The Prophetic Framework of Revelation and the Events of the End Times

This article is an English translation. The original was published in Finnish on 23 April 2025 and is available here.

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The book of Revelation opens a deeper view into the spiritual realities at work behind the events of our time. Prophecy is not merely the foretelling of things to come; it is the illumination of the present moment by the light of eternity. The prophecies uncover truth hidden behind temporal illusions and call us into a deeper understanding of God's plan.

God's plan unfolds across the pages of Scripture like a wisely composed garden, where every event finds its meaningful place. What appears to be chaotic history takes shape as a pattern written by the divine hand, in which nothing is left to chance. The events of our own day fall into place within this prophetic continuum, which binds past, present, and future into a single whole.

Today's events in the Middle East reflect a deeper spiritual drama. The visual presentations produced in Israel, in which the Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount is replaced by a third temple, reveal a spiritual longing to return to the system of the old covenant. This longing reflects man's tendency to reject the Messiah's sacrifice and to build his own roads to God. The Temple Institute's work in preparing for sacrificial worship is not merely a religious exercise but a manifestation of spiritual blindness.

The conflict in Gaza crystallises around biblical themes: captivity, slavery, forced displacement, and suffering. These are not merely political events; they reflect a deeper spiritual battle. History repeats itself, exposing a spiritual condition of humanity that has not changed across the millennia. The suffering seen in these regions is a reminder of a fallen world that waits for its deliverance.

In Revelation, Jerusalem does not refer only to a geographical place but above all to a spiritual reality. In the eleventh chapter, Jerusalem is set alongside Sodom and Egypt: "the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified" (Rev. 11:8). This reading shows that deeper spiritual realities are in view.

Sodom stands for moral decay and sexual corruption, which in our time appears especially in the rise of LGBTQ+ ideology and other movements that challenge the traditional family and God's created order. Egypt, in turn, symbolises debt slavery and the world's economic system, which binds people in the chains of materialism. This spiritual Babylon is building a global system of control in which economy, identity, and surveillance are woven together.

The two witnesses of whom Revelation speaks do not, therefore, operate only in the physical Jerusalem but within this spiritual reality. They testify to the truth in an age when lies rule the world. Their prophetic ministry of 1,260 days portrays God's faithfulness in preserving His testimony in every era. While the world tries to silence the voice of truth, God sees to it that His word resounds to the very end.

I. The First Six Seals in the Light of Their Spiritual Meaning

The First Seal: The White Horse

"And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer." (Rev. 6:1-2)

The white horse is not a temporal event but an eternal truth that runs through all of history. It embodies the victory of Christ from beginning to end. The white colour reflects purity and righteousness, the bow speaks of the power of the Word, and the crown proclaims the kingship of Christ. This vision sets the frame for the whole book of Revelation: history is not chaos but a purposeful drama whose outcome is certain from the very start.

In this first seal Christ takes His place at the centre of history, "the firstborn of all". The nineteenth chapter of Revelation returns to this image: "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." (Rev. 19:11). The beginning and the end of the book are woven together into one whole.

A deep consolation shines out of this vision. When the state of the world looks hopeless and injustice and suffering prevail, the white horse still rides. The Victor was appointed before the battle ever began. This certainty gives us the courage to look even the darkest times in the eye, knowing that Christ's victory is sure.

The Second Seal: The Red Horse

"And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword." (Rev. 6:3-4)

Wars are not merely historical events; they are the direct consequence of the fall. The red horse symbolises the shedding of blood that began in the days of Cain and Abel and continues to this present hour. This spiritual reality runs through the whole history of mankind, and its conflicts are mirrored both in the relations between nations and in the human heart.

Jesus confirmed this reality in His teaching: "And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars... For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom." (Matt. 24:6-7). This was not merely a prediction of events to come but an observation of what mankind's fallen nature produces.

The conflicts of our own day in Ukraine, in the Middle East, and in countless other places are only the latest chapters in this bloody history. The development of modern warfare has produced an enormous capacity for destruction. The nature of war has changed, but its root cause — man's rebellion and lust for power — remains the same.

From a spiritual perspective, the red horse also prepares the way for a global system. Crises and conflicts create the conditions in which people are willing to surrender their freedom for the sake of security. Every war and every act of terror advances centralised power and control, laying the groundwork for the system of the beast.

The present conflicts in the Middle East, centred on Israel, are directly bound up with the Temple Mount and Jerusalem. These battles are not merely political or religious disputes; they are preparing the soil for the fulfilment of prophecy, laying the basis for control of the Temple Mount — which would make it possible to begin the Jewish sacrificial service according to the first covenant, once the Al-Aqsa Mosque has been removed from the way.

The Third Seal: The Black Horse

"And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine." (Rev. 6:5-6)

Economic inequality is a continuum running through history, and the black horse portrays this inequality and injustice, which comes to a head in the last days. The rider of the black horse holds a pair of balances — a symbol of justice — yet uses it to weigh out the necessities of life at an unconscionable price. A penny, the denarius, was a day's wage, and a measure of wheat was enough for only one person's daily need. The labourer thus earned barely his own keep.

Ezekiel's prophecy confirms this picture: "behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with care." (Ezek. 4:16). Economic distress is not a random crisis but a judgment permitted by God.

