The Timeline Of The Tribulation: Chapter 6 – The Hour Of Temptation

World Events and the Bible

In Chapter 5 we discussed “The Timing of Satan’s Appearance” and provided scriptural documentation as to when we might expect to see Satan cast from Heaven to earth. In Chapter 6 we are going to discuss “The Hour of Temptation” which is the portion of time Satan will be on earth, from the time he is cast from Heaven until the Return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As we will learn, Satan will be on earth for the entire Tribulation and we will uncover the length of the Tribulation as well.  

After reading the previous five Chapters of this Bible study we should have a good understanding of “The Beast with Seven Heads” and understand who those heads were and are today. We should also understand we are still awaiting the conflict between the Ram and the He Goat and when the final horn of the Goat is broken that will be the moment in time when we witness the rise of the Ten Clay Kings. As we have learned, this does not mark the beginning of the Tribulation, not until we witness the Deadly Wound which involves three of the Ten Clay Kings.

Before we start our Bible study, let us ask our Father for wisdom and understanding of His Word, in Jesus Name amen.

The Seventy Weeks of Daniel

We should understand Satan is the Tribulation and without Satan’s appearance on earth, there is no Tribulation. The word “Tribulation” (Strong’s: G2347) has several different meanings and one of them is “trouble”, Satan is the Tribulation, Satan is the Time of “Trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7).

This Time of Trouble is known as Jacob’s Trouble and it will last for one full week, not a literal week, this is documented for us in the book of Daniel. That week is the final week of the “seventy weeks” that were determined upon the Israelites. At the beginning of the seventieth week Satan will appear on earth claiming to be God, initiating the Tribulation, the Time of Trouble for the world.

Let us document that fact, please turn your Bible with me to,

Daniel 9:24  
24 “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.”

These are the words of the angel Gabriel who came to Daniel to bring him understanding and clarity. The transgression spoken of here means the “revolt” or “rebellion” and this is against our Father. The word “weeks“ is Strong’s word H7620 and it means, “week (specifically of years)”. So these “seventy weeks” Gabriel is discussing are seventy weeks of years, not literal weeks. We take this number seventy which is the number of weeks and multiple it by seven days in a week which provide us with 490 weeks of years.

At the end of the “seventy weeks”, which are the 490 years, several prophecies will be accomplished. The two biggest that jump out is the “end of sin” and the bringing in of “everlasting righteousness”.

We need to understand the word “end” is “châtham” in Hebrew which is Strong’s word: H2856 and it means, “to seal up”. You will note in this same 24th verse this word “châtham” was properly translated as “to seal up”. The point is, upon the Return of Christ, at the end of the “seventy weeks”, the 490 years, sin will be removed in the flesh as flesh will no longer exist. This will start the process of “sealing up” sin and bringing in everlasting righteousness.

“Sealing up” takes time, just as the Sealing of Revelation 7 takes time. Remember, at the end of the Millennium many are going to turn against our Father and follow Satan, that is certainly sin and that sin will mean the instant death of their soul (Revelation 20:7-10). We know without a doubt this prophecy has not been completed, meaning we still await the fulfillment of this “seventieth week”.

Daniel 9:25 
25 “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.”

The portions of this verse that are underlined and placed in bold are in groups to make the timing of those events clear to you. So from ‘the commandment to restore and to rebuild Jerusalem’ there were to be “seven weeks“ of years which we multiply by seven days in week that give us 49 weeks of years. This commandment by men to ‘restore and rebuild Jerusalem’ was issued in the year 454 B.C. and accomplish by Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:5-8; 17-18). So we take the year 454 B.C. and subtract the “seven weeks” of years which are equal to 49 years and this brings us to the year 405 B.C. (454-49=405) when Jerusalem was restored. That takes care of the “seven weeks”.

