The Scroll with the
Seven Seals
I believe that there is no topic in the book of Revelation that has been more difficult
for me to understand than that of the Seven Seals. It was the problem of trying to
get the interpretation that I had been taught from childhood to fit the presentation from
Revelation 6 and it just didn't make any sense to me. This was an attempt to fit
these four horsemen with events of the Christian Church, beginning with the apostolic
period.
When I first became aware from Revelation 1:1 that this book was the revelation of
Jesus Christ to show His servants what must soon take place, then I knew this had
to be events that were limited to the Time of The End. As Christ removes the seals
from this (video) scroll, He is revealing to His servants (144,000) what must soon take
place. In their awesome task of revealing Christ to the whole world it is vital for
them (the 144,000) to become fully acquainted with the personage and evil deeds of the
counterfeit. Before the winds of strife were released to begin the Great
Tribulation, we note:
Rev. 7:3 -- Do not harm the land or the sea or the
trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.
Vs. 4 -- Then I
heard the number of those sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.
The other problem that many run into is that this rider on the white horse is very
similar to the description of Christ in Revelation 19:11-16. What we need to
remember is that before Christ comes in all His glory, a counterfeit is allowed to come
for 3-l/2 years and to persuade the world, if he can, that he is God.
In Phillips rendition of these four horsemen in Revelation 6 I like the identifying
heading for each horse and its rider:
The first rider: —
Conquest
The second rider: —
War
The third rider: —
Famine
The fourth rider: —
Death
Let us look carefully at the description of the first horse and its rider.
Rev. 6:1,2 -- I watched as the Lamb opened the
first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a
voice like thunder, "Come!"
I looked, and there before me was a white
horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a
conqueror bent on conquest.
Notice that the rider on the white horse holds a bow. We know this is symbolic
description indicating that he comes with weapons of war. At the end of his reign
Christ comes riding a white horse with a two-edged sword in His mouth which represents the
Word of God.
This rider is the antichrist, the lamb-like beast, the counterfeit. The rider on
the horse of Revelation 19:11 is the Lamb of God, God Himself.
Note again the bow this impostor is holding in his hand and compare with the antichrist
(Gog), the general in the multi-national army surrounding Jerusalem at the Battle of
Armageddon.
Eze. 39:1-3 -- This is what the Sovereign Lord
says: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.
I will turn you around and drag you
along. I will bring you from the far north and send you against the Mountains of
Israel.
Then I will strike your bow from
your left hand and make your arrows drop from your right hand.
Vs. 4 -- On the Mountains of Israel you will fall, you and
all your troops and the many nations with you.
This can only be speaking of the Battle of Armageddon at Christ's Second Coming.
This is where the two horsemen meet in combat and where the counterfeit (the lamblike
beast) is destroyed along with his huge army.
Notice also in the description of the rider of this first horse, "he was given a
crown."
A) This crown in Rev. 6 is called "stephanos" in the Greek and
represents the crown of victory worn by a conqueror.
B) The crown Christ wears in Rev. 19 is called diadema, or the crown of royalty.
This rider of Revelation 6 is on a white horse and closely resembles Christ in
appearance, but his deeds represent his true nature. He is a "conqueror bent on
conquest," destroying all who stand in his way in obtaining his goal.
In the crown that "he was given," -- who gave him this crown?
This crown represented the authority that he was given to rule the earth for the 3-l/2
years designated for the term of his rulership.
The sign from heaven that revealed when he was given this crown, or authority of
rulership, to rule the earth, was when the angel at the golden altar in heaven filled his
golden censer with fire from the altar and hurled it onto the earth.
I like to think of the similarity of the track star passing the baton to the next
athlete to run the next lap of the race. This authority represented by the crown
that he was given was given to him by God. He, the antichrist, is to bring about the
punishment of the whole earth for the rebellion of mankind due to their turning from God
and following the counterfeit.