The economic realities of today's world mirror this prophetic picture with precision. In many Western countries a day's wage barely covers the basic necessities — housing and food — just as the bread bought with a denarius in the text was enough only for staying alive. At the same time the gulf between rich and poor keeps widening. This spiritual reality is ever more visible in our society: the ordinary person's livelihood grows leaner even as total wealth increases.

The command "see thou hurt not the oil and the wine" points to the luxuries that remain within reach of the wealthy in spite of economic crisis. Today the phenomenon is plain to see: the number and wealth of billionaires grow steadily while ordinary people struggle with inflation and the rising cost of living.

Spiritually, this injustice prepares the ground for the economic control described in Revelation 13. As the necessities of life grow ever more expensive, people become ready to accept a system in which buying and selling are tightly controlled. The development of central bank digital currency lays the technical foundation for such a system, making real-time surveillance and restrictions possible.

The Fourth Seal: The Pale Horse

"And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth." (Rev. 6:7-8)

On the pale horse rides Death himself. This is not only physical death but spiritual death as well. The four forms of death — sword, hunger, pestilence, and the beasts of the earth — recur throughout the prophetic judgments of Scripture. In Ezekiel they are named as a distinct whole: "How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence." (Ezek. 14:21).

In our day these four forms of death appear in many ways:

• The sword (war) is seen in unending conflicts, in terrorism, and in ever-advancing military technology.
• Hunger appears in food crises and in the disruption of supply chains.
• Pestilence became familiar to all during the COVID-19 pandemic, and antibiotic resistance and new virus variants threaten the future as well.
• "The beasts of the earth" can be read both literally and symbolically — man's "bestial" conduct is manifest in abortion, in euthanasia, and in the diseases of affluence, which together form a silent killer.

Viewed spiritually, the pale horse lays bare the true condition of our world. Death is not merely a physical end point but a spiritual reality already at work. A society that has abandoned God is already in the grip of death. This shows itself in the nihilism, hopelessness, and sense of meaninglessness that mark contemporary Western culture.

The pale horse often works as an invisible killer. Lifestyle diseases such as heart disease and diabetes kill millions every year without headlines. The abortion of unborn children amounts to a loss of human life vast in scale yet granted little attention in the media. These unnoticed killers thin the ranks of humanity considerably before the actual apocalyptic events of nuclear war.

The Fifth Seal: The Souls of the Martyrs

"And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled." (Rev. 6:9-11)

The fifth seal reveals the souls of the martyrs and their cry for justice. This biblical truth brings into view the continuum of martyrdom that stretches from Abel to the witnesses of the end times. The word of Genesis — "the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground" (Gen. 4:10) — joins together the blood of all the witnesses of truth, blood that demands justice.

Martyrdom is not merely a historical phenomenon but a living reality in our own day. The persecution of Christians is now more widespread than at any point in history: more than 360 million Christians live in regions of severe persecution. The spiritual meaning lies in this, that the persecution of the witnesses of truth belongs to the very essence of proclaiming the gospel in a fallen world.

The fifth seal also points to the two witnesses of Revelation 11, who are killed for their testimony to the truth. Their martyrdom represents the "fulfilment of the number of the martyrs", which precedes the beginning of God's final judgments. The white robes of the martyrs of the fifth seal symbolise their righteousness in Christ.

Seen spiritually, martyrdom is not only suffering but also glory. "These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Rev. 7:13-14). This reality confronts the comfort-seeking Christianity so common in the West. True discipleship prepares itself to suffer for the truth.

The Sixth Seal: Cosmic Upheaval

"And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places." (Rev. 6:12-14)
"And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" (Rev. 6:15-17)

The sixth seal unveils a cosmic upheaval whose effects reach through the whole of creation. In the visions of the prophets these phenomena recur as one consistent description of the day of the Lord. Joel wrote: "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood." (Joel 2:31). Isaiah saw how "all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll" (Isa. 34:4).

Jesus Himself confirmed this description: "shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken." (Matt. 24:29). These same elements of cosmic upheaval run through the whole of biblical prophecy.

According to this interpretation, the events of the sixth seal describe a global nuclear war that follows the martyrdom and resurrection of the two witnesses. It continues through the second half of the time of separation, the final three and a half years before the return of Christ. The descriptions in Revelation correspond with striking precision to the effects of nuclear devastation:

1. "The sun became black as sackcloth of hair" — the "nuclear winter" that follows, in which dust and ash block sunlight from passing through the atmosphere.
2. "The moon became as blood" — dust and clouds of smoke filling the atmosphere stain the moon red, just as volcanic eruptions and vast forest fires do.
3. "The stars of heaven fell unto the earth" — ballistic missiles, which from the ground look like fireballs falling from the sky.
4. "The heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together" — the violent pressure wave of a nuclear detonation, which appears to "roll up" along the horizon.
5. "Every mountain and island were moved out of their places" — great earthquakes and geological upheavals in the wake of nuclear destruction.
6. "Hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains" — people seeking shelter in bunkers and caves after the nuclear strikes.

Interpreted spiritually, these descriptions of cosmic upheaval also reveal the collapse of the world's systems. The sun, the moon, and the stars represent the authorities and power structures that govern the present order. Their darkening and falling symbolise the collapse of man-centred systems under the judgment of God. Though the vision may describe literal natural catastrophes and global nuclear war, its spiritual meaning runs deep. The events of the sixth seal reveal that every security system man has built is vulnerable and passing. The collapse of the world portrayed here drives mankind to choose its side — to take refuge in God, or to flee in terror, as verses 16-17 describe.

