Bad Breath - Rumor notes 168

 Revelation 16

12 The sixth poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates. Its water was dried up, that the way might be made ready for the kings that come from the sunrise. 13 I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, something like frogs;

Here is a comparison chart to the 6^th trumpet. Some things include elements from previous bowls.

6th Bowl (Revelation 16:12-14)	6th Trumpet (Revelation 9:13-21)
made ready for the kings that come	a voice from the horns (horns represent power)
poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates	four angels bound at the great river Euphrates
Its water was dried up	Free the four angels who are bound
that the way might be made ready	who had been prepared for that hour
the kings that come from the East	the horses and those who sat on them heads of lions
out of their mouths come	Out of their mouths proceed
three unclean spirits, something like frogs	these three plagues – fire, smoke, and sulfur
they are spirits of demons performing signs	power is in their mouths, and tails like serpents fire, smoke, and sulfur
kings of the whole inhabited earth	one third of mankind killed
gather them together for the war	four angels were freed that they might kill armies of the horsemen were 200,000,000
that great day of God	prepared for that hour, day, month and year
God, the Almighty	worship demons and idols which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk
They didn't repent of their works (5th bowl)	The rest of mankind not killed with these plagues, didn't repent of the works of their hands idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and of wood They didn't repent of their murders, sorceries, sexual immorality, thefts
They didn't repent and give him glory (4th bowl)	worship of demons and idols

I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon

The great dragon was thrown down, the old serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. (Revelation 12:9)

Thus I saw the horses in the vision, and those who sat on them, having breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of lions. Out of their mouths proceed fire, smoke, and sulfur. By these three plagues were one third of mankind killed: by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur, which proceeded out of their mouths. For the power of the horses is in their mouths, and in their tails. For their tails are like serpents, and have heads, and with them they harm. (Revelation 9:17-19)

These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands, standing before the Lord of the earth. If anyone desires to harm them, fire proceeds out of their mouth and devours their enemies. If anyone desires to harm them, he must be killed in this way. (Revelation 11:4-5)

The serpent spewed water out of his mouth after the woman like a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream. The earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon spewed out of his mouth. (Revelation 12:15-16)

Out of his mouth go burning torches. Sparks of fire leap forth. Out of his nostrils a smoke goes, as of a boiling pot over a fire of reeds. (Job 41:19-20)

That which enters into the mouth doesn't defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.

But the things which proceed out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the man. (Matthew 15:11, 18)

I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things. (Daniel 7:8)

He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time. (Daniel 7:25)

The king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods; and he shall prosper until the indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined shall be done. (Daniel 11:36)

Let no one deceive you in any way. For it will not be, unless the departure comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction, he who opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshiped; so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself up as God. Don't you remember that, when I was still with you, I told you these things?

Now you know what is restraining him, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season. For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way. Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth, and destroy by the manifestation of his coming; even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn't receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-10)

I will execute judgment on Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he has swallowed up; and the nations shall not flow any more to him: yes, the wall of Babylon shall fall. (Jeremiah 51:44)

He humbled you, and allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna, which you didn't know, neither did your fathers know; that he might make you know that man does not live by bread only, but by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of Yahweh does man live. (Deuteronomy 8:3)

This is a reemergence of the dragon. Around the end of chapter 13 the dragon goes behind for a time as he orchestrates the emergence of surrogate agents he empowers to carry out his agenda. After that there is little mention of him until this point where it is seen he is the primary origin of this activity of deception and aggression.

We will not go into a detailed examination of this dragon here as that was covered in our study of chapter 12. Those wanting to explore that in more detail can review the notes and recordings of that study. One thing is for certain though, the dragon figures prominently through this entire book as he is the arch-villain in juxtaposition with the hero of this book, the Lamb introduced in chapter 5 where His appearance is greeted with great excitement and enthusiasm by those longing to see the One seated on the throne exonerated.

out of the mouth of the beast

A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him. He opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his dwelling, those who dwell in heaven. (Revelation 13:5-6)

out of the mouth of the false prophet

He deceives my own people who dwell on the earth because of the signs he was granted to do in front of the beast; saying to those who dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who had the sword wound and lived. It was given to him to give breath to it, to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause as many as wouldn't worship the image of the beast to be killed. (Revelation 13:14-15)

The beast was taken, and with him the false prophet who worked the signs in his sight, with which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. (Revelation 19:20)

three unclean spirits

This set of 3 parallels the lists of 3 in the 6th trumpet relating to the powers that come from the mouth of the horses.

Thus I saw the horses in the vision, and those who sat on them, having breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of lions. Out of their mouths proceed fire, smoke, and sulfur. By these three plagues were one third of mankind killed: by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur, which proceeded out of their mouths. For the power of the horses is in their mouths, and in their tails. For their tails are like serpents, and have heads, and with them they harm. (Revelation 9:17-19)

By paralleling these we can uncover the following clues from the 6^th trumpet:

The dragon here parallels the breastplate of fiery red and fire.

