Issue in Revelation is military rank

"The Book of Revelation is written in light of a chain of command. The emphasis isn't so much chronology as it is the commands being issued by rank.

"In the United States, the commander in chief, the president, is the No. 1 military leader. Under him is the joint chief of staff. Under him are the generals. Then you have colonels, majors, captains, lieutenants, etc. Under them you have the enlisted. The Book of Revelation is laid out that way.

"For example, Revelation 1: [1] The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

"Who is the highest-ranking entity in all the universe? God gives it to who? The Father says, 'Son, you have the order to begin.' The commander in chief says, 'It's a go.' He gives the green light. Here's the battle plan.

Revelation 5:1: [1] And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

"The Father gives to the Son the instructions that detail the outbreak of wrath and the commencement of the Lord's Day.

Verses 2-6: [2] And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

[3] And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
[4] And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
[5] And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
[6] And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

"You have the Father who, in effect, gives to the Son the Book. The Son commences the military strategic machinery that now is going to begin to turn.

"From the Lord Jesus Christ, guess where the command goes? This is how it works in the military, right? Did Eisenhower land on Normandy? The higher echelons of command . . . There is this telescoping.

Revelation 8: [1] And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

[2] And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

"These are no ordinary angels. There are angels that specifically stand before the presence of God. By the way, Lucifer was an anointed cherub that covers. He had the highest rank.

Luke 1:19: [19] And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

"We call Gabriel an archangel. Jesus Christ says, 'All right, you angels, here's the command.' 

"You know what these seven angels that stand do? They now, in turn, issue the orders. They pass it on to whom? Another rank of angels. Those angels do what? We see things about two witnesses and the 144,000. There's the troops, the ground-pounders!

"In Revelation 15-16 are another type of angels that come out of the temple. These angels are not described as standing in the presence of God.

"God says to the foot soldiers dying at the hands of the opposition, 'I'm going to give you white robes and you're going to rule with me. Yeah, you might be a lowly private out there, but you know you're going to be with me in my cabinet for eternity.'

"Guess what we learn about Satan? There's going to be an ungodly chain of command; Satan's going to do the same thing! The devil is cast out--guess what he does? He's got the false prophet, the beast, this and that.

"Satan has HIS chain of command and his demon-devil army. He's got his foot soldiers as well. Remember when Jesus Christ is casting out devils?

"You know, the unclean spirit is the lowliest; they're the foot soldiers of Satan. They're out there doing his dirty work, getting slaughtered." 

(new article tomorrow)