Revelation Chapters 19/20 – The Church Triumphant and the New Constantine – Neo-Historicism – End Times Eschatology From A New Eastern Orthodox Christian "Historicist" Perspective

Beginning with the Apocalypse chapter 7, we analyzed events from a historical perspective which John prophesied would “shortly come to pass,” and history confirms the events of the seven trumpets soon began to occur at the turn of the second century with the persecution of the Christians and the rise of early heresies in the Church, both of which would challenge the young orthodox faith handed down from the Apostles. We then witnessed the fall of the Roman Empire by the great migration of the barbarian nations in chapter 8, upon which a new social order in the Middle Ages would be established. During this time the Church would fight major Christological heresies like Arianism through the seven ecumenical councils before the Church would face the third and final woe within the East and West with the rise of the two beasts and empires: the Islamic/Ottoman Empire of the East and the Holy Roman Empire of the West as foretold in chapter 13. In Revelation chapter 16 we saw the fall of these two empires with the shaping of events that would lead the world out of the dark and middle ages – the Protestant Reformation, Renaissance, Enlightenment, revolutions in Europe and fall of the Ottoman Empire and rise of the British Empire with the sixth vial, which prepare and open the way for the “kings of the east,” or Ashkenazi Jews, to return to Israel after the completion of their Seven Times Captivity. We then reach a climax in the 20th century, with the Sun darkened as sackcloth, the Moon turning red an the Stars falling from heaven. That is, with the final obscuring of the true doctrines of Christ through the power and influence of the three contending political ideologies (croaking frogs), the church would no longer reflect the true doctrines of Christ, especially after the century of bloody wars related to the reformation, revolutions and world wars. In these days of moral and spiritual darkness, the stars or ecclesiastical authority of the bishops had pretty much disappeared from the majority of the thousands of Protestant denominations and were considered to be an obsolete and outdated idea.

We now come to the final climaxing of events of the tribulation period described as the “time of the end” or “times no longer” and their realization coincides within the present time period which we live in. In this article, we will examine these events in more detail which are described in Revelation chapter 19 and the first half of Chapter 20. These events are very near in our future and most likely fall within the time frame of the 21st century. More specifically, the events related to the fall and destruction Babylon, the removal and disappearance of the two beasts and the return of the woman clothed with the Sun from the desert to receive her crown of glory at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. These things are the final conclusion to the history of chapters 7 to 18, after the sounding of the seventh angel’s trumpet to reveal the mystery of God and his Church as foretold through His servants the prophets. We have much prophetic evidence describing these events in more detail from many prophecies and rare texts not in bible, such as the the prophecies of the early fathers of the Church, Byzantine-era, and modern Orthodox and Catholic prophecies. These prophecies over time have not been given in vain, but collectively serve to unseal the mysteries of the church and Christ’s victory over Satan in these final days. This analysis is one of the first attempts to align and correlate some of these prophecies with the text of Revelation to help illumine the reader to perhaps arrive closer than ever before to the chapter’s actual or intended meaning.

“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: 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. And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. (Revelation 19:1-3, KJV)”

The saints in heaven give honor, thanksgiving and worship to the Lord their God, who judged the great harlot and carried out the sentence. The saints in heaven do not look to kindly upon the secret activities of the Roman Catholic Church through the middle ages to the present, and have full knowledge of the events on earth, while we are oblivious to them. The harlot reigned for 1260 years upon the earth and never remained a widow, because we were drunk with the ignorance to the true reality of the Apparent Lamb and the Woman on the Scarlet-covered Beast, who perverted and withheld the truth of Scriptures and caused the small and great men to drink the cup of her fornication. As the old expression goes, the Western nations “drank the kool aid” and thus became oblivious to the sins of the Papacy. The people of the earth will soon come to understand this mystery of the harlot and the judgment upon her. And when the seal of knowledge and understanding has been fully removed and the scroll open, we will judge the whore appropriately and instead offer the new adoration and praise to the true woman coming back fro the wilderness as the Bride on earth as it exists in heaven. Then the other women will be destroyed permanently such that “her smoke rose up for ever and ever.”

“And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. (Revelation 19:4, KJV)”

The 24 elders and 4 beasts confirm the praise of the multitude in heaven and finish the thanksgiving and supplications with “Amen” and “Alleluia” and finish the prayer.