The beast here parallels the breastplate of hyacinth blue and smoke.

The false prophet here parallels the breastplate of sulfur yellow and sulfur.

The dragon is definitely linked to the color red and associated with fire.

Another sign was seen in heaven. Behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven crowns. (Revelation 12:3)

His sneezing flashes out light. His eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. Out of his mouth go burning torches. Sparks of fire leap forth. Out of his nostrils a smoke goes, as of a boiling pot over a fire of reeds. His breath kindles coals. A flame goes forth from his mouth. There is strength in his neck. Terror dances before him. (Job 41:18-22)

Don't look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly. In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper. (Proverbs 23:31-32)

Red is one of the primary colors associated with Satan and his attributes. It can include implications of anger, pride, self-exaltation, threats and bloodshed.

Red is a parallel of scarlet, one of the main colors used in the sanctuary system. Because the dragon and cohorts operate by deception, these colors will be connected with counterfeiting the meanings of the colors associated with the sanctuary services and materials.

The beast is here linked through the 6^th trumpet to the color blue along with smoke. Hyacinth blue is jacinth which is a deep blue. Jacinth is both part of the stones on the breastplate of the high priest in the Old Testament, and is also identified as one of the foundation stones of the New Jerusalem.

You shall make a breastplate of judgment, the work of the skillful workman; like the work of the ephod you shall make it; of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, shall you make it. (Exodus 28:15)

Of the blue, purple, and scarlet, they made finely worked garments, for ministering in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as Yahweh commanded Moses. He made the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. They beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, in the purple, in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, the work of the skillful workman. (Exodus 39:1-3)

You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue. (Exodus 28:31)

On the table of show bread they shall spread a blue cloth, and put on it the dishes, the spoons, the bowls, and the cups with which to pour out; and the continual bread shall be on it.

They shall take a blue cloth, and cover the lampstand of the light, and its lamps, and its snuffers, and its snuff dishes, and all its oil vessels, with which they minister to it.

On the golden altar they shall spread a blue cloth, and cover it with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in its poles. They shall take all the vessels of ministry, with which they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a blue cloth, and cover them with a covering of sealskin, and shall put them on the frame. (Numbers 4:7,9,11-12)

Speak to the children of Israel, and bid those who they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put on the fringe of each border a cord of blue: (Numbers 15:38)

Mordecai went out of the presence of the king in royal clothing of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a robe of fine linen and purple; and the city of Susa shouted and was glad. (Esther 8:15)

Oholah played the prostitute when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbors, who were clothed with blue, governors and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses. (Ezekiel 23:5-6)

The traffickers of Sheba and Raamah, they were your traffickers; they traded for your wares with the chief of all spices, and with all precious stones, and gold. Haran and Canneh and Eden, the traffickers of Sheba, Asshur and Chilmad, were your traffickers. These were your traffickers in choice wares, in wrappings of blue and embroidered work, and in chests of rich clothing, bound with cords and made of cedar, among your merchandise. (Ezekiel 27:22-24)

This last passage is in a passage metaphorically describing how Satan originally launched his counterfeit kingdom based on commerce, trading and trafficking to acquire wealth. So it it is fitting that the color connected to the second entity is here associated with trafficking. The first beast conjured up from the sea in chapter 13 is portrayed similar to descriptions of the dragon so that it is difficult at times to even tell the two apart in prophecy.

It is also important to note that the color blue was how the chosen people of God were to differentiate themselves from the nations around them by wearing threads of blue on the borders of their clothing. As with nearly everything associated with instructions given to Moses relating to the children of Israel, this symbolizes vital spiritual truths. Yet by obsessing over the symbols and making them out as more important that the spiritual truths they represent, both people back then and many today get distracted from entering into the kind of rest and connection with God’s heart that all these symbols were meant to convey.

It is believed that the color blue was meant to provide a distinct identity for those chosen by God to represent Him. It is said to stand for purity and truth. (I have not seen support for this but am open to further light.) Nevertheless Satan would be expected to usurp any such symbol to employ in his misleading system diverting attention from the real truth that sets people free.

In the 6^th trumpet symbology, blue is tied closely with smoke. This might relate to the bluish haze witnessed when heavy smoke hangs over the landscape such as from forest fires. This means that all three of these colors are involved in burning one way or another – red being connected with fire, blue connected with smoke and yellow linked to sulphur, one of the most intense fuels that when burned produces very intense heat and light.

The last color linked here from the 6^th trumpet is sulphur yellow. Both sulphur and yellow have significance when it comes to deceiving the whole world as to what is true and godly versus what are subtle deceptions leading to eternal loss. Sulphur is bright yellow, and possibly yellow sulphur could be viewed as a counterfeit for gold – a key element used both literally and symbolically in descriptions of God’s prophetic sanctuary and symbols.

