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Scriptural Evidences That Christians Shall Die In The Great Tribulation
 

	They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service....... But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them...       — Jesus Christ (John 16:2-4)

Table Of Contents:

Introduction to the subject
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         Hello All.  Our work today certainly isn't the milk that the greatest majority of modern Christian churches are nursed on.  It is strong meat for a mature prepared Christian people of God.  The subject matter is hard, it is hard truth; but it is truth nonetheless.  And God had His reasons for foretelling us of this time and these things so as children of the Kingdom we must study and understand it.  I speak of the fact that many Christians shall be killed during the Great Tribulation.

        That many people of all faiths (or those of no faith even) are killed during the Great Tribulation is not the subject of this study, nor is it disputable; it is undeniable that millions, actually billions even, of peoples shall be killed during the Great Tribulation outlined in the book of Revelation.  First let's observe the mass of death in the Tribulation then we shall focus our study on the specific topic of the Christian slain.  

 
        So are you ready for the Great Tribulation?  I know, I know, what a heck of a hard way to open a Bible study.  But you CAN be ready for the Tribulation --  Study God's Word, for He spoke much to His Christians about the Trib!  What is amazing is that even we Christians, whom have the Scriptures telling us of all things "But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things." (Mk 13:23) seem to not realize the magnitude of the Great Tribulation and the sheer number of the slain.  We simply sleep on as though it isn't going to fall down upon us; or like the person who crosses the street not looking at the car that he knows is coming -- as though not to look will make it not to come upon them.

        Oh, the Rapturists think that they'll fly away before it all happens, but they won't; and for their itchy ears their false doctrine shall cause the Rapturist to be the most unprepared group of Christians for the Tribulation, immediately followed perhaps by the Catholics, whom suppose that the Pope has their best interests in mind and is watching out for them.  But all Christians shall be in shock when the Scriptures auto-fulfill in rapid fire succession and they actually witness the end of the Bible.  But don't be fearful, for God is with His Christians, even unto the end.

(Note: In this study we will shock you with the reality of our situation regarding the executions, but at the end of this study we also show that God has provided protection, at two separate periods, during the Tribulation for His people.  In that, you may find hope.)

        But why shall 99.?% of Christians, and all of the non-Christian world, be wholly unprepared for what is to come?  Well, regarding the heathen religions, i.e., Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, etc., it is because they have not the Scriptures to warn them; and for Atheists and Agnostics they won't believe them anyway; but the Christians had the Scriptures but the majority esteemed them not, either not bothering to read and study God's letter to them or allowing some false or ignorant Preacher to tickle their ears with 'feel good' sermons that relax more than they prepare.

        By what authority do I call Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, etc., "heathen religions?"

Matthew 11:28
27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.  KJV

        If they know not Jesus, then they don't know God; and if they know not God they are heathen; period!  "Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also." (1 John 2:23).  I don't care what the beguiling, ecumenical, Judaized so-called Christian Preachers and Teachers of today say from the compromised pulpits of 21st century 'quasi-Christianity' or the contradiction-in-terms 'Judeo-Christianity,' they are enabling the spiritual death of millions of Heathen by making them to believe that they are spiritually alive as long as they believe in a god, any god.  Sorry Preacher, it doesn't work that way; but then you should have known that, shouldn't you?  You once knew it, what happened to you, whence came that spirit?  You have effectively left your first love (Rev 2:4).

        The 'blood' is on these Preachers hands, for they willingly consent, by omission and silence, to the spiritual death of millions of God's children, which spiritual darkness they know is the penalty for unbelief.  

John 3:16-21
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.  (KJV)

        Yes, I know, they always seem to stop short of, and leave off, verse 18 when they quote John 3:16.  "...we wouldn't want to offend, you see," they would say.  It seems that in these last days it is more important to the so-called Preachers to secure their pensions and position at the pulpit by not making waves, than it is to save souls; and they seem willing rather to be content with the admiration of men and to be popular and politically correct, than it is to do their job - which job is to lead people to Eternal Life through Messiah Jesus Christ.  No, that's secondary to them, they come first, God second, if at all anymore. 

       They sit in their fine garments hosting interfaith worship services with Heathens in the House of God, confusing the hell out of every sheep that has the misfortune of being 'shepherded' by them.  And the most horrible thing that they do is that they intentionally omit Jesus' name when their Jewish and Muslim constituents are in the house having joint-worship services.  In effect they have become ashamed of Jesus and only mention His name after the Heathen have left the room.  "...we wouldn't want to offend, you see," they would say. 

Mark 8:38-9:1
38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.  KJV

       They shall answer for this!  It were better for them if they were a mechanic or even a prostitute than for them to handle God's Word deceitfully!  For a mechanic dirties his hands, prostitutes their bodies, but one who handles the Word of God deceitfully dirties the spirit of all involved, not the least of all their own.  Of course God knew them, He knew what they would do:

Hosea 6:9
9 And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for they commit lewdness. KJV

2 Corinthians 4:1-4
4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world [satan] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.  KJV

        Judgment starts at the pulpit, the Ministers are judged first.  We shall leave them to their own reward.  But herein in this study let's discuss you.

        So why write a Bible study on a topic such as this, one may ask?  Partly because of the false Preachers like those above who promise life but only lead the death march (spiritually), whom week after week repeat the blessings of the Bible but never the warnings.  They have set up the average Christian to be wholly confused and baffled when he sees Christians being persecuted, hunted, and martyred in the Tribulation.  This can only lead to further confusion and eventually perhaps to deception.  It's too late in our day to be willingly ignorant.  

