily, Jehovah’s Witnesses may point to the Great War and the Spanish Flu pandemic that ravaged the globe back in 1914 thru 1919 as proof that the horsemen of the Apocalypse began their deadly gallop way back then. But, alas, there is a very simple method to determine if that is true or not; although, admittedly, it requires that you honestly use your powers of reason and think!
WHEN IS THE 666 MARKING?
Consider this: When the time comes for Christ to take up his power a great war erupts between the angels and the demons. But the Archangel and his army are triumphant and Satan and his angels are forced to make a last stand on our tiny planet. Immediately following their being hurled down the dragon attempts to exterminate the “woman” and “the remaining ones of her seed” – waging war against them for the prophetic time period of three and a half years.
“Mankind has been put under compulsion to accept the mark of the wild beast, with the intent that “nobody might be able to buy or sell except a person having the mark, the name of the wild beast or the number of its name.” But there is a price to pay for this! Jehovah regards those who accept the mark as being stricken with “a hurtful and malignant ulcer.” Since 1922 they have been marked in public as having rejected the living God.” – Revelation’s Grand Climax
The visible manifestation of Satan’s overthrow in the invisible realm is reflected on earth when the head of the wild beast receives what appears to be a mortal wound. Afterward, though, the beast revives and wages a successful war against the holy ones for three and a half years. The revival of the beast also initiates the judgment of the nations and the 666 marking. The Scriptures are very clear in stating that anyone who worships the revived beast or receives its mark on their hand or forehead will have their name blotted out of the book of life. In other words, they will receive the judgment of the second death for having rejected Christ’s kingdom in favor of Satan’s political beast.
The Watchtower teaches that the 666 marking began back when the League of Nations was originally established, sometime around 1922. Jehovah’s Witnesses seem incapable of comprehending the sheer absurdity of the Watchtower’s teaching. It seems beyond their ability to even question why they ought to preach the good news of salvation if God has already irrevocably doomed the people of the world to oblivion. Nor can Jehovah’s Witnesses even bring themselves to ponder how the impotent League of Nations may have prevented persons from buying and selling or how it may have imposed a death sentence upon those who refused the mark – whatever that may have been.
And ought we not rightly question God’s sense of justice for capriciously blotting out entire generations of mankind for their having honored an institution that the vast majority of people living back then likely had not given more than passing notice?
Of course, the Society strongly discourages any sort of serious discussion or questioning of its teachings by congregation members – condemning such as “independent thinking.” And it ought to be obvious why. Bethel’s 1914 doctrine cannot stand up to serious scrutiny.
“GOD LETS A DELUDING INFLUENCE MISLEAD THEM”
But from a scriptural standpoint, the reason Jehovah’s Witnesses cannot comprehend these matters is because they have been brought under “a deluding influence.” Or, one translation says: “A powerful delusion.” That even more aptly describes the phenomenon.
According to the inspired apostle, God will allow a man of lawlessness to wield this misleading influence over Christians – deluding them by authentic sounding inspired statements, spoken messages and letters, as though from the apostles, proclaiming that the parousia has begun and the day of Jehovah is here. In other words, by means of public talks, tracts, pamphlets, magazines, etc. – See: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
“Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment — that which they cannot anticipate.” ― Sun Tzu,
According to Paul, “the lawless one’s presence is by the operation of Satan with every powerful work and lying signs and wonders and every unrighteous deception…”
But, obviously, if Satan is allowed to promote a false parousia and the proclamation that the day of Jehovah is here prior to the authentic coming of Christ, then the operation of deception must precede his own ouster from heaven. No doubt the outbreak of the First World War, timed to synchronize with the phony chronology already then attached to the “appointed times,” along with the turmoil that embroiled the Society after the death of C.T. Russell, are undoubtedly attributable to “the operation of Satan.”
All things considered, it appears as if the wily old serpent has effectively feigned his own demise. Although he cannot successfully dupe Jehovah’s people into disbelieving he even exists – as he has done to the masses more firmly under his influence – what could be more devilish than presenting it as a grand revealed truth from the earthly mouthpiece of God that the great dragon has already been hurled down, when such is not the case at all?
And for what purpose? To lull Christians into supposing that Satan’s great anger is not really that great and that the flood of persecution disgorged by the dragon is merely a theocratic curiosity from yesteryear. The intention being: To stun the slaves of Christ into submission with an unanticipated torrent of demonic fury when the overthrow actually occurs.
An ancient Chinese philosopher, Sun Tzu, long ago codified the principles of warfare in a book called The Art of War. The Adversary seems to be employing one of Tzu’s strategies: “Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
Of course, Satan does not “move” voluntarily, but he knows the day is coming. Unfortunately, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not.
“I WILL THROW YOU DOWN TO THE EARTH”
Jesus revealed that Satan is the unseen ruler of the world. The apostle Paul referred to the Devil as the god of this system of things. All things considered, we ought not suppose that the humiliating judgment brought against the proud ruler and god of this world should be of such little consequence that mankind carries on in business-as-usual fashion afterward. It is not reasonable or scriptural.
The 28th chapter of Ezekiel connects the overthrow of the king of Tyre with Satan being thrown down to the earth. True, Satan the Devil is not named as such, but the “anointed covering cherub” in Eden is unquestionably a reference to the wicked one. Here is the way the prophecy describes him:
“You were in Eden, the garden of God. You were adorned with every precious stone —Ruby, topaz, and jasper; chrysolite, onyx, and jade; sapphire, turquoise, and emerald; and their settings and mountings were made of gold. They were prepared on the day you were created. I assigned you as the anointed covering cherub.
