INDEX TO ALL SIX SECTIONS PART I... THE 'DAY OF THE LORD This devastating period of time, described as coming suddenly, was foretold by the prophets of old and is described in several different terms in both Old and New Testaments YOU ARE HERE  PART II... THE FIRST SIX SEALS. If one compares what Jesus said in Matthew 24 with the Seals of Revelation 6, it becomes quite clear that the Seals represent the persecution of Christians. PART III... THE SEVENTH SEAL AND THE FIRST SIX TRUMPETS. In the Old Testament, trumpets often announced a coming disaster. And it will be no different at the end of the age, when the the seventh and last seal introduces the Seven Trumpets that herald the plagues of 'Biblical proportions' that God will send on the earth. PART IV... THE SEVENTH TRUMPET. In a sense this last and final Trumpet is the most eventful of them all, literally ushering the old age out and the new one in. It a) Brings and end to the mystery of God, when the doors to the Kingdom close forever b) Marks the point when believers meet the Lord in the air (the rapture) - physically moved off the earth for a very specific reason. c) Introduces the Seven Bowls that end all things. PART V... THE RAPTURE. The reasons we cannot and should not trust in the Rapture taking place before the tribulation. PART VI... THE SEVEN BOWLS. Zephaniah 1:18 says it all... "Neither their silver nor their gold Will be able to deliver them On the day of the Lord's wrath; And all the earth will be devoured In the fire of His jealousy, for He will make a complete end, indeed a terrifying one, of all the inhabitants of the earth"
ON THIS PAGE
Christians and The Wrath of God
Christians rightly believe that Christ's followers will not suffer in the terrible time of God's wrath
The Symbolism of The Seals
if one avoids a superficial reading of the text and carefully compares what Jesus said in Matthew 24 (the Olivet Discourse) with the Seals of Revelation 6 it becomes very clear that the Seals represent the persecution of Christians. The Two Tribulations of Matthew 24
Matthew 24 becomes much clearer if the reader bears in mind that Jesus differentiates between the "tribulation" He speaks of in verse 9, and the "great tribulation" of verse 21 A Comparison of The Seals And Matthew 24:4-9
Matthew 24:4-9 describes the events leading up to, and the actual persecution of the church, in which Christians will be hated, betrayed, and killed. What is not always realized, is that these verses are exactly paralleled by the first four Seals (Revelation 6-7), which then have to refer to the persecution of Christians, not God's judgment on the rest of humanity. A Wake Up Call
It is going to be a harsh reality check when believers find themselves being persecuted and killed for what they believe The Calm Before The Storm
The "day of the Lord" is described as coming suddenly, catching the non believer unawares ... The Sixth Seal
A straightforward reading of the text indicates that God uses heavenly phenomena to herald the momentous events to come The Interlude Between The Sixth and Seventh Seals
Just as a peculiar and eerie calm usually precedes the most devastating of storms, this short silence is the calm before the storm of judgment unleashes its fury (Emphasis mine in all Bible verses)
Christians and The Wrath of God
Considering that the whole point of salvation is being saved from the wrath of God, Christians rightly believe that Christ's followers will not suffer in the terrible time when God brings retributive justice to the earth. This is also clearly indicated by various passages of Scripture. For example... (All Emphasis Added)
For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 NASB) For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, (1 Thessalonians 5:9 NASB)
The problem being that all too many Christians interpret these verses to mean that God will 'rapture' us out of here before the onset of the tribulation. They have apparently completely failed to take into consideration the fact that both Jesus and John spoke of a lot of trouble for Christians. (All Emphasis Added) Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. (Matthew 10:21-22 NASB) These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling. They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me. (John 16:1-3 NASB)
While it is true that there has always been isolated and tragic instances of the persecution of Christians in many parts of the world, there has never been anything remotely similar to the universal scale described in the above verses, especially the 'doing God a service' bit. (See Footnote I for more information on the group that might think killing Christians is doing God a service) The seeming inconsistency between Jesus rescuing believers from God's wrath and believers being killed is explained by the fact that the persecution Christians will be subjected to has absolutely nothing to do with God's judgment. Much to the contrary, the Bible indicates that the spilling of the blood of believers is the final spark which sets off the fire of God's wrath - the last straw as it were. At that time the judgment of the great 'city' Babylon will come about in "one hour" (18:10 ). The great city will be split into three parts under God's " fierce wrath" (16:19) thrown down with violence and not found any longer (18:21). This comes about not only because she made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality (14:8) and had become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit (18:2), but also because "... in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth. (Revelation 18:24 NASB)
The Symbolism of The Seals
As previously mentioned, Revelation uses the metaphorical images of Seals, Trumpets and Bowls to describe the horrendous conditions of the last days. Although there is no doubt that as the end times progress conditions get progressively worse and more devastating, many believe that the Seals, Trumpets and Bowls all signify God's judgment on sin and evil.