       Simply playing church might have worked up till now, but as we enter these final times the child of God had best know his Scriptures.  The reality of the matter is that those who come into the truth now in these later times are one two wits sharper than many who have been playing church their whole adult lives with their Rapture dreaming, their vain babblings in demonic tongues, their prosperity ministries that only enrich the false prophets, their blatant idol worshiping in the Parishes, their making of the beloved Mother Mary into goddess stature.  Go figure!  So if you are a new student to God's Word don't be intimidated by the so-called brethren, most are themselves deceived in one way or another.  

       There is much wisdom in "So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen." (Matt 20:16).  For Christ returns to a failed church, just as He did at His First Advent, and the churches of today are certainly doing their part to fit the role.  Study God's Word, document EVERYTHING that you learn from a Teacher or Preacher, and document it in the WORD OF GOD itself!  Lest you become as they.  You don't want to become as they, for to them Jesus shall say "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matt 7:23).  I think it's just about time to go into the highways and byways for a people, the churches being mostly deceived at this present time one way or another:

Matthew 22:8-9
8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.  KJV

       Like the Pharisees of old so too shall be the majority of so-called Christendom in the end times:

Luke 13:23-30
28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.  KJV

       Another reason for a study such as this is because God spoke of it; He spoke of it as Jesus whilst He was on the earth in the flesh and as The Lord God He spoke it from Heaven through His Prophets, whom then wrote it down for us; and as well he speaks it into the hearts of the true Christian through his Holy Spirit which he sent after Jesus' departing.  And if God deemed it important enough to tell us of it in His written Word, the Bible, then it is a worthy subject for any Bible study of that Word. That's what we do here, we study Bible.

        So if you're squeamish or simply don't want to know; scared, don't care, can't handle it, or don't believe it's so; then it's time for you to sign off, for we are going to dive deep into the Word of God and search out the answers; we are going to fully and indisputably document from the Bible the Scriptural Evidences That Christians Shall Die In The Great Tribulation.  We do so to help prepare the child of God for the troublous times ahead, and we do so without fear of what any man shall say against us.  Their argument shall be with the Scriptures that they cannot silence nor make to be of none effect, no matter how badly they wish it were so. 

       And the Scriptures truly did foretell that at the time prior to the end, our present time even, men would scoff at the prophecies:

2 Peter 3:3-4
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. KJV

        Well, man may say that it isn't coming, won't happen, and is not to be understood nor prepared for; but as for me, I'll believe the Lord.  For I want to know, I want to know all that He told us about this troublous dangerous time that precedes his Second Advent, and I will believe Him.  Will you?  In this study I present my case from the Scriptures; you may choose to believe what you will; but if you disagree, disagree with Scriptural support not emotion.

       Would it surprise you that Christians would attack other Christians for telling them the truth that they do not want to hear?  Well, yes, this Author has been attacked by so-called Christians for teaching this very subject.  They will also attack you if you teach it because they are afraid; they never imagined, and now cannot fathom, that they might have to give more than lip service to follow the King of kings and for their faith in the end time.

       Well, remember the Christians of old and the Prophets and the the Apostles and the Christians today being murdered by Muslims in the Sudan and another dozen hotspots around the globe, and also everyone else down through time who has been persecuted for the Word of God.  What makes today's quasi-Christian think that the storm will not visit him?  Did not Jesus Himself tell us "...If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you...." (John 15:20).  And what do you think that He meant when He said "...Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it." (Mark 8:34-35).  Was Jesus 'kidding,' was He only talking about the Twelve Apostles?  Was He just giving some live-a-good-life advise to the 1st Century Church?  In this study you will see exactly what Jesus was speaking of.  Will you believe the Scriptures over the feel-goods and sunshine-peddlers at the pulpits of apostate 21st Century Christendom?

It comes down to this:  We Must Believe God Over Man Whenever The Two Are At Variance!

Let us search out the Scriptures to discover:  What Saith The Lord On The Matter?

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Legend of Terms in This Study
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         Please don't simply pass over this section, not only is it quite a study in itself, it is imperative that reader is 'one the same page' as the writer when certain terms are employed.  For without understanding what the author means when he uses one of these terms some the rest of this study may seem to some to be confusing, contradictory, and nonsensical.  

        We shall be using several terms in this study.  These terms have many different meanings to different Bible students and disciplines; and there is some ambiguity at times thus causing confusion to an already difficult to understand matter.  So, therefore, for this reason we feel it beneficial to the reader to have at his disposal a Legend of Tribulation Terms which explain what this author means and meant when he chooses a word to use in this study.  

        For the purposes of this study, the below terms when used, shall mean:

• The NWO:  The New World Order, see 1st beast below.
  
  
• 1st beast:  Referred to in Rev 13:1-3 &f.  This is what I refer to as the New World Order (NWO), it is a changing beast and it's name today may not necessarily be it's name tomorrow.  It is the peoples of the world federated together into a one-globe society having a universal governing body consisting of seven regions and ten separate but enjoined-by-treaty entities (countries, blocks of countries) into a federation of nation-states & peoples.  It is just as the United States currently has fifty states and several regions but only one head (governmental body), so too shall the world then have ten bodies in seven regions and one administration.  This will precede the actual antichrist, for when he (antichrist/satan) arrives he shall dismantle the Federation, the federated (associated, united) government (which will be in near ruin at that time), and install a Theocracy (God governed) system of world government with him (antichrist) sitting as absolute despot (autocrat, tyrant, oppressor, King), being the false god (the antichrist - the instead-of Christ - the unholy impostor).  Just as Jesus Christ was God incarnate, so to shall the antichrist be the false god revealed to the world as the true.  The below is describing the first beast as a political entity, not a living breathing creature.

  Rev 13:1
  13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast [the first beast] rise up out of the sea [peoples - see Rev 17:15], having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. KJV

• 2nd beast:   This is antichrist himself.  It is satan in his end-time role of usurper of God’s Kingdom, the false 'messiah'.  Introduced in Rev 13:11.