“And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. (Revelation 19:5, KJV)”

The voice in heaven which is directed towards all of the inhabitants of the earth is similar to the proclamation of the seventh angel’s announcement that the times are completed and it is time to worship God in spirit and truth. All nations and all peoples, both small and great, as Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, etc are called forward to give Him their thanks and honor and worship for the shortening of the days for their benefit and salvation. Because Jesus Christ has delivered us from the control and persecution of the harlot and beast. The kings of the earth are humbled and the poor and hungry are given nourishment and living water.

“And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. (Revelation 19:6, KJV)”

As a result of the sounding trumpet of the seventh angel upon the earth, the inhabitants of the world immediately turn from fear and sadness of their impending destruction and never-ending bloodshed into that of joy, astonishment and delight at the realization of and deliverance of their divine creator and savior. During the height of the bloodshed during the final battle between the nations and the beast, God will send the angel to stop the war and announce the times are fulfilled and peace is to fall upon those who seek it.

The “voice of the great multitude” representing the thanksgiving and worship of the people filling the churches, starting immediately with the reopening of Haghia Sophia in Constantinople with Christian prayers and liturgies. The “voice of mighty thunderings” is the fast spreading of the joy and good news of the true apostolic faith spreading from the East to West like lightening as promised in Matthew 24:27: “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (KJV).” The spreading of the Orthodox Faith is described in this fashion by the prophet Agathangelos in 1279 AD:

“(…) Truth shall triumph, and the sky shall rejoice in true glory. The Orthodox Faith shall be uplifted, and shall spring from East to West in order to be blessed and praised. The barbarians shall be overcome with fright and, wholly trembling, shall headlong flee speedily, abandoning the world’s metropolis (Constantinople), then God shall be glorified, and man shall see the works of His omnipotence. Let it be so, and it shall be so, Amen… (…) Raise the name of the Lord your God, sing to the great king of the ages, give Him glory, oh come, come, pious race: also you, the inventors of the distorted heresies, come and join your own hymns to the Lord, for, He is benevolent, for, His mercy lives through the ages. Amen” – (Agathangelos – 1279 AD)

This event is further described by Agathangelos at the end of his book of prophecies:

The impious school of the devil, which is offering the appearance of sanctity before the eyes of men, look, it will be destroyed in it’s entirety; then a most brilliant Constitution of the Divine Providence will shine in the world and illumine it, and chronologically this will take place very close to the final destruction of those cursed, unjust and rapacious wolves. Oh, poor human beings! raise the name of the Lord our God up high, sing hymns to the Great King of the Ages, giving Him glory! Come, oh come, pious generation, rejoice with the psalter and the lyre, in drums and in shouts and in trumpets; sharpen your cymbals; blow in and increase the volume of your organs; blow into your pipes and your bagpipes; run and jump in dances that are acceptable and according to law; dance in the decorous fashion before the throne of the Great King of Israel, Whom the blasphemies of the Sabbatians have stained and soiled for many centuries. Also you, the inventors of the distorted heresies, come and join in the celebration and the singing of hymns to your Lord, because He is good, because His Mercy endureth forever, amen. – (Agathangelos – 1279 AD)

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God (Revelation 19:7-9, KJV)”

The time has come for the Wedding Feast of the Lamb upon completion of the end of the 1260 year period of tribulation and the trumpet sounding and announcement of the voice of the seventh angel. Who is this betrothed woman and “wife” who has made herself ready for the marriage to the Lamb? This is the same exact woman in Revelation 12 who was clothed with the Sun with the moon her feet. The woman who gave birth to the Man-Child or God-Man through the ecumenical councils. The same woman who fled from the enraged Dragon into the monasteries out in the desert and high in the mountains for protection and sustainment under continuous prayer and fasting, while the flood of heresy of Islam spread throughout the cities and nations of the East. The same women who consists of the two witnesses upholding her teachings and traditions and was slain for “three and a half days” or 350 years under the Ottoman Empire, and came back to life as their enemies beheld them. The woman who “made herself ready” now returns from the desert for the marriage ceremony. For 1260 years, or a “time, times and a half of a time,” Satan ruled through the secret marriage and affair of the great harlot who pretended to appear authentic and genuine to the world as the universal mother and bride of Christ. Now, the tide has turned and Christ now will reign through his new bride after the marriage ceremony.

