Post-tribulation and the Two Beasts of Revelation

Preface

After I wrote this book, I was reminded of the book of Joshua and the entrance of the sons of Israel into the land of Canaan. The conquest of Canaan took only six years, but each step was triumphant, beginning with the fall of Jericho. Only once were they defeated, and that was at Ai, but God turned even that into a victory. I was adding up the battles, and the record was about 31 to 1. This impressive record reminds me of the victory we have through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Another interesting fact is that when the Israelites crossed the Jordan, it was during harvest, when the spring rains caused the flooding of the river. This speaks of the Holy Spirit. Now, when they entered the land, God had already provided food, since it was harvest, so He did not muzzle the ox while it was treading the grain. We are approaching a similar battle to the Israelites. The tribulation causes fear in the hearts of many people, and I think this is because we have been fed a wrong view of the tribulation. Not to say it is easy street, but we must not fear the waves that are under the feet of Christ (Psalm 46).

But when I look at the conquest of the land by Joshua and the Israelites, I am reminded that our inheritance is certain because of the finished work of Jesus Christ. This is His land because He bought it with His own blood. As we harvest souls for Christ, we cannot be defeated. Satan and his angels have been disarmed by the cross of Christ and, like the kings of Canaan, they know their time is short.

Knowing how severely God dealt with the Israelites in their first attempt at the land, Joshua must have been completely fixated on not coming up short, as before. He and Caleb had been denied the Promised Land because of the bad report of the other ten spies and the unbelief of the older generation. This time was going to be different. This group had faith.

So, as we approach this time, we need to look again at what God has done for His people in the past and move out with renewed courage. We can recall the sound of the seventh angel who blew the last trumpet and announced, “The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and forever” (Revelation 11:15). The end is already announced.

What is significant about the land of Canaan is that, according to Genesis 15:18, there were ten nations in Canaan. Joshua then was about to overthrow these ten nations. Jesus Christ is about to defeat the ten nations represented in the feet of the image of Daniel 2. Now it says, “In the days of those ten kings the God of heaven will raise up a kingdom which will never be destroyed” (Daniel 2:44).

What a great time we live in, and I know that we, together, will do great things for our God.