The 1260 days of his reign represents the time of the Great Tribulation. It is a
time prophesied for catastrophic events to occur on the earth and they have been scheduled
to be brought about by the authority of the antichrist (Satan personified as a man).
This will be a great titanic struggle between Christ and Satan for the souls of all
mankind. Satan as this antichrist claiming to be God, and most of the world agreeing
with him. At this same time Christ will be revealed as the true Savior of the world
by the 144,000 who preach the everlasting gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue and
people.
The antichrist will deceive the world with the great miracles that he will be given
power to perform. Speaking of this lamblike beast (a counterfeit of the Lamb) note:
Rev. 13:13,14 -- And he performed great and
miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men.
Because of the signs he was given power
to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth.
We know his authority and rulership begins at the casting down of the golden censer
from heaven. This is a symbolic event representing when these winds of strife,
resulting in the catastrophic events of the great tribulation, were released.
Dan.8:12 NIV -- Because of rebellion, the host of
the saints and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything
it did and truth was thrown to the ground.
Dan. 8:12 Berkeley -- It was granted power in opposition
to the daily sacrifices.
The daily sacrifice in the earthly sanctuary represented a lamb being sacrificed in a
morning and evening service on a continual basis; this to represent a heavenly function of
restraining Satan's power here on earth.
"He was granted power in opposition to the daily sacrifice." This would
mean that when the daily was turned over to him, this opposition to his power would be
released and he was then granted power to carry out his evil designs. Those evil
designs were nevertheless still under bounds, set by God, which he could not exceed.
This casting down the golden censer represented the daily sacrifices being turned over
to him and allowing his reign of terror to begin. This would be day zero (0) of this
1335 day time frame of the final Day of the Lord. His reign would come to an end at
the blowing of the 7th trumpet on the 1260th day of this time frame.
Rev. 11:15 -- The seventh angel sounded his
trumpet and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world
has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and he will reign for ever and
ever."
The reign of the antichrist ends and the reign of Christ begins. Although the
rule of the antichrist ends at the 1260th day, he continues to harass God's people.
At the 1290th day -- one month following the termination of his reign, he brings
about a Universal Death Decree to those who refuse to worship the image of the first beast
that he sets up.
Dan. 12:11,12 -- From the time that the daily
sacrifice is abolished (authority of rulership given to the antichrist) and the
abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1290 days.
Blessed is the one who waits for and
reaches the end of the 1335 days.
This abomination of desolation is further explained by how he will bring this about.
Rev. 13:15 -- He (the lamblike beast) was
given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and
cause all who refuse to worship the image to be killed.
I believe God allows this test to be brought on all the inhabitants of the earth after
this 1260 days of evangelism by the 144,000: to reveal the sincerity, or lack thereof, of
all who have made the claim of being His followers. This will be a test that the
whole world can know which of those claiming to be Christ's followers are genuine.
We also know that this lamb-like beast -- the antichrist -- comes to his
end when he is killed in the Battle of Armageddon at Christ's Second Coming on day 1335.
The Rider On The Red Horse -- War
Now we see the antichrist, a great successful general; but what is a general without an
army? Now this rider on the second horse introduces us to his army.
Rev. 6:4 -- Then another horse came out, a fiery
red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay
each other. To him was given a large sword.
This rider was also given power (authority) to take peace from the earth. This
rider represents the first beast of Revelation 13.
Rev. 13:1-8 -- And I saw a beast coming out of the
sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each
head a blasphemous name...
The dragon (antichrist) gave the
beast his power and his throne and great authority.
...Men worshipped the dragon because he
had given authority to the beast, and they also worshipped the beast and asked, "Who
is like the beast? Who can make war against him?" The beast was given a
mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise his authority for 42 months...
He was given power to make war against
the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people
language and nation. All the inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast, all
whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain
from the creation of the world.