When we read of sulphur in prophecy, it refers to the intensity of God’s passionate love represented as fire. Yet that symbol has been distorted to mean just the opposite of love, so the majority have come to view these references as meaning fierce punishment rather than intense love. Part of the definition of the words translated as sulphur, include the concept of divinity. Sulphur is meant to indicate the intensity of the light of a love so powerful it consumes everything opposing the truth of God’s character of love. This consuming is not because of an agenda of punitive retaliation, but merely describes the natural outcome of rejecting and resisting agape love. This is why the potency of true love can be experienced either as torment or as ecstasy, depending on a person’s disposition.

In this passage the entity paralleled to yellow and sulphur is the false prophet. The confusion over the real meaning of this symbol may be part of why this prophet is false. This false prophet label has not been seen previously here, leaving us to compare how this may resonate with the entities outlined in chapter 13 where the dragon and the beast were already identified.

The problem is that there are two beasts listed there but that arise from different locations, yet both with similarities and differences that are significant. Additionally there is another entity called the image to the beast that is infused with breath and power to come alive and carry out the will of all the preceding entities and compel worship of the beast, presumably the first beast. It is as if each succeeding entity is yet another layer of cloaking over the fact that it is the dragon who is behind all this, yet who wants to avoid being held directly responsible for the fallout and repercussions that will eventually come back with great intensity against those he manipulates to serve his purposes.

The question arises, is this false prophet a new name for the second beast, or is it for the image to the first beast? I am not yet settled on a solid answer for this, for it still seems a bit nebulous as exactly to whom this refers. It could even involve both the second beast along with the image. What is clear is that all these entities share the same goal – to achieve complete control over this earth and eliminate opposition against the dragon who enables them to remain in power over all who dwell on the earth.

Another clue comes from the parallel in chapter 9 describing what transpires under the 6^th trumpet.

By these three plagues were one third of mankind killed: by the fire, the smoke, and the sulfur, which proceeded out of their mouths. For the power of the horses is in their mouths, and in their tails. For their tails are like serpents, and have heads, and with them they harm. The rest of mankind, who were not killed with these plagues, didn't repent of the works of their hands, that they wouldn't worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood; which can neither see, nor hear, nor walk. (Revelation 9:18-20)

This reference to power being in their tails directly connects with prophets. This helps piece together what this passage might be directing our attention towards in this crucial time of history.

The elder and the honorable man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail. (Isaiah 9:15)

When we take a closer look at the context from which this verse is taken, we see a pattern paralleling what we find here in these two corroborating passages in Revelation, the trumpets and the bowls. It reflects the pattern we see repeated throughout Revelation and even all of Scripture, for it has to do with the presentation of light, truth and love and the results of resisting and rejecting truth and instead, embracing error that suits our own agenda more satisfactorily.

At the beginning of Isaiah 9 is a prophecy of the coming Messiah often quoted particularly during the Christmas season. Yet when the kind of Messiah that heaven sends is spurned, the only thing left is for God to respect that rejection, leaving the rejectors of mercy unprotected from violent forces in this world that steal, kill and destroy just like their leader.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who lived in the land of the shadow of death, on them the light has shined. You have multiplied the nation. You have increased their joy. They rejoice before you according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as in the day of Midian. For all the armor of the armed man in the noisy battle, and the garments rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born. To us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on the throne of David, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of Yahweh of Armies will perform this. (Isaiah 9:2-7)

The benefits here are not iron-clad guarantees for all the world, but rather promises of what could be for those who embrace the message, motives and methods of this Son brought to us. Sadly the people upon which this light came to a great extent rejected it, leaving them vulnerable to the consequences of choosing darkness rather than living free in the light.

The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it falls on Israel. All the people will know, including Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in pride and in arrogance of heart, "The bricks have fallen, but we will build with hewn stone. The sycamore fig trees have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place."

Therefore Yahweh will set up on high against him the adversaries of Rezin, and will stir up his enemies, The Syrians in front, and the Philistines behind; and they will devour Israel with open mouth. For all this, his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. Yet the people have not turned to him who struck them, neither have they sought Yahweh of Armies. Therefore Yahweh will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed, in one day. The elder and the honorable man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail. For those who lead this people lead them astray; and those who are led by them are destroyed.

Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their young men, neither will he have compassion on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is profane and an evil-doer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. For wickedness burns like a fire. It devours the briers and thorns; yes, it kindles in the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke. Through the wrath of Yahweh of Armies, the land is burnt up; and the people are the fuel for the fire. No one spares his brother. (Isaiah 9:8-19)

Notice the contrast of options in this passage. If the true Messiah was accepted along with His ways, disposition and the power of His love and light, the fuel for the fires would be the things used for war. But when He was rejected and spurned in favor of following their own ways and refusing to repent, what ends up as the fuel are the people themselves.

As we studied in the 6^th trumpet, the horses and riders are the enforcers of judgment according to the system of justice invented by Satan. They imitate the colors and language of God's judgments yet are counterfeits because they reject the Lamb's revelation of God and His definition of justice. When we refuse to enter into God’s kind of judgment that heals and restores us, He is forced by our choice to hand us over to Satan’s form of judgment which destroys instead of healing.