  Rev 13:11
  11 And I beheld another beast [the second beast] coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.  KJV
  

• 1st half of the Tribulation:   This is the first three and one half years (42 months) that the first beast is in power upon the earth.  This time was not shortened by Christ in Mat 24:22.
  
  
• 2nd half of the Tribulation:    This is the second half of the original seven years Tribulation, Christ stated that God shortened this time in Mat 24:22.  it is differentiated from the first 42 months in that this time is referred to, not as 42 months, nor 1260 days, nor as 3½  years (which times all refer to the, but only as: "Time, times, and half." (1 + 2 + ½ = 3½ -  but 3½ of what?  It is not stated).  In Rev 9:10-11 we have some indication that the shortened time was to be five literal months.  It is not altogether clear whether this five months is added to the 42 months of the first half of the Tribulation, thus making the entire Tribulation now to be 53 months after Christ shortened Daniel's prophecy, or, if it runs concurrent with the last five months of the 42 months of the first beast, so that after the 48th month the 'beasts' operate together, with both their terminus (end) at 42 months.
  
  
• Kill:    The actual act of the taking of a flesh human's life.  All too often this term is taken "spiritually", i.e., that the killing is of a 'spiritual nature' (the destruction of one's hope and a total void salvation).  I feel that 'we' today (many) tend to over-spiritualize the interpretation of many Scriptures resulting in actually spiritualizing the Scriptures away , in effect making them void in our hearts.  Those who do so may one day find themselves accusing along with the serpent:  "Yea, hath God said....?" (Gen 3:1).
  
  
• Cause to be killed:   One who, by authority, action, or the providing of the opportunity, causes, facilitates, or entices another to kill a human flesh being.  This enticer or solicitor may be a flesh man or a spiritual being such as satan the antichrist.  So that while one might entice another to kill, he may not actually strike the blow himself.  The difference between "Cause to be killed" and or "Kill" in the preceding definition could be illustrated by the below couple examples:

Cause  to be killed (by the hand of others):

Luke 21:16
16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.  KJV

Rev 13:15
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.  KJV

Kill (personally perform the act):

John 16:2
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.  KJV

Revelation 11:7
7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.  KJV

• Destroyed or destroy:    Often figurative, and unfortunately must be used in more than one place by more than one meaning.  This may cause some confusion, but the scope of the subject should make clear the intended meaning.  For Adam was destroyed by the serpent, yet he lived many years afterward.  One may destroy (morally break) a man without killing him, and one may destroy (slay) a man by killing him.  We will try to be very clear whenever this term is utilized.
  
  
• Influenced by satan:    Similar to the above (Kill/Cause to be killed) regarding 'the enticer of an act'.  These are those that do what they do because satan has put it in their hearts to do so and has deceived them into completing the act.  Some are willingly influenced by satan, wholly giving themselves over to him, others by deception, thinking "that he doeth God service." (John 16:2), for they shall think satan (antichrist) to be God.
  
  
• Accomplished (or done) by satan:    These are acts that satan himself commits for which he personally does and which his own hands carry the stain.
  
  
• Men:   Flesh human beings, both male and female.  Never to be used by us of angelic beings in this study; not so in the Bible, the Bible often refers to angels as 'men.'
  
  
• Fallen angels: For our purposes here this will only refer to the angels that are cast out with satan in Rev 12:9.  Actually the term "fallen Angels" is more often than not used incorrectly, for the actual literal 'fallen' angels of Gen 6:2 are since then held in ‘prison’ unto Judgment Day, they have no ability to do anything but wait until the Lake of Fire is opened, wherein they shall be cast.  These angels of satan mentioned in Rev 12:9 are actually a different class of angels not yet damned (different angels than from those spoken of in Jude vs.6 and 2nd Pet 2:4).  But since most here know any angel of satan as a ‘fallen angel’ we shall keep the term, hoping that this present explanation shall remove any future difficulty.  See: The Fallen Angels and the Giants of Genesis Chapter six 
  
  
• System of antichrist:    This is the system which satan shall employ in his take-over; it is his apparatus for the subjugation of the world.  It is the first beast of Rev chapter 13.  I refer to this as the NWO as I believe that it is one and the same with the Mystery Babylon of Revelation prophecy.  Satan shall one day rule this system, but at the first it is to set up by flesh men.  See: The New World Order; What is it, When Did it Begin, is it in place?  
    
   
• Antichrist himself:   This antichrist defacto.  The literal being on earth in operation.  It is satan.  Now while satan can and does influence the ‘System of Antichrist’ above, he does so from his place of holding.  He moves men through evil spirits.  Many evil men on earth are fulfilling negative prophecy  "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men,...." (Jude 1:4).  So that every place it is written that satan causes this or that satan causes that it does not necessarily mean that he is on the world scene physically at that time.  But when antichrist himself arrives here on earth he shall be doing his own deeds personally as well as still motivating his beguiled men (of his system of enslavement).  Once again the context of the passage should give clue to the subject.  See: The antichrist 
  
• The end:    This term also causes great confusion, for it can mean the end of this earth age (after the millennium) or it can mean the end of flesh time on earth (at the Second Advent, immediately prior to the 1000 years Millennium).  For purposes in this study 'the end' shall mean the literal Second Advent, the moment that Christ returns and ‘changes’ some and kills all others.  But even this 'end' is a period of time unknown, for many things happen at the Second Advent that take some time to happen, and are listed in some order of occurrence thus indicating that they do not always occur simultaneously.  So that the 'end' (the Second Advent events) may be minutes, hours, or days even, we cannot know.
  
  
• Seventh Trump, Sixth Trump, etc.:   I will avoid these terms here as I feel that they are misleading on this type of study.  For much happens during each trump often separated by unstated lengths of time.  So by simply saying the ‘Sixth Trump’ or the ‘Seventh Trump,’ for instance, we have not really zeroed in on any time frame other than rather merely an order of events, which of, often it is not given the length of time between them other than nondescript terms such as "after these things....” or “I saw....” etc.