We see from this beast's description that he will be given his authority from the
antichrist and will rule the earth for 42 months. He will have authority over every
tribe, people, language and nation -- that's all the earth. All, that is,
except those who remain true to God and whose names are in the book of life. Daniel
describes this same beast:
Dan. 7:23,24 -- The fourth beast is a fourth
kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms
and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it. The ten horns
are ten kings who will come from this kingdom...
Vs. 25 -- The saints will be handed over to him for a time,
times and half a time (3-l/2 years, 1260 days).
We can see that these ten horns of this first beast represent ten kings who will come
from this kingdom. We also note from our passage in Revelation 13 that the horns
(kings) are wearing crowns. It also states that this authority (crowns) was given to
them by the dragon (antichrist). The dragon is the one who has crowned them with
this authority. The price of this coronation is that they will give their undivided
allegiance to him. Speaking of this dragon (antichrist) who directs this
multinational beast, Daniel states by prophetic vision:
Dan. 11:39 -- He will attack the mightiest
fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge
him. He will make rulers over many peoples and will distribute the land at a
price.
Now it is easy to see where these crowns come from on these ten kings. They have
been crowned by this lamblike beast to do his will during his reign. John, writing
700 years after Daniel's description of this same beast states:
Rev. 17:12-14 -- The ten horns you saw are ten
kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as
kings with the beast.
They have one purpose and will give their
power and authority to the beast. They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb
will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings.
This hour that they have been crowned with authority and power is their coronation by
the antichrist to serve him during his hour in the sun -- the 3-l/2 years of his
reign.
We also note in the description of this first beast of Revelation 13 (rider on the red
horse) that "he has seven heads, and a blasphemous name on each head. This
would indicate that the heads of this beast represent religious entities instead of civil
and characterized by blasphemous words and deeds.
Notice the definition of blasphemy in Webster's unabridged dictionary:
1. Profane or mocking speech, writing,
or action concerning God or anything
regarded sacred.
2. Contempt for God
It is now evident that this evil Conglomerate is a combination of civil and
ecclesiastical power. The ten horns representing the ten kings with each his army
represents the muscle of the beast. The seven heads are the brains of this beast and
held together by the false and blasphemous religious systems of the earth. I believe
it is futile to try to name how each of these heads should be labeled. I believe
seven refers to a complete number and representing all the false churches and religious
systems that fall into this category.
In the same manner the seven Christian churches in Asia Minor listed in Revelation two
and three are symbolic of the true churches of Christ in this end-time frame. This
seven is also for completeness sake and in no way indicates that one can pick out seven
denominations or church systems and say these are those who God was indicating when He
revealed this to John.
God does give us a clue as to what one of these heads represents. It is a head
which had experienced an apparent mortal blow in prior times. But at the time this
Conglomerate is fully assembled on the scene of action, and his deadly wound has been
healed.
There are many able scholars who feel that the reformation was the deadly blow to the
reigning religious system at that time. It is true that a death-like decline in that
system followed. Do we see evidence of its healing?
John uses this head that was recovered from a fatal wound to identify this first beast --
indicating the importance of this head. Notice his prophecy concerning the
antichrist (the lamblike beast).
Rev. 13:14 -- Because of the signs he was given
power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth.
He ordered them to set up an image in
honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived.
Do we have any clue as to who these ten horns of this first beast are referring to?
I believe we are not left in the dark concerning this matter. I will list the
participants listed in the Bible concerning this evil Conglomerate. I will list the
nations listed and in an adjacent column will give the name that is applied to the
descendants of these nations at the time in which we live.
Assyria - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Iraq
Egypt- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Egypt
Persia- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Iran
Damascus (Capital of Syria)- - - - -
Syria
Canaanites, Philistines, Sidonians
Palestinians
Cush- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Ethiopia & parts of Arabia
Gomer (progenitor of the Celtic family) France
Put- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Libya
(Tubal, Mesech, Magog,Togaramah/
Russia
grandson. These are sons of Japheth
– Noah's son – whose descendants
migrated north and inhabited areas
now a part of present day Russia.)