This bride is the Orthodox Church of the East, which after the future great battle for Constantinople, she will regain her former glory and enter into union with the Christian nations of Europe, Asia and Africa. And what is this union with the Western nations who will join her at the Wedding Feast? This is the future prophesied eighth and final ecumenical council, which will resolve all differences, refute all heresies and heal old wounds. This eighth council is prophesied by St. Nelios the Murrh-Gusher, who died in 1592. He lived in the village of St. Peter in Peloponnesus, Greece. “… During that time the eighth and last Ecumenic Synod will take place, which will pacify the contentions of the Heretics, it will separate the wheat from the chaff, and the right doctrine from the false doctrine, and for the short length of fifty years there will be peace upon the earth. Afterwards they will turn again towards evil and they will go to their perdition.” The bride will receive the churches of the West as a result as a mother receives her young in her arms. Per the Anonymous Prophecy of 1053 AD: “In five and fifty years the end of the afflictions; and in the seventh there is not a miserable man, there is not a banished man; returning to the Mother’s rejoicing arms (i.e. the Church). So shall it be, and we wish that it be. Amen. Amen. Amen. I am the Alpha and the Omega (as in Revelation 1:8). First and last The end. One flock and one shepherd shall there be, from the true Orthodox faith. We wish that it be done. Amen. Amen. Amen.”

The woman is arrayed in clean and fine white linen, symbolizing her long faithful betrothal period and clothed with the true doctrines of Christ the God-Man, sinless and without heresy in her doctrines and teachings as a result of the righteousness of her saints and two clouds of witnesses who defender her to the death. The climax of the drama of Revelation is the Wedding Feast of the Lamb with the beautiful woman, who defeated Satan and was not lead astray like Eve in the Garden, where God promised the Gates of Hell would not prevail. Those who are called to participate in the marriage feast of the Lamb will be blessed in this unity and single denomination. They will get to witness the full glory of the Kingdom of God, the Church, established in every nation as the Gospel is preached to the four corners of the earth. Many are called, but few are chosen.

“These are the true sayings of God.” All of these scripture verses in the Book of Revelation have been fulfilled with amazing accuracy and testify to the truth of God’s word. These were foretold to John over 1900 years ago, and we can witness the history of the text which “shortly came to pass” in the second century onwards. The “true sayings of God” are proven true through history. John heard these sayings and believed them when he first heard them prior to their fulfillment and was so moved that he fell down to worship the angel.

“And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 19:10, KJV)”

John’s worship of the angel was an act to honor and accept the statements of truth he received from the angel. The Angel indicates he is a fellow servant and declines the worship, as both should worship the Lord. Those who have the testimony and understanding of Jesus Christ as the God Man and would lose their life for this sake, have the “spirit of prophecy.” The old testament prophets through the spirit of prophecy gave us testimony that he would come, and the apostles testified as a witness to his presence in the world, and the two witnesses testified through the councils and creed, while the prophets through the time of tribulation gave us additional testimony of his coming victory and wedding feast.

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. “And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords. (Revelation 19:11-15, KJV)”

This vision is an amazing vision of the victory of Christ and his reign on the earth. Many Futurist prophecy commentators describe this as Christ’s second coming and descent from heaven to live with us on the earth for one thousand years. This view is held by post-tribulation rapture theorists such as Hal Lindsey with his infamous “Late Great Planet Earth” and Tim LaHaye with his Left Behind series of books. Many expect Jesus to come after the blowing of the seventh trumpet when the sign of the Son of Man is visible in the heavens on the completion of the seven year tribulation period. Is there a deeper hidden meaning to the passages described here? Perhaps, it might seem, the second coming after the 1260 year period is not a literal presence but a spiritual presence of Christ’s Kingdom of God through His church on the earth. The answer to this question might be found in the mountains of evidence or testimony contained in the prophecies of many saints throughout history. Many of these saints whose testimony points to a future great king appointed by Christ to proclaim his Gospel message, as he wages war to conquer and capture former Christian lands of the lost empires. A new Constantine the Great!

This idea might seem ridiculous for many of us to consider or imagine. Most Protestants do not have a favorable view of the first Constantine like the Orthodox Christians as a result of their view of papacy through the reformation. In attempts to reform the Church and return to an early state of worship, the Protestants believed that Constantine brought “sun worship” into Christianity and perverted it by changing the date of worship to Sunday, and worship Mary and the saints through idol worship of icons. So then it would be hard for them to accept the fact that there could be another new Constantine or Christian monarch in an era where monarchies were disbanded in favor of democracy and republics.

In our analysis of the evidence, we will examine the testimony of witnesses from both the Eastern Orthodox or Byzantine era prophecies and Roman Catholic prophecies from the middle ages. The critical clue of the rider on the white horse which is described in the prophecies of the Greek Monk Agathangelos who received his visions in 1279 AD. He wrote prophecies of a future king who would be the ruler of Europe. In chapter 9 of his vision, he describes a future monarch of Europe coming from French descent:

“And low and behold, the son of man, as if waking up from a deep sleep, offers thanks to Heaven; and I contemplate him sitting upon a white horse, having a sharp sword in his hand, and he is properly arranged to march forth on the head of very many peoples (nationalities). And lo and behold, two gates are being opened and he is being followed by his turtle dove and the toddlers and with a single jump he enters into the innermost part of the garden and he falls on his knees before the holy icon that had been raised in front of him and he offers words of thanks; And I heard a great voice whose timbre was changing saying the following: this is the way that the Lord God blesses a man who is Godfearing; your wife will be productive like a vine and the rest of the text of the psalm; son of man, you have put your hope upon God and nobody will laugh at your expense and nobody will cause you any shame throughout the ages ” – (Agathanghelos, 1279 AD)

This future king is described to arise at the time after the end of the war and battles of Constantinople and be crowned emperor of all of Europe. He will promote the spread of Christianity, defeat the enemies of Christ through war, and be instrumental in calling the eighth ecumenical council.

“King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords” – The new Christian emperor of a vast empire:

“He shall be Emperor of Europe“ – Aystinger the German
“you and your progeny are going to move your residence into the Palace of Constantine, and nowhere else.” – General John Makriyannis
“His dominion will extend from the East to the West” – Venerable Bartholomer Holzhauser (died 1658)
“Because in the last days God the Lord will raise a king from poverty” – St. Andrew Fool For Christ

“called faithful and true”

“The true king, whom people have chased from his abode” – Emperor Leo the Philosopher
“He will restore the church of Santa Sophia (in Constantinople), and all the earth shall enjoy peace and prosperity; and new cities will be erected in many places” – Saint Bridget (Birgitta) of Sweden (1303-1373)
“he will become agreeable to everyone through charity” – St. Andrew Salos for Christ
“he will take care that the poor become rich” – St. Andrew Salos for Christ
“For thirty and two years will he govern the kingdom. He will not impose taxes for 12 years, and will not accept presents.” – St. Andrew Salos for Christ
“And he will raise the shattered altars and will have the holy churches rebuilt.” – St. Andrew Salos for Christ
“This great ruler will restore stolen Church property” – Father Laurence Ricci, S.J. (died 1775)
“And upon his return from his expeditions and battles the treasures of the earth will be opened and everyone will become rich and nobody will be a poor man, and the earth will give its fruits 100-fold. And all weapons of war will be converted into ploughs and scythes; and he will rule for a period of thirty five years.” – St. Methodios of Patara (4th Century)
“The Great Ruler will perform such great and noble deeds … Under his reign the greatest righteousness will be practiced and the earth will bear in overabundance.” – Abbe Souffrand (died 1828)

“in righteousness he doth judge and make war.”