Unclean spirits

This alludes to a counterfeit trinity. The dragon masquerades as the Father God. The beast is the son of this intimidating god who receives his power and authority from the dragon. A true prophet speaks on God's behalf reflecting His will. This false prophet images the disposition of the beast, speaking on behalf of the beastly god. These three deceivers using their mouths to deceive victims is in contrast to the three angels speaking truth in chapter 14:6-12.

We can learn more by reviewing passages that mention unclean spirits, particularly the ones relating to their interactions with the Son of Man who had authority over them.

After these things, I saw another angel coming down out of the sky, having great authority. The earth was illuminated with his glory. He cried with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird! (Revelation 18:1-2)

Yahweh said, 'Who shall entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?' One said on this manner; and another said on that manner. There came forth a spirit, and stood before Yahweh, and said, 'I will entice him.' Yahweh said to him, 'How?' He said, 'I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' He said, 'You shall entice him, and shall prevail also: go forth, and do so.' (1 Kings 22:20-22)

But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and doesn't find it. Then he says, 'I will return into my house from which I came out,' and when he has come back, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes, and takes with himself seven other spirits more evil than he is, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first. Even so will it be also to this evil generation. (Matthew 12:43-45)

Immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, saying, "Ha! What do we have to do with you, Jesus, you Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know you who you are: the Holy One of God!" Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" The unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him!" (Mark 1:23-27)

They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. When he had come out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling in the tombs. Nobody could bind him any more, not even with chains, because he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him, and the fetters broken in pieces. Nobody had the strength to tame him. Always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and bowed down to him, and crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have I to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, don't torment me." For he said to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" (Mark 5:1-8)

All the demons begged him, saying, "Send us into the pigs, that we may enter into them." At once Jesus gave them permission. The unclean spirits came out and entered into the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and they were drowned in the sea. (Mark 5:12-13)

Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" When the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. Amazement came on all, and they spoke together, one with another, saying, "What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!" (Luke 4:35-36)

Multitudes also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people, and those who were tormented by unclean spirits: and they were all healed. (Acts 5:16)

The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were spoken by Philip, when they heard and saw the signs which he did. For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. (Acts 8:6-7)

Dry the River - Rumor notes 167

Revelation 16

12 The sixth poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates. Its water was dried up, that the way might be made ready for the kings that come from the sunrise. 13 I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, something like frogs; 14 for they are spirits of demons, performing signs; which go forth to the kings of the whole inhabited earth, to gather them together for the war of that great day of God, the Almighty.

The sixth poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates

The sixth angel sounded. I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had one trumpet, "Free the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates!" (Revelation 9:13-14)

The name of the third river is Hiddekel: this is the one which flows in front of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates. (Genesis 2:14)

In that day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your seed I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates: (Genesis 15:18)

Every place whereon the sole of your foot shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness, and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even to the hinder sea shall be your border. (Deuteronomy 11:24)

I have given you every place that the sole of your foot will tread on, as I told Moses. From the wilderness, and this Lebanon, even to the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border. (Joshua 1:3-4)

Now Solomon had 4,000 stalls for horses and chariots and 12,000 horsemen, and he stationed them in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. He was the ruler over all the kings from the Euphrates River even to the land of the Philistines, and as far as the border of Egypt. (2 Chronicles 9:25-26 NAS95)

Because this people have refused the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son; now therefore, behold, the Lord brings upon them the mighty flood waters of the [Euphrates] River: the king of Assyria and all his glory. It will come up over all its channels, and go over all its banks. It will sweep onward into Judah. It will overflow and pass through; it will reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of its wings will fill the breadth of your land, Immanuel. (Isaiah 8:6-8)

It will happen in that day, that Yahweh will thresh from the flowing stream of the Euphrates to the brook of Egypt; and you will be gathered one by one, children of Israel. It will happen in that day that a great trumpet will be blown; and those who were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and those who were outcasts in the land of Egypt, shall come; and they will worship Yahweh in the holy mountain at Jerusalem. (Isaiah 27:12-13)

Is Israel a servant? is he a native-born slave? why is he become a prey? The young lions have roared on him, and yelled; and they have made his land waste: his cities are burned up, without inhabitant. The children also of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of your head.

Haven't you procured this to yourself, in that you have forsaken Yahweh your God, when he led you by the way? Now what have you to do in the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? or what have you to do in the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the [Euphrates] River? Your own wickedness shall correct you, and your backsliding shall reprove you: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and a bitter, that you have forsaken Yahweh your God, and that my fear is not in you, says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies.