Moabites and Ammonites- - - - - - - -
Jordan
Now that we see who these 10 horns represent, we can see their description in
the text we have recently considered in a clearer light.
Rev. 17:12,13 -- The ten horns you saw are 10
kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as
kings with the beast.
Is it difficult to see what one purpose these kings could have in common which would
unite them with the lamb-like beast? It is obvious that their one purpose is and has
been the removal of the Israelites from the face of the earth.
Read my study on Armageddon for more details of these nations in their relationship to
this last day evil Conglomerate. This will prevent much needless duplication.
I will present here some of the Scriptural material which substantiates that Egypt is
definitely one of these nations. I had failed to include this in my Study of
Armageddon. Egypt will be a member of this multinational army, but perhaps a
somewhat reluctant one. Ezekiel, in prophetic vision, describes this event.
Eze. 32:2-9 -- Son of man, take up a lament
concerning Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him...
"With a great throng of people I
will cast my net over you, and they will haul you up in my net...
I will let the birds of the air settle on
you and all the beasts of the earth gorge themselves on you. (The great supper
of the Lord for the birds and beasts at the carnage of Armageddon. Rev. 19:17,18)
Vs. 5ff -- I will spread your flesh on the mountains
and fill the valleys with your remains...
When I snuff you out, I will cover the
heavens and darken the stars; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not
give its light. All the shining lights in the heavens I will darken over you...
(These are the signs in the heavens that occur at the second coming.)
I will trouble the hearts of many peoples
when I bring about your destruction among the nations, among lands you have not known.
(Their hearts have been troubled by the Great Tribulation for 3-l/2 years and
followed by the Seven Last Plagues.)
Vss. 22,23 -- Assyria (Iraq) is there with her
whole army; she is surrounded by the graves of all her slain, all who have fallen by the
sword. Their graves are in the depth of the pit and her army lies around her grave.
All who have spread terror in the land of the living are slain, fallen by
the sword.
Vs. 26 -- Meshech and Tubal are there (Russia) with
all her hordes around their graves. All of them are uncircumcised, killed by the
sword because they spread terror in the land of the living
Vs. 30 -- All the princes of the north (Russians)
and all the Sidonians (Palestinians) are there; they went down with the slain in
disgrace despite the terror caused by their power.
Vss. 31,32 -- Pharaoh—he and all his
army—will see them and he will be consoled for all his hordes that were killed by the
sword, declares the Sovereign Lord. Although I had him spread terror in the
land of the living, Pharaoh and all his hordes will be laid among the uncircumcised,
with those killed by the sword.
The only place in the Bible where God states that He brings this multi-national army to
do battle is the many places where He states that He brings them to Jerusalem to fight
against it. (Zech.14:2; Dan 7:25; Isaiah 29:23; Ezek.38:17) This would indicate that
this terror which they have been carrying out in the land of the living is referring to
this 3-l/2 years of trampling that they were bringing on the surviving one-third in the
Land of Israel after its destruction by this Conglomerate. Isaiah, prophesying of
Egypt in this same time-frame, pens the following:
Isa. 19:2ff -- I will stir up Egyptian against
Egyptian -- brother will fight against brother, neighbor against neighbor,
city against city, kingdom against kingdom.
The Egyptians will lose heart, and I will
bring their plans to nothing. They will consult the idols and the spirits of the
dead, the mediums, and the spiritists.
I will hand the Egyptians over to the
power of a cruel master and a fierce king will rule over them. (The
lamb-like beast -- Satan personified as a man).
It appears there will be civil war in Egypt with all not being in favor of joining this
Conglomerate. Could this be one of the three nations that this king who exalts
himself uproots? (Dan.7:8). It states in:
Dan. 11:39 -- He will greatly honor those who
acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the
land at a price.
This would indicate that he could overthrow a government and appoint whomever he wished
to be in power -- the price to be their total allegiance to him.
