Steadfast
01-17-2007, 05:52 PM
Seven Seals
The book of Revelation has been the subject of much discussion, both as to its meaning and the timing that it is fulfilled. I would like to share some of my own conclusions and welcome your comments and criticisms.
First, I will say that I see the book of Revelation primarily as a great tribulation book:
Revelation 1:10-11 – 'I came to be in the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a strong voice like that of a trumpet, saying: "What you see write in a scroll and send it to the seven congregations……"'
Therefore, I see very little of Revelation having been fulfilled yet. That being said, here are some of the conclusions concerning the seven seals that I have reached:
Revelation opens with the inspection of the congregations found in the first few chapters that applies to anointed, born again Christians:
Revelation 2:11 – 'Let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the congregations: He that conquers will be no means be harmed by the second death.'
Revelation 2:26-28 – 'And to him that conquers and observes my deeds down to the end I will give authority over the nations, and he shall shepherd the people with an iron rod so that they will be broken to pieces like clay vessels, the same as I have received from my Father, and I will give him the morning star.'
Revelation 3:11-12 – 'I am coming quickly. Keep holding fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. The one that conquers – I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God…..'
Revelation 3:21 – 'To the one that conquers I will grant to sit down with me on my throne, even as I conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.'
When Jesus was enthroned after his resurrection, he was given headship over the Christian congregation, therefore, it would seem that the inspection of the anointed congregation has been ongoing since the first century. The reason I have come to this conclusion is that an anointed one must be faithful until death to receive the crown of life.
Revelation 2:10 – 'Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. Look! The Devil will keep throwing some of you into prison that you may be fully put to the test, and that you may have tribulation ten days. Prove yourself faithful even to death, and I will give you the crown of life.'
The inspection that we see mentioned in the first few chapters of Revelation seems to be a call to repentance for those of Christ's brothers who are sinning and a commendation to those who are standing for righteousness. Just who proved faithful and who did not will be revealed when Jesus returns. So, since the anointed have been called and sealed since the first century, it seems reasonable that the inspection and approval would also have begun at that time:
Ephesians 1:13-14 – 'But you also hoped in him after you heard the word of truth, the good news about your salvation. By means of him also, after you believed, you were sealed with the promised holy spirit, which is a token in advance of our inheritance, for the purpose of releasing by a ransom [God's] own possession, to his glorious praise.'
Ephesians 4:30 – 'Also, do not be grieving God's holy spirit, with which you have been sealed for a day of releasing by ransom.'
When I first started studying Revelation, the question I had in my mind was how the seals, trumpets, and bowls occurred. Did they run separately, one after the other, or did they run parallel to each other? The first six seals are opened beginning at Revelation 6:1 and run through Revelation 8:1 where it finishes with the opening of the seventh seal. It is Revelation 8:6 that gives a very important piece of information about timing where it says:
'And the seven angels with the seven trumpets prepare to blow them.'
This verse is telling us that the seals stand completely by themselves and that the trumpets start to blow after the seventh seal is opened. My conclusion would be that everything else in the book of Revelation happens during the seventh seal.
Looking at the seven seals opened by Christ and the description of the events mentioned, I see:
First through fourth Seals – White horse, red horse, black horse, and pale horse begin their rides. This indicates a time of trouble and woe for mankind that culminiates in the great battle of Armageddon. Is the white-horse rider Christ, the one-world government, or perhaps both?
Fifth Seal – Revelation 6:9-11 mentions something quite interesting where it describes:
'And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those slaughtered because of the word of God and because of the witness work that they used to have. And they cried with a loud voice, saying: "Until when, Sovereign Lord holy and true, are you refraining from judgment and avenging our blood upon those who dwell on the earth? And a white robe was given to each of them; and they were told to rest a little while longer, until the number was filled also of their fellow slaves and their brothers who were about to be killed as they had also been.'''
Could this be referring to the completion of the anointed congregation? It probably does because we find the sealing of the entire group at the next seal. The only other action upon the anointed by Christ seems to take place at the revealing of the sons of God when he claims his bride just before Armageddon. – 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17.
