We will now trace the history of these people through the Book of Revelation, and see what their end is. Oh may the unconverted, who read this, take the solemn warning pointed out in these scriptures. I rejoice for your sakes to think that it is yet the clay of grace, and that the way of salvation is still open for all; but we know not how long it will be open, it may close at any moment, though it is not yet too late. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Pet. 3:9.)
In Rev. 3:10 we have this class of people mentioned for the first time. The Lord is there addressing the church in Philadelphia, and He tells them, "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." There is a time of trial coming on the earth, and on those who dwell there; but it will not touch those who are faithful to Christ. They will be kept out of it, altogether out of it, because the Christian is not of the world. (John 17:16.) So he is not (or ought not to be) mixed up with its pleasures or interests, and will not then share in its judgments. Here we get mentioned the two classes we began with, but what a marked contrast! This time of trial will be bitter indeed; it will come after the Lord has taken His own people out of this world to be with Himself.
In Rev. 11 we see two witnesses " stand-ins” before the God of the earth," and they go forth and preach and testify against those who dwell on the earth; for their testimony is that the Lord is the rightful Owner of the earth; and it " torments " these people (ver. 10) because they are dwelling on it, and taking possession of it for themselves.
Satan is spoken of as " the god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4), though it is really the Lord's. (Psalm 24:1.) Satan is a usurper, and so are these dwellers; for they think not of Him to whom it rightly belongs, but possess it for themselves; and thus work Satan's will, though they think they are only pleasing themselves.
These witnesses then testify that He is the “God of the earth," and that He will take possession, too. They continue 1260 days, clothed In sackcloth; thus showing their sorrow at the state of things, and bringing down instant judgment on any who dare molest them.
When their allotted time of 1260 days has expired, the beast—an agent of Satan—makes war against them and kills them, and heaps upon their dead bodies great indignities; they are left lying in the streets three days and a half.
Now is the time of rejoicing for those against whom these prophets preached, and verse 10 tells us they send gifts to one another as a token of their joy, and they think themselves secure, when lo! " the spirit of life from God entered into them [the dead bodies of the prophets], and they, stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies beheld them." (Vers. 11, 12.)
Then there was a great earthquake; the rest of those who were not slain by it, were affrighted; and well they might be, for in chapter viii. 13, an angel proclaims with a loud voice, " "Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth"—three solemn woes; and in chapter vi. 10 the voices of those who were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held, cry to God to avenge their blood on " them that dwell on the earth;" now their prayer is heard. Ah! well may they tremble, it is too late for them to escape; they refused Christ, and the way of salvation through Him; then they refused to hear the two prophets; now the third woe of chapter viii. 10 is about to come upon them, the coming of Christ, chapter xi. 15—not the coming of Christ for His own (see 1 Thess. 4:13-18)—that will have taken place before the events of this chapter occur at all—but the coming of Christ with His saints in judgment (see 1 Thess. 5:1-4; 2 Thess. 1:7-10), yet mark, even in their fear, to whom do they give glory? It is to the " God of heaven," not to the " God of the earth." They acknowledge Him, but as afar off, not as the, possessor of the earth.
We have seen how this class of people refused the testimony of God's two witnesses; what else befalls them? Turn to chapter xiii. 8, there we find them worshipping the beast, and, through the beast, doing homage to Satan himself, the usurper of the earth; the one, too, who in verse 6 blasphemes God, and His name, His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
In Rev. 13:14 we read that Antichrist—the second beast spoken of in this chapter—-deceives " them that dwell on the earth." They would not believe the truth in the day of grace, therefore now they are given over to believe a lie. As it was in the history of Cain, so here: it is self-will that is their ruin. In 2 Thess. 2:8-12 we have a history of this same time, "that wicked " being the Antichrist of Rev. 12:11-17.
Chapter xviii. 2, 9 explains how those who were the inhabiters of the earth were mixed up in the wickedness of Babylon.
And now we have come to the end of their history, to their final judgment; and yet, before that judgment falls, God deals again in mercy towards them, for in chapter xiv. 6, 7, Tie sends-forth an angel to preach the " everlasting gospel " to those who dwell on the earth: its message is this, " 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."
This will be a very different gospel from that which is now being proclaimed. At present it is the day of grace, but when the events of Rev. 14 take place this day of grace will be over, and the everlasting gospel will go forth, which proclaims God as the Creator; the gospel that is now preached proclaims Him as a Savior. After this gospel has gone forth, the Lord, the Possessor of heaven and earth, will come and take to Himself His great power and reign on the earth for 1000 years. His kingdom will be set up; the ยท Jews will acknowledge Him as their King; Antichrist will be cast down, destroyed " with the brightness of his coming " (2 Thess. 2:8); and the true Christ will reign. Satan will be bound for the thousand years (Rev. 20:3), and all wickedness will be kept under, for instant punishment will fall on all unrighteousness. Then " the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." (Isa. 11:9.) All will be peace and harmony (Isa, xi. 6-9), evil will not be allowed; righteousness will prevail; cruelty, injustice, or oppression will not be permitted.
When the millennium or thousand years are over, Satan will be loosed again, but only for a little season; then he will be cast into the lake of lire. (Rev. 20:7-10.)
We have seen how the dwellers on earth worshipped the beast; in chapter xiv. 9-11 there is a fearful description given of the judgment of those who did so. And what of the earth, their dwelling-place? Cain's posterity perished in the flood; now we find by comparing Rev. 13:8 with chapter xiv. 9-11 that those who dwell on the earth, and worship the beast, have their portion in the lake of fire. The earth itself is burnt up (see 2 Pet. 3:12). In Rev. 20:11 the heaven and the earth flee away from the presence of Him who sits upon the great white throne. From Job 15:15 we learn that “the heavens are not clean in his sight," and we know from 1 John 5:19 that “the whole world lieth in wickedness," or, as it should read, " in the wicked one," that is, Satan. Here in Rev. 20:11 both heaven and earth flee away at His presence.
Then we read of a " new heaven and a new earth" (Rev. 21:1), and 2 Pet. 3:13 says, " wherein dwelleth righteousness;" no longer keeping down evil, as it was in the millennium, for here there is no sin, so righteousness no longer reigns over but dwells on the earth.
Let me in closing remind you, that the Lord is coming quickly for His saints (Rev. 22:7, 12, 20), and then all these solemn events will follow; but there is yet hope for the sinner, and we can still draw your attention to the latter part of verse 17, "And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." J. R "