Isa. 19:5,6 -- The waters of the river (Nile) will
dry up, and the riverbed will be parched and dry. The canals will stink; the streams
of Egypt will dwindle and dry up.
The reeds and rushes will wither, also
the plants along the Nile, at the mouth of the river. Every sown field along the
Nile will become parched, will blow away and be no more.
This reveals that, at the time this is all taking place, there will be an unprecedented
drought in the land of Egypt. I believe it is not only in Egypt. Note the
following regarding the witnesses who prophesy for 1260 days during this Great
Tribulation:
Rev. 11:6 -- These men have power to shut up the
sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying.
This is not just speaking of Egypt but the entire earth will be involved. Can you
imagine a 3-l/2 year global drought? The description given in the land of Egypt is
exactly what we should expect at the time these events at Armageddon occur. The
events that occur in Egypt following Armageddon are also given in this 19th chapter
of Isaiah:
Isa. 19:16-25 -- In that day the Egyptians will be
like women. They will shudder with fear at the uplifted hand the Lord Almighty
raises against them.
And the land of Judah will bring terror
to the Egyptians; every one to whom Judah is mentioned will be terrified, because of what
the Lord Almighty is planning against them.
In that day five cities in Egypt will
speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the Lord Almighty.
This language of Canaan is the language to be spoken by the redeemed in the Land of
Israel during the Millennium; the universal language prior to the tower of Babel.
Zeph. 3:8,9 NKJV -- My determination is to gather
the nations to my assembly of kingdoms, to pour on them my indignation, all my fierce
anger; All the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my fierce jealousy (Armageddon).
For then I will restore to the
peoples a pure language that they may call on the Lord to serve him with one accord.
Isa. 19:19-21 -- In that day there will be an altar to the Lord
in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the Lord at its border. It will be a sign
and witness to the Lord Almighty in the land of Egypt.
When they cry out to the Lord because of
their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them.
So the Lord will make himself known to
the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge the Lord.
Vss. 23-25 -- In that day there will be a highway from Egypt
to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The
Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together.
In that day Israel will be the third,
along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth.
The Lord Almighty will bless them, saying, "Blessed be Egypt, my people,
Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance."
We know these events have never happened before and we can also see that they have been
prophesied to take place after the Battle of Armageddon, at the Second Coming. These
prophecies were given by God through Isaiah 2700 years ago. Is there any chance that
He was mistaken? I can't imagine such a possibility. It is this evil
Conglomerate of armies which give their allegiance to the antichrist. He is the
general who directs them in his conquest of the earth.
Dan. 11:40,41 -- He will invade many countries and
sweep through them like a flood. He will also invade the Beautiful Land
(Israel).
Dan. 11:36 -- He will be successful until the time of wrath is
completed, for what has been determined must take place.
We know that this antichrist (lamblike beast) and this multinational beast come to
their demise at the Battle of Armageddon. Read Ezekiel 38,39 for the details.
This is the best description of this event in the Bible. I will quote a synopsis of
this in Revelation.
Rev. 19:19-21 -- Then I saw the beast and the
kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on
the horse (Christ) and his army.
But the beast was captured, (the first
beast) and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his
behalf.
With these signs he had deluded those who
had received the mark of the beast and worshipped his image.
We note that the false prophet is the one who had performed the miraculous signs
on behalf of the first beast. Notice his description as the lamb-like beast.
Rev. 13:13,14 -- And he performed great and
miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men.
Because of the signs he was given power
to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth.
This is a word for word match revealing that the lamb-like beast of Revelation 13 and
the false prophet of Revelation 19 are one and the same evil entity.
Now, continuing with the description of the terminal events of the antichrist (false
prophet) and the first beast:
Rev. 19:20 -- The two of them (the first beast
and the false prophet) were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
The rest of them (their armies) were killed with the sword that came out of the
mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
Now we come to the opening of the third seal (Famine).
Rev. 6:5 -- When the Lamb opened the third seal, I
heard the third living creature say, "Come!"
