His Secret
Chapter 12
The Four Winds upon the Sea
Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. [3] And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. [4] The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.
[5] And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. [6] After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
[7] After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. - Daniel 7:2-7
These four beasts of Daniel; the lion, the bear, the leopard, and the fourth beast all rise up out of the sea. Before we take a look at each one of these beasts, we need to understand where these beasts come from. They come from the sea, but what does the sea represent? And what are these four winds that strove upon this sea? These are questions that we will find the answers to which will give us a better understanding of what these four beasts actually represent.
The first item to note in this passage is in verse 2; the four winds that strove upon the great sea. The four winds are the four winds that are held back in Revelation 7 until the sealing of the 144,000 occurs. They are the four trumpets of Revelation. [1] These are the winds that strive upon the sea. This will now give us new meaning to these verses and definitions.
The word strove means; to rush forth, strive. [2] The under-definition means; to gush forth (as water), generally to issue, break forth, labor to bring forth, come forth, draw up, take out. [3]
Remember when we were looking at the potsherds that were striving with the Lord? The Serpents, Scorpions, and the Multitude have striven with the Lord. They strive upon the sea of Babylon.
These definitions are full of links to the trumpet judgements. The rushing forth and gushing forth is the whirlwind or the tempest that is the Tribulation. The word issue as in issue forth ties in with the Serpents that have the fire, smoke, and brimstone that issue out of their mouths. The word issue is tied in with the “overflowing scourge” of Isaiah 28.
To break forth is associated with the 5th and 6th trumpets breaking forth upon the Multitude. Labour to bring forth is the travail of the woman bringing forth the man child. The Multitude comes forth, they are drawn up, (Dead in Christ rise first) and they are taken out’ (One shall be taken)
The four winds strove upon the great sea. This sea could be none other than the sea of Babylon. The Serpents and Scorpions will rush forth, gush forth, break forth, and issue forth upon Babylon. The Multitude will labour to bring forth, come forth, be drawn up, and taken out of Babylon. Let’s substantiate that this sea is actually representative of Babylon and its inhabitants.
Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will plead thy cause, and takevengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry. [37] And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant. - Jeremiah 51:36, 37
In verse 37, Babylon will become heaps and a dwellingplace for dragons. The dragons are representative of the Serpents. Her sea will be dried up. Who’s sea? He will dry up the sea which is Babylon. What is being conveyed here? Jesus Christ is the river of living waters. If Babylon’s sea is dried up and her springs are dry, then there are no rivers of living water flowing through it anymore. It gives us an indication that there was water, but the Lord will be removing that water (The Truth) from the land, more specifically, Babylon.
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: - Amos 8:11
Amos puts forth that very clearly within this verse. There will be famine in the land. Not a famine of physical bread or physical water. There will be physical food and water available. There shall be a famine of the Truth of the Lord. Interesting enough, the Word can be Living Water and the Bread of Life. This is giving us an additional clue that there will be physical food and water available. The famine that the Bible refers to about the end times is the spiritual bread and water that cannot be found. We can confirm that the Truth has been dried up in the following passage.
A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; [31] The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? - Jeremiah 5:30, 31
The prophets are dealing falsely for the Truth has been dried up. The people are following these prophets in their falsehoods and love doing so. The Truth is not in them. Jeremiah describes this as “A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land.”
Before we take a look at what this “wonderful and horrible thing” means, let’s go back to Jeremiah 51:37, “And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.”
The word astonishment is defined as; ruin; by implication, consternation:--astonishment, desolate (-ion), waste, wonderful thing. [4]
Babylon will become a ruin. It will become a desolation and desolate without an inhabitant. It will become waste and also a wonderful thing. Look back at Jeremiah 5:30; “A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land.”
The word astonishment is defined in the dictionary as; sudden surprise, amazement. [5]
O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us. - Jeremiah 6:26
This verse is speaking about the Multitude. The spoilers are the Scorpions of the 5th trumpet that will come suddenly upon the Multitude.
Babylon will also be a consternation.
The word consternation is defined as; to terrify, paralyzing amazement or terror. [6] This does not sound good at all. Let’s now look at the definitions for wonderful and horrible in Jeremiah 5:30.
The word wonderful is the same word used for the word astonishment in Jeremiah 51:37 “And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.”
The words horrible thing is defined as; something fearful:--horrible thing. [7]
This definition for the phrase horrible thing is something fearful. This would be synonymous with the word consternation which is one of the definitions of the word astonishment in Jeremiah 51:37.
