Fire from heaven falls to the wrong Altar
Harmageddon
In the beginning of His earthly ministry, especially when performing miracles, Jesus always said “My time is not yet come” and that the events of this work should not be disseminated.
In Cana, when Jesus’ mother was busy helping the family at a wedding and they ran out of wine. Jesus answered, “Are you from me, mother? My hour has not yet come. ”(John 2: 4)
Similarly, when his brothers asked him to go to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles, they asked Jesus not to hide his miraculous powers.
Then Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Depart from here, and go into Judea, that your disciples also may see the works that you do. For no man doeth anything in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world. ”For even his own brothers did not believe in him.
Jesus answered them, “My time is not yet come, but a time is coming for you. The world cannot hate you, but it hates me, because I testify about it, that its works are evil. You go to the party. I have not yet come, for my time is not yet fulfilled. ”(John 7: 3–9)
The last journey from Galilee to Jerusalem
But as he reached the end of his ministry, Jesus changed his strategy. Instead, he announced his final journey by sending His disciples.
When it was almost time for Jesus to be taken to heaven, he directed his sight to go to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. (Luke 9: 51,52)
Two of his disciples were even more eager to use the power to “make fire come down from heaven”.
And they went and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. But the Samaritans would not receive him, because he was going to Jerusalem.
When two of his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said: “Lord, do You want us to send fire down from heaven to destroy them?” “But He turned and rebuked them. Then they went to another village. (Luke 9: 53–56)
Then Jesus chose 70 of his disciples to go on a journey, first to visit each city he would visit and to announce to the public. (Luke 10)
They returned with joy because they had conquered demons in Jesus’ name. Even Jesus saw the devil fall like lightning from heaven.
But Jesus warned them not to rejoice because they could subdue the spirits, but to rejoice that your name was registered in Heaven (Luke 10:20)
At the same time, the disciples were reminded of Jesus’ words about the great hostility of the religious leaders and what will happen to Him in Jerusalem. Then the students want to prevent their teacher from going there.
See the following verse : first notice Luke 9:22, second notice Luke 9:46, third notice Luke 18:31.
How to convey the truth about the Cross, Judgment and the Gospel to His disciples?
At this point, Jesus saw the misunderstanding of the Messiah’s work and the lack of faith in the divine nature of Christ. And it was a very difficult task to lead His disciples to come forward through the difficulties and sorrows that would confront them in Jerusalem. ( EG White, Desire of Ages 485.4)
Understanding the work of Jesus to be exalted, not in the measure of the world, but in raising His sacrifice, planned to counteract the deception of the devil.
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up John 3:14
On the Mount of Olives
Mount of Olives, Jesus warned of the deception that would occur at the end of time just before His second coming. “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew 24:24).
At the same place Jesus also gave warnings to help the poor and the needy. “And the King shall answer them, I say unto you, In as much as ye did it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it unto me” (Matthew 25:40)
At the Supper
There was also a quarrel between Jesus’ disciples, who could be considered the greatest among them. (Luke 22:24). Then Jesus made it clear from the example of his life that the greatest were those who would serve.
In the Garden of Gethsemane
Three times Jesus warned He would raise His disciples from sleep.
Even they had seen the glory of Jesus with Moses and Elijah, heard the voice of heaven, and felt the presence of God the Father at the events of Jesus’ Transfiguration
Still, they did not recognize Jesus’ face when Jesus prayed and struggled to bear the burden of sin throughout the world and to lose his relationship with his Father.
In the garden of Gethsemane, Judas, the evangelist who always did great work, and was able to drive out demons, sold Jesus with expectation when Jesus was arrested, Jesus would fight by demonstrating His divine power. But in reality Jesus surrendered himself.
In the court of religion and government
From the priest of Hanas to the high priest Caiaphas questioning the miraculous power that Jesus had, then Pilate was brought before King Herod forcing Jesus to use His own power to escape.
The same place, where Peter denied, saying, “No, I do not know him!” (Luke 22:57) , because Peter expect Jesus to use his miraculous power.
On the Cross
The leaders and all the people expect Jesus will use his power.
While “People are standing there and looking at everything. The leaders mocked Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself now if He is the Messiah, the chosen of God.” (Luke 23:35)
When Jesus called out “Eli, Eli, Lama Sabakthani,” instead they heard Jesus calling on the name of Elijah, Elijah, and thinking that Jesus would use the power of the prophet Elijah in the Carmelite grove, “sending fire from heaven” .
Disciples also hoped that Jesus would use his power to free himself from the cross.
Only one of the two thieves understood the nature of Jesus’ ministry and what He was experiencing.
Throughout this series it is clear that both the opposing castes of both Jesus’ disciples and followers, as well as the priests, religious leaders and the masses, unknowingly, are all in the same stronghold, wanting to see Jesus use his divine power to “light fire from heaven ”
How to present the Cross, Judgment and the Gospel At the End Time
The same Challenge occurs at the end of the age, following the second coming of Jesus.
How to present The Cross, Judgment and Gospel, when humans are more interested in what they see, hear and feel. When everything depends on the power of science.
The fire falls in the wrong altar.
But the Bible says that fire from heaven came down on the altar of error.
Revelation 13: 13–14 And he did great signs, so that he sent down fire from heaven to earth before the eyes of all men. He deceives those who dwell on the earth by the signs that he was given to do in the sight of the beast. And he commanded them that dwell on the earth, that they should build a statue that did honor unto the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Revelation 16:13, 14 And I beheld out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, that three unclean spirits should appear like unto frogs. These are the spirits of the devils who perform miracles, and they go to kings of all the earth, to gather them to battle in the great day of God the Almighty.
The greatest magic is in the False Trinity, of beast emerging from the land, making fire come down from the sky, the events of Mount Carmel in the last days, fire going down on the false altar.
What the eyes see, the ear can hear, and we can hold, will deceive us. We are living in an age of atheism, not believing in the Church, not believing the Bible, but only believing in Science.
Harmageddon
Temporarily we skipped verse 15, and jump to verse 16
Revelation 16: 16 and he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.
The word — pronounced “H’armageddon” — in Greek is the same as in Hebrew.
(Harmageddon, Quoted from series of “Revelation, Hope Meaning and Purpose” by Jon Paulien PhD)
Har is the Hebrew word for mountain. The meaning of the word Mageddon has a linguistic connection with the word Megiddo, but no mountain of Megiddo ⎯ exists as a ‘clue’ to the ruins of the old city.
The city of Megiddo overlooks the Plateau of Esdraelon (below the Sea of Galilee) where many famous battles took place in the ancient world. It was an important strategic location as the key to gaining control of the rest of Palestine.
As a place of violence and bloodshed, it can easily become a symbol of God’s final judgment battle.
But it is impossible for such a small place to literally be the battlefield of all nations. Modern war would not have been possible in this area. The current form of War is carried out on a larger scale, with long-range missile missiles.
If we look up from the Esdraelon Plateau towards the coast, we can see Mount Carmel. Thus the description of Armageddon here is the opposite of Mount Zion, the place where God’s people are gathered together with the Lamb.
Both meetings are described in symbolic language.
The use of the term ‘Armageddon’ can be traced back to the time of the prophet Elijah, when there was a competition organized to show who the true God was: the God of Elijah or Baal. God who answers by fire will be the true God.
In the last days, however, fire fell on the false altar. Animals from the Earth (like sheep) shed fire and deceived the world.
If people believe in their own senses they will drift to the deception of the last days.
The deception of this age will prove to our senses that the false trinity seems to be the true God. It will come after the great preaching of the gospel in the last days (see Revelation 14: 6, 7).
This is not a military war but a spiritual warfare, and God’s people must stand in strong faith based on personal Bible study, especially on prophecy.
The broader picture is the battle between the two powers of the trinity. This is a battle to answer the question: “Who is the legitimate ruler of the universe”
Something false must be based on something original. There will be a great proclamation of the gospel of the last days, followed by the great deception of the end of time with the battle of mount Carmel in which cheaters will appear as if they will win.
The thieves in the night
Back to Revelation 16 see the flow of verses 13, 14 , 15 and 16, amid the activities of deceivers, Jesus intercept with verse 15 (in red ink) that is direct counsel from Jesus Christ which is the same as the counsel given to the Laodicean church (Revelation 3:18 also in red ink).
Suddenly there was a change of pace in the midst of the evil acts of Revelation 16:15. Where, John sums up all of the New Testament epistles:
“Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his nakedness. “(Revelation 16:15).
This is a glimpse into the role of the righteous in the last battle. As in the last sermon of Jesus, there is a warning to beware (see Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21).
Paul uses the same language in 1 Thessalonians 5: 1–11. Where he depicts people talking about peace and security that will then be followed by sudden destruction.
Peter also spoke of Jesus coming back as a thief, but he also said that when he came to heaven he would disappear with a great thunder and all things would melt away because of the heat (see 2 Peter 3: 10–13).
Keeper of the Temple
Instead of a follower of Christ claiming to be the keeper of the temple. In preparation for the final battle, John paused to insert the message contained in Revelation 16:15.
Jesus pointed to the temple guard in charge. If they are found sleeping, the commander will take their clothes off. Because being a guardian of the Temple and being found naked is a disgrace. The same thing happened to soldiers captured in the war.
The act of Caiaphas, the high priest, ripping his robe was a disgrace and deserved to die under the rule of the supreme leader of the Temple. (EG white, Desire of Ages 708.3)
Revelation 16:15 is a warning to those who profess to be Christians and keep on the watch so that they are not deceived by miraculous acts — who imitate Christ, who works in the last days.
If they are deceived they may lose their clothe from their righteous deeds, which are necessary to remain with Christ in this battle (see Revelation 19: 7–9).
Its a gift
This robe also includes the righteousness of Christ as promised in Revelation 3:18, as something we must receive from Christ. It’s a gift, not our effort.
The coming of the rebel is the work of the devil, and will be accompanied by a series of miraculous signs, signs and wonders, with various deceptions against those who perish because they do not accept and love the saving truth. (2 Thessalonians 2: 9–10)
We are warned to open our hearts, receive and love the truth, without which we would be found naked.
As travelers in the wilderness, we should elevate the work of Christ’s sacrifice (John 3:14), not the glory of human labor.
By the end of the day, the call to God’s people to use all the glorious message of the New Testament: the Gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke; Paul’s Epistles; and the epistles of Revelation to the seven churches.
Everything found on Babylon’s side is described as silent and naked (see Revelation 17:16).