Additional terms:  

God's Elect:   Often referred to as the 7,000, although their actual number may or may not be entirely clear from Scripture; it depends how you read it.  These are select members drawn from the Christian body as a whole that God uses for very specific duties in the end-times.  These have specific duties.

One does not become 'Elect' by will or achievements, they are chosen of God for duty from the foundations of the world.  They will know satan’s end-time system for what it is and the true identity of the antichrist for whom he is (satan).  And this knowledge by the grace of God.  God will use these Elect to hinder satan and to shed light on his (satan's) deceptions during the Tribulation.  The fact that God exposes satan during the Tribulation by the actions of the Two Witnesses and the Elect (and later the 144,000)  would indicate that some may make benefit of the information and perhaps resist antichrist, coming out of his system and into salvation through repentance.  Or, the testimony of the Two Witness and the Elect may be only to convict the world of their sin by taking away their ability to say that they weren't told or warned, and to draw out the 144,000 for their mission.  See: The feeling of frustration sometimes felt by the Elect


The 144,000: These are another separate group of Christians.  These Christians also have specific duties during the Tribulation.  They do not become 'one of the 144,000' until Revelation chapter 7 when God seals them into their position.  Prior to that they have no knowledge that they are to be among the group of 144,000   These at first fall when satan's system is set up but they are sealed by God and come to certain realizations; i.e., they come out of the Babylon that the world has become.  Like the Elect, they do not become of the 144,000 by any action or will of their own.  See note below.

Christians (other) in general: This is every other Christian on the planet, regardless of particular denomination.  As long as they fulfill God's "minimum requirement" for salvation (for lack of a more dignified term) they are Christians and thus saved from the death to come (the second death - commonly referred to as hell, but the proper term is the 'Lake of Fire').  This can be fully trusted and I state it on the authority of, and by warrant of, John 3:16.

John 3:16-18
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life .
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (KJV)

Non Christians: These are any and all peoples that are not Christian, regardless of whether they are Jews, Muslims, Atheists, Agnostics, Satanist, etc.  They are all in one group, and no group is less in guilt than any other, they are all in an unsaved state, for they all at once deny the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour, the Messiah sent of God.  All these are in danger of the Judgment to come upon all men.  If any one of these converts and honestly believes upon Christ Jesus as the Son of God, Savior of men, crucified, died, resurrected alive again by the power of God, and now seated in Heaven, this person is no longer is among the dead (the unsaved) but is a Christian, qualified for, expectant, and promised the saving blood of Messiah Jesus Christ.  Once a person becomes a Christian he needs to learn of the Lord and the Scriptures of instruction from God to His mankind (the Bible).

Gender terms: I (and the Bible as well) often refer to mankind (human beings, male and female) as "man" or "men", these are only terms.  No omission of woMEN intended; it is not implied that women are not parties to all the promises, admonitions, and punishment that men are.

Spiritualize away:   The predisposition of some to always try to affix some mystical other-meaning to Scriptures that counter their own pet theories or which for whatever reasons they do not or cannot accept on face value.  It is the abuse of the often valid and profitable Biblical concepts of 'type,' simile, image, metaphor, allegory, and figure of speech.  Well said Bullinger of them:

"Why is there this universal effort to have us believe that God always means something different from what He says?  Whence comes this spirit?"  
       -- Ethelbert William Bullinger (1837-1913) Commentary On Revelation.

NOTE: ALL Scripture will be taken from the King James Bible version for reasons deeper illustrated in:  Adulterations in the Newer Bible Versions (NIV, NASB...); Proof that the King James Bible (KJV) is the True Word of God

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1st Evidence of Christians Being Killed During the Great Tribulation
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  ~~~  Rev 18:10-24  ~~~

(Go To Legend Of Terms)

Rev 18:10-24
10  Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

       This is speaking of Babylon, the New World Order after she has risen and in her glory and power; referred to as a "city" for the literal city of Jerusalem, Israel, which shall be the seat of the world order at that time.  Perhaps I should explain myself further on this point, for some may wonder how can I can 'lump-together' a city, a world political system, and a global religious system all into one.  

        Babylon is the political system, the word "Mystery" in "Mystery Babylon" (Rev 17:5) is a religious rite, thus the religious aspect of it (see Strong's definition below).  It (end-time Babylon) is a global government, but so much more; it even has it's own religion, thus mocking the Old Testament's Israel government which was also a religion.  Israel's God was God, her political system was Theocratic (God governed); but Mystery Babylon's god is satan (as antichrist, the false Messiah) and her political system shall also be theocratic, but with a false god at the helm.  The "city" Babylon is really the city Jerusalem (defiled).  As the seat of the corrupt religious empire, Babylon (really Jerusalem city Israel in the end-time - as clarified in Rev 17:18) is put as the whole of the system.  

        Look at it like this:  Just like when we mention that "Washington (D.C.) said....", what mean is that America said it, for Washington is the seat of American power.  Or when we say that "Mecca is threatening....", we mean that the Islamic world is angry, as Mecca is the seat of the Moslem faith.  Below is the future Babylon, satan's world government AND religion:

Revelation 17:5
5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.  KJV

MYSTERY: NT:3466  musterion (moos-tay'-ree-on); from a derivative of muo (to shut the mouth); a secret or "mystery" (through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites):  KJV - mystery.

BABYLON: NT:897  Babulon (bab-oo-lone'); of Hebrew origin [OT:894]; Babylon, the capitol of Chaldaea (literally or figuratively [as a type of tyranny]):  KJV - Babylon.

