End Time Losers Prophesied in Revelation

The message of Revelation, the last book of the Bible, is the prophecy of Jesus about the end of the world. He tells who will be the winners and losers when the world as we know it comes to an end. Let's take a look at who specifically will be the biggest losers.

The biggest loser is the father of liars

The one called the Devil, also known as Satan, the Liar (John 8:44) will not only have pants on fire, but will eventually be burned in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:10).

Before that point, though, he fights like a dragon in heaven and then is cast down to earth by God's archangel, Michael—the angel charged with the protection of Israel (12:7-12). This sets the Great Tribulation into motion, ending only when at God's command Michael chains Satan up in the abyss for a thousand years (20:1-2).

However, after being unchained again to gather for battle the remaining opponents of the truth (20:7-10), he loses big time. His final purpose will then have been served and so he is thrown into the Lake of Fire—where two others have preceded him—to be tormented forever.

The two who are thrown in first, before Satan, are those he'd previously called on for help. After Satan is thrown to earth and in his beastly dragon pursuit of Christ fails to crush Him (12:13-17), he then goes to war. He wages war on those who obey God's commands and testify as to who Jesus is.

The two beasts of Revelation 13 then rise up to help as Satan's allies. One is like a demonic sea monster from the pit and the other that comes to its aid speaks with devilish words. These beasts are what Satan uses to be able to finally kill Christians and Jews (17:6). In the end (19:20), however, these two beasts are thrown alive into the Lake of Fire.

First Beast

The first beast that rises up is the seven-headed Beast, or Dragon, having ten horns—like prophet Daniel's fourth beast (Daniel 7:7) with ten horns. As an anti-Christian empire it wages world wide war "against the saints to conquer them" (Revelation 13:7).

The saints are represented by the churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3—seven of them in contrast to the seven heads of the Beast. The Lord’s message in these two chapters says the part the saints are to play in end times—even if they die—is not to be that of losers, but victors.

These end time victors are rewarded, by the end of Revelation, with an inheritance from God, as summarized in this chart:

Second Beast

A two-horned beast rises up as an ally to aid the first beast in this war against the saints. As a priesthood of the first beast's cult it teaches against the worship of Christ. It's two horns are like that of a lamb, to simulate Christ, but like a draconian monster its words are devilish.

This priesthood cult (also the false prophet of Revelation 19:20) in contrast to the priesthood of the twenty-four elders (4:4), also uses magic to deceive (13:14). It connives a way to get mankind to worship the first beast.

The twenty-four elders are, instead, representatives of the New Testament saints. In their role of priests, they have (in 5:8) incense bowls filled with the prayers of the saints. They sing a new song of the people of the new covenant (in 5:9-10).

Losers are given an out

Rather than leaving mankind no way out from the trap of lies of this beastly cult, during this time God provides "two witnesses" (11:2-3) as another path to follow. He empowers witnesses with extra-ordinary power for three and a half years.

These witnesses are the spiritual Israel, or the Church; symbolically represented as olive trees and lampstands (11:4). Their empowerment will be reminiscent of how Elijah and Moses could suddenly destroy with fire, prevent rain, turn water to blood and cause disasters whenever they want. Mankind will then have a choice between the lies of the losers, the beastly cult, or what these witnesses proclaim.

Winners are taken out...then up

At the end of the three and a half years, the Beast in 11:7 then conquers and kills the witnesses (the same event as 13:7 where it wars against the saints, or the Church.) Their martyrdom is seen world wide (11:9).

I believe, these witnesses are the ones told in 2:10 to remain faithful even in death—the Church. They also include those spoken of in 6:11, as the rest of the ones to be killed; martyred during the Great Tribulation.

These martyred witnesses—the saints—are then resurrected to heaven (11:11-12) as the winners! They are the winners who are seen celebrating before God in 15:2-4, on the sea of glass, singing the new song of grateful triumph.

They are also depicted as the sealed 144,000, in chapter 7, who are robed in white—the very same who sing the new song, the song of the redeemed, in 14:3.

Note: The theme of Revelation is the completion of God’s plan. The number 144,000 does not signify an actual, literal count, but represents completion and perfection—the restoration of the broken Old Covenant. This number also relates to the perfect cube of the New Jerusalem, in 21:16-17, which is 12 x 12 x 12 (12² = 144).

Those of mankind who had not taken heed of the witnesses' testimony, but instead chose to worship the Beast, they lose big time! They are doomed to suffer torment (14:10-11). The smoke of their torment will rise forever.

These Beast worshipers will be known as cowardly unbelievers in Christ as God's Son. Their end, like Satan and the two Beasts, is in the Lake of Fire—the second death (21:8).

The anti-Christian empire of the Beasts—represented by city Babylon—is destroyed as the final bowl of judgment is poured out, in 16:17-21. It is split into three by a hugely devastating earthquake and 100 pound hailstones. Its sudden destruction by fire is further detailed in chapters 17-19.

When the Beasts and the nations of the earth gather to attack Jerusalem with their armies, the Beasts are captured (19:20). This is when they are thrown into the Lake of Fire. Then, Christ, the rider on a white horse (19:11), together with his army, kills all the Beasts' followers.

The broken covenant with God (Heb 8:8-9; Jer 31:32) is later seen restored, as foretold by the prophet Isaiah (62:1-5). Seen in chapter 21 as a new holy city, a gigantic shining Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, it descends onto the mountains. There in the brilliant splendor of the glory of God is where the winners—those who were caught up to Jesus in the clouds (1Th 4:16-17; Rev 11:12; 14:16)—will enter in and live with Him forever.

It becomes obvious to me that the priesthood cult of the anti-Christian Beast empire during the Great Tribulation, what Satan uses to destroy Jews and Christians, represents militant Islam. Here are a few similarities between the beast and Islam. They both

1. Want to bring the whole world under their dominion
2. Cut off heads
3. Rape the women of their enemies (Zechariah 14:2)
4. Seek to destroy Israel and the Church
5. Control ¼ of the earth (6:8)

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