They do not. In fact, if one avoids a superficial reading of the text, it becomes quite clear that the Seals represent the persecution of Christians. In order to understand this, we first have to carefully read Jesus' words in Matthew 24 (the Olivet Discourse), then compare what He said in that chapter with the Seals of Revelation 6.
The Two Tribulations of Matthew 24
Matthew 24 has always been considered a very difficult chapter to understand. However, it becomes much clearer if the reader bears in mind that Jesus differentiated between the "tribulation" He spoke of in verse 9 and the "great tribulation" of verse 21. Although He used the same Greek word in both verses, He qualified the second usage by the Greek megas (which is where we get the English word 'mega').
Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. "At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. "Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. "Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. "But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. (Matthew 24:9-13 NASB) For then there will be a great (Gk. megas) tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. (Matthew 24:21-22 NASB)
When we realize that Jesus was speaking about two separate and distinct tribulations, the chapter falls into perfect chronological order. In fact, there are numerous clues in this chapter that clearly indicate that it is in chronological order. For example, the "not yet" in verse 6, "merely the beginning" in verse 8, the "and then" in verses 14 and 30, and "immediately after" in verse 29 clearly indicate that one event follows another. It is we who, trying to make the Olivet Discourse fit into our ideas of the end time scenario, have completely confused the issue. (Note: We have done exactly the same thing when it comes to the Seven Feasts of Israel. In the effort to make the feasts fit into what we think is going to happen in the end times. Various interpretations of the Seven Feasts which jump backwards and forwards between them in an effort to make them fit into pre-conceived end time ideas. In reality, the Feasts were given by God in a set chronological order. Therefore the events that they symbolize will take place in exactly the same order. (See The Seven Feasts of Israel)
The question is, what are these two different tribulations? A clear pattern emerges if we read these verses carefully bearing in mind that the events are arranged in order of occurrence.
The Tribulation
Lets take Matthew 24 one step at a time. After Jesus told the disciples that not one stone of the temple would be left standing on another, they asked Him what would be the sign of His coming and of the end of the age would be (Vs. 1-3) Because the disciples were not aware at the time that Jesus was going to be killed, they probably assumed that the destruction of the well fortified temple would signify the end of the age and Jesus would "come" to power.
Although they did not realize it, the disciples had just asked two questions. Jesus started by warning His listeners (Vs. 4-5) that many would come in His name claiming to be Christ and would lead many astray (which I will come to later). He then pointed out the signs that would herald "the beginning" of birth pangs - wars and rumors of wars, nations and kingdoms rising up against other nations and kingdoms plus famines and earthquakes in various places (Vs. 6-8 NASB). Note that wars, famine and earthquakes cannot be reliable signs of the end because they have consistently occurred throughout history. Which is why Jesus told us not to "be alarmed. These things must take place, but the end is not yet."