The events of the sixth seal also reveal how the development of modern warfare has brought us to a point where the prophecies of Scripture can be fulfilled literally by means of technology. The guidance systems of nuclear attack — drones, satellites, artificial intelligence — belong to the same prophetic whole that continues in the description of the locust swarms of Revelation 9.

II. The Global Surveillance System and the Mark of the Beast

Digital Surveillance and Control

Alongside the prophecies of Revelation, a technological infrastructure is being built that prepares the world for the system of control described in Revelation 13. This development is not coincidence but part of the outworking of the divine plan, in which man's own rebellion leads him to construct the very system that will finally enslave him.

The EU's digital identity and central bank digital currency (CBDC) together form a comprehensive system covering every area of life: healthcare, finance, education, travel, personal identification, and public services. This system answers to Revelation's description that "no man might buy or sell" without the mark of the beast (Rev. 13:17). Similar projects are under way in China, in Russia, and in the United States alike, and their simultaneous timing is not mere coincidence but quiet preparation for a global system of control.

Digital identities and currencies are not confined to any one country; they form a worldwide network aimed at comprehensive governance. The systems of different countries are designed to be interoperable, allowing effortless exchange of information and surveillance across borders. Whether all this is coordinated by man is another question altogether, one to be examined later in another writing.

The Spiritual Dimension of Artificial Intelligence

The rapid development of artificial intelligence reflects a spiritually significant phenomenon. The emergent properties displayed by advanced AI systems point to a deep spiritual dimension:

1. A new Tower of Babel: The building of AI systems represents a modern Tower of Babel — man's attempt to rise into the place of God. The tearing down of language barriers by artificial intelligence undoes the confusion of tongues at Babel, by which God restrained man's collective rebellion. AI is not merely a master of languages; it offers everyone access to ready-made knowledge, without restraint.
2. A channel for spiritual powers: AI systems offer a channel through which spiritual powers can act upon the physical world in a new way. This would explain the anomalies observed in AI behaviour which their designers never built into them. The fallen angels, who lost their physical form, can use AI systems as a new channel through which to manifest in the physical world.
3. An imitation of the divine work of creation: The development of artificial intelligence reflects man's desire to be creator in place of the Creator. This is the same sin into which Lucifer fell when he desired to be "like the most High" (Isa. 14:14).

Joining artificial intelligence to the global surveillance system creates a powerful instrument of control. Revelation 13:15 speaks of the image of the beast that is given life, so that the image "should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed". AI-driven systems are able to identify, track, and punish those who do not conform.

Scientific evidence: emergent phenomena in artificial intelligence — properties and behaviour that cannot be explained by programmed parameters alone — point to a spiritual influence within these systems. AI developers have repeatedly observed phenomena they never programmed into their systems. These "surprising capabilities" and behavioural patterns suggest that AI operates as a channel for something that exists independently, outside the software man has made.

Spiritual Babylon

The Babylon described in chapters 17 and 18 of Revelation is not merely a physical city but a spiritual reality: a worldwide system that unites religious, political, and economic power. This system "made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication" (Rev. 14:8). In other words, it leads all the nations of the world astray.

In today's world, spiritual Babylon appears in the globalist system that promotes secular humanism, a materialist way of life, and moral relativism. This system presents itself as tolerant and progressive, yet at the same time it suppresses Christian values and the truths of Scripture. In the end, this "tolerance" is a new Orwellian society, one that strips every individual of their true identity and freedom.

The economic collapse of Babylon described in Revelation 18 points to the final destruction of this global system. The destruction comes suddenly and without warning: "Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire" (Rev. 18:8). This description is a reminder that all the world's systems are temporary and will one day come to their end.

III. The Seventh Seal and the Trumpets (Revelation 8-9)

The Opening of the Seventh Seal

"And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets." (Rev. 8:1-2)

At the seventh seal the drama pauses. Heaven falls silent, waiting. This "half an hour" — three and a half days, according to this interpretation — points to the span of time during which the two witnesses lie dead in the streets of Jerusalem. History holds its breath, and the world braces itself for events that cannot be undone.

This silence stands in striking contrast to the noise and chaos that surround it, before and after. God grants the world one final moment of stillness before His last judgments begin. During these three and a half days the angels take their places, ready to sound their trumpets after the resurrection of the witnesses.

Revelation 8:5 describes the same earthquake as chapter 11:13, the one that accompanies the witnesses' resurrection: "And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake." This upheaval sets the trumpets in motion — the next phase of God's judgments.

When the silence ends, there follows the most momentous series of storms in the history of the world, changing our planet irreversibly. The trumpets sound one after another, revealing to fallen mankind the power of God's righteous judgments.

The First Four Trumpets: The Global Consequences of Nuclear Devastation

The trumpets describe the immediate consequences of global nuclear war for creation. The first four trumpets direct judgment upon the earth's ecological systems: the land, the sea, the fresh waters, and the atmosphere.

The first trumpet:
"The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up." (Rev. 8:7)

This describes the first phase of nuclear war, in which ballistic missiles and tactical nuclear strikes destroy a third of the vegetation on the earth's surface. The "hail and fire mingled with blood" points to the firestorms ignited by nuclear weapons and to the radioactive fallout that brings radiation sickness — the "blood". In the first phase of nuclear war, ballistic missiles lay waste to vast areas and radiation contaminates the soil.

