Applying the principles of topical study is especially imperative in the Bible’s last book. Among other advantages, it helps prevent our imaginations from going astray in an area already sufficiently imaginative. In this spirit is offered the following study on two different groupings of individuals in prophecy.

I. “Them that dwell upon the earth” is the first group for consideration. (Sometimes variable phraseology such as “inhabiters of the earth” is used.) This group must be kept separate in prophecy from the earth itself as seen by the use of each term separately in 13:12. Each occurrence in Revelation is legitimate except 12:12 where the words, “the inhabiters of” are spurious. A complete description of this group can be had by summarizing the testimony of all occurrences in Revelation. Thus, “them that dwell upon the earth” have the following characteristics and history:

a. The hour of temptation is designed, at least in part, expressly to TRY this group. (3:10)

b. This group is guilty of shedding the blood of saints. (6:10)

c. The final three trumpets (the Reformation angels to the Church) are a special woe to this. (8:13)

d. This group hates Scripture and is delighted to see its defeat. (11:7,8,10)

e. This group worships the ten-horned beast. (13:8)

f. This group is nominally Christian. (13:8)

g. At some point in history this group is re-stimulated to worship the ten-horned beast. (13:14)

h. They are deceived by the two-horned beast. (13:14)

i. They are involved in making an image of the ten-horned beast. (13:14)

j. The true gospel is, at some point in history, preached to this group. (14:6)

k. This group has been intoxicated (overcome with the spirit of) by the mixture of ecclesiastical and civil elements. (17:2)

l. At some point in history this group is surprised by the reappearance of a former condition. (17:8)

From the forgoing contexts it is clear that “them that dwell upon the earth” are not the earth, not the kings of earth, and not “kindreds, peoples, tongues, and nations.”

From the Scriptural delineations given, there appear to be two possibilities: (1) This group consists of the willing subjects of Papal rule, or (2) nominal Christians of any division of Christianity who favor civil-ecclesiastical cooperation and support it actively. We favor the first definition but acknowledge the possibility of the second.

II. The next group for definition is termed, “every kindred, tongue, people, and nation.” This is a multiple-term description. It is always beneficial to determine if each word is important. We have not been able to conclude so in this instance, but believe, rather, that this term has its many components in order to stress the size and variety of the class it represents. Conclusions regarding this class are as follows:

a. The Church comes out of this class. (5:9)

b. The Great Company comes out of this class. (7:9)

c. This class does not permit the burial of Scripture. (11:9)

d. They were under the forced rule of the ten-horned (13:7) (Note: 13:7, 8 shows that the saints, this class, and “all that dwell upon the earth” are distinct groups–each experiencing something different from Papacy’s 1260-year rule. Note Also: 13:7 should, according to the manuscripts, read “kindreds, and peoples, and tongues, and nations.”)

e. This group also, as some point in history, has the true gospel preached to it. (14:6)

f. This group is called “waters.” (17:15)

With this evidence it appears that “kindreds, peoples, tongues, and nations” is a phrase representing that large bulk of the “Christian World” who do not support the established ecclesiastical-political systems. They are somewhat independent but not revolutionary–at least not until the end of the age. They might, in short, be termed “the sea” of Christianity.

–  Contributed

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