The under-definition is; to storm; by implication, to shiver, i.e. fear:--be (horribly) afraid, hurl as a storm, be tempestuous, come like (take away as with) a whirlwind. [8]
This definition brings us right back to where we started with the four winds that strove upon the great sea. The four winds come together to form the whirlwind. It is the storm and tempest of the Lord more commonly known as the Tribulation.
“And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.” - Jeremiah 51:37
Let’s now look at the word hissing. Hissing is defined as; a derision:--hissing. [9]
Its under-definition means; properly, to be shrill, i.e. to whistle or hiss (as a call or in scorn):--hiss. [10]
Derision is defined as; contempt or ridicule. [11]
The hissing mentioned in this verse is a direct reference to the Serpents and the Scorpions. They scorn the Multitude; just as they scorned Jesus. They mocked, ridiculed and scorned Him, and had contempt toward Him. The Scorpions will be right there with the Serpents mocking and scorning the Multitude. The Multitude is in the same role as Jesus and will be mocked, ridiculed, scorned, and held in contempt. Let’s now compare some verses with one another which use the word hiss or hissing.
Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues. - Jeremiah 50:13
This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand. - Zephaniah 2:15
All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth? All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they hiss and gnash the teeth: they say, We have swallowed her up: certainly this is the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen it. - Lamentations 2:15, 16
Also Edom shall be a desolation: every one that goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof. - Jeremiah 49:17
These four passages all have the same terminology within them using the word hiss. The first is speaking about Babylon, this would be the spiritual Babylon. The second verse in Zephaniah is also speaking about Babylon. But you wouldn’t know that until you compare another verse about Babylon that uses the same wording. Compare Zephaniah 2:15 with Isaiah 47:8.
This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand. - Zephaniah 2:15
Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children: - Isaiah 47:8
There is a striking resemblance between those two verses. Isaiah 47:8 is speaking about Babylon. We know that Isaiah is speaking about Babylon in this verse by going back a few verses to Isaiah 47:5.
Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called,The lady of kingdoms. - Isaiah 47:5
This is directed towards the “daughter of the Chaldeans.” The daughter of the Chaldeans is the daughter of Babylon is the daughter of Jerusalem is the daughter of Zion, etc. This is an identification of the Multitude in multiple texts under the title of “the daughter of.”
It should be noted here that Babylon, Jerusalem, Zion, Israel, etc. are shifting spiritual identifications of the church. The church can be composed of either the 144,000, the Multitude, the Scorpions, or the Serpents. Either singularly, collectively, or any combination thereof based upon the context of the scriptures in which you find them.
Back to Isaiah 47:5 with the identification of the “daughter of the Chaldeans”. (The Multitude) Look at the first part of this verse. “Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness.” Remember the 7th seal? Those that are made silent are the Multitude. The darkness is the darkness that covers the earth but it is also referring to the darkness that they are in when they are in prison. This is when the Lord’s light shines upon them, when they are in the darkness. These two items, “Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness” is referring to the fate of the daughter of the Chaldeans. They will be imprisoned and killed. (Sit though silent and darkness signifying their death.)
In Isaiah 47:8 we have the same exact wording as found in Zephaniah 2:15; “that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me;” The reason for this clarification in showing that these two verses are speaking about the same thing. Zephaniah 2:15 does not have the identification of Babylon attributed to it within the text yet we know the identification by the similar wording.
The following nations and people are identified in Zephaniah 2:15.The remnant of the house of Judah, the houses of Ashkelon, Moab, Ammon, Ethiopians, Assyria, Nineveh, the nation of the Cherethites, Canaan, and the land of the Philistines. All of these nations and people are then referred to as “the rejoicing city.” This rejoicing city is Babylon, spiritual Babylon; which is full of these other spiritual identities that are all spiritual Babylon.
This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand. - Zephaniah 2:15
This next verse is the third verse with the word hiss in it. This is identified with the “daughter of Jerusalem.” This is also stated to be a city. This again would be spiritual Babylon, the church.
All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth? All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they hiss and gnash the teeth: they say, We have swallowed her up: certainly this is the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen it. - Lamentations 2:15, 16
Also Edom shall be a desolation: every one that goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof. - Jeremiah 49:17
Now we have Edom joining the ranks. Since the physical Edom had long been destroyed, this could only be referring to spiritual Edom which is of course, spiritual Babylon. Edom is added to this mix, for it is the Edomites that give away their birthright. This is what infuriates the Lord. Birthright is extremely important to Him and He doesn’t take it lightly when one gives away what Jesus Christ died on the cross for, which is our spiritual heritage.
We are still determining what this sea is that the four winds strove upon. This is the sea of Babylon. And not just a sea of Babylon; the sea IS Babylon.