OT:894: [Hebrew Old Testament] Babel (baw-bel'); from OT:1101; confusion; Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire: KJV - Babel, Babylon.

        I am reluctant to give the following example, and I will state as to why momentarily, but it does prove the point, and vindicates me in my assertion about Babylon in the above Scripture.  Look at Vatican City Rome; it is a city, it is a government, and it is a religion, the very seat of a religion (Catholicism).  The Vatican is the only city that is in the United Nations (as a non-voting member).  She has a military guard and an intelligence service (one of the best - the Jesuit Priesthood, which are the Vatican's assassins and spies - read their Extreme Oath Of Induction if you doubt my last point!).  

        But the reason that I am reluctant to use the Vatican as an example is because many (mistakenly) perceive the Vatican to be "Babylon" and the next Pope to be the antichrist.  This is incorrect and shall lead many astray.  Catholicism, even with all her legion of idolatry and false doctrine is no comparison for the antichrist and his world system to come, and which even now is growing by leaps and bounds.  Don't be sidetracked by blind alleys and smoke & mirrors.  And while the Pope shall 'hand over' his 1/3 of Earth's global population which, he shepherd's over, to antichrist; the Pope is not the antichrist, just another pawn.  There shall be many leaders of Earth's different religions, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Satanists, etc., that shall be pawns in the end-time.  What does set the Pope apart, however, and that which makes his deed so much the worse, is that he shepherd's over CHRISTIANS, the other religions are all false and in satan's hand in one manner or another anyway.

Back to our subject:

       It is from the once great Holy City Jerusalem that satan shall defile the Temple Offering and the entire created order (world) on a magnitude that pales the fallen angels of Gen 6 in comparison.  She (Babylon) is described as falling under God’s judgment in the above verse (Rev 18:10) but the next few verses go back to reminisce of her once great glory upon the earth.

Rev 18:
11  And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

       Now in the below we shall what Mystery Babylon (the NWO) was all about.  We shall see what she has made merchandise of

12  The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

       All things delicious and magnificent were her merchandise to be done with what she desired, for she controlled them (all the above are also used in temple worship).  She is fat with all and wants for nothing.

13  And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. (KJV)

        I had prepared quite a lengthy dissertation on the term "and souls of men", spent two days actually, but to my dismay after having done this work on the Greek word psyche (translated souls here) I realized that it was not relevant to our topic because the verse above does not state that the men being spoken of are Christians, and thus would not prove our point that CHRISTIANS are killed during the Tribulation.

       So that having been said, let's skip down to the end of our Rev chpt. 18 Scripture and get right to the point.

(Go To Legend Of Terms)

Rev 18:10-24 (Cont.):

21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.

22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;

23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

24 And in her [FUTURE Babylon] was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. KJV

        And as if that isn't enough to make it quite clear that Christians shall die in the Tribulation we can follow the Scripture down two more verses into the next chapter (for verse 24 above is the last verse of Rev chpt. 18) where we are again confronted with the concept that Christians shall be killed during the Tribulation:

Revelation 19:1-2
19:1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:
2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants  at her hand.  KJV

        These people are killed, their lives are taken from them, they die, they cease living in the flesh;  they are CHRISTIANS; and the events in this Scripture transpire during the Tribulation.

        Based on the above Scripture I feel that Christians shall indeed be killed during the Great Tribulation.  

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2nd Evidence of Christians Being Killed During the Great Tribulation
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~~~  Rev 13:1-18  ~~~
(Go To Legend Of Terms)

Rev 13:1-18
1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

       This is the first beast (the NWO), it rises out of the sea (sea = peoples - Rev 17:15), it has seven heads (seven regions), ten horns (ten regional powers federated), ten crowns (ten leaders of the federated ten regional powers). It represents all blasphemy and is named such because it is the servant of satan.  The world has by this time turned from worship of God to worship of satan, though most know it not.

       Incidentally, this is another good witness that this beast (the NWO) is the ‘Mystery Babylon’ that is written of in this same book of Revelation. For the whore rides this beast and upon her forehead is the title MYSTERY BABYLON.... She rides (controls - is the seat of power) of this beast.

Compare:

Rev 13:1
1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. (KJV)

With:

Rev 17:3-5
3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns [this is the first beast of Rev 13:1].
4 And the woman [Jerusalem City Israel] was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
5 And upon her [Jerusalem City Israel] forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.  (KJV)

       In the above (Rev 17:3), Jerusalem, which will be the capital city of global worship in the final times, is said to 'ride' (be borne, carried about by) the beast (the NWO, Mystery Babylon); in other words, the City that was once the Holy City (Jerusalem) which sat the Temple and altar of God, is now in the seat of all blasphemy and uncleanness, thus she is referred to as a whore (harlot) in Revelation.  For she that was once married to the Eternal God is no longer God's wife, put away, rejected, and divorced for her infidelities, and now she is satan's whore, the whore of antichrist whom defiles her.

       Why does God use all this symbolism, some would muse?  It is because God uses analogies that we, with our simple inborn human emotions, can understand.  Just what exactly is it that He wants us to understand?  He wants us to understand how He feels about betrayal.  Thus with our uncontainable emotional feelings towards a cheating spouse whom we love, but divorced for betrayals, we can begin to understand the emotion and wrath that God has for His children whom have always fell into the worship (love) of other gods (false gods) all down through history; not the least of all at the end of history.  He's hurt.

Returning back to our Scripture:

(Go To Legend Of Terms)

Rev 13:
2 And the beast [first beast, the NWO] which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon [second beast, the antichrist, satan in person] gave him his [first beast's] power, and his [first beast's] seat, and great authority.

3 And I saw one of his [first beast] heads as it were wounded to death; and his [first beast] deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast [first beast] .