You were on the holy mountain of God, and you walked about among fiery stones. You were faultless in your ways from the day you were created until unrighteousness was found in you. Because of your abundant trade, you became filled with violence, and you began to sin. So I will cast you out as profane from the mountain of God and destroy you, O covering cherub, away from the stones of fire.
Your heart became haughty because of your beauty. You corrupted your wisdom because of your own glorious splendor. I will throw you down to the earth. I will make you a spectacle before kings.”
No human has ever seen an angel in spirit form (only as materialized humans or in visions), but God explains things to us in terms we can understand. By likening his countenance to precious stones mounted in gold we can better imagine the radiant beauty the angels possess.
As revealed in the book of Job, long after Satan became corrupt in the Garden of Eden he continued to have access to the heavenly court and an audience with Jehovah and the myriads of loyal angelic sons of God. That is apparently what is meant by “the mountain of God” – the angels being “the stones of fire.” (At Ezekiel 1:13 the cherubs are described as “burning coals of fire,” which is no doubt an apt description in human terms in view of the fact that spirits are a higher form of energy; hence, hotter.)
Furthermore, the characterization of the covering cherub as becoming proud and haughty is what Paul also identified at 1 Timothy 3:6 as the underlying original sin that brought God’s adverse judgment upon the Devil.
But the question for thinking Christians is this: What is the connection between the anointed cherub and the king of Tyre?
To further emphasize the relationship between the two take note that Ezekiel 28:1-10 appears to be directed solely to the earthly leader of Tyre, who presumes to be a god – as opposed to the anointed cherub, who actually is a god. Furthermore, the king of Tyre is destined to be killed by the worst elements of the nations. Verses 8-10 state:
“They will bring you down to the pit, and you will die a violent death in the heart of the open sea. Will you still say, ‘I am a god,’ to the one killing you? You will be a mere man, not a god, in the hand of those defiling you. By the hand of foreigners, you will die the death of the uncircumcised ones, for I myself have spoken,’ declares the Sovereign Lord Jehovah.”
The connection between the downfall of the earthly king of Tyre and the heavenly cherub who is thrown to the earth is also reflected in prophecy by the relation between the seven-headed fiery dragon in heaven and the seven-headed earthly beast – the latter being modeled after the former. And the defeat of the heavenly monstrosity is immediately reflected upon the earth in the mortal wounding of the ruling head of the earthly beast.
Since Satan is not hurled down from heaven until immediately before the second coming of Christ to this earth, the only sensible connection between the Devil and the city Tyre is that the ancient seafaring kingdom has a modern counterpart. And indeed it does in the present-day British Empire, the imperial headquarters of which is located in the inland seaport of London and specifically the griffin-guarded City of London.
(The similarities between Tyre and the British Empire and The City have been laid out in detail in the chapter: London – Satan’s Throne Also, The Pronouncement of Tyre)
Although the parts of the island of England were once the northern-most outpost of the Roman Empire, that is not how the Isles became the seat of the largest empire in history. It was not until the banking oligarchs of Venice – itself a seafaring city/state and one of the custodians of the decayed power of the Roman Empire – relocated to England during the Middle Ages and eventually took over. From the great wealth it accumulated during the colonial era the British Empire then morphed into an invisible monetary and financial empire – exploiting and enslaving the peoples of the modern world through the system of globalization and speculation.
The ultimate device of exploitation is financial derivatives, which famed investor, Warren Buffet, once described as a ticking time bomb and “weapons of mass destruction.” Derivatives are controlled by a secretive cult of bankers. The destructive power of derivatives was demonstrated in the financial crash of 2008, but also less dramatically in the bankruptcy of cities like Detroit.
The total outstanding over-the-counter derivatives is estimated by the BIS at about $700 trillion, but others estimate the notional “value” to be double that at $1.5 quadrillion! In either case, the over-hanging speculative wagers absolutely dwarf the physical economy and are in fact crushing it and are intended to do so!
Ultimately, the detonation of the massive derivatives bubble will completely wreck the world’s economy and may well be the means by which Jehovah will burn down Satan’s kingdom, forcing the demons to resort to all-out tyranny. But as a result we may expect the famed City of London to be reduced to ashes – certainly metaphorically and ultimately literally. That is why Ezekiel 28:18 states: “I will cause a fire to break out in your midst, and it will consume you. I will reduce you to ashes on the earth before all those looking at you. All who knew you among the peoples will stare at you in amazement. Your end will be sudden and terrible, and you will cease to exist for all time.”
The coming downfall of the Tyre-on-the-Thames will be the signal for the announcement to be heralded: “The Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time.”
It is not that Satan might wish to destroy his own earthly throne. It is simply that he will have no choice. As in warfare, often a retreating army will employ a so-called scorched earth policy – leaving nothing behind. That will also be the Devil’s strategy going forward. But because Satan’s demise is a result of Jehovah empowering his Son to take control of the planet, it is as though the fire of annihilation is lit by God himself in advance of the unconquerable Kingdom of Christ. In any case, it is sure to be a wake-up call for all.
Ahead of it a fire devours,
And behind it a flame consumes.
The land ahead of it is like the garden of Eden,
But behind it is a desolate wilderness,
And nothing can escape. – Joel
DOWN THE GREAT DRAGON WAS HURLED
THE ONE WHO IS CALLED SATAN THE DEVIL
WHO IS MISLEADING THE WORLD
HE WAS HURLED DOWN TO THE EARTH,
AND HIS ANGELS WERE HURLED DOWN WITH HIM
WOE FOR THE EARTH AND FOR THE SEA, BECAUSE THE DEVIL HAS COME DOWN TO YOU,
HAVING GREAT ANGER, KNOWING HE HAS A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME