And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon

Revelation 16:8-21

The fourth bowl of wrath is described as being poured on the Sun and caused the Sun to scorch men. Clearly the wrath in the bowl is a spiritual rather than physical, but its effects is real. The physical manifestation may be that the Sun is intensified and the heat will scorch the people. However, the people are still to stubborn to repent but instead blasphemed God.

The fifth angel's bowl of wrath is poured on the capital of the Beast and caused a darkness to occur in that region. The people may have realised that this is spiritual and they continued to blaspheme God instead of repenting.

The sixth angel pour the wrath into the river Euphrates. This caused the river to dry up such that the mortal enemies can now cross the river. The enemies mentioned are the kings of the East. The Enemy will make his move, by having the evil spirits inside the Dragon, Beast and the False Prophet to come out and roam the land to gather human kings and armies to battle the people of God.

We are told that although Yeshua will come like a thief in the night, we are supposed to wait and watch and not get caught naked by the sudden event. The enemies will all gather at the place called Armageddon.

The seventh bowl of wrath will be poured in the air and Heaven declares that "It is done!". There will be great natural upheaval on earth including the largest earthquakes. The great city is probably Jerusalem and will be split in three while other cities will be destroyed. Babylon, representing the chief blaspheming city, will face the full wrath. The devastation will include the destruction of islands and mountains. Great hail will fall on men, and yet they will continue to blaspheme rather than repent.

But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief

Paul describes the Rapture Event towards the end times. This information is directed at the believers, and warns us to prepare for it. God's intention is for salvation of both the dead and those still alive in Christ when this happens. This event will happen suddenly, but to the believers, it will not be a total surprise because they would have been expecting it.

Then Paul gives some general encouragement which include:
- recognize the work that people do and recognize the leaders.
- live in peace and harmony, not in an unruly manner and pursue good towards each other.
- rejoice and pray always.
- interesting to note the encouragement not to "despise prophecies".

Finally Paul commands that this letter to be read "to all the holy brethren", probably meaning all Christians, rather than just the Thessalonians.







1 Thessalonians 5
The Day of the Lord

1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Various Exhortations

12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

Blessing and Admonition

23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

25 Brethren, pray for us.

26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.

27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy[a] brethren.

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

I see a flying scroll

The vision of the flying scroll that Zechariah saw represents a curse and judgment on thieves and perjurers. The perjurer is one who swears at the name of the Lord. The next vision is that of a basket with a woman sitting inside. It is not clear whether the reference to wickedness refers to the woman or the situation of the woman being inside the basket. Then there were two other women with wings who came and carried the basket away. And the angel said that they will keep the basket until the house is build in Shinar.


Zechariah 5
Vision of the Flying Scroll

1 Then I turned and raised my eyes, and saw there a flying scroll.

2 And he said to me, “What do you see?”

So I answered, “I see a flying scroll. Its length is twenty cubits and its width ten cubits.”

3 Then he said to me, “This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole earth: ‘Every thief shall be expelled,’ according to this side of the scroll; and, ‘Every perjurer shall be expelled,’ according to that side of it.”

4 “I will send out the curse,” says the Lord of hosts;
“It shall enter the house of the thief
And the house of the one who swears falsely by My name.
It shall remain in the midst of his house
And consume it, with its timber and stones.”


Vision of the Woman in a Basket

5 Then the angel who talked with me came out and said to me, “Lift your eyes now, and see what this is that goes forth.”

6 So I asked, “What is it?” And he said, “It is a basket[a] that is going forth.”

He also said, “This is their resemblance throughout the earth: 7 Here is a lead disc lifted up, and this is a woman sitting inside the basket”; 8 then he said, “This is Wickedness!” And he thrust her down into the basket, and threw the lead cover[b] over its mouth. 9 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and there were two women, coming with the wind in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and heaven.

10 So I said to the angel who talked with me, “Where are they carrying the basket?”

11 And he said to me, “To build a house for it in the land of Shinar;[c] when it is ready, the basket will be set there on its base.”