4 And they worshipped the dragon [antichrist] which gave power unto the beast [first beast] : and they worshipped the beast [first beast] , saying, Who is like unto the beast [first beast] ? who is able to make war with him [first beast] ?

5 And there was given unto him [first beast] a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

We see here reference to an event covered again later in the chapter (the speaking):

Rev 13:13
15 And he [second beast, antichrist] had power to give life unto the image of the beast [first beast, NWO], that the image of the beast [first beast] should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast [first beast] should be killed.

We shall reserve further comment on this verse until we get there.

Rev 13:
6 And he [first beast] opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

7 And it was given unto him [first beast] to make war with the saints, and to overcome [subdue] them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

       The first beast battles with Christians. This beast overcomes them. This beast is in universal control of the entire earth.  It is the NWO fully realized.  Incidentally, I do not identify these ‘saints’ as God’s Elect.  These, I feel are other Christians (Christian rebels and patriots) who refuse to submit to the NWO.  For the Elect are not overcome, they prevail by the operation of the Holy Spirit within them.

       Let’s not forget that Rapturists (and other of the misled among the Christian groups), even though steeped in false doctrine, will never willingly submit to the worship of another other than than God and Christ. Some may be deceived, yes, and do so in ignorance; but many have heard the Elect speak of these times before they happened, and while they do not today believe it, they may well believe it when the events that the Elect spoke of come to pass.  We cannot say exactly whom these saints are but we can say that they are Christians and they are overcome by the one world system of antichrist (the first beast). 

       Does that mean that they are killed? You judge.  But after they are overcome (subdued) the (first) beast is then given "power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations...."  So if they are not killed, what happened to them?  Either they became antichristians, they died, or God put them some place. This last option is something that cannot be completely ruled out by Scripture (we speak on this near the end of the study).  Does God divinely protect some of these (other than the Elect) in the last days?  It's a nice thought.

       A more realistic thought would be that Christianity will apostate in the final days so that even those who presume themselves to be some type of Christian denomination are really vain and empty, not having the true Spirit of the Lord in them.  I think Christ hinted at this in the below Scripture:

Luke 18:8-9
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: (KJV)

       I think that most Christians really don't realize the magnitude of the apostasy of the Christian Churches today (all of them), they really don't.  By the way, the "Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" is another proof against any 'Rapturing of the Christians,' for had Christ Raptured all the believers out before the Tribulation then He wouldn't have had to muse over whether He would return at the end of the Tribulation to a world with any faith - all the faithful would have been taken out beforehand.

       But let's move on with our present Scripture documentation that Christians shall be killed:

Rev 13:1-18 (Cont.):

Rev 13:
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship [prostrate oneself in homage] him [first beast] whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

       The saints of the preceding verse (vs. 7) have failed their mission, for we see that despite their efforts "all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him."  I identify this group (the saints of vs. 7) as Other Christians in General (see Legend Of Terms), aside and apart from the Elect and the 144,000 groups of Christians.  Whatever the "to make war with the saints, and to overcome them” of the preceding verse means, the result is that the Saints and Prophets are no longer providing effective opposition at this time.  They are either no longer resisting, no one is listening to them, or they are deceased; for now “all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him” except for those foreordained, i.e. the Elect, from the foundation of the world; all other's on earth are apparently at this time those "whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world," because that "all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him".  This is quite a change, something had to happen.  Something substantial! 

       The Rapturist would dream that a Rapture happened here.  But that is folly, and besides, there are still other Christians killed after this above event - so why weren't they Raptured at the same time?  Then even more Rapture foolishness will say that there is a two-stage Rapture, then three, five... and on and on it goes.  There is no Rapture in the Word of God, it is a false doctrine, a tradition of men not of God; see The Rapture Theory; What Does God's Word Say About It? 

Returning to our Scripture:

Rev 13:
9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.

We seek, Lord, we seek!

10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

        Here the Holy Spirit mentions that some may be killed at this time; i.e., per the Scripture it is possible that some be killed depending on the actions of the individual.  If you look this Scripture up in the The Companion Bible footnotes on page 1901, it is actually speaking of destiny.  And though it may be interpreted to be speaking of Christians being killed with the sword, for it does speak of them as "Here is the patience and the faith of the saints," we have better and more clear witnesses than this, so why 'argue' over this one?

11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

       John sees another beast come up. This “another beast” is antichrist in person, on the earth physically; it is satan in his end-time role as false god, false savior.  Now things change. No longer does satan manipulate from afar, he is now here to do so in person.  The proverbial 'heat" on the world is turned up geometrically (a lot).   He "had two horns like a lamb" indicating that he shall appear as the Lamb of God, but this lamb (actually one who looks like the Lamb but is not) in the verse above is the impostor, for it doesn't say that he is the Lamb, but rather that he looked like a lamb having the accompaniments and adornments of a lamb (horns).  Of course this is speaking metaphorically, for neither the True Lamb (Jesus) nor the false lamb (satan) has horns.  Where it says that "and he had two horns like a lamb", the word 'like' is defined as below:

like:  Greek word #3664  homoios (hom'-oy-os); from the base of NT:3674; similar (in appearance or character): KJV - like, + manner.   [this is the Strong's Concordance way of illustrating 'like manner,' and is used throughout the Strong's;  i.e., like + manner = like manner.] .

       And this false lamb "spake as a dragon" because he is the dragon, i.e., he is satan.  The dragon is just one of satan's many names, antichrist is the title that Bible expositors know him by in the final times "...the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world.... [antichrist shall accomplish this, in no other role was satan successful at this completely]" (Rev 12:9).

Rev 13:
12 And he [antichrist, the “another beast”] exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

       Antichrist heals the wound to the NWO spoke of in vs. 3 of this chapter: “and his deadly wound was healed” (Rev 13:3).    A matter of fact; the beast whose deadly wound was healed, i.e., that particular beast.   This second beast (antichrist) compels the whole world to worship his system (the first beast is the global system of antichrist, it is the so-called NWO), "and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed" This was compelled in verse 8 spoken of earlier.  This is spoken of in greater detail now because John has since introduced the second beast (antichrist) and only now can fully elaborate on his part in the scheme.  Although John does identify the dragon, whom is the second beast antichrist, and whom we saw that in Rev 12:9 it was satan himself, as being in authority over the first beast (NWO); least you think that I add to the Scriptures  "...and the dragon [2nd beast] gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority" (Rev 13:2).  Verse 12 above answers as to how the first beast wrestles control of the world that we read of in verse 8.

Rev 13:7-8
7 And it was given [by the 2nd beast antichrist] unto him [the 1st beast NWO] to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him [by the 2nd beast] over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.  KJV

Rev 13:
13 And he [antichrist] doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

14 And [antichrist] deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast [the 1st beast NWO]; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast [to the 1st beast], which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

       Antichrist ‘resurrects’ (makes in-effect again, reanimates) his confederation (the 1st beast, i.e., the NWO), this time he is here as it’s savior and despot (tyrant).

15 And he [antichrist, the 2nd beast] had power to give life unto the image of the beast [of the 1st beast] , that the image of the beast [1st beast] should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast [1st beast] should be killed.

Two very important points are contained in this verse, well, three.  

1. The image is of the first beast (the NWO) not of the second beast (antichrist).
   
   

2. In this verse, submission is demanded to satan’s system (NWO), the image of his system (NWO) not to satan (antichrist) himself. The direct worship of satan (as antichrist) comes later in the Tribulation, this is satan's whole object and scheme of the Great Tribulation - The worship of him (satan) as God.  
   
   

3. Satan CAUSES (see Legend Of Terms) that some be killed for not worshiping the image of his system; i.e., for resisting the NWO. It does not say when or for how long this goes on, it simply states whom is responsible for the command.  It does not say that satan himself commits these murders.

       Now the point that I am trying to draw out here is that this verse is set during the time of the Tribulation. And it clearly states that some are to be killed during this time for refusing to worship the image of the beast.  Christians are not allowed by God, under penalty of eternal destruction, to worship the image of beast, in fact Christians are rewarded for being beheaded rather than to worship this godless image "...and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for..... and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image...." (Rev 20:4).  There can be no doubt that the Tribulation is well under way when these deaths are ordered.

       This is a most unavoidable 'problem' for those who contend that no Christians shall be killed during the Tribulation.  For we see that it is some of the 'best' Christians that are killed here. (I personally believe that the group spoken of below are the 144,000.  I also believe that the 7,000 never die, but are changed at the Second Advent.)

Rev 20:4
4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.  (KJV)

Continuing our Scripture:

(Go To Legend Of Terms)

Rev 13:
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

       This is something new and apart from worshiping the image.  Now they must be branded, either physically or spiritually (why confuse the issue here now, for it is really both), no matter, the fact is that they must willingly take a token of servitude without the which they cannot operate day to day in this world.  No death is threatened upon the refusal of the mark as death was ordered for the refusal to worship the system which is made by men (NWO). 

       Satan cannot force anyone to take his mark of servitude.  It must be given of men freely.  He may only use subterfuge (trickery) not murder (or torture, I might add).  This is to be satan's final 'crowning glory,' so he would think, to receive the willing worship of God's world.  To be made to do something doesn't 'count.'  Under great torture a human will say or do anything - this is not charged against the man by God.  Torture can bring about an extreme form of insanity.  Satan will not be allowed to do this.  And even if he was (which he isn't), but for the sake of argument, the profession given under such duress would not count as valid - in other words, satan would not have gained that which he sought, he would not be worshipped as God.

The Elect being tried, the 7,000 whom may face satan eye to eye:

Luke 21:18
18  But there shall not an hair of your head perish. (KJV)

       Christ spoke the above verse to the Disciples when they had asked Him what would be time and signs of the end.  And as a means to document that the above Scripture was future promise to God's Elect in the end times I will post the entire Scripture so that we may look at in what context God made the promise "But there shall not an hair of your head perish"; for surely He didn't mean the Disciples themselves, as they would all, with the exception of John, go on to be martyred.  Christ's answer was prophecy, they asked the question and Christ answered it.  Only they didn't know that it would be some twenty centuries before it would be fulfilled. 

       Christ, nor Scripture, ever let on that the end would be so very far away — lest the people get lax.  The message was for everyone to always to be ready, for the end is always near for the individual.  And this wasn't an untruth, for when any person dies, it is, in effect, the Day of the Lord for them, for they shall see Him.  The message to be ready was for all generations.  Don't just skip over the below 23 verses for there is much contained within them that is relevant to our study:

Luke 21:5-28
5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,
6 As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down [this has not yet been fulfilled, for we still have the foundation stones one upon another and the Western (Wailing) Wall of the Temple Mount.  And in Luke 19:41-44 Jesus includes all Jerusalem city as well in the prophecy].

7 And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them [See our The Unforgivable Sin
for an eye-opener on those who say that they are Christ — The Anointed ones!] .
9 But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by [and there have been many down through history, none yet heralding the end].
10 Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven [these signs shall herald the true end].
12 But before all these [before the end, i.e., in the last generation], they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake [God's Elect, the Apostles were also a type.  But we see later on down this Scripture that the ones Christ spoke of here shall not have a hair on their head perish - but the Apostles were martyred.  Christ is not here speaking of the Twelve Apostles.].
13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony [once again, the Elect shall testify].
14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death [some Christians shall be put to death; that is the premise of this Bible study].
17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

Some will be protected from death:

not: Greek word #3364 ou me (oo may); i.e. NT:3756 and NT:3361; a double negative strengthening the denial; not at all:  KJV - any more, at all, by any (no) means, neither, never, no (at all), in no case (wise), nor ever, not (at all, in any wise). Compare NT:3378.

perish:  Greek word #622 apollumi (ap-ol'-loo-mee); from NT:575 and the base of NT:3639; to destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively: KJV - destroy, die, lose, mar, perish.