I looked and there before me was a black
horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand.
Then I heard what sounded like a voice
among the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and
three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine."
This results from the natural consequences of war, looting and tremendous bloodshed
that follow the trail of the unholy duo as noted in the first and second seals. Hard
times can't possibly describe the condition of earth's inhabitants during this
period. It is noted in the Bible to be a time such as there never was before and
none like it thereafter. Another factor undoubtedly contributing to these times will
be the global drought that we have discussed earlier.
These wages of one quart of wheat for a days wages is minimal survival food. This
will be the lot for those lucky enough to find a job. Many will die of starvation.
But note the contrast "and do not damage the oil and the wine."
This is not describing survival foods but the foods of opulence and upper class
fare. It always works this way. During the worst of famines and other
catastrophes caused by man there are always a special group in power who continue to live
and eat from their abundance while the masses are starving.
When the fourth seal is opened we see the continuing fruits of the seed this evil
combine have been sowing.
Rev. 6:7,8 -- When the Lamb opened the fourth seal
I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" I looked and
there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named death, and Hades was following
close behind him.
They were given power over a fourth of
the earth to kill by the sword, famine, and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
This destruction and death to a great part of the population of the earth (25%) are the
judgments of God. They are brought on the earth in one last all-out effort to bring
the inhabitants of the earth to realize who they have aligned themselves with when they
chose to desert and rebel against God. He turns them over to the one that most of
the world has chosen, but in the removal of the seals He wants the world to fully realize
the full nature of the leader they have chosen and the ultimate consequences of that
choice.
At this time we will have these two great forces battling for the souls of men, the
Everlasting Gospel being proclaimed to every nation, kindred, tongue and people by the
144,000 and supported by the true believing Christians in all lands.
On the other hand will be the antichrist himself, claiming to be God and above every
god and producing the great miracles to substantiate his claim. He will be a Christ
look-alike. He will be self-promoted as the savior of mankind and most of the earth
will believe and follow him. The removal of the seals is to reveal from God's scroll
who this counterfeit really is so the world can make a fully informed choice as to which
one to choose. In this same context remember again the words of Paul
1 Thess. 2:10-12 NEB -- Destroyed they shall be,
because they did not open their minds to love of the truth, so as to find salvation.
Therefore God puts them under a delusion,
which works on them to believe the lie, so that they all may be brought to judgment, all
who do not believe the truth but make sinfulness their deliberate choice.
When Christ removes the Fifth Seal we see more of the evil consequences of this
antichrist against those who have been chosen to witness for Christ.
Rev. 6:9-11 -- When he opened the fifth seal, I
saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and
the testimony they had maintained.
They called out in a loud voice,
"how long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the
earth and avenge our blood?"
Then each of them was given a white robe,
and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants
and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.
Witnessing for Christ during this time of the Great Tribulation is not a popular
calling. Some of God's servants had been martyred because of preaching the
word of God (the everlasting gospel).
Who are God's servants? All through the Bible God speaks of His prophets as His
servants. They are totally devoted to Him and will carry out any command that He
asks them to do even though they may not understand why. During this Day of the
Lord, God has a people that He has personally selected and filled with the Holy Spirit,
whom He designates as His servants. At other places in Revelation He calls
them His servants, the prophets. Note the first verse of this book:
Rev. 1:1 -- The revelation of Jesus Christ, which
God gave him (Christ) to show his servants what must soon take place.
Remember that just before the four angels at the four corners of the earth released the
winds to bring on the Great Tribulation, an angel came up from the east with the seal of
the living God and called out in a loud voice:
Rev. 7:3,4 -- Do not harm the land or the sea or
the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.
Then I heard the number of those who were
sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.
We note in Revelation 11 concerning the witnesses who prophesy for 1260 days:
Rev. 11:6 -- These men have power to shut
up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying.