His next words were preceded by the word "then" which clearly indicates that His followers would be hated and killed because of His name. In other words, it would be the beginning of what is clearly the persecution of the church. Note very carefully that Jesus called it the "tribulation"... Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. "At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. "Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. "Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. (Matthew 24:6-12 NASB)
Jesus then added that "the one who endures to the end" would be saved. (Vs. 13) The Great Tribulation
Jesus then went on to warn them (Vs. 15 - 20) to flee when we they saw "the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" because that event signifies the beginning of the Great Tribulation, "such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will" (Vs. 21). He added that if those days were not shortened 'no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days would be cut short'. (V. 22). This should make it very clear that the elect will still be on earth during the "Great Tribulation" and it is for their sakes that those days will be cut short. It is during this time that there will be an upsurge of "false christs" and "false prophets" who will show "great signs and wonders" to try and lead this elect astray (Matthew 24:23-25). Jesus warned NOT to believe these pretenders (V.26) as the coming of the Son of man will be as "lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west" (Matthew 24:27) - a world wide phenomena seen from every corner of the globe. To Summarize - There is a "Tribulation" in which Christians will be hated, betrayed and killed, followed by the "Great Tribulation", which will be heralded by the Abomination of Desolation. Notes: Footnote II Are Matthew 24 and Luke 21 Parallel Accounts? However, how does this show that the Seven Seals represent the persecution of Christians? The answer is relatively simple.
A Comparison of The Seals And Matthew 24:4-9 (The Olivet Discourse)
Matthew 24:4-9 describes the events leading up to and the actual persecution of the church in which Christians will be hated, betrayed, and killed. What seems to be seldom realized is that these verses are exactly paralleled by the first four Seals (Revelation 6-7). Thus the seals have to refer to the persecution of Christians, not God's judgment on the rest of humanity.
Note Carefully that the wrath of God is only spoken of in connection with the trumpets and the bowls never with the Seals. In fact the first mention Revelation makes of God's wrath is after the opening of the sixth seal when the kings of the earth desperately want to be hidden from His wrath. and they *said to the mountains and to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the presence 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 is able to stand?" (Revelation 6:16-17 NASB)
The first four Seals are also known as The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse simply because specific end time events are symbolized by four horsemen who ride horses of different colours. The first three Seals describe the beginning of birth pains or the events leading up to the tribulation of the church. The Fourth Seal describes the actual persecution of Christians. The Fifth Seal is John's vision of the souls of people under the altar whom he said had been slain for the word of God - Christians who had been martyred. In other words, the Fifth Seal is the result of the persecution of the church. The First Seal (Revelation 6:1-2) First Seal: Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, "Come." I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. (Revelation 6:1-2 NASB) Olivet Discourse: And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you. "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many. (Matthew 24:4-5 NASB) Notes on the First Horseman:
The correlation between the First Seal and Matthew 24:4-5 may not be obvious at first glance but with a little thought becomes glaringly obvious. Because in a later chapter the book of Revelation portrays Jesus as riding a white horse many believe the first horseman to be Christ. However the similarity begins and ends with the fact that both riders are astride identically colored mounts. We know the rider in Revelation 19:11 is none other than Jesus Christ because this rider righteously dispenses justice. However, the rider in Revelation 6:2 is bent on conquest. I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. (Revelation 6:2 NASB) And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. (Revelation 19:11 NASB)
But why should a rider other than Christ also be portrayed on a white horse? Remember that, when asked what would be the sign of His coming and of the end of the age, Jesus started with a warning that many would be led astray. John told us that many antichrists existed at the time of his writing and would continue to make their appearance but the culmination of all these would be the antichrist. (1 John 2:18). Paul called him "the man of lawlessness" and "the son of destruction" who would exalt himself above every so-called god or object of worship, and take his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4) What we need to bear in mind is that the English word 'Antichrist' comes from the Greek antichristos (an-tee'-khris-tos)... Christos meaning 'messiah' or 'anointed one'. English speakers are accustomed to taking the word 'anti' to mean 'opposed to' however, in Greek, the word can also mean 'instead of'. Therefore antichristos does not necessarily mean 'against' or 'opposed to' Christ, but can mean 'instead of' Christ. This is another way of saying one who seeks to 'take the place of' Christ. In other words, the antichrist is a clever counterfeit of God's Messiah which is why he is seen as riding a horse the same colour as Christ's.