We are now brought to the point in time that begins the “threescore and two weeks”, this is simple Hebrew numerology which means “sixty two weeks”. So we take sixty two weeks of years and multiple that by seven days in a week which equals 434 years of time that would need to transpire from the year 405 B.C.. If we subtract the year 405 B.C. from 434 years that had to transpire it brings us to the year 29 A.D..

Daniel 9:26
26 “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.”

At the end of this “threescore and two weeks,” which is 434 years (from 405 B.C.) Christ was to be placed on earth and crucified for us. This crucifixion was the ‘cutting off of Messiah’ that we just read of which occurred around the year 29-33 A.D.. This event concluded the first sixty-nine weeks of years (7 weeks + 62 weeks = 69 weeks) which accounts for 483 years (49 years + 434 years = 483 years) with seven years yet to be fulfilled, the final week of the “seventy weeks”.

To sum it up, from the time of Nehemiah in the year 454 B.C. to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in 29 A.D. sixty-nine weeks transpired. Yet, one week, one seven year period remained after the crucifixion of Christ. These seven years have not been fulfilled. As we learned in Daniel 9:24, at the end of the “seventy weeks” there was to be a “sealing up” of sin and everlasting righteousness. Look at our world today, it is exceedingly obvious sin and unrighteousness still exist. So we know from the time of Christ’s crucifixion we have entered a gap in time. This is known to some as “the gap theory”, but it certainly is not a theory as we just outlined.

We should also note after the Messiah was cut off we were told “the prince that shall come and the end thereof shall be with a flood”. This prince is in fact Satan who is known as the “Little Horn” in the book of Daniel. As we learned in the prior Chapters of this study, this is the same prince as the “prince of the covenant” from Daniel 9:27, 11:22. This flood is not a literal flood as Noah’s, it is a flood in the symbolical sense. It is Satan’s flood of lies and deception which are brought about by himself, his angels and his children.

We should also note the last portion of verse 26, “unto the end of the war desolations are determined”. Satan is the desolation as Christ documents in Matthew 24:15 where He endorses the book of Daniel. This word “war” is Strong’s word H4421 and it means “war, battle, fight”. This war will transpire during the final week which is in fact The Hour of Temptation, it is the Tribulation of Satan, his Time of Trouble for the Saints. This battle will be waged by Satan against the Saints and the Two Witnesses a subject we will cover further in Chapter 8. The point is, none of these events have transpired yet, they await fulfillment during the final week of years, the seventieth week, the final seven years.

What we have covered up to now documents from God’s Word there is in fact a gap in time from the sixty-ninth week to the seventieth week and it is during this seventieth week that Satan will reign on earth claiming to be the Savior of the world. Without a doubt we now know the time of the Tribulation was originally supposed to be a seven year period of time. We are going to cover verse 27 later in this study which documents Satan will be on earth for that final week, the seven year period.

Before we do that, we are going to document this seven year period, the time of the Tribulation was shortened by Jesus Christ down to a five month period. We should understand, none of the roles have changed, only the amount of time, only the duration of the Tribulation changed, all of the roles for Satan, the Saints and the Two Witnesses remain the same.

The Five Month Tribulation

In Matthew 24 the disciples came to Christ and asked Him what would be “the sign of thy coming”. Christ would go on to explain to them many events that would transpire before His Return. In verse 15 He would tell us “the abomination of desolation” who is Satan will appear just before His Return. Due to the weakness of flesh men and the lies and deception of Satan during the Tribulation, Christ told us, “except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened,” (Matthew 24:22).

Christ would shorten the time of the Tribulation as He told us, “the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak”. Christ knows we are very weak in the flesh. Christ would say this to the Disciples as they could not even stay awake for the hour of their watch. He would also tell the Disciples because of their failure, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation,” (Matthew 26:40-41). That was their hour of temptation, but the world’s is yet to come.

We have seen the weakness of the flesh all throughout the Bible and if you recall during the days of Noah “the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” so much so that “it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart,” (Genesis 6:5-6). Flesh men in those days were no doubt being influenced by the fallen angels and their offspring known as the giants. This will occur once again when the most evil and wicked angels are present on earth including Satan himself, imagine the influence they will have on mankind.

