Voyage | Book of Revelation & Genesis | Shalom World

We meet the enemy of the woman in Chapter 12 of the Book of Revelation. Irish Scripture Scholar Frances Hogan explains why St. John uses the image of a dragon, a monster of chaos and untamed human nature, to describe the enemy. The dragon represents all that is evil and all that opposes the people of God.

The dragon was red/scarlet in color and in the apocalypse, the red color means sin and immorality; it represents blood because satan demands human sacrifice. The dragon has 7 heads and 10 horns which means he is extremely powerful. St. John wants us to know that evil on the earth is made in the image of satan and the glorious woman is made in the image of God.

We’re told that the 7 heads are crowned; that is satan laying claim on Christ’s right to rule the earth. The dragon pulls a third of the stars in heaven; this is the great apostasy and it will appear as if satan is winning. Satan goes after the newborn child who is destined to rule the world. The child was snatched up to heaven showing us the victory of Christ over satan.

God’s eternal will is eternal; He will rule with an iron staff.

Bible References:

• Rev. 12:3 - The second sign
• Gen. 1:21 - The dragon is the great sea monster
• Ps. 74:13-15 - The sea serpent, Leviathan
• Duet. 32:33 - The serpent and the cobra
• Is. 27:21 - God overcomes the dragon
• Dan. 7:7 - Dragon has 7 heads and 10 horns
• Rev. 17:3-4 - The red dragon is gorged with blood…
• Jer. 51:34 - Nebuchadnezzar is referred to as a dragon
• Ezk. 29:33 - The Pharoah is referred to as a dragon
• Dan. 7:1-7 - Greek empires of the 4th epiphanies as a beast
• Rev. 1:20, 2:1 and 3:1 - Stars mean the church
• Matt. 13:43 - The virtuous will shine like stars…
• Gen. 22:17 - Your seed will be like the stars…
• Ps. 2:19 - The Lord is omnipotent
• Ps.110 - About the Messiah 
• Rev. 12:6 - The woman goes into the desert
• Jer. 31:2-3 - They found favor in the wilderness
• Col. 3:1-3 - We have the Lord’s favor and protection if we live in union with God
• Rev. 12:9 - Identification of the dragon

Scripture Scholar Frances Hogan takes you to the world of the Apocalypse of John shown to us in the Book of Revelation written from the Greek island of Patmos. Through this podcast, we will try to understand the Book of Revelation through St. John’s warnings, the punishment that awaits, and the consolation the Lord offers to the faithful.

Frances Hogan: https://www.franceshogan.com/

Shalom World: https://www.shalomworld.org

Support us: https://shalomworld.org/donate

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shalomworldpodcasts/

From Chapter 12 of the Book of Revelation, we see the second half where the drama begins. Irish Scripture Scholar Frances Hogan begins reading from Chapter 12 and explains why St. John wants to give us a full picture of the battle between God and satan before the final stages 

St. John takes us to the beginning so that we can see the fall of Lucifer, he wants us to see the victory of Jesus on Calvary… Satan has opposed Jesus from the moment of His birth; this is the same pattern satan will follow for the church. St. John wants the Christians to know that satan is a defeated foe who uses every bit of his dying energy to oppose Christ. He wants us to know that Jesus has won the battle and is reigning in heaven.

St. John also wants the church to know that she must lay her life down for Christ in order to be with Him at the banquet. Between Chapters 12 and 14, St. John gives us 7 signs that lead to the end times:

1. The woman clothed with the sun
2. The huge red dragon
3. The beast from the sea
4. The 2nd beast from the land
5. The Lamb and His companions on Zion
6. The 3 Angels announcing judgment
7. The harvest of the earth

The human will has to surrender to the Divine Will.