And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say to thee, How art thou destroyed, that was inhabited of seafaring men, the renowned city, which wast strong in the sea, she and her inhabitants, which cause their terror to be on all that haunt it! - Ezekiel 26:17
This verse is speaking about a city known by the name of Tyrus. This city is destroyed. This city is inhabited of seafaring men. Who are the seafaring men? The seafaring men are men that live their lives on ships of the sea. Let me take you to the 2nd 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; [9] 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. – Revelation 8:8, 9
We have already identified that the third part of the creatures and the third part of the ships that are destroyed in this trumpet are the Multitude in a previous work. [12]
Babylon in the book of Revelation is divided into thirds. The thirds are comprised of the Scorpions, the Serpents, and the Multitude. The Multitude is the 1/3 that is destroyed by the Scorpions and the Serpents. 1/3 of the creatures that had life died. (Multitude) The 1/3 of the ships that are destroyed is another spiritual identification of the Multitude. We then can surmise that if 1/3 of the ships are destroyed, there are still 2/3 of the ships sailing the sea of Babylon containing the Scorpions and the Serpents. All of these ships of the 3/3 carry upon them seafaring men.
An interesting little side note: remember when we followed the definition for the word scorpion in the Old Testament, we found in the definition, the word scourge which linked us to the overflowing scourge of Isaiah 28? And then in the under-definition of scourge we found the phrase “run to and fro.”
There are some other words within that definition that is absolutely uncanny. Let’s look at the under-definition. It means; properly, to push forth; (but used only figuratively) to lash, i.e. (the sea with oars) to row; by implication, to travel:--go (about, through, to and fro), mariner, rower, run to and fro. [13]
To push forth is very close to the definition of strove, which includes rush forth or break forth. To lash the sea with oars, to row and to travel indicates sailing the sea of Babylon by a mariner or a rower. They are running to and fro upon the sea seeking the 1/3 of the ships that are to be destroyed.
The city of Tyrus was strong “in the sea.” This verse also mentions that Tyrus is a renowned city. This next verse is also speaking about Tyrus.
And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, saying, What city is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea? - Ezekiel 27:32
This verse states that Tyrus is destroyed in the midst of the sea. They are wailing (Crying) and lamenting over this city, saying, “What city is like Tyrus”. This verse is almost identical to this next verse that is speaking about Babylon. It sounds almost identical, because it is identical. Spiritual Tyrus is spiritual Babylon.
And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! [19] And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. - Revelation 18:18, 19
Notice that the ones that had ships (Seafaring men) were made rich by her costliness. She was esteemed as being valuable. There is a hint of the Scorpions that have stripped the Multitude of all of their wealth.
The sea is come up upon Babylon: she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof. - Jeremiah 51:42
The sea comes upon Babylon and she is covered by the waves of the sea because Babylon is in the midst of the sea.
And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away.
- Zechariah 10:11
The Lord passes through the sea with affliction. Who are the afflicted? The Multitude is afflicted. There are many verses that state this premise. The pride of Assyria is brought low. The Assyrians are a spiritual identification for the Serpents. They are prideful and will be brought low. The Egyptian’s sceptre shall depart away. The Egyptian’s are a spiritual identification for the Scorpions. One of the links to the Scorpions is in this verse found in Deuteronomy.
But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day. - Deuteronomy 4:20
The Lord brought the children of Israel out of the iron furnace when He brought them out of Egypt. The iron is associated with the Scorpions. The Scorpions have the breastplates of iron in the 5th trumpet. The Scorpions are also the fire of the 1st trumpet. They are the iron furnace that the Multitude is thrown into. All of these things are for ensamples for us as stated in 1 Corinthians 10:11.
Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. - Isaiah 48:10
The Multitude is refined through the fire in the furnace of affliction. The Lord passes through the sea with affliction. The sea is Babylon which is the furnace of affliction that the Multitude is thrown into.
In Zechariah 10:11, the Lord states that He shall smite the waves in the sea. The sun, (Scorpions) the moon, (Multitude) and the stars (Serpents) are all smitten in the 4th trumpet. The Multitude are the ones that are afflicted in the sea. (Smitten) The waves that come upon Babylon are smitten, them being the sun and stars. The Lord also smites the summer house (Scorpions) and the winter house (Serpents) in Amos 3:15. For the summer house and the winter house are the waves of the sea that come up upon Babylon and afflict the Multitude.
Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. - Jude 1:13
This is the identification of the stars as being the waves of the sea. They are raging waves; and of course their ultimate end, in the blackness of darkness forever. The wandering stars are the Serpents and the Scorpions as will be shown in an upcoming chapter. They are indeed smitten. We have now indentified the Multitude, the Scorpions, and the Serpents that are all linked to the sea.