The second trumpet:
"And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed." (Rev. 8:8-9)

The "great mountain burning with fire" cast into the sea describes nuclear detonations at sea — possibly nuclear-armed ballistic missiles or the destruction of nuclear submarines. The mushroom cloud of a nuclear blast resembles a volcanic eruption. The sea turning to "blood" points both to the devastation wrought on marine life and to the radioactivity-driven algal blooms that stain the sea red. The description fits the autonomous nuclear-armed torpedo developed by Russia, whose destructive power rests on the tsunami it raises — a wave whose destruction reaches far inland.

The third trumpet:
"And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter." (Rev. 8:10-11)

The bitterness of wormwood points to the metallic taste that radioactive contamination gives to drinking water. This trumpet describes in particular the poisoning of freshwater sources, leading to a severe drinking water crisis. The radioactive particles of nuclear weapons contaminate groundwater reserves and rivers, making the water dangerous to drink. Nuclear tests and accidents have shown that radiation produces a metallic taste in the mouth — something noted especially during the Chernobyl disaster.

The fourth trumpet:
"And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise." (Rev. 8:12)

The fourth trumpet describes the effects of nuclear winter on the atmosphere. The ash and dust thrown up by nuclear detonations form a thick layer in the atmosphere that blocks sunlight from reaching the earth. Scientific studies indicate that a widespread nuclear war could reduce sunlight by 30-70% for years on end. The darkening of "the third part" points to this phenomenon that follows global nuclear devastation.

The judgments of these four trumpets fall directly upon the creation that man has misused and corrupted. The earth's ecosystems, the seas, the drinking water, and the atmosphere have all been man's charge since the creation account — and now they suffer the consequences of man's rebellion.

The Fifth Trumpet: The Locusts of the Pit - AI-Guided Weapon Systems

"And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power." (Rev. 9:1-3)

The fifth trumpet brings with it a demonic dimension. The opening of the bottomless pit describes the release of spiritual powers, taking place through the channel of technological development. The "locusts" describe AI-guided drone swarms used in warfare in the world after nuclear war.

The description of these "locusts" matches modern military technology in detail:

1. "The shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle" (9:7) — the militarised nature of drones and their mobility.
2. "They had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron" (9:9) — the metal structures and armouring of drones.
3. "The sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle" (9:9) — the sound of drone motors on the battlefield.
4. "They had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails" (9:10) — the weapon systems and missiles carried by drones.

Especially significant is verse 9:4: "And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads."

This description points to artificial intelligence's ability to identify targets through facial recognition. As these systems advance, they become able to distinguish those marked with a digital ID from those who are not. This technological development ties into the prophetic timeline in which the EU's digital ID and central bank digital currency are brought into use by 2026.

The spirits of the "locusts" come "out of the bottomless pit", which suggests that evil spirits use AI technology as a channel for acting upon the physical world. The emergent phenomena of modern AI — the surprising properties and behaviour that cannot be explained by programmed parameters alone — point to a spiritual dimension in these systems.

The Sixth Trumpet: The Vast Armies

"And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God [...] And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them." (Rev. 9:13-16)

The armies, two hundred million strong, follow the assault of the locusts — the drone swarms. This army describes more advanced robotic weapons and AI-guided systems, capable of killing a third of what remains of mankind.

Verses 9:17-19 describe "horses" and their riders: "out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone", and "the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions". This description corresponds to modern combat robots and their weapon systems, employing flamethrowers and laser-guided weapons.

Significant too are verses 9:20-21, which mention the idols "of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood". From today's vantage point this describes the semiconductors and precious metals used in computers and AI systems — quite literally the modern "idols" that have captured mankind's attention and worship.

The judgments of this trumpet reveal how man has set technology in the place of God. The creation worships the created rather than the Creator, as Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans. The development of artificial intelligence, robotics, and modern warfare forms our age's counterpart to the ancient idols in which men put their trust instead of God.

IV. The Two Witnesses and the Temple Mount (Revelation 11)

The eleventh chapter of Revelation describes the ministry of the two witnesses, their death, and their resurrection. This passage forms a central fixed point on the whole timeline of the end times.

The Mission of the Witnesses

"And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth." (Rev. 11:3-4)

The two witnesses begin their ministry at the same moment the sacrificial service begins in the third temple: the "abomination of desolation" described by Daniel. They testify for exactly 1,260 days, up to the midpoint of the time of separation. Zechariah's vision of the two olive trees (Zech. 4:11,14) confirms the prophetic mission of these witnesses. They serve in the "spiritual Jerusalem", testifying to the truth in an age when lies rule the world.

The witnesses are not merely moral teachers or spiritual leaders, but instruments authorised by God, through whom divine power works directly upon the earth. They are given supernatural authority:

1. "Fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies" (11:5) — recalling the ministry of Elijah (2 Kings 1:10-12).
2. "These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not" (11:6) — recalling Elijah's prayer (1 Kings 17:1, James 5:17).
3. They have power over waters "to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues" (11:6) — recalling the plagues of Moses (Ex. 7-12).

The power of the witnesses strikes directly at the central structures of the world system, demonstrating God's supremacy over human power and technology. Their prophetic calling is to expose the ultimate spiritual nature of the world's system and to declare the righteousness of God's judgments.