Sixth Seal – The final sealing of the entire 144,000 then takes place at Revelation 7:4 where it says:
'And I heard the number of those who were sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel.'
Another interesting event is described at the beginning of the sixth seal, beginning at Revelation 6 verse 12 where it says:
'And I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and a great earthquake occurred; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the entire moon became as blood………and the kings of the earth and the top-ranking ones and the military commanders and the rich and the strong ones and every slave and [every] free person hid themselves in the caves and in the rock-masses of the mountains. And they kept saying to the mountains and to the rock-masses: "Fall over us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb."'
Mountains represent governments and power at Revelation 17:9-10:
'Here is where the intelligence that has wisdom comes in: The seven heads mean seven mountains, where the woman sits on top. And there are seven kings: five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet arrived…..'
So it would seem that during the tribulation, the majority of mankind is looking to the earthly governments for protection and safety from the terrible events that are unfolding.
Some feel that the above verses of Revelation 6:12-17 are describing Armageddon, but I would disagree. The reason is that from the verse in Revelation 8:6, it seems that the seals are opened independently of the trumpets and bowls. Complete rulership of Christ toward the earth does not commence until the seventh trumpet, which is blown just before Armageddon occurs:
Revelation 11:15 – 'The seventh angel blew his trumpet. And loud voices occurred in heaven, saying: 'The kingdom of the world did become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will rule as king forever and ever.'
Seventh Seal – The blowing of the seven trumpets commences, and the events that follow bring the completion of the great tribulation.
So it would seem that:
A. The ongoing inspection of the anointed congregation commenced in the first century.
B. The ride of the first white horse rider in Revelation 6 causes the tremendous trouble to begin as described by the other three riders on their respective horses.
C. Full-blown great tribulation is described.
D. The completion of the 144,000 takes place.
E. The sealing of the 144,000 takes place.
F. The seven angels prepare to blow their trumpets.
I will be interested to hear your conclusions as well. :)
Love, :Love:
Steadfast
The book of Revelation has been the subject of much discussion, both as to its meaning and the timing that it is fulfilled. I would like to share some of my own conclusions and welcome your comments and criticisms.
First, I will say that I see the book of Revelation primarily as a great tribulation book:
Revelation 1:10-11 – 'I came to be in the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a strong voice like that of a trumpet, saying: "What you see write in a scroll and send it to the seven congregations……"'
Therefore, I see very little of Revelation having been fulfilled yet. That being said, here are some of the conclusions concerning the seven seals that I have reached:
Revelation opens with the inspection of the congregations found in the first few chapters that applies to anointed, born again Christians:
Revelation 2:11 – 'Let the one who has an ear hear what the spirit says to the congregations: He that conquers will be no means be harmed by the second death.'
Revelation 2:26-28 – 'And to him that conquers and observes my deeds down to the end I will give authority over the nations, and he shall shepherd the people with an iron rod so that they will be broken to pieces like clay vessels, the same as I have received from my Father, and I will give him the morning star.'
Revelation 3:11-12 – 'I am coming quickly. Keep holding fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. The one that conquers – I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God…..'
Revelation 3:21 – 'To the one that conquers I will grant to sit down with me on my throne, even as I conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.'
When Jesus was enthroned after his resurrection, he was given headship over the Christian congregation, therefore, it would seem that the inspection of the anointed congregation has been ongoing since the first century. The reason I have come to this conclusion is that an anointed one must be faithful until death to receive the crown of life.
Revelation 2:10 – 'Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. Look! The Devil will keep throwing some of you into prison that you may be fully put to the test, and that you may have tribulation ten days. Prove yourself faithful even to death, and I will give you the crown of life.'