Let’s now take a look at a parable that Jesus put forth.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: [48] Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. [49] So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, [50] And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. – Matthew 13:47-50
The kingdom of heaven is like a net. This net is cast into the sea and catches the creatures of the sea. The bad are cast away (2/3, Scorpions and Serpents) and the good are gathered into vessels. (Multitude) This is how it will be at the end of the world. The angels shall sever the wicked (Scorpions and Serpents, the tares) and gather the good (Multitude, wheat into the barn) into vessels.
The kingdom of heaven is comprised of the Scorpions, the Serpents, and the Multitude. They are in this net which is representative of the kingdom of heaven. More importantly, these three groups are equated to creatures that live in the sea. The kingdom of heaven (Net) is cast into the sea and the creatures are pulled out. The Scorpions, Serpents, and Multitude are currently dwelling in the sea, the sea of Babylon. They are also the four winds that strove upon the sea of Babylon.
Let’s take another look at the 2nd 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; [9] 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. – Revelation 8:8, 9
The 1/3 of the creatures that were in the sea died. This would be the Multitude. The ones that are gathered into the vessels that came out of the sea in Matthew 13.
The other 2/3 of the creatures that are in the sea don’t have life. They are the 2/3 that are cut off and die in Zechariah 13:8. Here is yet another example of the creatures that are in the sea are the groups that are in the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven is in the sea; the sea of Babylon.
And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. [2] And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, [3] Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. - Revelation 7:1-3
These are the four winds of the earth that are told not to hurt the earth, or the sea, or the trees until the sealing of the 144,000 has been completed. These four winds are the 1st four trumpets which are comprised of judgements or indictments against the Scorpions, the Serpents, and the Multitude and the different aspects of those judgements. The 1st four trumpets hurt the Multitude. They are hurt by the Scorpions and the Serpents of the 5th and 6th trumpets. The 1st four trumpets have all of the players within them for they are the four winds that bring down the judgement of the Lord.
The four winds are the 4 trumpets and they are told not to hurt the earth, sea, or trees until the sealing is completed, and the hurting of the earth, sea, and trees is the hurting of the Multitude. The Multitude must therefore be in the earth and in the sea and they are 1/3 of the trees of the forest upon the earth. The four winds will not only strive upon the sea, but they will also strive upon the earth and upon the trees.
Babylon is in the midst of the sea and is covered with the multitude of the waves. (Scorpions and Serpents)
For thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited; when I shall bring up the deep upon thee, and great waters shall cover thee; - Ezekiel 26:19
This is speaking about Tyrus which is Babylon. The Lord brings the deep upon them and great waters shall cover them. This shows that the Multitude sinks down.
And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah. - Jeremiah 51:64
There it is. Babylon sinks of which the Multitude is a third with Babylon. The other 2/3 also sink. But they don’t rise up to meet the Lord in the air. There is redemption for the Multitude that sinks into the depths of the sea.
Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over? [11] Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. - Isaiah 51:10
The Lord has made a way in the depths of the sea for the ransomed to pass over. Who are the ransomed? They are the ones that were paid for with a price; they are the Multitude. When they return to the Lord from the depths of the sea, from the darkness of the prison houses, they shall come into Zion singing with everlasting joy upon their heads, for they are the redeemed of the Lord. They shall rise first at the sound of the 7th trumpet when the mystery of God is finished. [14]
The four winds that come upon the great sea are the four trumpets that produce the whirlwind. The great sea is the great city Babylon that is in the midst of the sea and is covered with the multitude of the waves (Scorpions and Serpents) and afflicts the Multitude in the furnace of affliction. The Multitude sinks into the deep and within the deep is the way for their redemption.
Out of this sea that the four winds strove upon come the 4 beasts. The sea is Babylon, therefore they come out of Babylon. Since we have now identified the inhabitants of Babylon are the Serpents, the Scorpions, and the Multitude. These beasts must be associated in some way to these three groups.
This is what we will discover as we examine each of these 4 beasts.
Footnotes
[1]. “The Trumpet Judgements Unveiled” chapter 2
[2]. Strong’s 1519
[3]. Strong’s 1518
[4]. Strong’s 8047
[5]. Webster’s New World Dictionary
[6]. Webster’s New World Dictionary
[7]. Strong’s 8186
[8]. Strong’s 8175
[9]. Strong’s 8322
[10]. Strong’s 8319
[11]. Webster’s New World Dictionary
[12]. “The Trumpet Judgements Unveiled” chapter 3
[13]. Strong’s 7751
[14]. Revelation 10:7
[5] And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. [6] After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
[7] After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. - Daniel 7:2-7
These four beasts of Daniel; the lion, the bear, the leopard, and the fourth beast all rise up out of the sea. Before we take a look at each one of these beasts, we need to understand where these beasts come from. They come from the sea, but what does the sea represent? And what are these four winds that strove upon this sea? These are questions that we will find the answers to which will give us a better understanding of what these four beasts actually represent.