These are some of the reasons why the Tribulation of Satan was shortened. We know from the mouth of Christ the Tribulation was reduced from the original seven year long period, which is the last week of the “seventy weeks”, but reduced to what? Christ has proclaimed, “I have foretold you all things,” so we know we have an answer to that question (Mark 13:23).

Please turn your Bible with me to,

Revelation 9:4
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.”

It is important to understand Revelation 9 covers not only the fifth trumpet, but the sixth and seventh trumpets as well.

Now let me ask, who was commanded not to harm the grass, trees or any other green thing? The Locust Army, Satan’s angels in part as Revelation 9:3 documents. This Locust Army is only allowed to harm those who do not have the Seal of God in their forehead (Revelation 7:3, 9:4). We know we are not discussing literal locusts as these locusts do not harm anything that is green as locusts do in nature, instead these Locusts are attacking men. This is simply symbology.

Having the Seal of God protects the Saints against Satan’s lies and deception. This Seal provides the Saints with wisdom and knowledge of God’s Word whereby they know the final events of this age of flesh and are prepared for what is to come. The time element of verse 4 marks the beginning of the Tribulation, which is clear as Satan’s Locust Army must be on earth and cannot harm those with the Seal of God. As a note, the Sealing of the Saints is completed just prior to the Tribulation as we documented in Chapter 3.

I want to point out this word “hurt” in verse 4 (Strong’s: G91) also means to be “unjust“ and it is in the sense of “morally, socially or physically”. This is an absolutely catastrophic “hurt” on the people in a “moral, social, physical” and spiritual sense. Satan and his angels appear on earth claiming to be God and His Kingdom who has come to save the world, but it is an abominable lie. This is why the “kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb,” (Revelation 6:15-16). The people of the earth will have been “morally, socially, physically” and spiritually harmed by Satan and his angels to the point of praying for death when the people of the earth see the true Christ Return. They will know in that instant, they were deceived by Satan.

Revelation 9:5 
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.”

As these locusts are described in the symbolical sense so is this torment. We know from the book of Daniel Satan comes in “by peace and destroys many” and we see the entire world worshipping Satan in Revelation 13:4 (Daniel 8:25). The people are tormented and destroyed by peace as they will believe Satan is the Price of Peace, the Savior of the world, but it is a lie, we are talking about the potential destruction of one’s soul.

The use of the word “scorpion” is also in the symbolical sense. Ask yourself, what is the torment of a scorpion?

When a scorpion uses its stinger to disable its victim they become paralyzed and unable to resist due to the venom. The scorpion then holds the victim with its pinchers and begins to chew its prey as “digestive fluids are secreted from the midgut and pour over it”, the victim essentially becomes liquefied.

This is how the torment of men will be accomplished. Satan through his lies and deception, the miracles he displays on earth will paralyze mankind, the people of the earth who do not have the Seal of God will be captivated and mesmerized by Satan who issues the spiritual death blow. This all goes on for a five month period and Revelation 9:10 provides another witness to this fact.

When we are given symbology we need to pray for wisdom and understanding in order to properly discern the meaning. All too often people get worked up into believing there will be a literal physical war during the Tribulation. It will be a spiritual war with the Saints and the Two Witnesses (though these two die temporarily) standing against Satan and his kingdom, a war that will have very real “moral, social, physical” and spiritual consequences.

Those with the Seal of God will not be captivated and mesmerized by Satan as they have been Sealed with our Father’s Word and they will recognize Satan as the anti-Christ and the liar he is. Revelation 9 is also a double witness to Luke 21:18, “But there shall not an hair of your head perish” during the Tribulation as told by Christ.