Bible References:

• Rev. 12:1-6 - Persecution of the church
• Amos 3:7 - God never does anything without telling his prophets first
• Matt. 16:18 - The gates of hell will not prevail…
• Heb. 12:14 - Nothing unholy or unworthy can enter the presence of God
• John 21:18-19 - The prophecy of the Petrine church’s martyrdom
• Rev. 12:1-2 - The woman clothed with the sun
• Rev. 12:3-17 - The huge red dragon
• Rev. 13:1-10 - The beast from the sea
• Rev. 13:11-18 - The 2nd beast from the land
• Rev. 14:1-5 - The Lamb and His companions on Zion
• Rev. 14:6-13 - The 3 Angels announcing judgment
• Rev. 14:14-20 - The harvest of the earth
• Is. 26:16-19 - Failed in her mission to bring salvation
• John 19:25-27 - Gifted with the Mother of the Church

Scripture Scholar Frances Hogan takes you to the world of the Apocalypse of John shown to us in the Book of Revelation written from the Greek island of Patmos. Through this podcast, we will try to understand the Book of Revelation through St. John’s warnings, the punishment that awaits, and the consolation the Lord offers to the faithful.

Frances Hogan: https://www.franceshogan.com/

Shalom World: https://www.shalomworld.org

Support us: https://shalomworld.org/donate

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shalomworldpodcasts/

There are two great witnesses that the Lord wants to raise up to help the church endure the chastisements of the end times; we see this in Chapter 11 of the Book of Revelation. In this episode, Irish Scripture Scholar Frances Hogan continues to explain details about the two witnesses. The two great witnesses have an enemy and it is the beast from the abyss.

They do God’s will and they use God’s power to carry out what God wants; they remain faithful to God and His word regardless of the opposition and they have a deep prayer life. Their death is public and shameful and the world gloats over it but they rise from the dead in public. Their ministry is in the heart of the capital, Rome. Here St. John refers to Rome as Sodom and Egypt.

Sodom is proverbial for sin and is ripe for judgment; Egypt means something that is enslaving people spiritually. Both cities experienced the judgment of God; Sodom in Genesis and Egypt in Exodus. We can expect the same with “Rome” in the Book of Revelation - Babylon. 

When the seventh trumpet blows, it is the announcement of God’s moment of intervention in human history. The Lamb has begun His reign and the ark of the covenant has appeared. The ark of the covenant contained the stone tablets with the 10 commandments, the jar of Manna, and the sign of priesthood - the Word, the Bread, and the Priest.

Bible References:

• Matt. 10:15 - “land of Sodom and Gomorrah…”
• Is. 1:9 - “we would be like Sodom…”
• Luke 1:52 - The Lord will pull the mighty ones and raise up the church
• Rev.11:15-18 - The seventh trumpet
• Kings 19 - 7000 people have not bent the knee
• Rev. 11:18 - “The time has come to destroy those who are destroying the earth.”
• Rev. 11:19 - “Sanctuary of God opened and the ark of the covenant appeared…”

Scripture Scholar Frances Hogan takes you to the world of the Apocalypse of John shown to us in the Book of Revelation written from the Greek island of Patmos. Through this podcast, we will try to understand the Book of Revelation through St. John’s warnings, the punishment that awaits, and the consolation the Lord offers to the faithful.

Frances Hogan: https://www.franceshogan.com/

Shalom World: https://www.shalomworld.org

Support us: https://shalomworld.org/donate

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shalomworldpodcasts/

Verse 1 of Chapter 11 in the Book of Revelation speaks about measuring God’s sanctuary; while this might seem ominous to us, it is a precursor to what is to come. Irish Scripture Scholar Frances Hogan continues the reflections on the Book of Revelation explaining what it means to measure the church. This is God’s way of asking the church: Are you persecution ready? Are you ready for martyrdom? Are you ready to lay down your life? The church will be measured up against the Gospels.

St. John tells us that the inner court of the sanctuary is protected but the outer court is not; they will face persecution. The warning tells us that if a person is not graced powerfully by God, they will fall. The Lord tells His church that He will not abandon them and leave them as orphans; He gives them 2 witnesses. They lead the church in repentance, conversion, and intercession and they lead by example. St. John compares them to Elijah and Moses who brought great light to a time of great darkness.

