TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY IN BIBLE PROPHECY

  I  John's vision of three angels flying in mid-heaven.

     6 And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having an
     eternal gospel to preach over the ones sitting on the earth
     and over every nation and tribe and tongue and people
     (Rev. 14:6, IGENT),
     7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to
     him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him
     that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains
     of waters (Rev. 14:7).

     A  Why would it be reasonable to conclude that the "angel
        flying in mid-heaven" was personally demonstrating how a
        modern communications satellite works?

        1  The angel's in-flight location, "in mid-heaven," is
           precisely where communications satellites are placed
           in the heavens, 22,300 miles beyond the surface of
           the earth.

        2  That is, communications satellites are not placed in
           the low tropospheric heavens (up to 10 miles above
           the earth) where the planet's weather resides, nor
           are they placed millions of miles out in distant
           space.

        3  The angel, like today's communications satellites,
           spoke "with a loud voice over the ones sitting on the
           earth."

     B  At this point in the great tribulation, why would it be
        reasonable to assume that the Christian broadcasters
        will also be from "every nation and tribe and tongue and
        people"?

        1  First note that Revelation 8:13 teaches that "one
           (U.S.) eagle flying in mid-heaven" will use
           communications satellites to launch a global
           international evangelistic outreach, immediately
           after AWWI.

        2  Since the U.S. flying eagle imagery is not used in
           this vision, it shows that the U.S. post-AWWI
           evangelistic outreach has been effective and
           Christians from other nations have joined in the work
           of using satellites to preach the gospel to everyone
           on the planet.




     C  The first angel invites people to accept the "eternal
        gospel" of salvation through Jesus Christ on the grounds
        that God's judgment has arrived and it is sensible to
        worship God who "made heaven, and earth, and the sea,
        and the fountains of waters."

     8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is
     fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all
     nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication
     (Rev. 14:8).

     A  "And there followed another angel" with a second
        proclamation, who personally demonstrated the important
        role that a second strategically placed communications
        satellite will play in delivering God's Word to the
        world.

     B  The second satellite broadcast message foretells the
        complete overthrow of the anti-Christian world capital,
        Mystery Babylon.

     9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a
     loud voice, "If any one worships the beast and its image,
     and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,
     10 he also shall drink the wine of God's wrath, poured
     unmixed into the cup of his anger, and he shall be
     tormented with fire and sulphur in the presence of the holy
     angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
     11 And the smoke of their torment goes up for ever and
     ever; and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers
     of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark
     of its name" (Rev. 14:9-11, RSV).

     A  A third angel personally demonstrated the importance of
        a third communications satellite that will broadcast a
        third important message to those on the earth.

     B  His proclamation declares that everyone who will worship
        the beast's life-like image and join the world
        government's economic system, by taking the mark of its
        name, will certainly be judged by God.

     C  Why was a three-angel team sent on this prophetic
        mission?

        1  The individual presentations made by each angel
           emphasize the three most important messages that the
           Sebat Christians will be broadcasting over
           communications satellites during the closing days of
           the nuclear age.

        2  Also, a task force of three provided a logical way to
           demonstrate the technical necessity of employing
           three properly positioned satellites in "mid-heaven"
           before continuous global broadcasts could be
           delivered "over the ones sitting on the earth."

     12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the
     commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
     13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Write,
     'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!'"
     "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their
     labors, for their deeds follow with them"
     (Rev. 14:12-13, NASB).

     A  "From now on," indicates that Christians using
        satellites to preach the gospel will come under ever
        increasing persecution as the domination of the world
        government grows.

     B  According to this prophecy, many Christians will be
        killed for their evangelistic efforts and for speaking
        against the evil excesses of the international
        government.

     C  Nevertheless, God encourages Christians to continue
        preaching despite the cost, reminding them that death
        releases a Christian from the labor of this world and
        brings him into the Lord's rest.

     D  Even after the Christian is gone, his "deeds follow" in
        the form of people who turned to Christ as a result of
        hearing that Christian's testimony.

     E  What is the significance of the emblematic description
        of the 144,000 Jews' conversion to Christianity,
        immediately before the symbolic vision of Christendom's
        use of global communications satellites to preach the
        gospel "over the ones sitting on the earth?"

        1  It shows that the 144,000 converted Jews will join
           forces with those Christians already engaged in the
           task of leading the world's multitudes to Christ.

        2  The 144,000 will not lead the evangelistic effort.

           -  They will be late arrivals that will make a
              significant contribution to the work that America's
              Christians will launch in the opening days of the
              great tribulation.


 II  Christ's warning to Christians who will be living during
     the days immediately preceding His Second Coming,
     complements the Revelation 14 account about these
     coming times of trial.

     A  At the close of Christ's ministry His disciples asked,
        "what will be the sign of your coming, and of the close
        of the age?" (Mt. 24:3b, RSV).

     B  Christ responded with the following message to
        Christians concerning the persecution they will be
        confronted with during the closing days of the age.

     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 (Mt. 24:9-10).

     A  Jesus warns Christians that they will be hated of all
        nations and killed for His name's sake, just prior to
        His coming.

     B  According to Christ, what will be the response of a
        large number of people operating within the framework of
        the Christian Community, when they find the tribulation
        days upon them?

        1  They will be offended and blame God for not
           protecting them from persecution.

        2  Fearful for their own lives, they will quickly
           disassociate themselves from uncompromising believers
           who will be the immediate objects of the world
           government's wrath.

        3  Predictably, these false Christians will hate
           Christ's true followers and will turn them over to
           the international authorities, who will be seeking
           their lives.

     C  Jesus answered His disciples question as to when to
        expect the end of the age with a precise definition of
        when He will return.

        14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached
        throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all
        nations; and then the end will come (Mt. 24:14, RSV).



        1  Christians will use modern satellite broadcasting
           technology to preach the gospel of the kingdom
           "throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all
           nations; and then the end will come."

        2  Christians will preach the gospel under ever
           increasing persecution up to the point where the
           world government gains enough control to silence
           their message.

        3  At that time (according to the last half of Rev. 14,
           covered in the final chapter of this book), Christ
           will remove all Christians from the Earth.

        4  Christ will then proceed to judge the anti-Christian
           world government and those supporting its actions.

           14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb
           shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and
           King of kings: and they that are with him are called,
           and chosen, and faithful (Rev. 17:14).

        5  According to Christ's answer to His disciples
           question, "What will be the sign of your coming, and
           of the close of the age?" what is wrong with the
           commonly held view that Christ could return at any
           moment?

           a  The gospel of the kingdom has not yet been
              "preached throughout the whole world, as a
              testimony to all nations."

           b  Also, Christ's prophecy stating that Christians
              "shall be hated of all nations for my name's
              sake," has not yet come to pass.