In Matthew 24:4-5, Jesus warned believers not to be fooled by false Christs that quite obviously has to include the most dangerous one of all... The Antichrist. (See The Antichrist) He also said "I have come in My Father's name and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him." (John 5:43 NASB) The very fact that peace is not taken from the earth until the second seal/red horse (below), further indicates that the rider on the White Horse is very likely to be the false messiah anticipated by much of the non-Christian world who believe he will teach us to live peacefully with each other. Because the concept of a coming world teacher who sets up a 'golden age' on earth can be found in many world religious systems as well as in the literature of the occult, he will deceive the vast majority of people. The beginning of the end will not come with death and destruction but on the wings of peace that will lull the global masses into a false sense of security.
The following articles should throw a great deal of light on the matter
An Overview of The New Age
Alice Bailey, Lucis Trust, and The Reappearance of "The Christ"
The Global Alliance
The United Nations However the illusion of peace created by the antichrist will be short-lived, shattered by the Rider on the Red Horse .
The Second Seal (Revelation 6:3-4)
Second Seal: When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come." And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.
Olivet Discourse
You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. (Matthew 24:6-7a) Notes on The Second Horseman:
No explanation is needed to see the correlation between the verses above that both speak of war in every part of the globe. Although war has always been a part of history, global warfare on an unprecedented scale will be a part of the final countdown.
The Third Seal (Revelation 6:5-6)
Third Seal: When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, "Come." I looked and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine."
Olivet Discourse: "... and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs". (Matthew 24:7b-8) Notes on The Third Horseman:
Perhaps as an aftermath of war the Black Horse brings famine and food rationing. Very apparently the grain is being carefully measured out. However, the word "various" in Matthew 24:7 indicates that the famine will not be global. Note: The parable of the laborers in the vineyard indicates that at the time a denarius (the principal silver coin of the Roman empire) was the standard pay for a days work. (Matthew: 20:2-13)
It seems that a quart of wheat or three quarts of barley are basically subsistence diets, However, that God instructs that no harm is to be done to the oil and wine is not easy to understand. It is entirely possible that as Richard T. Ritenbaugh writes, Olive oil and wine are not luxury items, as many take them to be; in the Mediterranean world, they are important supporting elements of the common diet (see Deuteronomy 7:13; Hosea 2:8; Haggai 1:11; etc.). However, while they provide supplementary nutrition, people cannot subsist on them alone. Thus, they are secondary food items, and in the prophecy, they remain plentiful. This leads to two possible conclusions: 1. God is limiting the severity of famines, as "the end is not yet" (Matthew 24:6) and "these are the beginning of sorrows" (verse 8); or more likely, 2. He is indicating a measure of disparity and irregularity in these famines. Some foods will be scarce, while others are abundant. Some people will be sorely affected, while others will hardly suffer. Some areas will be hit hard, while others feel little impact. [01]
The Fourth Seal
Fourth Seal: When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come." I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth. (Revelation 6:7-8 NASB)
Olivet Discourse: Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. "At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. "Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. "Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. "But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. (Matthew 24:9-13 NASB) Notes on The Fourth Horseman:
The Fourth Seal describes the actual persecution of Christians. It directly corresponds with Jesus' words - they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you.
A comprehensive demographic study of more than 200 countries by the Pew Research Center found that there are 2.18 billion Christians (at least those that call themselves Christian) of all ages around the world, representing nearly a third of the estimated 2010 global population of 6.9 billion. [02] Although Christians make up about a third of the world's population - a number quite close to the "fourth of the earth" that death and Hades will be given authority over it is entirely likely that by this point some one-time believers have fallen away (perhaps because they believed that they were supposed to be whisked off to 'heaven" before the trouble got going and think that the Bible lied to them). See A Wake Up Call below
The Fifth Seal
As said earlier the fifth seal describes the outcome of the fourth seal... John saw the souls of people under the altar whom he said had been slain for the word of God. This can be none other than Christians.