The first item to note in this passage is in verse 2; the four winds that strove upon the great sea. The four winds are the four winds that are held back in Revelation 7 until the sealing of the 144,000 occurs. They are the four trumpets of Revelation. [1] These are the winds that strive upon the sea. This will now give us new meaning to these verses and definitions.
The word strove means; to rush forth, strive. [2] The under-definition means; to gush forth (as water), generally to issue, break forth, labor to bring forth, come forth, draw up, take out. [3]
Remember when we were looking at the potsherds that were striving with the Lord? The Serpents, Scorpions, and the Multitude have striven with the Lord. They strive upon the sea of Babylon.
These definitions are full of links to the trumpet judgements. The rushing forth and gushing forth is the whirlwind or the tempest that is the Tribulation. The word issue as in issue forth ties in with the Serpents that have the fire, smoke, and brimstone that issue out of their mouths. The word issue is tied in with the “overflowing scourge” of Isaiah 28.
To break forth is associated with the 5th and 6th trumpets breaking forth upon the Multitude. Labour to bring forth is the travail of the woman bringing forth the man child. The Multitude comes forth, they are drawn up, (Dead in Christ rise first) and they are taken out’ (One shall be taken)
The four winds strove upon the great sea. This sea could be none other than the sea of Babylon. The Serpents and Scorpions will rush forth, gush forth, break forth, and issue forth upon Babylon. The Multitude will labour to bring forth, come forth, be drawn up, and taken out of Babylon. Let’s substantiate that this sea is actually representative of Babylon and its inhabitants.
Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will plead thy cause, and takevengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry. [37] And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant. - Jeremiah 51:36, 37
In verse 37, Babylon will become heaps and a dwellingplace for dragons. The dragons are representative of the Serpents. Her sea will be dried up. Who’s sea? He will dry up the sea which is Babylon. What is being conveyed here? Jesus Christ is the river of living waters. If Babylon’s sea is dried up and her springs are dry, then there are no rivers of living water flowing through it anymore. It gives us an indication that there was water, but the Lord will be removing that water (The Truth) from the land, more specifically, Babylon.
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: - Amos 8:11
Amos puts forth that very clearly within this verse. There will be famine in the land. Not a famine of physical bread or physical water. There will be physical food and water available. There shall be a famine of the Truth of the Lord. Interesting enough, the Word can be Living Water and the Bread of Life. This is giving us an additional clue that there will be physical food and water available. The famine that the Bible refers to about the end times is the spiritual bread and water that cannot be found. We can confirm that the Truth has been dried up in the following passage.
A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; [31] The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? - Jeremiah 5:30, 31
The prophets are dealing falsely for the Truth has been dried up. The people are following these prophets in their falsehoods and love doing so. The Truth is not in them. Jeremiah describes this as “A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land.”
Before we take a look at what this “wonderful and horrible thing” means, let’s go back to Jeremiah 51:37, “And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.”
The word astonishment is defined as; ruin; by implication, consternation:--astonishment, desolate (-ion), waste, wonderful thing. [4]
Babylon will become a ruin. It will become a desolation and desolate without an inhabitant. It will become waste and also a wonderful thing. Look back at Jeremiah 5:30; “A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land.”
The word astonishment is defined in the dictionary as; sudden surprise, amazement. [5]
O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us. - Jeremiah 6:26
This verse is speaking about the Multitude. The spoilers are the Scorpions of the 5th trumpet that will come suddenly upon the Multitude.
Babylon will also be a consternation.
The word consternation is defined as; to terrify, paralyzing amazement or terror. [6] This does not sound good at all. Let’s now look at the definitions for wonderful and horrible in Jeremiah 5:30.
The word wonderful is the same word used for the word astonishment in Jeremiah 51:37 “And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.”
The words horrible thing is defined as; something fearful:--horrible thing. [7]
This definition for the phrase horrible thing is something fearful. This would be synonymous with the word consternation which is one of the definitions of the word astonishment in Jeremiah 51:37.