So who are these two great witnesses? Under the covenant of Moses, it was Moses and Elijah. During the lifetime of Jesus, it was Jesus and Holy Spirit. At the time of Nero’s persecution, it was Ss. Peter and Paul. Who are they at the end times? We won’t know until it is revealed…

Bible References:

• Rev. 11:1 - “measure God’s sanctuary…”
• Ezk. 40:1-4 - Ezekiel was told to measure the sanctuary
• John 5:45-47 - Measured up against the covenant
• Luke 21:24 - God's elect are gathered in out of all nations
• Zech. 2:5-9 - Sifted like wheat
• Rev. 4-5 - The sanctuary
• Rev. 11:2 - The outer court is not measured
• Zech. 6:11-13 - Lampstands and olive trees
• Zech. 4:1-14 - The 2 anointed ones who stand before Him
• John 7:20,25, John 9:4, John 12:34 - Completely safe until “The Time”

 Scripture Scholar Frances Hogan takes you to the world of the Apocalypse of John shown to us in the Book of Revelation written from the Greek island of Patmos. Through this podcast, we will try to understand the Book of Revelation through St. John’s warnings, the punishment that awaits, and the consolation the Lord offers to the faithful.

Frances Hogan: https://www.franceshogan.com/

Shalom World: https://www.shalomworld.org

Support us: https://shalomworld.org/donate

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shalomworldpodcasts/

In Chapter 10 of the Book of Revelation, we see a mighty angel that comes down from heaven; we are told in verses 5 and 6 that the angel stands on land and sea with his right hand raised to heaven in the act of swearing. Irish Scripture Scholar Frances Hogan explains that all the chastisement will begin to flow after the sounding of the 7th trumpet. The era of mercy is over and the era of justice has begun.

The time for waiting is over and God’s secret intention to come to fruition - to have His kingdom on earth and have His will be fulfilled. We are asked to internalize the message given to us; it will satisfy our souls and give joy to our hearts. The time has come for the purification, crucifixion, death, and resurrection of the church; the church has to lay her life down for Christ. 

In Chapter 11, the church is prepared for the coming trial. St. John follows the Eschatological Discourse of Jesus and in which, Jesus talks about the judgment that is coming to the temple, the city, and the people. The old Israel is no longer here; the new chosen people and Israel are here - the church. The Lord holds back great cataclysms in order to let the church pray; the church has power with God.

Bible References:

• Rev. 10:7 - “Time of waiting is over…”
• Mal. 4:5 - The prophets announce Yom Yahweh has arrived
• Ps.22:27 - “All the ends of the earth…”
• Phil. 2:6-11 - “...proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord”
• Ezk. 2:9-10: - “...eat this scroll…”
• Luke 2 - The Mother of Jesus kept all these words in her heart
• Ps. 119:103 - “Your word is sweet to my taste”
• Rev. 10:11 - A message to all people, everywhere
• Jer. 15:16 - “When your words came, I devoured them…”
• Rev. 11:1-13 - A gift is given amidst the apostasy
• Matt. 24 and Luke 1 - The Eschatological Discourse of Jesus
• 1 Pt. 4:17-18 - “time has come for judgment…”
• Rev. 7:3 - The Lord held back disasters while He sealed His servants
• John 14 and 7 - When you pray through Him and in Him, the Father will listen
• Rev. 5:8 - Prayers of the saints were lifted
• Rev. 6:9 - Prayers of the martyrs were lifted
• Rev. 7:9-12 - Prayer and thanksgiving of saints in heaven and on earth
• Rev. 8:3 - Pleasing incense going up to heaven
• Rev. 2:2,9 - St. John was commissioned as a prophet
• John 21:18 - The Petrine church is called to lay down her life for her master

Scripture Scholar Frances Hogan takes you to the world of the Apocalypse of John shown to us in the Book of Revelation written from the Greek island of Patmos. Through this podcast, we will try to understand the Book of Revelation through St. John’s warnings, the punishment that awaits, and the consolation the Lord offers to the faithful.

Frances Hogan: https://www.franceshogan.com/

Shalom World: https://www.shalomworld.org

Support us: https://shalomworld.org/donate

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shalomworldpodcasts/

We come to a section where there is another pause in the tribulation that is coming to the earth. Irish Scripture Scholar Frances Hogan explains that satan, an inverted imitation of God, tries to place himself above and before God everywhere. In the Book of Revelation, we are introduced to satan and hell in Chapter 9 before we see God. We are also introduced to the evil trinity which rules the earth; however, when the battle is over, the most blessed Trinity from Heaven will rule the earth.