Fifth Seal: When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained; and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren (Gk. adelphos) who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also. (Revelation 6:9-11 NASB) Notes On The Fifth Seal: There is not a shred of evidence to support the idea that those martyred during the tribulation are, as some believe, a Jewish remnant. Brethren
The Greek word translated brethren (above) is adelphos which comes from the prefix "A" and the Greek delphus or delphos, which means a womb. Therefore adelphos literally or figuratively means 'a brother'. Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers (Gk. adelphos). (Matthew 1:2 NASB) The Jews considered Abraham to be their father and they were therefore of one family - blood brothers as it were. However, the New Testament make it very clear that birth alone does not automatically include a person into the family of God. Only those that do the will of His Father are considered sons of Abraham, members of the family of God, and heirs to the kingdom. It is faith in and obedience to God that makes someone part of the family... not ethnicity, nor membership in a synagogue or church. However, in the New Testament, the term "brethren" was used of both Jewish and non Jewish believers not because they were literal brothers but were born again of the Father - a spiritual brotherhood. In support of this note that in 1 Thessalonians 4:10 and 2 Corinthians 11:9 (starred below) Paul referred to the Macedonians as brethren. In New Testament times, Macedonia was a Roman province north of Greece, governed by a proconsul. It was the first region of Europe to accept Christianity. So then, brethren (Gk. adelphos), we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- (Romans 8:12 NASB) but brother (Gk. adelphos) goes to law with brother (Gk. adelphos) , and that before unbelievers? (1 Corinthians 6:6 NASB) * and when I was present with you and was in need, I was not a burden to anyone; for when the brethren came from Macedonia they fully supplied my need, and in everything I kept myself from being a burden to you, and will continue to do so. (2 Corinthians 11:9 NASB) * for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren (Gk. adelphos) , to excel still more, (1 Thessalonians 4:10 NASB) Therefore, brethren (Gk. adelphos), since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, (Hebrews 10:19 NASB)
A Wake Up Call
Most Christians are eagerly looking forward to the return of Christ which will be a glorious event unparalleled in the history of the world. However, because much of the church believes that Christians will not go through any tribulation but will be wafted away to heaven before the going gets rough, it is going to be a harsh reality check when believers find themselves being persecuted and killed for what they believe.
At that time I have no doubt that the faith of many will be sorely shaken because they will think that God has abandoned them, and the Bible has been lying about the timing of the Rapture. I wonder how many will realize that it is not the Bible that has misled them, but that they, "wanting to have their ears tickled" accumulated for themselves "teachers in accordance to their own desires" (2 Timothy 4:3). In other words, false teachers told the people what they wanted to hear. If you are a Christian, be prepared to be severely tested, persecuted, betrayed and even to die for your faith. See The Rapture... The reasons the Pre-Tribulation Rapture is a figment of the imagination.
The exact timing of the rapture has been covered in Chapter IV Where We Are In The Prophetic Time Line
Partially echoing Jesus' words Paul described the sequence of events in slightly more detail. When he heard that the Thessalonians feared that they had missed the rapture, he wrote them a comforting letter reminding them that certain events had to take place before the coming of the Lord. In his words... Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 NASB)
The order being The great apostasy or falling away (which, by the way, is already here) (See Signs of The Times and Doctrines of Demons)
The restrainer is taken out of the way (V. 6-7)
The man of sin/the rider on the white horse/the antichrist is revealed.
The falling away is already in full bloom, so the next step is the revealing of the antichrist whose arrival is imminent. Hundreds of thousands of New Agers have positioned themselves to shortly usher in the antichrist doing everything in their power to render to the "Great Ones" intelligent assistance which will make their plans for humanity materialize. And don't for a moment imagine that these beliefs are limited to a few kooks round the globe. It is a huge global movement. The following articles should give you an idea of the darkness that is even now sweeping across the world. See
An Overview of The New Age
Alice Bailey, Lucis Trust, and The Reappearance of "The Christ"
The Global Alliance
The United Nations
The Calm Before The Storm
Both Jesus and Paul imply that world conditions would not necessarily allow people to suspect the approach of Armageddon. The "day of the Lord" is described as coming suddenly, catching the non believer unawares ...
