In the Book of Revelation, St. John the Theologian sees a great war involving 200 million horsemen, in which one-third of humanity is killed (Revelation 9:16). Evil affects both souls and bodies, like a powerful army bringing destruction upon humanity.

However, after this catastrophic war, the Second Coming of the Lord does not immediately take place. St. John tells us that humanity still does not repent. In other words, God grants mankind an extension of time—a further opportunity for repentance and salvation—but only a few take advantage of it.

Father Athanasios Mytilineos also explains this passage in a similar way. Through a miraculous intervention of God, the evil spirits that had led humanity toward war are restrained, allowing the earth to enter a period of peace. During this period, the Gospel can once again be preached throughout the world in its fullness and without distortion.

This is symbolically described in Revelation, chapter 10:

Revelation 10:1–2:
“And I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud, and a rainbow upon his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth.”

The mighty angel places his right foot upon the sea and his left upon the earth. Symbolically, the sea can represent those who are unstable and uncertain in faith, while the earth can represent those who are more firmly established. The angel therefore exercises authority over both, bringing the power of God to the entire world.

Then Revelation says:

Revelation 10:5–6:
“And the angel which I saw standing upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and all that is in it, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, that there should be no more delay.”

That is, there will be no further extension of time for repentance after this appointed period.

The Son is the most trustworthy witness to the Father, because, as we confess in the Creed, through Him “all things were made”—including creation itself, space and time. Furthermore, even the angels in Heaven do not know the exact day of the Second Coming, as the Lord Himself declared:

Matthew 24:36:
“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”

Then Revelation continues:

Revelation 10:11:
“And they said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.”

Therefore, St. John the Theologian, the great Apostle and Theologian of the Church, is presented as having a renewed mission: to proclaim the Word of God once again to peoples, nations, languages, and kings during this peaceful period following the great war.

This interpretation is also connected with the words of the Lord to Peter:

John 21:22:
“If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me.”

According to this interpretation, the two prophets, Elijah and Enoch, will be physically present on earth because they did not experience ordinary death, and they will confront and expose the Antichrist.

St. John, however, who is depicted in Orthodox iconography even after his falling asleep and departure from this earthly life—which the Church commemorates on September 26—is understood here as being spiritually present. Therefore, according to this interpretation, he will not be killed by the Antichrist in the same manner as the two prophets.

Because there will be relatively little time between this catastrophic war and the end of the age, St. John’s renewed preaching will be short. This is symbolized by the “little book”—a small scroll that contains his prophetic mission and is given to him by the Mighty Angel.

Thus, according to this interpretation, the Gospel will once again be preached throughout the world, and specifically in its unadulterated form, free from ecumenical distortions and other theological deviations. This mission is symbolically confirmed by the words:

“You must prophesy again.”

The words of Saint Paisios

Regarding our own time, before the great world war, Saint Paisios the Athonite said:

“Now it will be a storm, a small occupation by the Antichrist Satan. Then Christ will give him a cuff, all the nations will be shaken, and peace will come to the world for many years.

This time Christ will give His creature an opportunity to be saved. Will Christ abandon His creature? He will appear when the people reach an impasse, in order to save them from the hands of the Antichrist of that time.

They will return to Christ, and spiritual peace will come throughout the universe for many years.

Some associate this intervention of Christ with the Second Coming. I cannot say. My reasoning tells me that it will not be the Second Coming of Christ as Judge, because so many events have not yet taken place.

Christ will intervene, give a cuff to the whole system, crush all evil, and ultimately bring good out of it.

The streets will be filled with shrines. Buses will have holy images on the outside. All people will believe. They will come to you and ask you to tell them about Christ!

Thus, the Gospel will be preached throughout the universe, and then, when this period is completed, Christ will come as Judge to judge the world.

Another judgment, another intervention of Christ, to help His creature!”

— Saint Paisios the Athonite, Spiritual Awakening, Volume II

According to this interpretation, therefore, the catastrophic war is not necessarily followed immediately by the end of the world. Rather, it may be followed by a remarkable period of divine intervention, repentance, peace, and worldwide preaching of the Gospel.

Only after this period has been completed does the final coming of Christ as Judge take place.