These witnesses are men and they are prophets. These are the same servants
selected and sealed for this job as described above. These martyred witnesses have
been told to wait a little longer until their fellow servants (more members of the
144,000 still to be martyred) are to be killed as they had been. We find the
prophecy that more of their fellow servants are to be killed—fulfilled in the
following text. This is speaking of the witnesses (God's servants) at the close of
their 1260 days of giving their testimony.
Rev. 11:7 -- Now when they have finished their
testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss (lamblike beast) will attack
them, and overpower and kill them.
This reveals that all of their fellow-servants will be killed as the earlier martyred
servants had been instructed. We must not leave them there without presenting the
good news. After their martyrdom the inhabitants of the earth refused that they be
allowed to be buried:
Rev. 11:11,12 -- But after 3-l/2 days a breath of
life from God entered them and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw
them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up
here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.
Immediately thereafter the Seventh Trumpet sounded announcing the end of the
antichrist's reign and the beginning of Christ's reign on this earth.
Now we come to the Sixth Seal. I believe most everyone is in harmony that this
reveals the coming of Christ in all His glory at the Second Coming.
Rev. 6:12-17 -- I watched as he opened the sixth
seal. There was a great earthquake.
The sun turned black like sackcloth made
of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as
late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.
The sky receded like a scroll, rolling
up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
Then the kings of the earth, the princes,
the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and
among the rocks of the mountains.
They called to the mountains and the
rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from
the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can
stand?"
I believe what is revealed with the removal of this seal is self-evident and no one can
read this and not realize the necessity of choosing the only Savior who can bring us
safely through this most awesome event of all time.
Now we come to the conclusion of the releasing of the Seven Seals.
Rev. 8:1 -- When he opened the seventh seal, there
was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
The Seven Seals covers the time of this 1335 days from day one when the censer is cast
down from heaven to earth, signifying that the antichrist was being empowered to carry out
his 3-l/2 year reign. The last seal comes at the end of this 1335 days.
The material beginning with verse two begins an entirely new series of events separate
from the seals and begins at the beginning of this 1335 day time frame; revealing the
catastrophes associated with the Seven Trumpets.
When Christ and His army comes to Jerusalem at His Second Coming, He has called this
evil combine with the many nations and their armies associated with it for the purpose of
judgment and this to be followed by their execution. This is the time for judging of
the living -- for those who are called to be judged. Notice the prophet
prophesying of the events at the Day of The Lord:
Joel 3:1-3 -- In those days and at that time, when
I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations and bring them to
the Valley of Jehoshaphat.
There I will enter into judgment against
them concerning my inheritance, my people Israel, for they scattered my people among the
nations and divided up my land.
There the people of the earth will be judged based on the information that they have
been presented with from both sides, and the choices that they have made.
Joel 3:12 -- Let the nations be roused; let them
advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations
on every side.
While the nations surrounding Israel and the antichrist who leads them is Christ's main
focus at the Battle of Armageddon, they are not the only ones to participate in this
judgment and execution.
In describing his handling of Assyria (Iraq) at this time of Armageddon, God describes
how this also has a larger application.
Isa. 4:25-27 -- I will crush the Assyrian in my
land; on my mountains I will trample him down. His yoke will be taken from my
people, and his burden removed from their shoulders.
This is the plan determined for the whole
world; this is the hand stretched out over all nations.
For the Lord Almighty has proposed, and
who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?
I believe it is this short period which seemed to John to be about the space of half an
hour that there was silence in heaven. A human judge insists on absolute quiet when
the decision concerning the destiny of a human being is being announced. Imagine the
much greater awesomeness when the Creator of the earth sits in judgment of those living
who have been scheduled for judgment at His coming.
Following this judgment the execution is immediately carried out -- no long
endless series of stays of execution. The Battle of Armageddon is short and
decisive. Only one side receives any casualties and these are all fatal.
If we don't end up making the right choice, it will be because we have made sinfulness
our deliberate choice. -- 2 Thess. 2:12 NEB.