For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. (Matthew 24:38-39 NASB) For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 NASB)
No one in their right mind would utter "peace and safety" in a the midst of an economic meltdown, a global recession, war on an international scale, or any other horrendous situation. Apparently, it is business as usual for most of the unbelieving world. As a matter of fact, businesses seem to be thriving.. The account of the end of Babylon in Revelation 18 portrays a picture of a very impressive economic state just prior to her destruction. Verse 7 describes the pre-plague conditions of "the great city", when she said in her heart "I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall in no wise see mourning." After the devastation "the kings of the earth, who committed fornication and lived wantonly with her, shall weep and wail over her, when they look upon the smoke of her burning" (V. 9), and the merchants who had become rich by her (V. 19) wept and mourned over her, for no man buys their merchandise any more. The list of merchandise includes many and varied treasures like gold, and silver, precious stone, pearls, fine linen, silk, marble; cinnamon, incense, and ointment, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, and wheat, cattle, sheep etc, but at the very end of the list, Revelation 18:13 adds "and souls of men". (See Two Babylons)
Although the account suggests that business is thriving and people are getting rich, in one day "her plagues come, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire;" (Verse 8). Luke records Jesus warning Christians who live at the end of the age not to be so concerned with the cares and/or pleasures of this life that the 'Day of The Lord' catches them off guard. Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. "But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:34-36 NASB)
Even the persecution of the church seems not to substantially affect the social and economic machinery of the world. On the contrary, true Christians may somehow be seen as a threat to this imagined world peace and getting many of them out of the way may seem like a good thing. That is, until...
The Sixth Seal
Sixth Seal: I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they *said to the mountains and to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the presence 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 is able to stand?" (Revelation 6:12-17 NASB)
Olivet Discourse: For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will. "Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. (Matthew 24:21-22 NASB) Notes on The Sixth Seal: As said earlier, the breaking of the Sixth Seal is the first time that the wrath of God is mentioned simply because nothing that went before had anything to do with His judgment. Some believe that this Sixth Seal summarizes the trumpets and bowls to come. For example the "Great Earthquake" mentioned at the sixth seal actually takes place at the end of the Seventh Bowl.. See Revelation 6:12 and 16:18 NASB. However, in the Old Testament powerful natural phenomena often heralded momentous events to come and earthquakes were a fairly common sign of either God making His presence known or as sign of His anger. For example, Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. (Exodus 19:18 NASB) Then the earth shook and quaked, The foundations of heaven were trembling and were shaken, because He was angry. (2 Samuel 22:8 NASB) In other words, the terrible phenomena of the Sixth Seal will be the first indication that God is about to make His presence and anger known on earth in a terrifying way.
The Signs Described in The Sixth Seal
Regarding what is sometimes known as the end of days, Isaiah prophesied that the day of the Lord was coming with fury, when the stars of heaven and their constellations would not shine, the sun would be darkened and the moon would not shed its light. In that day of His burning anger, the earth would be shaken from its place. (Isaiah 13:9-13)
Joel 2:30-31 described the same event, saying "I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, Blood, fire and columns of smoke. "The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood Before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes". (Joel 2:30-31 NASB). See End time Revival or End time Apostasy. An Earthquake So Great That Every Mountain And Island Will Be Moved Out Of Their Place
The first thing that John mentions is a "great earthquake" which is significant because although a direct causal connection between earthquakes and volcanic activity have not been satisfactorily established, scientists believe that it is possible that in some cases a large earthquake can trigger volcanic eruption that in turn can precipitate the next two signs that John spoke of. Obviously, earthquakes that are large enough to cause mountains and islands to move out of their places will also cause widespread destruction and a tremendous loss of life. The Darkening of The Sun