“With divine assistance, this ruler will not only lead erring souls back to the through faith but also deal a heavy blow to the foes of the empire, the Turks, take a way their empire and restore it to Christianity” – Dionysius of Luxemberg (1682)
He will conquer England and other island empires. Greece he will invade and be made king thereof. Cochlis, Cyprus, the Turks and barbarians he will subdue and have all men worship the Crucified One” – Saint Cataldus of Tarentino (500 AD)
“A great prince of the North will a most powerful army will traverse all Europe, uproot all republics, and exterminate all rebels… and shall subdue to his dominion the Mahometan Empire “ – Rudolph Geckner (died 1675)
“Through the power of the Most High he shall confound the tyrants, the heretics, and infidels. He will gather a grand army, and the angels shall fight for them; they shall kill all God’s enemies.” – Saint Francis de Paul (1470)

“he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God”

“22. Fear and Terror of the Barbarians under the True Faith.” – The Anonymous Prophecy (1053 A.D.)
“Yet in the third year will one of the unconquerable Eagles, who reigns over the Enlightened Nation between the Rhine and the North Sea, with a great army meet them by the mouth of the River Rhine and in a fearful battle almost entirely annihilate them” – Monk Hilarion (died 1476 A.D.)
“And they will give a sword to his right hand and they will say to him: take courage, oh John, and be strong and be victorious over your enemies; and taking in his hands the sword indicated by the Angel he will beat the sons of Ishmael and the dark-skinned ones and every infidel nation And the sons of Ishmael he will divide into three groups: one third he will kill by the sword, one third he will baptize and the rest he will bring under submission in the East” – St. Methodios OF Patara (4th Century)
“Because all the earth shall shrink before his face; and he will, through fear, make the sons of men be prudent.” – St. Andrew Salos for Christ
“And he will exterminate those magnates who will transgress the law” – St. Andrew Salos for Christ
“And you should punish impiety and utterly consume with fire those who engage in acts of Sodomy; furthermore, the bad priests you should chase from the alter and you should restitute the worthy priests (…) – St. Methodios OF Patara (4th Century)
“And after that he will turn toward the east and will humble the sons of Agar” – St. Andrew Salos For Christ

“On his head were many crowns”

This describes his royal bloodline as a descendant from the Eastern and Western emperors including Constantine, Charlemagne and Pepin:
“And the Lord will raise up a king of the Romans, who people say is dead and useful for nothing, who people will think died many years before. The Lord is reserving this man in the outer country of Persia. This is his name: that which begins with the letter K of the alphabet” – The (Greek) Apocalypse of Daniel
“God Almighty will exalt a very poor man of the blood of the Emperor Constantine, son of Saint Helena, and of the seed of Pepin, who shall on his breast wear the sign of a red Cross.” – Saint Francis de Paul (1470)
“God will choose a descendant of Constantine, Pepin and Saint Louis, who has been tried by a long period of disappointment to come from exile to rule over Europe” – Mother Josefa von Bourg (died 1807)
“Of the blood of the Emperor Charles the Great and of the King of France shall arise and Emperor named Charles” – Chronicle of Magdeburg
De sang Troyen naitra coeur Germanique – “Of Trojan blood will be born a man with a German Heart” – Century 5.74
There shall arise in the last times, a Prince, sprung from the Emperor Charles who shall recover the land of promise and reform the Church” – Aystinger the German
“The Muses are singing songs of victory on behalf of the French; but lo and behold, already the Man of Anjou is hastily preparing himself to enter in the succession to the French throne; the three monarchies will appear to be divided among the three brothers, and they will remain in their possession; (…) Yes, yes, he will ascend to a lofty position; the faith of the God the Father will dissipate completely the unhappiness; this man, (the Man of Anjou) being favored by the French and the Russians will be seen to reach to the apex of self-sufficiency and independence from want of any kind;” – Agathangelos (1279 AD)
“one of the descendants of the kings of France shall reign over all the Roman Empire: and that he shall be the greatest of the Empire; and that he shall be the greatest of the French monarchs, and the last of his race” – Blessed Rabanus Maurus (780 – 856)
“a man of the house of Orleans will be made king” – Father S. J. Nectou (died 1772)
“A man disliked by France will be placed on the throne; a man of the house of Orleans will be made king. It is only after this event that the counter-revolution shall begin” – Father S.J. Nectou (died 1772)
“This most unhappy war shall end when an emperor of Spanish origin will be elected, who will, in a wonderful manner, be victorious through the sign of the Cross” – Saint Bridget (Birgitta) of Sweden (1303-1373)
“Germany and Spain will unite under a great prince designated by God” – Blessed Johannes Amadeus de Sylva (died 1482)
“The new German emperor will mobilize for war” – Brother Anthony of Aix-la-Chapelle (1871)
“The King, son, shall not come from Alexander or from Augustus” – Agathangelos – 1279 AD
“Peace will return to Europe when the white flower again takes possession of the throne of France” – Saint Hildegard (1098-1179)
“At a time when the whole world seems doomed, God will intervene. With his aid, a valiant duke will arise, from the ancient German house which was humiliated by the French Monarch” – Father Laurence Ricci, S.J. (died 1775)
“He will be a Catholic, a descendant of Louis IX, (yet) a descendant of an ancient imperial German family, born in exile” – Venerable Bartholomer Holzhauser (died 1658)
Nostradamus – Century 5.74
- De sang Troyen naitra coeur Germanique
- Qu’il deviendra en si haute puissance;
- Hors chassera gent estrange Aribique
- Tournant lEglise en pristine preeminence
- Translation:
- Of Trojan blood will be born a man with a German Heart
- And will rise to such a great power.
- He will drive out the strange Arabic people
- And return the Church into a pristine preeminence