19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

In your endurance and constancy your life shall be preserved:

patience:  Greek word #5281 hupomone (hoop-om-on-ay'); from NT:5278; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy:  KJV - enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting).

souls:  Greek word #5590  psuche (psoo-khay'); from NT:5594; breath, i.e. (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from NT:4151, which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from NT:2222, which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew OT:5315, OT:7307 and OT:2416): KJV - heart (+-ily), life, mind, soul, us, you.

20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh [not one of the Apostles wrote in the New Testament of witnessing the destruction of Jerusalem (save for John in Revelation prophecy)].
21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled [this was not fulfilled in 69/70 a.d. when Jerusalem fell, for all things were not yet then fulfilled].
23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled [here is a clue for us: "But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months." (Rev 11:2)].
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring [this is future yet];
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken [this is future yet, for it is said of God: "Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven." (Heb 12:27)].
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory [hasn't happened yet; the Apostles saw Jesus leave up in a cloud (Acts 1), they never saw Him return].
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh [then shall come the end, for our Redemption is the Second Advent].  KJV

       These things were not fulfilled in His servants the Apostle's time, nor any time yet.  They shall be fulfilled in His servants the Elect's time.  The point being, those reserved ones, those Elect that shall be used in the final days shall never die.  As for other Christians?  Let us see.

Back to our Scripture.

(Go To Legend Of Terms)

Rev 13:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Three conditions:  

1).    "he that had the mark"  

2).    or (not and) "the name of the beast"

3).    or (not and) "the number of his name"

       These are three separate classes of people that serve antichrist in the final time.  More could be said here on this, but why confuse the issue.  If one does not meet at least one of these three conditions he has no right to the 'pleasures' of antichrist’s world, and thus has no right to even exist at this time.

       One cannot operate within the NWO without being on-board with serving the false god antichrist at this time, i.e., without the mark, or the number, or name.  But still no death is threatened them, they just can’t co-exist within the NWO unless they serve their (the NWO’s) god antichrist.  Death at this time, if at comes at all, is now only through denial of food, medicine and basic human services.  The killing was never committed by satan or his supernatural angels, they cannot kill.  The killing prior to now has been committed by men on earth serving satan through the one world system (NWO 1st beast) that THEY SET UP.  Also, the image of the beast had power to cause the death of those who would not worship it..  

       Why won't satan personally kill (other than the Two Witnesses), you ask?  Let's examine the results of compelling another to do your wishes through murder or the threat thereof.  Let's look at how man receives response by this method and then how satan would receive response by this method (cause and effect).  While man may compel other men by murder and threat thereof, and they may get their desired intent by this unwilling compliance, but none who do so simply to save their life really meant it, they just do it (like a rape at knifepoint).  Which matters not to the man doing it.  

       Satan however, works on a different plane with different rules, he seeks not compliance but worship.  He cannot have the true worship and adoration of the world if it is feigned (faked) by them in an effort to save their own very lives (wherein would be the guilt for false worship if done under extreme duress and not truly meant?); no more than God could have true love if He forced men to love Him.   I believe that the 1st beast does much killing during the 42 months, but the 1st beast is a one-world system of HUMAN men.  We see in Rev 9:5 that the fallen angels cannot kill anyone "And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months...." (Rev 9:5).

       This would be a 'dry' victory for satan, having worked diligently for sixty centuries to accomplish placing his own throne on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, ruling over God's created world as lord and master over the entire world, but with with feigned worship from a world that denies him in their hearts; this is totally unacceptable to satan; worship involves a great degree of willing servitude and inner belief.  While you can force someone to obey and serve you, you cannot force them to love and worship you or to believe in you.  Remember, satan wants to be as GOD, to be God if only he could.  

       The below is the definition of the worship that satan and his beast system both shall enjoy from the world; i.e., "And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?" (Rev 13:4):

worshipped:  Greek word #4352  proskuneo (pros-koo-neh'-o); from NT:4314 and a probable derivative of NT:2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand); to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore):  KJV - worship.

       I personally believe that the reason that satan 'needs' this performed perfectly is to save his very own life.  For if he can gain the worship of the world, which worship is death to them that worship, then, perhaps, he thinks that God would once again stay his execution.  This is why satan is still alive today and why he wasn't executed at the first rebellion.  He drew so many of the Stars of Heaven (peoples - souls) with him in that rebellion (Rev 12:3-4a), that God, not willing to destroy so many, decided on giving another chance to His creation.  That is why we are here today. 

       And satan believes that if he can just get enough of the world to worship him as God once again, then God may yet again reconsider executing satan's death sentence.  It is not in our authority to consider whether this be possible or not.  However, Jesus did say "..and the scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:35) and those same Scriptures speak of satan's end "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone..." (Rev 20:10).  But I guess that if you are satan and you have nothing, then you have nothing to lose.

       No, for worship (even the worship of a false god) to be binding, to mean something, it must come from the heart, it must be both real, willing, and heartfelt.  The world shall love this one, this impostor, this antichrist.  I know, it is such an appalling thing to fathom, but antichrist buys the world's adoration and his 1st beast system had prior removed (killed) all that could not be so bought.  That is why God ends the world shortly after satan accomplishes this; and Jesus Christ, the love of the souls of the saved, returns to this earth not with kind words and forgiveness on His lips, but with legions of destroying angels who shall make quick work of this the ultimate insurrection against God and all that is holy, true, and good, and right.