We have yet another witness to the fact the Tribulation has been shortened down to a five month period. Please turn your Bible with me to,

Matthew 24:37
37 “But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”

I believe Christ is directing us to turn to the book of Genesis, as Noah experienced a flood in his time, we are going to experience a flood in our time as well. However, our flood will not be a literal flood of water, rather Satan’s flood is of lies and deception which will sweep away the people. Daniel 9:26 provides us with yet another witness to this flood by documenting “the end thereof shall be with a flood”.

Let us now turn to the book of Genesis where I believe Christ is directing us from Matthew 24:37. Let me ask, how long did the flood waters prevail upon the earth during Noah’s flood?

Genesis 7:24
24 “And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.”

What happened at the end of the one hundred and fifty days?

Genesis 8:3
3 “And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated.”

The flood waters of Noah’s time were abated, they ceased after one hundred and fifty days, that is five months and I believe Satan’s flood will be abated after five months as well, at the Return of Christ.

Not only did Christ shorten the time of the Tribulation, but He has foretold us all things and he specifically told us in Matthew 24, the chapter that lays out the Tribulation that it would be like the days of Noah. When He tells us something directly, it is up to us to seek out the scriptures and try to uncover what it is we are being told. The Bible is written on many different levels, and I believe the time of the Tribulation has been uncovered. As Daniel 12:10 states, “the wise shall understand” the times of the end. As the torment of Noah’s flood lasted for five months, so will the torment of Satan and his Locust Army last for five months, ”as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be,” (Matthew 24:37).

The Final Week: The Tribulation of Satan

We opened this Chapter discussing the “seventy weeks” of Daniel and documented one week remains to be fulfilled, the seventieth week. We learned this week is equal to a seven year long Tribulation which has been shortened down to a five month period. In Chapter 4 we discussed the Deadly Wound. We explained this will be the time when Satan is cast from Heaven to earth where he will make his grand appearance healing the Deadly Wound to the sixth head, the sixth kingdom that is in power today as we documented in Chapter 1.

In order to understand how long Satan stands on earth, we need to understand what happens after he heals the Deadly Wound. Please turn your Bible with me to,

Revelation 13:3
3 “And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the worldwondered after the beast.”

This event initiates the Tribulation of Satan, that final week we learned about in the book of Daniel. We should understand it is the sixth head that receives this Deadly Wound.

Revelation 13:4
4 “And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?”

Satan is the Dragon as Revelation 12:7-9 will document and Satan is the one who appears on earth claiming to be God who will heal the Deadly Wound to the sixth kingdom.

Who are “they”? Those who do not have the Seal of God. The people of the earth who will worship Satan (who is the Dragon) from the very beginning of the Tribulation when he makes his appearance by healing the Deadly Wound in public for the world to see.

We are going to analyze this word “worshipped” so we can have a better understanding of what is going to happen when Satan heals the Deadly Wound.

“Worshipped” is Strong’s word G4352 and it also means, to ”prostrate oneself in homage”.

“Prostrate,” means, “to cast (oneself) face down on the ground in humility, submission, or adoration”. “Homage,” is, a “formal public acknowledgment of feudal allegiance”.

At Satan’s appearance, when he heals the Deadly Wound “they” who are the people of the earth will ‘place themselves face down in submission to Satan in a public acknowledgement of their allegiance to him’. Public, for all the world to see just as the Deadly Wound will be healed in public for all the world to see.

Just as Christians are baptized in a public acknowledgement of Christ, “they” the people of the earth will publicly acknowledge Satan as their God. They unknowingly switch from worshiping our Father to Satan. This is in fact the Great Apostasy.

When Satan appears on earth to heal the Deadly Wound it will be the most magnificent event the world has ever witnessed. Satan will appear on earth with an entourage full of wicked angels and Satan will claim to be God who has brought his kingdom to earth to save the world (2 Thessalonians 3;3-9). The healing of the Deadly Wound will simply be the first of many miracles Satan will perform. Satan will “doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,” and Satan will “deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do,” (Revelation 13:13-14). It will be these miracles in part that wrongly convince the world that Satan is God and it will be these miracles in part that enable Satan to gain absolute control over the world at the midst of the week. Is it any wonder “they” will wish for the mountains and rocks to fall on them? Most of the world will be captivated with Satan from the beginning though it will take much work to bring all faiths and nonbelievers alike into his fold. Only those with the Seal of God will not be swept away by Satan’s flood of lies and deception.