While it is impossible to say what exactly causes this phenomena, it is possible that the darkening of the sun which, as John said "became black as sackcloth made of hair", could be caused by a solar eclipse or some kind of massive ash cloud caused by volcanic activity. When Mount St. Helens erupted in Washington state on May 18, 1980, the ash cloud was "dense enough to screen out nearly all sunlight, activating darkness-sensitive switches on street lights" [05] not only in the city of Yakima about 150 miles away, but also in Spokane - some 350 miles distant. In a few days the ash cloud had spread to the central United States. The ash from the relatively small 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland covered large areas of northern Europe causing about 20 countries to close their airspace to commercial jet traffic for several days. Also to be noted is the fact that darkness was one of the terrors inflicted upon Egypt....."Then the Lord said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even a darkness which may be felt." So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. (Exodus 10:21-22 NASB) The Moon Became Like Blood
It is true that, when there is a much larger than usual amount of dust in the atmosphere light can bend in such a way as to cause the moon to appear red. Not only was ash blown across cities all around the Southern hemisphere after the June 2011 Puyehue-Cordón Caulle volcanic eruption in Chile, but the moon appeared to be very red, a phenomenon clearly visible to viewers in Asia, eastern Africa, the Middle East and western Australia. Additionally, in a total lunar eclipse, the full moon turns a coppery red as it passes into Earth's shadow. During the process, the moon's bright glow dims, taking on a red hue because of shimmers of sunlight and sunsets seeping through the Earth's atmosphere. [03] The Stars Of The Sky Fell To The Earth
It should be reasonably obvious that these words refer to an extensive meteor shower or numerous asteroids falling to earth. If John saw extremely large meteors it may have seemed that the very stars were falling from the sky resembling (as he described it) figs falling off a tree when shaken by a great wind. The Sky Was Split Apart Like A Scroll
Isaiah 34:4 describes the day of the Lord similarly. And all the host of heaven will wear away, And the sky will be rolled up like a scroll; All their hosts will also wither away As a leaf withers from the vine, Or as one withers from the fig tree. (Isaiah 34:4 NASB) It is hard to know how exactly to apply the words of an ancient prophet or a 1st century non scientific man. Although all the other signs are natural phenomena this is an almost perfect picture of a nuclear explosion in which the atmosphere rolls back on itself. This tremendous rush of air back into the vacuum causes much of the destruction. See more about this in The End Times Section of Scientific Facts In The Bible - Part II
Simultaneous Cataclysmic Events
It is entirely possible, probable even, that these catastrophic events occur at the same time. In other words, the enormous earthquakes trigger the eruption of numerous volcanoes that erupt simultaneously filling the sky with smoke and volcanic ash which will cause the sky to not give out its light and the moon to 'turn to blood'. These signs are so frightening that they have a tremendous effect on humanity and understandably trigger men's inborn desire to save themselves. As prophesied by Isaiah many centuries ago... "Men will go into caves of the rocks and into holes of the ground Before the terror of the Lord and the splendor of His majesty, when He arises to make the earth tremble." (Isaiah 2:19 NASB)
John echoed these words adding that everyone from the biggest and most powerful of men to the weakest will wish that the mountains and rocks would fall on them and thus hide them "from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come". Apparently mankind will somehow know that these cataclysmic events are not "natural disasters" but clear evidence of God's wrath. However, this is only the beginning. These signs are but a harbinger of the 'Great Tribulation' which does not start until after a 30 'minute' interlude.
The Interlude Between The Sixth and Seventh Seals
The seventh chapter of Revelation describes several things happening between the Sixth and Seventh Seals ...
a. The 144,000 are sealed. See The 144,000 b. John sees "a great multitude which no one could count ... standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes. Note that this great multitude comes out of the tribulation from every nation, tribe, people and language (Revelation 7:9), clearly signifying that the persecution takes place on a global scale. This uncountable number of people cannot be any other than Christians, since they are described in verse 14 as having "washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb".) c. A half hour "silence in heaven" (Revelation 8:1).