St. John continues to write about his vision of Heaven; he sees a powerful angel with a scroll coming down to the earth; a messenger of God coming down on the clouds amidst tribulations from hell. The cloud, a symbol of the mystery of God, reveals the light and conceals the sun at the same time. There is a rainbow around the angel, the face shines like the sun and the legs were like pillars. The closer you are to God, the more God-like you become.

In Chapters 10 and 11 of the Book of Revelation, the Lord warns the church that she must watch and pray because dark days lie ahead for the church. When the trials come, the church has to continue her ministry, she has to look after the souls who are lost and she has to continue offering the Word of God and the Sacraments to God’s people. The voice of God begins to manifest as the 7 claps of thunder from heaven. St. John is told that the message in the thunder is not for now; some things are only known to God.

Bible References:

• Amos 3:7 - The Lord never does anything without telling His prophets first
• Mark 13:33-37 - "Be on your guard… stay awake ”
• Rev. 10:1-7 - “...the time for waiting is over…”
• Ps. 114:1-3 - “wrapped in a robe of light…”
• Num. 9:15-23 - The cloud is a symbol of the mystery of God
• Acts 1:9 - Jesus was taken up into the clouds
• 1 John 1:5 - God is light
• Matt. 28:20 - “All authority has been given to Me”
• Jer. 25:30-31 - “The Lord roars from on high…”
• Ps. 29:1-7 - The voice of the Lord…
• Mark 13:32 - “Nobody except God knows…”
• 2 Cor. 12:4 - St. Paul heard things that must not be put into words

Scripture Scholar Frances Hogan takes you to the world of the Apocalypse of John shown to us in the Book of Revelation written from the Greek island of Patmos. Through this podcast, we will try to understand the Book of Revelation through St. John’s warnings, the punishment that awaits, and the consolation the Lord offers to the faithful.

Frances Hogan: https://www.franceshogan.com/

Shalom World: https://www.shalomworld.org

Support us: https://shalomworld.org/donate

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shalomworldpodcasts/

The fifth trumpet, as revealed by St. John in Chapter 9 of the Book of Revelation, gives us an introduction to satan and hell on earth. Irish Scripture Scholar Frances Hogan explains the ruin that comes from the abyss through satan. Just as God uses people to be His trumpeters, priests, prophets, and family, so does satan; he is the imitation of God. Unfortunately, satan imitates God in an inverted way; he is the ultimate source of evil upon the earth.

The smoke of satan, released from the abyss, produces spiritual darkness; this produces apostasy. The people who are going to destroy the church are described as “a plague of locusts” by St. John; they cannot attack those with the seal of God. There is torture and pain coming for anyone who does not live according to the will of God. St. John explains the features of the locusts with the knowledge and images of his time; he uses images of the Parthian army also known as an army of locusts. But St. John was talking about a time that is yet to come…

Frances Hogan believes that the abyss was opened in the 1960s with the hurricanes; this was also the time when Pope Paul II said that the smoke of satan entered the church. It was a time of apostasy, the pursuit of money and pleasure took over and abortion was rampant; this was the “plague of locusts”. 

When the sixth trumpet sounded, four angels were to be released to wipe out one-third of the human race. The rest of the human race who survived chose to continue the ways of the world; there was no repentance. St. John reminds the people that they have to protect and keep the seal of God on their foreheads.

Bible References:

• Rev. 9 - Introduction to satan and the abyss
• 1 Pt. 5:8-10 - Demons seeking the ruin of souls
• Luke 8:31 - The demons begged Jesus not to send them to the abyss before the time
• John 14:30 - The Prince of this world was coming for satan
• 2 Thess. 2:3-4 - The great apostasy
• Rev. 9:3-5 & Rev. 9:5-7 - A plague of locusts and the description of the locust
• Ps. 1:3 - People of God are like trees…
• Joel: 1:3-9 - Invading army is like a plague of locusts
• Rev. 9:11 - The leader of the abyss is identified
• Rev. 9:13-19 - The sixth trumpet
• Rev. 9:20-21 - Those that remained chose to continue the ways of the world

Scripture Scholar Frances Hogan takes you to the world of the Apocalypse of John shown to us in the Book of Revelation written from the Greek island of Patmos. Through this podcast, we will try to understand the Book of Revelation through St. John’s warnings, the punishment that awaits, and the consolation the Lord offers to the faithful.