Remember, Satan wanted to be God in The First Earth Age, that has not changed, Satan still wants to be God. During the Tribulation, Satan will openly claim to be God before the entire world and he will heal the Deadly Wound. Our Father is going to allow this to see who is going to stand against Satan, to see who has read The Textbook of Life.

After Satan appears on earth he will work with the remaining seven Clay Kings and other world leaders.

Please turn your Bible with me to,

Daniel 9:27
27 “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”

The “he” spoken of in this verse is Satan who causes the daily sacrifice to cease. Satan will claim to be the Passover Lamb, Communion and all oblations to God will no longer be performed as they believe Satan is the Messiah. The people of the earth will give their oblation to Satan, this is the Great Apostasy, when the people turn from God and begin to worship Satan. This will take place during the entire Tribulation with it being absolute at the “midst of the week” until the “consummation” which is the end of this age of flesh.

After Satan appears on earth to heal the Deadly Wound he will make a “covenant,” an agreement with world leaders for “one week”, the “seventieth week”, the same “Hour”, the same “seven years”, the same “five months”. This begins at the beginning of the final week that we learned about earlier in this study and it becomes solidified at the “midst of the week”. This final week is the Tribulation of Satan, he is here for all of it and we know it was originally seven years, but shortened down to a five month period.

Daniel 11:21
21 “And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.”

This “vile person” is Satan as we learned in Chapter 4 of this study. When Satan appears on earth the powers of the sixth kingdom do not automatically hand over their kingdom to Satan. Satan has to earn the kingdom and he does that through “peace and flatteries” which documents in of itself that Satan is on earth for the entire Tribulation. Satan has to work hard through his subtlety, through his miracles, lies and deception to prove to the world he is God. Satan has to convince all of the religions that he is God, Satan has to convince nonbelievers there is a God and he is it. This convincing transpires during the first half of the Tribulation, the first half of the week, the first two and a half months.

Daniel 11:22
22 “And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.”

“They” being the leaders and people of the earth who are not Sealed will be “overflown” (Strong’s: H7857) that is, ‘inundated’ and “throughly washed away” by Satan’s flood of lies and deception.

In Chapter 1 of this study we learned about the Ten Clay and Ten Iron Kings. We know these Ten Clay Kings will rise in the near future, but the Ten Iron Kings are Ten Supernatural Kings that Satan will bring to the earth with him, his wicked angels. We know these Ten Iron Kings only rule for One Hour which is the Tribulation. Let us document that fact.

Please turn your Bible with me to,

Revelation 17:12
12 “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.”

These ten are Satan’s angels, the Ten Iron Kings who will arrive on earth with Satan and reign for how long? One whole hour, not half an hour. Notice they have no kingdom yet and which kingdom(s) will they obtain? Satan’s which is the seventh kingdom that we discussed in Chapter 1 of this study. The seventh kingdom is Satan’s spiritual or Heavenly kingdom if you will and this is established upon his appearance on earth. However, Satan does not have full control of the sixth kingdom which is the flesh or earthly kingdom until the midst of the week and this kingdom the Ten Iron Kings will obtain with Satan as well.

On another level this word “receive” is Strong’s word G2983 and it can mean “be amazed”. Satan and his angels will certainly “amaze” the world for the entire Tribulation, the entire hour putting on grand displays of supernatural acts (Revelation 13:13).

Satan is the beast of Revelation 17:8 and he is the beast who the Ten Iron Kings rule with for one full hour, one full week. We can be certain of this as the beast of verse 8, “shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition” while verse 11 explains this beast “was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition”. We learned in the prior Chapters this seventh head is Satan’s supernatural kingdom that he will bring to the earth with him at the beginning of the Tribulation.