The inspection that we see mentioned in the first few chapters of Revelation seems to be a call to repentance for those of Christ's brothers who are sinning and a commendation to those who are standing for righteousness. Just who proved faithful and who did not will be revealed when Jesus returns. So, since the anointed have been called and sealed since the first century, it seems reasonable that the inspection and approval would also have begun at that time:
Ephesians 1:13-14 – 'But you also hoped in him after you heard the word of truth, the good news about your salvation. By means of him also, after you believed, you were sealed with the promised holy spirit, which is a token in advance of our inheritance, for the purpose of releasing by a ransom [God's] own possession, to his glorious praise.'
Ephesians 4:30 – 'Also, do not be grieving God's holy spirit, with which you have been sealed for a day of releasing by ransom.'
When I first started studying Revelation, the question I had in my mind was how the seals, trumpets, and bowls occurred. Did they run separately, one after the other, or did they run parallel to each other? The first six seals are opened beginning at Revelation 6:1 and run through Revelation 8:1 where it finishes with the opening of the seventh seal. It is Revelation 8:6 that gives a very important piece of information about timing where it says:
'And the seven angels with the seven trumpets prepare to blow them.'
This verse is telling us that the seals stand completely by themselves and that the trumpets start to blow after the seventh seal is opened. My conclusion would be that everything else in the book of Revelation happens during the seventh seal.
Looking at the seven seals opened by Christ and the description of the events mentioned, I see:
First through fourth Seals – White horse, red horse, black horse, and pale horse begin their rides. This indicates a time of trouble and woe for mankind that culminiates in the great battle of Armageddon. Is the white-horse rider Christ, the one-world government, or perhaps both?
Fifth Seal – Revelation 6:9-11 mentions something quite interesting where it describes:
'And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those slaughtered because of the word of God and because of the witness work that they used to have. And they cried with a loud voice, saying: "Until when, Sovereign Lord holy and true, are you refraining from judgment and avenging our blood upon those who dwell on the earth? And a white robe was given to each of them; and they were told to rest a little while longer, until the number was filled also of their fellow slaves and their brothers who were about to be killed as they had also been.'''
Could this be referring to the completion of the anointed congregation? It probably does because we find the sealing of the entire group at the next seal. The only other action upon the anointed by Christ seems to take place at the revealing of the sons of God when he claims his bride just before Armageddon. – 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17.
Sixth Seal – The final sealing of the entire 144,000 then takes place at Revelation 7:4 where it says:
'And I heard the number of those who were sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel.'
Another interesting event is described at the beginning of the sixth seal, beginning at Revelation 6 verse 12 where it says:
'And I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and a great earthquake occurred; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the entire moon became as blood………and the kings of the earth and the top-ranking ones and the military commanders and the rich and the strong ones and every slave and [every] free person hid themselves in the caves and in the rock-masses of the mountains. And they kept saying to the mountains and to the rock-masses: "Fall over us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb."'
Mountains represent governments and power at Revelation 17:9-10:
'Here is where the intelligence that has wisdom comes in: The seven heads mean seven mountains, where the woman sits on top. And there are seven kings: five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet arrived…..'
So it would seem that during the tribulation, the majority of mankind is looking to the earthly governments for protection and safety from the terrible events that are unfolding.
Some feel that the above verses of Revelation 6:12-17 are describing Armageddon, but I would disagree. The reason is that from the verse in Revelation 8:6, it seems that the seals are opened independently of the trumpets and bowls. Complete rulership of Christ toward the earth does not commence until the seventh trumpet, which is blown just before Armageddon occurs:
Revelation 11:15 – 'The seventh angel blew his trumpet. And loud voices occurred in heaven, saying: 'The kingdom of the world did become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will rule as king forever and ever.'
Seventh Seal – The blowing of the seven trumpets commences, and the events that follow bring the completion of the great tribulation.
So it would seem that:
A. The ongoing inspection of the anointed congregation commenced in the first century.
B. The ride of the first white horse rider in Revelation 6 causes the tremendous trouble to begin as described by the other three riders on their respective horses.
C. Full-blown great tribulation is described.
D. The completion of the 144,000 takes place.
E. The sealing of the 144,000 takes place.
F. The seven angels prepare to blow their trumpets.
I will be interested to hear your conclusions as well. :)
Love, :Love:
Steadfast