The under-definition is; to storm; by implication, to shiver, i.e. fear:--be (horribly) afraid, hurl as a storm, be tempestuous, come like (take away as with) a whirlwind. [8]
This definition brings us right back to where we started with the four winds that strove upon the great sea. The four winds come together to form the whirlwind. It is the storm and tempest of the Lord more commonly known as the Tribulation.
“And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.” - Jeremiah 51:37
Let’s now look at the word hissing. Hissing is defined as; a derision:--hissing. [9]
Its under-definition means; properly, to be shrill, i.e. to whistle or hiss (as a call or in scorn):--hiss. [10]
Derision is defined as; contempt or ridicule. [11]
The hissing mentioned in this verse is a direct reference to the Serpents and the Scorpions. They scorn the Multitude; just as they scorned Jesus. They mocked, ridiculed and scorned Him, and had contempt toward Him. The Scorpions will be right there with the Serpents mocking and scorning the Multitude. The Multitude is in the same role as Jesus and will be mocked, ridiculed, scorned, and held in contempt. Let’s now compare some verses with one another which use the word hiss or hissing.
Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues. - Jeremiah 50:13
This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand. - Zephaniah 2:15
All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth? All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they hiss and gnash the teeth: they say, We have swallowed her up: certainly this is the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen it. - Lamentations 2:15, 16
Also Edom shall be a desolation: every one that goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof. - Jeremiah 49:17
These four passages all have the same terminology within them using the word hiss. The first is speaking about Babylon, this would be the spiritual Babylon. The second verse in Zephaniah is also speaking about Babylon. But you wouldn’t know that until you compare another verse about Babylon that uses the same wording. Compare Zephaniah 2:15 with Isaiah 47:8.
This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand. - Zephaniah 2:15
Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children: - Isaiah 47:8
There is a striking resemblance between those two verses. Isaiah 47:8 is speaking about Babylon. We know that Isaiah is speaking about Babylon in this verse by going back a few verses to Isaiah 47:5.
Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called,The lady of kingdoms. - Isaiah 47:5
This is directed towards the “daughter of the Chaldeans.” The daughter of the Chaldeans is the daughter of Babylon is the daughter of Jerusalem is the daughter of Zion, etc. This is an identification of the Multitude in multiple texts under the title of “the daughter of.”
It should be noted here that Babylon, Jerusalem, Zion, Israel, etc. are shifting spiritual identifications of the church. The church can be composed of either the 144,000, the Multitude, the Scorpions, or the Serpents. Either singularly, collectively, or any combination thereof based upon the context of the scriptures in which you find them.
Back to Isaiah 47:5 with the identification of the “daughter of the Chaldeans”. (The Multitude) Look at the first part of this verse. “Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness.” Remember the 7th seal? Those that are made silent are the Multitude. The darkness is the darkness that covers the earth but it is also referring to the darkness that they are in when they are in prison. This is when the Lord’s light shines upon them, when they are in the darkness. These two items, “Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness” is referring to the fate of the daughter of the Chaldeans. They will be imprisoned and killed. (Sit though silent and darkness signifying their death.)
In Isaiah 47:8 we have the same exact wording as found in Zephaniah 2:15; “that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me;” The reason for this clarification in showing that these two verses are speaking about the same thing. Zephaniah 2:15 does not have the identification of Babylon attributed to it within the text yet we know the identification by the similar wording.
The following nations and people are identified in Zephaniah 2:15.The remnant of the house of Judah, the houses of Ashkelon, Moab, Ammon, Ethiopians, Assyria, Nineveh, the nation of the Cherethites, Canaan, and the land of the Philistines. All of these nations and people are then referred to as “the rejoicing city.” This rejoicing city is Babylon, spiritual Babylon; which is full of these other spiritual identities that are all spiritual Babylon.
This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand. - Zephaniah 2:15
This next verse is the third verse with the word hiss in it. This is identified with the “daughter of Jerusalem.” This is also stated to be a city. This again would be spiritual Babylon, the church.
All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth? All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they hiss and gnash the teeth: they say, We have swallowed her up: certainly this is the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen it. - Lamentations 2:15, 16
Also Edom shall be a desolation: every one that goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof. - Jeremiah 49:17
Now we have Edom joining the ranks. Since the physical Edom had long been destroyed, this could only be referring to spiritual Edom which is of course, spiritual Babylon. Edom is added to this mix, for it is the Edomites that give away their birthright. This is what infuriates the Lord. Birthright is extremely important to Him and He doesn’t take it lightly when one gives away what Jesus Christ died on the cross for, which is our spiritual heritage.
We are still determining what this sea is that the four winds strove upon. This is the sea of Babylon. And not just a sea of Babylon; the sea IS Babylon.