We also know Satan is the “man of sin”, he is “the son of perdition” and is destined to go there, Satan is also “the angel of the bottomless pit”, Satan is this beast which is the Dragon and his number is “666” (2 Thessalonians 2:3, Revelation 9:11, 13:18, 15:2). So we know this beast is the Dragon who will be on earth for the entire hour, the entire one week, the entire seven years which is now five months, the entire Tribulation which marks the Hour of Temptation for those without the Seal of God.

Revelation 13:5
5 “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.”

This point in time marks the midst of the week, the final week we learned about earlier. Forty two months is equal to 3.5 years which is half of the original seven yearlong Tribulation. We know this seven year period was shortened down to five months, so this forty two months is equal to 2.5 months on the shortened Tribulation timeline.

What just occurred at the midst of the week, the middle of the Tribulation? Satan is given power over the earth by men as he earned it through the “peace and flatteries” that we learned about earlier. Satan “continues” doing what he was already doing. Meaning, Satan had been on earth prior to this handing over of power and we know Satan’s appearance marks the beginning of the final week, the week he negotiates a “covenant” which is an agreement with world leaders.

The midst of the week is when Satan has absolute control of the world (the sixth kingdom). It is also the time when Satan makes war with the Saints for “a time and times and the dividing of time” which is 3.5 times, 3.5 years, forty two months or 2.5 months on the shortened Tribulation timeline being the last half of the Tribulation (Daniel 7:25). It seems apparent the Saints were speaking out against Satan during the entire Tribulation as Satan knows who the Saints are if he is waging a spiritual war against them. Remember, Satan has to convince the entire world he is the God, so he cannot wage war against an innocent people. By the midst of the week the Saints are known without a doubt to be the enemy of Satan and the people go right along with it as “they” have already accepted Satan as their god.

In Chapter 7 of this study we are going to discuss the Silence in Heaven among other subjects, yet we need to touch on this subject in this Chapter as well as this also documents the duration of time Satan is on earth.

We know Michael and his angels will cast Satan and his angels from Heaven to earth, a moment that marks the beginning of the Tribulation (Revelation 12:7-9). However, what occurs in Heaven when Satan is cast out? Please turn your Bible with me to,

Revelation 12:12
12 “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.”

This verse takes place when Satan is cast from Heaven and we hear great rejoicing taking place in Heaven, far from silence.

Revelation 8:1
1 “And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour”. 

This half an hour is the final half an hour of the Hour of Temptation, the last half of the week, the final 2.5 months of Satan’s Tribulation. If there is rejoicing in Heaven when Satan is cast out of it, then it means the Silence in Heaven must fall at the last half an hour, not before. During the final half an hour the inhabitants of Heaven will be silent as they are literally on the edge of their seats as they witness the Saints and the Two Witnesses warring against Satan and his government an event that has never happened before and never will again (Matthew 24:21).

Our Father’s Word is so accurate and complete, Christ has foretold us all things and there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

The Image

During the Tribulation, God’s Word tells us the Dragon who is Satan orders “they” being those who do not have the Seal of God “should make an image to the beast” an image in honor of the sixth and seventh kingdom (head). Revelation 13:14 continues stating, “as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” We know from our study “Mark of the Beast Revealed” this word “killed” means to be “separated” from. So those who refuse to worship Satan and his system will be “separated”, cut off from those who do worship Satan which is why the Saints cannot “buy or sell,” (Revelation 13:7).

The point I want you to grasp is an image was created at the order of the head king, Satan being that king and he issued a decree stating whoever would not worship this image would be “separated” from those that did.

As we opened this Chapter in the book of Daniel, we will also conclude in the book of Daniel with a very important account.

In Daniel 3:1 “Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits”. Nebuchadnezzar “sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.” Of course all of these men (government officials) came and stood before the image the king had setup.