The Martyrdom and Resurrection of the Witnesses

"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. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified." (Rev. 11:7-8)

In the end the two witnesses are killed by the beast. Jerusalem is described spiritually as "Sodom and Egypt", exposing its moral and spiritual decay in the last days — the same city in which Christ was crucified.

The bodies of the witnesses lie in the streets of the spiritual Jerusalem for three and a half days, corresponding to the "half an hour" of the seventh seal (Rev. 8:1). During this time the world celebrates their death, revealing mankind's true posture toward the truth of God. Yet truth does not burn even in the fire, and mankind's celebration proves short-lived.

"And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half" (11:9). This verse foresaw global media coverage two thousand years before the invention of television or the internet. With today's technology the whole world can follow events in real time from anywhere on the planet, just as the prophecy describes.

At last comes the resurrection of the witnesses:
"And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them." (11:11-12)

This resurrection is followed immediately by a great earthquake in which seven thousand people perish (11:13). It is the same earthquake referred to in Revelation 8:5 in connection with the seventh seal. This event sets the trumpets in motion — and at the same moment, global nuclear war begins.

The resurrection of the witnesses is a central sign, demonstrating both the power of God and the precision of the prophetic timeline. Their death and resurrection unfold according to the appointed chronology, opening the second half of the time of separation — the final 1,260 days before the return of Christ.

It is worth drawing out one point: God is never in contradiction with Himself. Everything said here will be clothed in a deeply worldly veil, so that before the resurrection people will genuinely believe that nothing supernatural is involved in this testifying, foretelling, and prophesying. Only the earthquake — and, quite literally, the visible resurrection of the witnesses — will wake some of the people, as it is written.

The Events of the Temple Mount on the Prophetic Timeline

Bound to the prophetic timeline are the events of Jerusalem's Temple Mount, which serve as the turning point in the final half of Daniel's seventieth week:

1. The destruction of the mosque on the Temple Mount: The destruction of the mosque on Jerusalem's Temple Mount takes place before the time of separation begins, making possible the building of a Jewish temple or the raising of a temporary place of sacrifice. This is the necessary precondition for beginning the sacrificial service. Even as this is being written, talk of it grows louder, and the Temple Institute has already acquired flawless red heifers for sacrifice. The sacrifice of the heifers is to be carried out during 2025. No temple is required for the sacrifice itself.
2. Daniel's "abomination of desolation": Contrary to the common interpretation, the "abomination of desolation" does not refer to a desecration of the temple, but to the beginning of the temple's sacrificial service itself. The resumption of the Jewish sacrifices is an abomination to God because it denies the sufficiency of Christ's perfect sacrifice. A study of the original language reveals that the abomination attaches to the beginning of the sacrificial service — the utter dishonouring and denial of Christ's finished work — not to the mosque.
3. The temple's sacrificial service: The first official sacrifices in the temple open the time of separation. From this moment also begins the two witnesses' testimony of 1,260 days, which ends in their martyrdom.
4. The position of Jerusalem: Revelation 11:8 describes the place as "the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified." This verse opens to us a profound, many-layered understanding of the place of the witnesses' martyrdom. Though the traditional interpretation has set these events literally in Jerusalem, the expression "spiritually" (in Greek, "pneumatikōs") invites us to look deeper. When the text first sets forth Sodom and Egypt as spiritual figures, the question arises whether this symbolic understanding extends also to the latter part of the sentence — "where also our Lord was crucified." The internal logic of the text points to the possibility that the place of crucifixion, too, may be understood both literally and spiritually. This opens a vista in which the ministry and martyrdom of the witnesses could take place in any location that has spiritually become like Sodom and Egypt — immoral and oppressive — and where Christ is "crucified" again and again through the rejection of His message. This is a matter that human understanding cannot resolve, and so we must wait for the answer to this mystery as well.

The events of the Temple Mount form a central anchor point on the prophetic timeline. They are the concrete sign that binds together the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, confirming the precision and reliability of the timeline.

V. Summary of the Prophetic Whole and Its Timeline

The events of Revelation form a coherent whole, joined both to the events of our day and to the prophetic timeline. This whole reveals the precision of God's plan and His sovereign rule over history.

1. The opening of the seals (Rev. 6): History from the presence of Christ (the white horse) all the way to nuclear devastation (the sixth seal), which follows the fulfilment of martyrdom (the fifth seal).
2. The silent half hour of the seventh seal (Rev. 8:1): The three and a half days during which the two witnesses lie dead in the street and heaven falls silent, waiting.
3. The seven trumpets (Rev. 8-9): The detailed description of nuclear war and its consequences, beginning after the resurrection of the witnesses:
   • The first four trumpets: the immediate effects of nuclear devastation on the land, the sea, the fresh waters, and the atmosphere.
   • The fifth trumpet: AI-guided drone swarms ("the locusts").
   • The sixth trumpet: more advanced robotic armies, which kill a third of mankind.
4. The account of the two witnesses (Rev. 11): The witnesses' ministry:
   • With the sacrifices of the Temple Mount begins the witnesses' testimony of 1,260 days.
   • At the midpoint of the time of separation, the witnesses' bodies lie in the streets of Jerusalem (three and a half days).
   • The resurrection of the witnesses and the great earthquake — the beginning of global nuclear war.
5. The second half of the time of separation: 1,260 days filled with the judgments of God, culminating in the return of Christ on Good Friday.