And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say to thee, How art thou destroyed, that was inhabited of seafaring men, the renowned city, which wast strong in the sea, she and her inhabitants, which cause their terror to be on all that haunt it! - Ezekiel 26:17
This verse is speaking about a city known by the name of Tyrus. This city is destroyed. This city is inhabited of seafaring men. Who are the seafaring men? The seafaring men are men that live their lives on ships of the sea. Let me take you to the 2nd 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; [9] 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. – Revelation 8:8, 9
We have already identified that the third part of the creatures and the third part of the ships that are destroyed in this trumpet are the Multitude in a previous work. [12]
Babylon in the book of Revelation is divided into thirds. The thirds are comprised of the Scorpions, the Serpents, and the Multitude. The Multitude is the 1/3 that is destroyed by the Scorpions and the Serpents. 1/3 of the creatures that had life died. (Multitude) The 1/3 of the ships that are destroyed is another spiritual identification of the Multitude. We then can surmise that if 1/3 of the ships are destroyed, there are still 2/3 of the ships sailing the sea of Babylon containing the Scorpions and the Serpents. All of these ships of the 3/3 carry upon them seafaring men.
An interesting little side note: remember when we followed the definition for the word scorpion in the Old Testament, we found in the definition, the word scourge which linked us to the overflowing scourge of Isaiah 28? And then in the under-definition of scourge we found the phrase “run to and fro.”
There are some other words within that definition that is absolutely uncanny. Let’s look at the under-definition. It means; properly, to push forth; (but used only figuratively) to lash, i.e. (the sea with oars) to row; by implication, to travel:--go (about, through, to and fro), mariner, rower, run to and fro. [13]
To push forth is very close to the definition of strove, which includes rush forth or break forth. To lash the sea with oars, to row and to travel indicates sailing the sea of Babylon by a mariner or a rower. They are running to and fro upon the sea seeking the 1/3 of the ships that are to be destroyed.
The city of Tyrus was strong “in the sea.” This verse also mentions that Tyrus is a renowned city. This next verse is also speaking about Tyrus.
And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, saying, What city is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea? - Ezekiel 27:32
This verse states that Tyrus is destroyed in the midst of the sea. They are wailing (Crying) and lamenting over this city, saying, “What city is like Tyrus”. This verse is almost identical to this next verse that is speaking about Babylon. It sounds almost identical, because it is identical. Spiritual Tyrus is spiritual Babylon.
And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! [19] And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. - Revelation 18:18, 19
Notice that the ones that had ships (Seafaring men) were made rich by her costliness. She was esteemed as being valuable. There is a hint of the Scorpions that have stripped the Multitude of all of their wealth.
The sea is come up upon Babylon: she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof. - Jeremiah 51:42
The sea comes upon Babylon and she is covered by the waves of the sea because Babylon is in the midst of the sea.
And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away.
- Zechariah 10:11
The Lord passes through the sea with affliction. Who are the afflicted? The Multitude is afflicted. There are many verses that state this premise. The pride of Assyria is brought low. The Assyrians are a spiritual identification for the Serpents. They are prideful and will be brought low. The Egyptian’s sceptre shall depart away. The Egyptian’s are a spiritual identification for the Scorpions. One of the links to the Scorpions is in this verse found in Deuteronomy.
But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day. - Deuteronomy 4:20
The Lord brought the children of Israel out of the iron furnace when He brought them out of Egypt. The iron is associated with the Scorpions. The Scorpions have the breastplates of iron in the 5th trumpet. The Scorpions are also the fire of the 1st trumpet. They are the iron furnace that the Multitude is thrown into. All of these things are for ensamples for us as stated in 1 Corinthians 10:11.
Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. - Isaiah 48:10
The Multitude is refined through the fire in the furnace of affliction. The Lord passes through the sea with affliction. The sea is Babylon which is the furnace of affliction that the Multitude is thrown into.
In Zechariah 10:11, the Lord states that He shall smite the waves in the sea. The sun, (Scorpions) the moon, (Multitude) and the stars (Serpents) are all smitten in the 4th trumpet. The Multitude are the ones that are afflicted in the sea. (Smitten) The waves that come upon Babylon are smitten, them being the sun and stars. The Lord also smites the summer house (Scorpions) and the winter house (Serpents) in Amos 3:15. For the summer house and the winter house are the waves of the sea that come up upon Babylon and afflict the Multitude.
Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. - Jude 1:13
This is the identification of the stars as being the waves of the sea. They are raging waves; and of course their ultimate end, in the blackness of darkness forever. The wandering stars are the Serpents and the Scorpions as will be shown in an upcoming chapter. They are indeed smitten. We have now indentified the Multitude, the Scorpions, and the Serpents that are all linked to the sea.