“his name is called The Word of God.”

John of Revelation was the author of the Gospel and Chapter 1 verse 1 describes the Logos or the Word. This reference here may indicate the identity of the first name of this king. Many prophecies refer to him as John.
“then will rise a Holy King whose name begins with an I (Iota) and ends with a S (Sigma)” – St. Tarasius
- NOTE: Iannis = John in Greek
“take courage, oh John, and be strong and be victorious over your enemies” – St. Methodios OF Patara (4th Century)
“herewith I appoint as My deputy the man named after John the Baptist, and I bequeath the realm to him and his offspring and the offspring of his offspring through the ages. This is My wish and this is My pleasure … You, king John, you are faithful to Me and to My kingdom, let your issue follow your own example; you and your progeny are going to move your residence into the Palace of Constantine, and nowhere else” – General John Makriyannis
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse (Malachi 4:5-6)”

“And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. (Revelation 19:17-18, KJV)”

After the proclamation of the sounding of the seventh angel’s trumpet, the various nations and tribes of the earth will be called to prepare for additional battles under the Great Monarch to liberate many lands.

“And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. (Revelation 19:19, KJV)”

There will be one last attempt by the nations of the Islamic Beast to fight the Christian armies under the Great Monarch. This would be to fulfill what is written in Ezekiel chapter 38 and 39 about the destruction of Gog and Magog. During this time period, the Jews in Israel will come to accept Christ as their messiah. It is not clear whether this mass conversion will happen before or after the great battle.

“And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:20, KJV)”

The casting “into a lake of fire burning with brimstone” is the destruction of the two beasts that tormented the true church during the 1260 period of persecution. This is not a literal drop into a lava filled volcano or the eternal hell-fire of the future Final Judgement, but a spiritual destruction through the realization of the heresies created by Mohammed and the Papacy is the cause for all of the bloodshed of human history from the beginning of the middle ages up to the present day. Future historians in the church will forever accuse and analyze these beasts of history to ensure that history will never be repeated again. The eighth ecumenical council will formally disband the Pope’s authority and proclaim one Patriarch for all of Europe, and the five Patriarchs will be reassigned for one to each continent. These events of the disbanding of the power of the two beasts and the eights council is described in the Anonymous Prophecy of 1053.

“20. Deferring of the Latins to the error-free Faith of the Orthodox.
21. The Orthodox Faith shall expand from the East far into the West.
22. Fear and Terror of the Barbarians under the True Faith.
23. Cessation of Papism and the establishment (proclamation) of a single Patriarch for the entire European Continent.”

“And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. (Revelation 19:21, KJV)”

The Byzantine-era prophecies state that one third of the Muslims will convert to Christianity, one third will be killed in the battles and one third will be pushed into the remote regions and mountains of Asia.