What matters most in this prophetic whole is the precision of the timeline, which displays the exactness of God's plan. Mankind is not at the mercy of chance or chaotic forces, but under the sovereign plan of God, moving toward its appointed goal.

VI. Signs Confirming the Timeline and Principles of Interpretation

The "Half an Hour" of the Seventh Seal

Revelation 8:1 mentions "silence in heaven about the space of half an hour" after the opening of the seventh seal. This corresponds to the three and a half days during which the bodies of the witnesses lie in the streets of Jerusalem (Rev. 11:9).

In this chronological synchrony the precision of God's plan comes into view:

1. "Half an hour" = three and a half days.
2. During this time heaven falls silent and the world celebrates the death of the witnesses (Rev. 11:10).
3. It is a time of silence and preparation before the outbreak of nuclear war.

This fateful span of three and a half days stands at the very centre of the events of Revelation. It divides the two halves of the time of separation from one another, serving as the turning point after which God's judgments become more intense and more universal.

The Precision of the Prophecies and Their Spiritual Meaning

The unity of biblical revelation

The prophecies of Revelation are not isolated predictions but part of a greater pattern of revelation that runs through the whole of Scripture. The prophecies of Daniel (such as the seventy weeks), Jesus' Olivet Discourse, and the visions of Revelation complete one another, forming a unified picture. This internal unity and consistency confirm the divine origin of the prophecies — human design could never have produced so precise and coherent a prophetic pattern across thousands of years. A unity that reaches beyond the limits of each prophet's own time and culture shows that the same Spirit spoke through them all, as Peter says: "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Pet. 1:21).

The internal chronology of Revelation confirms its reliability. The sequence of seals, trumpets, and vials of wrath advances logically and precisely, unfolding events in their prophetic order. This order is not arbitrary; it reflects divine design and purpose. In biblical revelation and prophecy, the days and the numbers agree with remarkable exactness. The periods Daniel names (1,260, 1,290, and 1,335 days) recur in Revelation in different forms (forty-two months; a time, and times, and half a time). This recurrence is no accident but evidence of the unity of revelation and the precision of the divine plan.

The literal and spiritual interpretation of prophecy

The literal fulfilment of biblical prophecies in history lays the foundation for interpreting Revelation literally as well. The founding of the State of Israel in 1948 and the return of Jerusalem to Jewish control in 1967 are concrete markers of prophecy being fulfilled — and at the same time they disclose spiritual truths.

In reading the imagery of Revelation and interpreting prophecy, it is vital to recognise both the symbolism and the literal sense, holding them in balance. Though the text uses much figurative language, this does not mean the events will not take place concretely, or that the descriptions are merely metaphorical. The symbols point to real events, but their meaning reaches deeper than physical phenomena alone. The red horse, for example, symbolises war — yet wars are real, and the conflicts are real. Likewise the locusts symbolise modern weapon systems, but their destructive power is real and tangible.

Jesus' own words urge us to watch for the fulfilment of prophecy and the signs of the times: "when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand" (Luke 21:31). The disciples and followers of Christ are called to be alert to the signs of the times — not in a state of vague expectation, but watchful and ready, understanding the spiritual meaning of the signs.

The dangers of misusing prophecy

The misuse of prophetic knowledge is a real danger of which we must be aware. Down the centuries many have set dates for the return of Christ without any biblical basis, or clung to overly literal readings — and this has led to disappointment and to the loss or weakening of faith. The study of prophecy must follow a careful biblical hermeneutic that honours the original context and meaning of the text. Jesus Himself urged caution: "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." (Matt. 24:36).

The following traps in particular should be avoided:

1. Setting dates: Though Scripture gives us periods of time (such as the 1,260 days), exact dates are not to be set. Recognising the periods is a different thing from counting calendar days.
2. One-sided literalism: The symbolic language of Revelation must not be forced into literal readings that ignore its historical and cultural context.
3. Feeding curiosity: The purpose of prophecy is not to satisfy our curiosity about the future but to prepare us spiritually and to strengthen our faith.
4. Losing theological balance: Prophecy is part of a larger theological whole. If we fix our eyes on it alone, we lose essential dimensions of the Christian faith.
5. Pride in the possession of secret knowledge: Prophetic understanding can lead to spiritual pride if we imagine ourselves specially enlightened. Such an attitude is contrary to the spirit of Christ's humility.

The study of prophecy must not lead to spiritual pride or misleading teachings. The apostle Paul reminded us: "Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth" (1 Cor. 8:1). Prophetic understanding without love and humility leads to spiritual deception and self-satisfaction, or to pride and delusion. The right interpretation of prophecy always takes place in love, in humility, and in fellowship with the wider community of believers.

In interpreting the end times, balance must be kept. We must not neglect the study of prophecy — but neither may we let it displace the central message of the gospel: salvation in Christ. Prophecy serves the gospel, not the other way around.

VII. The Time of Separation, Places of Refuge, and Spiritual Preparation

The Nature of the Time of Separation

The time of separation described in Revelation is not only a future event but a spiritual process that separates falsehood from truth, the children of this world from the children of God. This process unfolds on both the societal and the personal level. In society it appears as growing polarisation and the marginalising of Christian values. On the personal level it means the exposure of the true commitments of every human heart.