Let’s now take a look at a parable that Jesus put forth.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: [48] Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. [49] So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, [50] And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. – Matthew 13:47-50
The kingdom of heaven is like a net. This net is cast into the sea and catches the creatures of the sea. The bad are cast away (2/3, Scorpions and Serpents) and the good are gathered into vessels. (Multitude) This is how it will be at the end of the world. The angels shall sever the wicked (Scorpions and Serpents, the tares) and gather the good (Multitude, wheat into the barn) into vessels.
The kingdom of heaven is comprised of the Scorpions, the Serpents, and the Multitude. They are in this net which is representative of the kingdom of heaven. More importantly, these three groups are equated to creatures that live in the sea. The kingdom of heaven (Net) is cast into the sea and the creatures are pulled out. The Scorpions, Serpents, and Multitude are currently dwelling in the sea, the sea of Babylon. They are also the four winds that strove upon the sea of Babylon.
Let’s take another look at the 2nd 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; [9] 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. – Revelation 8:8, 9
The 1/3 of the creatures that were in the sea died. This would be the Multitude. The ones that are gathered into the vessels that came out of the sea in Matthew 13.
The other 2/3 of the creatures that are in the sea don’t have life. They are the 2/3 that are cut off and die in Zechariah 13:8. Here is yet another example of the creatures that are in the sea are the groups that are in the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven is in the sea; the sea of Babylon.
And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. [2] And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, [3] Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. - Revelation 7:1-3
These are the four winds of the earth that are told not to hurt the earth, or the sea, or the trees until the sealing of the 144,000 has been completed. These four winds are the 1st four trumpets which are comprised of judgements or indictments against the Scorpions, the Serpents, and the Multitude and the different aspects of those judgements. The 1st four trumpets hurt the Multitude. They are hurt by the Scorpions and the Serpents of the 5th and 6th trumpets. The 1st four trumpets have all of the players within them for they are the four winds that bring down the judgement of the Lord.
The four winds are the 4 trumpets and they are told not to hurt the earth, sea, or trees until the sealing is completed, and the hurting of the earth, sea, and trees is the hurting of the Multitude. The Multitude must therefore be in the earth and in the sea and they are 1/3 of the trees of the forest upon the earth. The four winds will not only strive upon the sea, but they will also strive upon the earth and upon the trees.
Babylon is in the midst of the sea and is covered with the multitude of the waves. (Scorpions and Serpents)
For thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited; when I shall bring up the deep upon thee, and great waters shall cover thee; - Ezekiel 26:19
This is speaking about Tyrus which is Babylon. The Lord brings the deep upon them and great waters shall cover them. This shows that the Multitude sinks down.
And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah. - Jeremiah 51:64
There it is. Babylon sinks of which the Multitude is a third with Babylon. The other 2/3 also sink. But they don’t rise up to meet the Lord in the air. There is redemption for the Multitude that sinks into the depths of the sea.
Art thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over? [11] Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. - Isaiah 51:10
The Lord has made a way in the depths of the sea for the ransomed to pass over. Who are the ransomed? They are the ones that were paid for with a price; they are the Multitude. When they return to the Lord from the depths of the sea, from the darkness of the prison houses, they shall come into Zion singing with everlasting joy upon their heads, for they are the redeemed of the Lord. They shall rise first at the sound of the 7th trumpet when the mystery of God is finished. [14]
The four winds that come upon the great sea are the four trumpets that produce the whirlwind. The great sea is the great city Babylon that is in the midst of the sea and is covered with the multitude of the waves (Scorpions and Serpents) and afflicts the Multitude in the furnace of affliction. The Multitude sinks into the deep and within the deep is the way for their redemption.
Out of this sea that the four winds strove upon come the 4 beasts. The sea is Babylon, therefore they come out of Babylon. Since we have now identified the inhabitants of Babylon are the Serpents, the Scorpions, and the Multitude. These beasts must be associated in some way to these three groups.
This is what we will discover as we examine each of these 4 beasts.
Footnotes
[1]. “The Trumpet Judgements Unveiled” chapter 2
[2]. Strong’s 1519
[3]. Strong’s 1518
[4]. Strong’s 8047
[5]. Webster’s New World Dictionary
[6]. Webster’s New World Dictionary
[7]. Strong’s 8186
[8]. Strong’s 8175
[9]. Strong’s 8322
[10]. Strong’s 8319
[11]. Webster’s New World Dictionary
[12]. “The Trumpet Judgements Unveiled” chapter 3
[13]. Strong’s 7751
[14]. Revelation 10:7