Episode notes
This podcast explains the imagery and symbolism used by John as an introduction to the third woe in Revelation 11:18. Wicked nations of the world are angry in this verse because the Lord's wrath is come in the form of the most severe plagues in the history of the world. John refers to this as the time of the dead, meaning that many wicked people will be destroyed in the judgments of God. At the same time, this verse assures righteous people that they will receive the reward of prophets and saints. The righteous dead will rise from their graves in the morning of the first resurrection. Righteous living saints will be taken up to descend with Christ in clouds of glory. They will be protected against the seven vial plagues of the third woe. When the third woe is concluded at the second coming, the Lord will destroy them which destroy the earth. That is, wicked people who live only a telestial law will be destroyed because they corrupt the earth and fill it with their evil works. The destroyers also include disembodied spirits of mortal sons of perdition who have and use their evil influence on the earth. Finally, the destroyers are also unembodied sons of perdition who were cast down to this earth and denied mortal bodies because of their rebellion with Lucifer in the premortal existence, including the war in heaven. All these destroyers, both mortals and spirits, will be destroyed when Christ begins to reign on earth during the third woe and at his second coming.