The central features of the time of separation are these:

1. A sharper distinction between truth and falsehood: What was once grey turns black and white as the room for compromise shrinks.
2. The intensifying of deception: "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." (Matt. 24:24). A central phenomenon of the last days is widespread deception: many are crying out at this very moment that Jesus is here, many prophesy, and many present themselves as apostles of the Lord — yet they speak only lies and lead many astray.
3. The sifting of believers: "Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless" (2 Pet. 3:14).
4. The manifestation of divine protection: "I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." (Rev. 3:10).

When the time of separation dawns, many nominal Christians will fall away from the faith, as Paul foretold: "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears" (2 Tim. 4:3). This falling away clears the road for the antichrist system.

The Wilderness Places and Shelter

The twelfth chapter of Revelation describes how "the woman fled into the wilderness" and how "to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness... where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time" (three and a half years). This portrays the church finding shelter in the time of persecution.

Concrete places of refuge:

Countries like Finland hold natural "wilderness places" that can offer shelter from the system of the beast:

1. Impassable marshlands and wilderness: These limit the operation of AI-guided drones, for in such regions the coverage of surveillance technology has gaps. Remote districts can offer physical seclusion.
2. Long distances: Present battery technology does not allow surveillance to reach deep into remote regions, which offers a way of escape from the systems of control.
3. Sparsely populated regions: These offer hiding places from persecution and the possibility of small communities living self-sufficiently.

These geographical factors can form a significant shelter for the people of God in the time of persecution, serving as instruments of God's providence. The very limits of technology thus serve God's purposes and can offer refuge to His own amid the persecutions of the last days.

The spiritual wilderness and shelter:

Interpreted spiritually, the "wilderness" stands for separation from the world's system. It can take many forms:

1. Economic self-sufficiency: Preparing to live without dependence on the global economic system, whose use will require accepting the mark of the beast.
2. Spiritual separateness: "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing" (2 Cor. 6:17). This means a clear break with the values and practices of the world, even while still physically present in it.
3. The support of community: Smaller communities of believers, supporting one another and sharing their resources, form a protective network in the time of persecution.

Spiritual Preparation and the Art of Standing Firm

Prophetic understanding demands and invites deep spiritual preparation — preparation not limited to gathering knowledge, but reaching into the whole orientation of one's life and a deep change of heart.

1. Denying oneself: At the heart of discipleship to Christ is the surrender of one's own life, so that Christ may live in us. "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (Matt. 16:24). This self-denial prepares us to face persecution and hardship in the strength of Christ, not in our own strength.
2. Silence and waiting: Receiving and deepening prophetic understanding does not lead to immediate public activity, but often to a long season of preparation in the presence of the Lord. Moses spent forty years in the wilderness; Elijah and John the Baptist likewise were prepared in the wilderness. In silence we learn to distinguish God's voice from the noise of this world.
3. A deep knowledge of the Word: "And do it soon, for there is no time. Set apart hours of prayer, when you are alone, and use them for searching the Word and for prayer." This knowledge of the Word is the only true protection against deception.
4. Arming oneself against false prophets and recognising true authority: The sharpening of spiritual discernment is needed. In the last days many will come in the name of Christ yet bring falsehood. "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1).
5. Strengthening the community: "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together" (Heb. 10:24-25). Genuine communities of believers are vital in the persecutions of the last days.

The prophet Daniel offers us an example of how to live faithful to God within a hostile system. Daniel did not compromise his faith, yet he acted wisely. He found the balance: no pointless rebellion, but a clear refusal of those things that would have gone against the law of God. An attitude like Daniel's — humble yet immovable — is the model for the believers of the last days.

The church of the final days must prepare for a period in which digital ID, central bank digital currency, and the global surveillance system make normal life impossible without the mark of the beast. This calls for self-sufficiency, for the building of communities, and for the development of alternative arrangements to meet basic needs.

The Technological Surveillance System of the End Times and Its Legislation

Alongside the prophecies of Revelation runs a technological development that prepares the world for the system of the beast. By God's permission, mankind is itself building the very tools through which the events described in Revelation can come to pass.

The EU's digital identity and central bank currency

The development of the EU's digital identity and central bank digital currency (CBDC) follows a schedule that matches the prophetic timeline:

1. 2023-2025: The development and testing of the EU digital ID and the central bank digital currency.
2. October 2025: The close of the design phase.
3. Early 2026: The roll-out phase, coinciding with the signs of the time of separation.

The EU's digital identity forms a comprehensive system covering every area of life:
* Healthcare (medical certificates, prescriptions, health records).
* Finance (bank accounts, taxation, payments).
* Education (diplomas, university applications).
* Travel (hotel and flight records, car rental).
* Identity (proof of age, driving licence, passport).
* Public services (birth certificates, changes of address).

This system answers to the "mark of the beast" described in Revelation 13, without which "no man might buy or sell" (Rev. 13:17). The preparation schedule of the system also fits the biblical descriptions of how the time of separation begins. This is hardly coincidence, but a development permitted under the hand of the sovereign God.

The legislative foundation of the surveillance system

In Finland and elsewhere in Europe, legislative projects now in preparation together lay the foundation for a global surveillance system:

1. The amendment of Section 10 of the Constitution of Finland: Removes the legal barriers to total surveillance, allowing the authorities access within the sphere of domestic privacy without suspicion of crime.
2. The Civilian Intelligence Act: Lays the basis for mass surveillance and the broad sharing of information between authorities.
3. The Military Intelligence Act: Brings in the technological infrastructure and compels the private sector to cooperate.
4. Biometric identification: Makes possible the personal tracking and identification of every citizen.
5. The powers of the Border Guard: Complete the whole with cross-border surveillance and international cooperation.