For of old time I have broken your yoke, and burst your bonds; and you said, I will not serve; for on every high hill and under every green tree you did bow yourself, playing the prostitute. Yet I had planted you a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then are you turned into the degenerate branches of a foreign vine to me? For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before me, says the Lord Yahweh. (Jeremiah 2:14-22)

Why have I seen it? they are dismayed and are turned backward; and their mighty ones are beaten down, and have fled apace, and don't look back: terror is on every side, says Yahweh. Don't let the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; in the north by the river Euphrates have they stumbled and fallen. Who is this who rises up like the Nile, whose waters toss themselves like the rivers?

Egypt rises up like the Nile, and his waters toss themselves like the rivers: and he says, I will rise up, I will cover the earth; I will destroy cities and the inhabitants of it. Go up, you horses; and rage, you chariots; and let the mighty men go forth: Cush and Put, who handle the shield; and the Ludim, who handle and bend the bow.

For that day is a day of the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour and be satiate, and shall drink its fill of their blood; for the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, has a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates. Go up into Gilead, and take balm, virgin daughter of Egypt: in vain do you use many medicines; there is no healing for you. (Jeremiah 46:5-11)

It will be a day when they will come to you from Assyria and the cities of Egypt, from Egypt even to the Euphrates, even from sea to sea and mountain to mountain. And the earth will become desolate because of her inhabitants, on account of the fruit of their deeds. (Micah 7:12-13 NAS95)

Its water was dried up

The children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand, and on their left. (Exodus 14:22)

It happened, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over the Jordan, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant being before the people; and when those who bore the ark were come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the time of harvest), that the waters which came down from above stood, and rose up in one heap, a great way off, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those that went down toward the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, were wholly cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. The priests who bore the ark of the covenant of Yahweh stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel passed over on dry ground, until all the nation were passed clean over the Jordan. (Joshua 3:14-17)

Fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood over against them afar off: and they two stood by the Jordan. Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that they two went over on dry ground. (2 Kings 2:7-8)

He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and struck the waters, and said, Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah? and when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha went over. (2 Kings 2:13-14)

He turned the sea into dry land. They went through the river on foot. There, we rejoiced in him. (Psalms 66:6)

He said to me, "The waters which you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. The ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the prostitute, and will make her desolate, and will make her naked, and will eat her flesh, and will burn her utterly with fire. For God has put in their hearts to do what he has in mind, and to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished. (Revelation 17:15-17)

Cyrus diverted the Euphrates river, drying it up in order to capture the impregnable city of Babylon by entering through the left-open 'under-water' gates. Similarly during final events, the exposure of all the fraud and deception relied on by the throne of the beast that manipulates the whole earth, prepares its seat of power for its final collapse described in chapters 17 & 18.

As noted in passages we just considered, the Euphrates was intended to be the boundary between the promised land of Israel and Babylon. With this boundary dried up, the distinction between the two becomes nebulous, leaving spiritual Israel open to amalgamation with Babylon. The principles of Satan's kingdom that were refined in Babylon, have infiltrated beliefs taught in popular Christianity, blurring the distinctions between the light of truth and darkness of superstitions about God. This drying up of the boundary line between the two is the goal of modern symbolic Babylon, yet it ends up precipitating the complete collapse of that system of control in self-destruction.

Euphrates river was called Judgment River by the Canaanites and was viewed as a god of judgment in ancient times. This may represent the total loss of justice and true judgment in the world, unleashing a reign of terror.

Euphrates represents the support provided to Babylon by the deceived masses of people on earth that shield it from being exposed by the light of truth. When the truth of God's glory and character publicly exposes the dark lies that have blinded the inhabitants of the earth to the corruption really going on, the support, sympathy and cooperation of the public are dried up.

A river implies waters. As we read from chapter 17, water in prophecy represents peoples in various descriptions of cohesion. If this is what water represents, what would drying them up represent? What about a drying up of public support for the mayhem, immorality and agenda promulgated by the woke movement, opening the way for a violent reaction of the opposite extreme? The parallel to this in the sixth trumpet implicates a reign of terror and forced compliance in the name of law and order and in the n a name of 'social justice' to curb the corruption and breakdown of society experienced under the fifth trumpet. This could be orchestrated and manipulated by Babylon the Harlot. When public support for the woke crowd dries up and people become outraged with all the violence, deception and immorality, the way is opened for the kings of the east represented in the sixth trumpet.

A side note to just mention here. This river might be a counterfeit of the river of life Revelation 22:1-2.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, and flame will not scorch you. (Isaiah 43:2)

that the way might be made ready

Generation, see the word of Yahweh. Have I been a wilderness to Israel? or a land of thick darkness? why say my people, We are broken loose; we will come no more to you? Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number. How trimmest you your way to seek love! therefore even the wicked women have you taught your ways. Also in your skirts is found the blood of the souls of the innocent poor: you did not find them breaking in; but it is because of all these things.