“And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. (Revelation 20:1-3, KJV)”

We begin in Revelation Chapter 20 from another perspective of the shaping of the future event beginning with the sounding of the seventh trumpet. In Revelation chapter 9, we see the vision of the angel of the fifth trumpet sound his trumpet and give the key to the fallen start to open the bottomless pit. The person who unlocked the pit was Arius, who as a result of his major heresy that would attack and persecute the church for “5 months” or 150 years. Arius was the forerunner of the Antichrist and dramatically affected future history through his influence on Mohammed in the East and the introduction of the “filoque” addition into the Nicene Creed in the West as a defense again Arianism. Both of these influences or reactions to Arianism would divide the Eastern and Western Churches and cause the subjugation the Eastern Christians for a period of 1260 years. Now we see the reversal of the fifth trumpet with the casting of Satan into the bottomless pit and the closing up and sealing of the doors of the pit by the seventh angel’s sounding of his trumpet. This vision of the event marks the elimination and prevention of the heresies created by Satan to attempt to divide and conquer the church through new innovations and distortions of the faith, resulting in countless denominations and new bloodshed. First Satan will lose the kingdom of Babylon, then the kingdom of the Beast, the control over the ten kings of the earth and finally be imprisoned for a period of “one thousand” years. During this period in the future after the completion of the days of the seventh angel, the Church will be one flock spreading the Gospel to all nations. No competing monotheistic religion similar to Islam will prevent the spreading of Christianity for at least a thousand years, or an immeasurable period of time since the “days” and “time of the end” has already arrived. Satan will be given one final short period of time prior to to the return of Christ and the general Resurrection and judgment to deceive the elect. This sealing and locking the abyss is described by Agathanghelos at the final chapter and very end of his book of prophecies:

(…) And lo and behold, a great multitude of a heavenly army carried off the great dragon and they tied him with formidable chains and cast him off in the Tartarus of the firing furnace, while the Angels were singing upon the earth, in the ether, and upon the waters as follows: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have Mercy on us. Only to This thrice Holy God belongs the glory and the might and the kingdom in the ages of ages. Amen.” – (Agathangelos – 1279 AD)

“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. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. (Revelation 20:4-5, KJV)”

Next we have a vision of the future and final eight ecumenical council which will unify all denominations to one flock. The thrones are symbolic for the kingdoms of Christ on the earth, that is the Orthodox patriarchates and jurisdictions over the world ruled by many archbishops and bishops. The council is Ecumenical in that the Protestants and Catholics will participate with their bishops and theologians. The bishops will gather on their “thrones” of judgment at the great council to ensure the proper separation of the right doctrine from the false doctrine. They will analyze the testimony from the many doctrines, canons, scripture and cloud of witnesses and saints of the church who defended the true teachings of the nature of Christ as the God Man, and who died for their testimony.

In this time period we have two types of “first” resurrections. The first “first” resurrection is related to the two witnesses of the woman who fled into the wilderness and did not did not worship the beast or received a mark, will be viewed favorably. This is the spiritual resurrection of the two witnesses of the true Orthodox church described in Revelation chapter 11, who after three and a half centuries after the fall of the Byzantine empire, and who after twelve hundred and sixty years of tribulation are fully restored to their former glory, under a new Christian Empire of Europe and will rule with Christ for a thousand years as the only denomination under one flock. The two witnesses are awoken, regenerated and restored from their spiritual slumber at the moment of the seventh angel’s trumpet call. The many saints who died during the period of tribulation will be recognized for their testimony, and the Christians during this era of restoration will be a witness to countless miracles and intersessions from these saints, who will serve as an inspiration for all Christians to never stray from the truth given to them through the scripture and ecumenical councils.

The second “first” resurrection and restoration is also announced at the completion of the days of the voice of the seventh angel and the 1260 year period and the mystery of God will be revealed as were declared through His servants, the old testament prophets. This second Resurrection is as a result of the final completion of the Seven Times and the return, repentance and regeneration of the Jews, who will be grafted in back to the olive tree and bear fruit, and have the opportunity to worship Christ and be an active part of his reign within the Church for one thousand years. This Resurrection and restoration of the Jews is demonstrated in Daniel 4 and also foretold by Ezekiel chapter 37:

“Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord. (Ezekiel 37:11-14, KJV)”

The time has arrived that the Holy Spirit of God will fall upon the Jews, and they will realize it was Jesus Christ who brought them back from their captivity among the nations to call them unto him. St. Paul also places the return of the Jews before the resurrection of the dead before the second coming, and this is also what John refers here as the “first resurrection” of the dead described in Ezekiel’s parable of the Valley of the Dry Bones. These promises concerning the gathering and restoration of the Jews from the nations into the land of Israel, and their acceptance of Jesus, the Son of David, as their king and messiah are to be completed at the seventh trumpet and wedding feast of the Lamb. St Paul states:

“For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. (Romans 11:25-27)”

When the Jews accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they will be forgiven and enter into a new eternal covenant with God.