(This short silence that is similar to the peculiar and eerie calm that often precedes the most devastating of storms is followed by the breaking of the Seventh Seal which is when John witnessed the judgment of the Trumpets closely followed by The Bowls Note: Joel's prophecy was partially fulfilled at Pentecost when all believers were given the indwelling Spirit . However, it is very likely that during this interlude the prophecy will be finally and completely fulfilled and the "latter rain" outpouring of the Holy Spirit falls on God's people. (See End Time Revival Or End Time Apostasy?) Certainly this is the time when the children of God will very much need an abundant outpouring of God's spirit. Not only will the coming days be terrible beyond measure but they will need to be fully mature for the harvest when Jesus gathers His crop into His barn (The maturing of the crops was the purpose of the spring or latter rains in Israel). See Chapter V... The Rapture
The people of God are "sealed" and filled with God's spirit before the Trumpets are blown and, to use a common figure of speech, all hell breaks loose. The Seventh Seal
This last seal does not itself bring about any disasters but serves only to introduce the Seven Trumpets. Footnote I
I used to think that people who believed they would be doing God a service by killing Christians had to be followers of (radical) Islam. However, this does not line up with Jesus' prophecy in which He said (Emphasis Added) ... "Brother (Gk. adelphos) will betray brother (Gk. adelphos) to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death" (Matthew 10: 21). As said earlier (See The Fifth Seal above) the Greek word used is adelphos literally, or figuratively, means 'a brother'. The Jews considered Abraham to be their father and they were therefore of one family - blood brothers as it were. However, the New Testament make it very clear that birth alone does not automatically include a person into the family of God. Only those that do the will of His Father are considered sons of Abraham, members of the family of God, and heirs to the kingdom. It is faith in and obedience to God that makes someone part of the family... not ethnicity, nor membership in a synagogue or church. So then, brethren (Gk. adelphos), we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- (Romans 8:12 NASB) but brother (Gk. adelphos) goes to law with brother (Gk. adelphos) , and that before unbelievers? (1 Corinthians 6:6 NASB)
So who are these "brothers" who betray other Christians? Dominionism an umbrella term for a number of related groups (the most extreme faction of the Religious Right) is founded on the belief that God gave Adam dominion over the earth in Genesis 1:28. That instruction has been taken to mean Christians were commanded to 'rule' the earth. The cleansing the earth of evil and establishing God's kingdom on earth will be accomplished by an elite group of believers called overcomers (a.k.a. Manifest Sons of God based on an extremely shallow understanding of Romans 8:19 ) who will have supernatural spiritual power. These modern day wolves call themselves apostles and prophets and Christians who do not submit to them and their rash and dangerous doctrines are considered to be in spiritual bondage and a cancer that has to be removed. This makes it easy to see how they could bring about the fulfillment of the end time Biblical prophecies of internal strife, betrayal and bloodshed in the church.. However, if they have thought about it at all, there is one point that seemingly has not occurred to them, and that is, when Jesus made the predictions He did, He was speaking to true Christian believers, telling them that they would be killed by those that "have not known the Father or Me". See Index to Dominionism More about the Manifest Sons of God
Footnote II
Are Matthew 24 and Luke 21 Parallel Accounts?
Even though Matthew 24 and Luke 21 contain strong similarities there are key and very important differences which, when studied carefully, show that they are different teachings given at different times. While some of the message is obviously in common between the two sections,
Matthew 24 is largely an end time message related in perfect chronological order, while Luke 21 mostly speaks of the siege of 70 A.D. The tribulation described in Matthew 24 is not the same as the persecution described in Luke 21. In fact there are striking similarities between Luke 21 and Matthew 10, although the occasions are different. (PLACE IN TEXT) End Notes
[01] Richard T. Ritenbaugh. Bible verses about Pair of Scales.
http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/3302/Pair-of-Scales.htm [02] Pew Research Center. Global Christianity – A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Christian Population
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2011/12/19/global-christianity-exec/ [03] Faith Karimi and Paul Vercammen, CNN. Blood moon: Lunar eclipse gazers mesmerized as red hue lights up sky. Updated 2:51 PM ET, Tue April 15, 2014. http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/15/tech/innovation/blood-moon/index.html
Continue On To Part III: The Seventh Seal and the First Six Trumpets. HERE
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