Yet you said, I am innocent; surely his anger is turned away from me. Behold, I will enter into judgment with you, because you say, I have not sinned. Why go you about so much to change your way? you shall be ashamed of Egypt also, as you were ashamed of Assyria. From there also shall you go forth, with your hands on your head: for Yahweh has rejected those in whom you trust, and you shall not prosper with them. (Jeremiah 2:31-37)

For my people have forgotten me, they have burned incense to false gods; and they have been made to stumble in their ways, in the ancient paths, to walk in byways, in a way not built up; to make their land an astonishment, and a perpetual hissing; everyone who passes thereby shall be astonished, and shake his head. (Jeremiah 18:15-16)

for the kings that come from the sunrise [east]

Yahweh put a word in Balaam's mouth, and said, Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak. He returned to him, and behold, he was standing by his burnt offering, he, and all the princes of Moab. He took up his parable, and said, From Aram has Balak brought me, The king of Moab from the mountains of the East: Come, curse me Jacob, Come, defy Israel. How shall I curse, whom God has not cursed? How shall I defy, whom Yahweh has not defied? (Numbers 23:5-8)

So it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east; they came up against them; and they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, until you come to Gaza, and left no sustenance in Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor donkey. (Judges 6:3-4)

Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east assembled themselves together; and they passed over, and encamped in the valley of Jezreel. But the Spirit of Yahweh came on Gideon; and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered together after him. (Judges 6:33-34)

The Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like locusts for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand which is on the seashore for multitude. (Judges 7:12)

Throughout biblical history it was often kings from the east who were allowed by God to bring judgments against Israel or Judah when they chose to alienate from God. Assyria and Babylon were among these. This idea also resonates with the armed forces described under the 6th trumpet. In this case it may appear that the stringent imposition of law enforcement and severe punishments in the name of restoring morality and to regulate social order may be carried out in the name of God, but under a very different sort of justice mentality than how God defines justice.

Keep silent before me, islands, and let the peoples renew their strength. Let them come near, then let them speak. Let's meet together for judgment. Who has raised up one from the east? Whom called him to his foot in righteousness? He hands over nations to him, and makes him rule over kings. He gives them like the dust to his sword, like the driven stubble to his bow. He pursues them, and passes by safely, Even by a way that he had not gone with his feet. (Isaiah 41:1-3)

I have raised up one from the north, and he has come; from the rising of the sun, one who calls on my name; and he shall come on rulers as on mortar, and as the potter treads clay. (Isaiah 41:25)

Remember this, and show yourselves men; bring it again to mind, you transgressors. Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me; declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure; calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country; yes, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed, I will also do it. (Isaiah 46:8-11)

Throne of Darkness - Rumor notes 166

 

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Revelation 16

10 The fifth poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was darkened. They gnawed their tongues because of the pain, 11 and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores. They didn't repent of their works.

The fifth poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast

A throne implies authority, kingship and a kingdom involving a domain over which a king reigns.

A throne implies submission (willing or otherwise) of subjects to whomever occupies the throne.

There is much in Scripture and especially in Revelation about the throne of God in heaven, but scant few references to this throne. The throne identified here is not God’s throne who shares it with the Lamb and His followers, but rather is the concentrated control center for the powers of darkness, here being temporarily occupied by the beast. Yet that was given to him originally by the dragon.

The beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. (Revelation 13:2)

You said in your heart, "I will ascend into heaven! I will exalt my throne above the stars of God! I will sit on the mountain of assembly, in the far north! I will ascend above the heights of the clouds! I will make myself like the Most High!" (Isaiah 14:13-14)

"Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, 'I will shake the heavens and the earth. I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overthrow the chariots, and those who ride in them. The horses and their riders will come down, everyone by the sword of his brother. (Haggai 2:21-22)

Satan invented kingship and the political structures that are used to define and segregate people here on earth. Because this war is focused on our sense of identity, it should be no surprise that God is keen on destroying the labels that divide and separate us from each other in artificial ways He never designed. Yet Satan will stop at nothing to attempt to convince others that these labels are legitimate and originated with God. He even boldly attempted to tempt Jesus to affirm this system during one of His times of greatest weakness and vulnerability, after 40 days in the wilderness with no food or drink.

Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory. He said to him, "I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me." (Matthew 4:8-9)

Here is the mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits. (Revelation 17:9)

For God has put in their hearts to do what he has in mind, and to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished. (Revelation 17:17)

Can a throne of destruction be allied with You, one which devises mischief by decree? (Psalms 94:20 NAS95)

In this chapter we find two competing thrones. While the throne of iniquity – representing twisted thinking about what God is like – is here filled with abject darkness, the other true throne that is the source of all light, continues to coordinate events to appeal to hardened hearts to not continue to resist the light that separates truth from lies, good from evil, peace and joy from violence and destruction. This is precisely what the light of truth does in relation to darkness, what Jesus calls judgment.