We see from prophecies combined that the first resurrection is a spiritual resurrection of the two witnesses of the True Orthodox Faith Church described in Revelation chapter 11, who after three and a half centuries after the fall of the Byzantine empire, and who after twelve hundred and sixty years of tribulation are fully restored to their former glory, under a new Christian Empire of Europe.

“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6, KJV)”

The merged Gentile and Jewish Christians into one flock, who are alive in this period of time period of history, are truly blessed. They will lead holy Christian lives free of sin, full of the love of Christ and following the teachings of scripture. During this period, people will be formed from an early young age into the image and likeness of God. Such the holy life many of them will live, that these Christians will have nothing to fear when they die, because as a result of their holiness they will one day arise and escape the fearsome judgement seat of Christ and be called to live with Him in the Kingdom of Heaven forever and ever. Thus, the great mystery of God declared by his servants the prophets has become fulfilled. The diaspora and scattering are completed. The great marriage supper of the Lamb is consummated through the eight ecumenical council and regeneration and restoration of the Jews into Holy Orthodoxy.

“And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:7-10, KJV)”

After this “one thousand” year immeasurable period of the Gospel message being preached and accepted to all nations, with no new heresies and divisions within the Church, Satan will be released once again to deceive the nations an prepare them for one final battle to destroy the Church and the Holy City of Jerusalem. We end our interpretation here before the final battle and casting of Satan into the lake of fire, which is described in the text o Chapter 20 just before the verses describing the general resurrection and final judgement.

The rest of the Book of Revelation starting with Chapter 20 contains unfulfilled futurist content that remains sealed and is difficult for us to fully interpret today. It is no for us to know these times and seasons, other than the general understanding of what will happen in this time period. The goal of this study was to provide a new Historicist interpretation on the chapters in Revelation in which this author believes were historically and accurately fulfilled, or near fulfillment, which begin with chapter 7 and end with chapter 17. This period of time was possible to be calculated and understood from studying the “Times” prophecies of the Revelation, Daniel, Ezekiel and Leviticus. The reader should note that the future content not yet fulfilled related to the final completion of the Seven Times and 1260 year period are described in chapters 18 to 20. These two chapters can be better understood and interpreted successfully by continuing to study the prophecies of the early fathers and other saints through the Byzantine era Middle Ages who were given the gift to prophecy. These saints were given authority to prophecy to us throughout history as was described by St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians:

“And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. – (1 Corinthians 12:28-31)”

Glory be to God who hath shone forth the Uncreated Light of Life unto all nations. Amen!

2 Comments

James says:

29 Jun 2019 at 9:37 am

Excellent and fascinating.

I’ve been a Protestant and now want to be an Orthodox monk.

So christians aren’t resurrected with immortal bodies to live out the millennium?

Bit of a bummer I was wanting to live through this whole glorious period, but whatever is God’s will is fine by me.

Will the Temple of Ezekiel 40-48 be rebuilt during the beginning of the 1000 years?

Will the Christian Emperor reign from Jerusalem?

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1. Jonathan Photius says:
  
  8 Aug 2019 at 6:07 pm
  
  Hello James. That is wonderful news that you are considering Orthodox Monasticism.
  
  It really is unclear whether certain saints will be resurrected at the beginning of the “millennium”. I really think this is referring to a symbolic resurrection, related to the “two witnesses”, the spread of the Church through baptism (which is a rebirth/renewal) from spiritual to life. And also a reference to the conversion of the Jews to Christ per Romans 11 and Ezekiel 37.
  
  And most likely the references of Ezekiel 40-48 are describing the rebuilding of a physical temple (i.e. Church) dedicated to the Holy Trinity at the beginning of the “1000 years”.
  
  The Christian emperor is prophesied to rule over Europe but lay down his crown in Jerusalem (probably a reference he will be buried in Jerusalem).
  
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