King Nebuchadnezzar did not create this image with his own hands, it was simply his order, his decree that made it possible. Just as Satan will issue a similar decree when he reigns not only as king of the earth, but claiming to be God as well.

Daniel 3:4-6
4 “Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,”

5 “That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:”

6 “And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.”

It is interesting to note, Revelation 13:18 tells us the number of the beast is “666”. This image in the book of Daniel is 60 cubits high and 6 cubits wide which is 606, then add in the six different types of musical instruments and we also have “666”. On another level this image is reminiscent of the image Daniel saw in his vision only being completed during the time of the sixth and seventh kingdom when Satan is on earth, the image Christ destroys.

The order we just read in Daniel 3:6 is nearly identical to the one Satan will issue as well during the Tribulation, the Hour of Temptation. Of course all of the people fell down and worshipped this image the king had set up in verse 7. Essentially, there was a great “separation” of peoples. Most of Babylon worshipped the image the king had set up, yet three Hebrew men Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stayed true to our Father and were “separated” from those who worshipped the image.

Of course “certain Chaldeans” came to the king and said, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up,” (Daniel 3:8,12).

Essentially, these three were being delivered up to the king, this was their hour of temptation. What has Christ told us about being delivered into the hands of Satan during the Tribulation?

Mark 13:11
11 “But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.”

Our Father will provide the Saints with the words to speak when they are ‘brought before councils, rulers and kings’ just as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego used wisdom which comes from from our Father when they were delivered up (Mark 13:9). These three were bought right into the king’s court, before all the leaders of Babylon.

Nebuchadnezzar continues,

Daniel 3:15
15 “Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?”

His Name is YHVH, Jehovah our God in Heaven and He will deliver those who are handed over to Satan and his councils. Christ has promised us “there shall not an hair of your head perish” when the Saints are delivered up (Luke 21:18).

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego made it clear to king Nebuchadnezzar they would “not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up,” (Daniel 3:18).

Nebuchadnezzar being filled with rage demanded the three to be cast in the fiery furnace heated seven times hotter than necessary. The three were then bound and cast “into the burning fiery furnace”.

Daniel 3:22
22 “Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.”

The fire was so hot the “most mighty men” of king Nebuchadnezzar’s army died carrying the three into the furnace (Daniel 3:20).

Daniel 3:23-25
23 “And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.”

24 “Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.”

25 “He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

Because it was the Son of God! Our Father is able to protect us from the Time of Trouble, from the Hour of Temptation just as He protected these three from their hour of temptation.

Daniel 3:27
27 “And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.”

After being cast into a fire that was heated seven times hotter than necessary not even a hair on their head was harmed just as Christ promised the Saints when they are delivered up. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood their ground and refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s image and the Saints will refuse to worship Satan and his image as well.

Imagine the power this testimony had on those in attendance as they witnessed this miracle that was performed by our Father. When the Saints are delivered up Christ has promised, “I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist,” just as no one was able to gainsay or resist the event we just read of, what a testimony that will be (Luke 21:5)! A testimony that will convince many that Satan is the anti-Christ. Many of the people will repent for worshipping Satan before the Return of Christ and they will stand with the Saints and the Two Witnesses against Satan. Saving these people is the entire reason for the witnessing during the end times.

Revelation 3:10
10 “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth,” (1 Corinthians 3:13).

There is an Hour of Temptation coming upon the world, the Tribulation of Satan and there are many examples and parallels in our Father’s Letter that document how it will transpire. The Saints are kept from this hour as they will be Sealed with our Father’s Word essentially providing them with a wall of protection. Just as the three in the fiery furnace also had a wall of protection around them though they were in the midst of a fiery furnace. Fire that had no power over them just as Satan has no power over the Saints as long as they remain true and faithful to our Father.

“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. All these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come”, (Ecclesiastes 1:9, 1 Corinthians 10:11).

World Events and the Bible