Frances Hogan: https://www.franceshogan.com/

Shalom World: https://www.shalomworld.org

Support us: https://shalomworld.org/donate

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shalomworldpodcasts/

Irish Scripture Scholar Frances Hogan continues her reflections on Chapter 8 of the Book of Revelation. At the sound of the third trumpet, a star named Wormwood falls from the sky; this means a leader of the church has fallen which will cause great destruction to the church. The result of the people’s rebellion against God is that they would no longer be able to feed from the Word of God. Judas was the first leader of the church to fall and many followed suit; wormwood becomes the bitter food of apostasy.

The fourth trumpet brings darkness to the earth. When we are in the grace of God, there will be light all around but, when sin takes over, we are surrounded by darkness. We are warned of a time in spiritual darkness and of a time when satan can take control. St. John is the symbol of the eagle in the sky of the church; he cries to the earth that trouble is coming. The eagle is also a symbol of contemplative life in God; when we take this contemplative approach to God, He will open up a spiritual sight to see and receive what the Lord wants to give.

Chapter 9 of the Book of Revelation introduces us to satan as the king of the abyss. At the sound of the fifth trumpet, an angel falls from heaven and is given the keys to the abyss. The gates of hell have opened and the smoke of satan has spewed out.

Bible References:

• Rev. 8:10-11 - The third trumpet
• Amos 5:7 - “...justice into wormwood”
• Jer. 9:15 - “...wormwood for their food…”
• Jer. 9:13-14 - Apostasy brings wormwood
• Jer. 23:11-15 - False prophets and corrupt priests receive wormwood as food from God
• Rev. 8:12-13 - The fourth trumpet
• Amos 8:9 - Prophesy about the darkness
• Matt. 27:45 - Darkness over the whole earth
• Is. 33:26 - When people are in the grace of God, there will be full light
• 1 John 1:5 - God is light and Him there is no darkness
• Is. 13:10 - “Stars of the sky will not let their light shine…”
• Ezek. 32:7 - Light is not present when the people are in sin
• Rev. 8:13 - “Trouble… Trouble… Trouble…”
• 1 Cor. - Spiritual people can understand everything
• Rev. 9:1 - The fifth trumpet
• Rev. 9:2-6 - The introduction to satan and hell
• Ezek. 28:11-16 - Fall of satan from heaven
• Is. 14:12-15 - Fall of the day-star
• Rev. 9:11 - Identification of the fallen star
• Luke 10:18 - Satan fell like lightening
• 1 Pt. 5:8 - Demons are roaming around

Scripture Scholar Frances Hogan takes you to the world of the Apocalypse of John shown to us in the Book of Revelation written from the Greek island of Patmos. Through this podcast, we will try to understand the Book of Revelation through St. John’s warnings, the punishment that awaits, and the consolation the Lord offers to the faithful.

Frances Hogan: https://www.franceshogan.com/

Shalom World: https://www.shalomworld.org

Support us: https://shalomworld.org/donate

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shalomworldpodcasts/

As we go into the trumpets of Chapter 8 in the Book of Revelation, we see that St. John give us the tribulation in three waves with each wave being worse than the last. Irish Scripture Scholar explains that this is similar to what happened in Egypt. When we look at the Book of Exodus and the confrontation between God and the gods of Egypt, we see that St. John is making echoes of what happened there.

God uses the elements to speak to His people; He wants to liberate as many people on the earth as possible from the domination of satan and the powers of darkness. In the Book of Exodus, if the pharaoh had repented, the signs of the tribulations would have stopped.