The seventh poured out his bowl into the air. A loud voice came forth out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done!" (Revelation 16:17)

Immediately I was in the Spirit. Behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting on the throne that looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. There was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald to look at. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones. On the thrones were twenty-four elders sitting, dressed in white garments, with crowns of gold on their heads. Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders. There were seven lamps of fire burning before his throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Before the throne was something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal. In the midst of the throne, and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind. (Revelation 4:2-6)

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and of all tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. They cried with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation be to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" All the angels were standing around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before his throne, and worshiped God, (Revelation 7:9-11)

I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them. (Revelation 20:11)

He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no night, and they need no lamp light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22:1-5)

his kingdom was darkened

The fourth angel sounded, and one third of the sun was struck, and one third of the moon, and one third of the stars; so that one third of them would be darkened, and the day wouldn't shine for one third of it, and the night in the same way. (Revelation 8:12)

The fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from the sky which had fallen to the earth. The key to the pit of the abyss was given to him. He opened the pit of the abyss, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke from a burning furnace. The sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke from the pit. (Revelation 9:1-2)

The light of a lamp will shine no more at all in you. The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride will be heard no more at all in you; for your merchants were the princes of the earth; for with your sorcery all the nations were deceived. (Revelation 18:23)

When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. Now terror and great darkness fell on him. (Genesis 15:12)

Yahweh said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt." Moses stretched forth his hand toward the sky, and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They didn't see one another, neither did anyone rise from his place for three days; but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. (Exodus 10:21-23)

To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness. (Isaiah 8:20-22 NIV)

Arise, shine; for your light is come, and the glory of Yahweh is risen on you. For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but Yahweh will arise on you, and his glory shall be seen on you. (Isaiah 60:1-2)

Give glory to Yahweh your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains, and, while you look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness. (Jeremiah 13:16)

Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of Yahweh comes, for it is close at hand: A day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness. As the dawn spreading on the mountains, a great and strong people; there has never been the like, neither will there be any more after them, even to the years of many generations. (Joel 2:1-2)

The One who was sent as the light of love and truth into the gross darkness of this world, had this to say about our perceptions of what is light and true.

The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! (Matthew 6:22-23)

I tell you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven, but the children of the Kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 8:11-12)

But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man who didn't have on wedding clothing, and he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?' He was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness; there is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.' (Matthew 22:11-13)

This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn't come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. (John 3:19-20)

For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse. Because, knowing God, they didn't glorify him as God, neither gave thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened. (Romans 1:20-21)

They gnawed their tongues because of the pain

(This is the only occurrence of this Greek word in the entire Bible translated here as gnawed.)

In reviewing the many references to the tongue throughout Scripture, it starts to become clear that the choices we make about the words we speak has enormous impact on what we experience when it comes to how we react to the truth of God and the presence of God particularly. The tongue is possible the part of our body most involved in the war over our souls. Jesus spoke often of the importance of the kind of language we use and the reality that our obsession with what we put into our body is eclipsed by the nature and spirit revealed in the words that come from our mouth involving the tongue which is required in order to form words.

The tongue is used for tasting which is one the parts of our body used to receive sensory information that impacts our emotions.

The tongue also provides sensory information about the feel of what it contacts.

The tongue can be used without use of sound to convey information, i.e., sticking out the tongue at someone.

The tongue can be involved in experiencing sexual activities.

The tongue is a major factor in the function of swallowing.

The tongue is an essential organ for forming words. This is where the important symbol of the tongue has huge implications as our words have an enormous effect on most all of our relationships.

It is from this perspective that it is important to appreciate the significance of what is described here. This chapter describes people who that are fully aligned on one side or the other with no middle ground apparently left. Everyone involved are experiencing judgment, meaning the light being poured out from these bowls is eliciting either responses of joy, light and reflection of God’s glory, or violent reactions that expose intense hatred of the truth by those who love darkness. These reactions are expressed in blasphemies by use of their tongues.

The problem becoming obvious at this point is that those who have stayed with the lies of the dragon and beasts, are experiencing suffering caused from dissonance brought on by exposure of the lies believed. In other words, God created our tongue for the purpose of fostering deep, loving, trusting relationships with Him and those around us. This is what the tongue was designed for, and when it is used as designed it increases in capacity that results in increasing peace, joy and pleasure that can last for eternity. But when it is used to propagate lies, slander, bitterness, deceit or hatred – things it was never designed to do, then the incongruence between its design and its use by those who have chosen to give themselves fully to evil, can lead the tongue to experience the pain of that dissonance. This is true in all the parts of our body, and here this pain of dissonance is highlighted involving the tongue.

If what we have proposed about the nature of these bowls and their contents is anywhere close to being true, and I believe it is, then what is described here is the sharp contrast between the outcome of those who have chosen to use their tongues to only give expression to the New Song in magnifying praise for their Hero, the One who connected them with the heart of God, and the reaction of those who have long resisted belief in the New Song. Yet that very song is what could have set them free from their anguish brought on by the dissonance of the lies that form their character.

Do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God; who "will pay back to everyone according to their works:" to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory, honor, and incorruptibility, eternal life; but to those who are self-seeking, and don't obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath and indignation, oppression and anguish, on every soul of man who works evil.... (Romans 2:4-9)

Lies believed underly unbelief. It is lies cherished that inevitably leads to broken trust making it impossible to enter into the experience of mutual love and fellowship for which we were created. This is the underlying truth of the pain described here.