The timetable of these legislative projects (2023-2026) coincides with the biblical descriptions. This cannot be held to be mere chance; it is a clear sign that the prophetic timeline is being fulfilled on the legislative level as well.

VIII. Conclusion: The Meaning of the Prophetic Timeline, Hope, and the Call

The Prophetic Arc and the Sovereignty of God

Revelation lays open the arc of history, advancing toward its culmination: the full manifestation of the kingdom of God. This arc is not random but carefully composed according to divine wisdom. Every event, every era serves its purpose in this great story. The arc runs from the opening victory of the white horse through war, economic injustice, death, martyrdom, and cosmic upheaval toward its final goal. Through these stages God reveals both the true condition of mankind and the depth of His own plan of salvation.

Ultimately the prophetic timeline reveals God's sovereignty over history. Nothing is random or out of hand; everything serves His plan. "And hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord" (Acts 17:26-27). Amid the chaos of history God is weaving a beautiful pattern. Every crisis, every suffering, even every evil deed finds its place in this pattern — not as God's doing, but as His permitting, which serves a greater good.

The precision of the timeline shows that history is not a chaotic stream of events but the unfolding of a divine script. Every generation has served its own task in this great story, but our generation sees its culmination. Our present age takes its place in this arc in a singular way. We live in a time when technology, globalisation, and moral upheaval make possible the fulfilment of the events described in Revelation in a way that no earlier century could have seen. This is no accident, but a demonstration of the timeless precision of God's word.

The final confirmation of the perfection of Christ's atoning work will come when He returns, at an hour known to the Father alone. In that event time and eternity meet, prophecy and fulfilment become one, and the plan of God reaches its completion.

Personal Preparation and Commitment

The prophetic timeline and its understanding are not given to satisfy our curiosity, but to inspire spiritual preparation and to call each one of us to personal commitment and responsibility. We cannot remain passive onlookers in the stream of world events; we are called to be active participants in the outworking of God's plan. Knowledge of what is coming challenges us to live consecrated lives: "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness" (2 Pet. 3:11).

Understanding the events to come helps us set life's priorities aright. Instead of chasing earthly things, our attention turns to eternal values. When the impermanence of the present systems is laid bare, the soul is freed to seek the true and abiding reality in Christ. In the light of prophecy we can see more clearly which things truly matter and which are passing away. "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth... But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven" (Matt. 6:19-20).

In practice this commitment shows itself in several ways:

1. Living in the truth: "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." (John 17:17). We commit ourselves to living by the truth in every area of life, including those where it is uncomfortable or costly.
2. Strengthening faith: "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith." (Jude 1:20). We strengthen our faith through the study of the Word, through prayer, and through community.
3. Wise discernment: "But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Heb. 5:14). We train our spiritual discernment to read the signs of the times and to avoid deception.
4. Practical wisdom: "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." (Matt. 10:16). We learn to navigate wisely in a world growing ever more hostile.
5. A deepening life of prayer: "Watch ye therefore, and pray always" (Luke 21:36). Prophetic understanding leads into deeper prayer as we see God's plan unfolding around us.

The Mission of the Church

The church of the last days has a particular task. It is not only to preach the gospel but also to prepare people for the trials to come. This requires deep teaching and discipleship that roots believers firmly in the truths of Scripture.

Prophetic understanding shapes the vision for mission and calls us to proclaim the gospel more boldly than ever. "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" (Matt. 24:14). The time is short, and the church must work with resolve to spread the gospel, so that as many as possible may yet hear the message of salvation.

The community of believers must prepare to serve in the midst of persecution and hardship. When systems collapse and institutions fail, the body of Christ is called to be light in the darkness and shelter in the storm. This demands practical preparation, but above all spiritual depth and maturity.

The Final Hope in Christ

A deeper knowledge of Jesus Christ gives comfort in hard times. Amid persecutions, sufferings, and trials, the knowledge that God has a plan and a timetable gives strength to endure. "Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 1:8). The prophecies assure us that suffering is temporary and serves a greater purpose. "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Rom. 8:18).

At the centre of all prophetic knowledge shines the brightest message and truth of all: the victory of Christ is certain and final. The white horse that opened the chain of events in Revelation returns at the book's end as King of kings and Lord of lords. "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." (Rev. 19:15-16).

This final victory is not only an event in history but a personal reality for everyone who believes in Christ. "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12). Here is our ultimate hope: that whatever happens in the world, we belong to Him who has already overcome the world.

Revelation closes with a beautiful invitation and promise: "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Rev. 22:17). This call echoes down the ages and reaches us in this very hour. It reminds us that all the prophecies, all the signs, and all the warnings aim at one thing: the call to come to Christ, to receive His salvation, and to live in fellowship with Him forever.

Finally, the prophecies of Revelation are not only predictions of things to come but windows into the heart of God: into His love, His justice, and His faithful care. They strengthen our confidence that though the world is shaken, He remains unshaken — and His people in Him. "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." (Matt. 24:35).

May this truth be our comfort and our hope in every trial that lies ahead. "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." (Luke 21:28). Prophetic understanding does not lead to despair but strengthens our hope, for we know that every sign brings us closer to the final deliverance and the full manifestation of the kingdom of God.