All through the Book of Revelation, we see that Heaven is in constant worship of the Lamb; in Chapter 8, we hear silence in heaven indicating that there is awe, amazement, and shock. The Old Testament gives us many examples of this silence; it means Yom Yahweh is near, and we should be in adoration before Him.

With the sound of the first trumpet, hail and fire, mixed with blood were dropped on the earth; this means war. When the seals were broken, a quarter of the population was affected each time; when the trumpet sounds, a third is burned down. With the second trumpet, a third of the empires, the gentiles, and the churches will be affected. At the sound of the third trumpet, a church leader falls bringing great destruction to the church.

Bible References:

• Rev. 8:1 - Silence in Heaven for half an hour
• Zeph. 1:7 - Silence before the Lord of hosts
• Zech. 2:17 - Let all mankind be silent before the Lord
• Hab. 2:20 - Let the whole earth be silent before Him
• Rev. 8:6-7 - The first trumpet
• Ps. 18:13-14 - Thunder and lightning strike the earth
• Rev. 8:8-9 - The second trumpet
• Jer. 51:25 - Babylon, the great destroyer/ the burnt mountain
• Rev. 8:10-11 - The third trumpet

Scripture Scholar Frances Hogan takes you to the world of the Apocalypse of John shown to us in the Book of Revelation written from the Greek island of Patmos. Through this podcast, we will try to understand the Book of Revelation through St. John’s warnings, the punishment that awaits, and the consolation the Lord offers to the faithful.

Frances Hogan: https://www.franceshogan.com/

Shalom World: https://www.shalomworld.org

Support us: https://shalomworld.org/donate

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shalomworldpodcasts/

In Chapter 8 of the Book of Revelation, we see the second wave of tribulation. Irish Scripture Scholar Frances Hogan explains the message given to us through St. John. Salvation and judgment depend on the individual and the community.

Seven trumpets are handed to the seven angels who will ensure that God’s will prevails. The trumpet sound is often associated with a warning sign; it was the war horn of Israel. Just as the walls of Jericho came down because of the will of God, so will His will come on earth but the church has a huge influence over what happens through her prayers. When the angels blow the horn, it is to call the people to repentance, to spiritual warfare, and to worship God.

The trumpets serve as a “shake-up” to get us to wake up and realize the eternal realities which are at stake. Blowing the trumpets was the function of the priesthood; St. John is the big trumpet in the Book of Revelation. He is the one who is telling the world to wake up because of what he has seen in Chapters 1, 4, and 5.

There are two altars in the temple of Jerusalem; one is the altar of the Holocaust and the other is the altar of incense. The fire that the incense was laid was taken from the altar of sacrifice - this is Holy Fire. The prayers of the people had to come through the offering of sacrifice.

Bible References:

• Rev. 8:1-5 - The 7 Trumpets
• Josh. 5:13 - 6:27 - The trumpets in Jericho for 7 days
• Num. 10 - Priests and trumpets
• Joel 2:1 - Sound the trumpet as an alarm
• Hos. 8:1-3 - Prophets of God were to blow the trumpets
• Matt. 24:31 - A sign of the tribulations
• Ps. 126: 5-6 - Sow in tears, reap in joy
• 1 Cor. 15:52 - “When the last trumpet sounds…”; the warning from the angel
• 1 Thess. 4:16 - “At the trumpet of God…”; the return of the Lord
• Neh. 12:41 & 1 Chr. 15:23 - Blowing the trumpets was the function of the priesthood
• John 15:5 - “Without me, you can do nothing…”
• Phil. 4:13 - “I can do all things in Christ…”
• Ps. 141:2 - “Prayer like incense…”
• Rev. 6:9 - Martyrs offered a sacrifice

Scripture Scholar Frances Hogan takes you to the world of the Apocalypse of John shown to us in the Book of Revelation written from the Greek island of Patmos. Through this podcast, we will try to understand the Book of Revelation through St. John’s warnings, the punishment that awaits, and the consolation the Lord offers to the faithful.

Frances Hogan: https://www.franceshogan.com/

Shalom World: https://www.shalomworld.org

Support us: https://shalomworld.org/donate

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shalomworldpodcasts/