This disparity has always been, but the difference is that it becomes unavoidably obvious in the light of truth poured out in praise that magnifies God’s true righteousness and glory.

For there is no faithfulness in their mouth. Their heart is destruction. Their throat is an open tomb. They flatter with their tongue. (Psalms 5:9)

who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and aim their arrows, deadly words, (Psalms 64:3)

They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God, their redeemer. But they flattered him with their mouth, and lied to him with their tongue. (Psalms 78:35-36)

They bend their tongue, as it were their bow, for falsehood; and they are grown strong in the land, but not for truth: for they proceed from evil to evil, and they don't know me, says Yahweh.

They will deceive everyone his neighbor, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves to commit iniquity.

Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceit: one speaks peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in his heart he lays wait for him. (Jeremiah 9:3, 5, 8)

They return, but not to the Most High. They are like a faulty bow. Their princes will fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue. This will be their derision in the land of Egypt. (Hosea 7:16)

This will be the plague with which Yahweh will strike all the peoples who have warred against Jerusalem: their flesh will consume away while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will consume away in their sockets, and their tongue will consume away in their mouth. (Zechariah 14:12)

"Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they have used deceit." "The poison of vipers is under their lips;" "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness." (Romans 3:13-14)

they blasphemed the God of heaven

This is another reference to what we just studied in verse 9. This blasphemy clearly involves use of their tongues which give expression to the condition of their hearts. At this point the continued resistance in blasphemy against the truth be revealed through praise and light poured out by these seven angels, is causing reactions in their body. The fact that their response to the revelation of God’s love for them is blasphemy is proof that their hearts have become so hardened in resistance to God’s kindness, tender mercies and compassion that there is nothing more that can be done to awaken repentance in them. Their determined choice to quench the Spirit of truth has destroyed capacity to repent. But this must be made obvious to everyone.

He who is not with me is against me, and he who doesn't gather with me, scatters. Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is to come. (Matthew 12:30-32)

This blasphemy is blaming God as the cause of all their suffering, which is a denial of personal responsibility for their own choices that has resulted in their lost condition and total hostility towards heaven. As we discussed in previous studies, blame is one of the first symptoms of the infection of sin, and when left unremedied blames God as the source of evil.

because of their pains and their sores

This indicates cumulative effects. The darkness is not the cause of this pain, but rather the pain from the scorching sun. Suddenly extreme exposure to the heat of the sun becomes abject darkness throwing them into isolation. Additionally sores here remain from their reaction to the first bowl, meaning that the effects of each outpouring do not disappear before the next one takes hold.

They didn't repent of their works

This too reinforces their response to the outpouring immediately previous to this. But note what the difference is. Here they refuse to repent of their evil works, their outward actions whereas in the last one they refuse to give glory to God. This may correlate to the mark of the beast (Revelation 13:16) located on the right hand, while refusing to give God glory correlates to the mark on the forehead.

What is becoming clear is that these negative reactions caused by exposure to the light in the praise and prayers of those emulating the Lamb, are become ever more intense. They are also condensing down to symptoms that can be predictable.

Sores and abscesses are symptoms of deterioration caused by corrupting poisons or infectious elements that cause a breakdown in the health of the skin.

In the spiritual dimension this represents corruption caused by lies, unbelief or a host of other negative toxins that distort our perceptions of God’s disposition towards us.

Blood representing one of the core factors of physical life, is turned into the opposite as it becomes corrupted to become like a dead man.

In the spiritual realm, the Spirit of truth and life is displaced by the spirit of the accuser, the father of lies, the enemy of souls resulting in opposite results from what sources of life-giving waters were designed to provide. Instead of circulating and enhancing increased life, joy, peace and greater intimacy with others, the sophistries and selfishness caused by sin results in loss of circulation of anything life-giving and the resources meant to bring us life all are transformed into sources of suffering and anguish.

The sun, the visible and vital element of the design for life to exist and thrive on this planet, becomes the source of scorching burns causing increased suffering on top of the painful sores already in place on the skin.

Spiritually, the very Source of life and light, truth and love that is essential for thriving life and satisfaction and lasting pleasure, becomes so misunderstood through the twisted magnifying glass of selfishness, that instead of being embraced with joy, the truth of God’s graciousness, kindness and humility is despised, hated and resisted until its intense rays designed to bring healing react in hardened hearts as nothing but torment when the message becomes unavoidably plain (Isaiah 28:19).

When darkness envelopes the center of power that is behind all the deceptions in this world, people react by blaming God for everything negative that is happening to them, refusing to believe that what they experience is according to the inviolable principle of cause and effect.

In the spirit realm, the overwhelming light that relentlessly exposes the hidden things of darkness is labeled as darkness itself in a last desperate attempt to maintain the facade that those in power are actually the benefactors of mankind (Luke 22:25).