Christ opens the seven seals John then describes events and trends to take place during the period before the 3 1⁄2 years. Jesus opens, in Revelation 6, the seven seals on the scroll of prophecy. The first four of the seven represent events beginning in the days of the apostles and leading up to the time of the end. Jesus gave the meaning of the seals in the Olivet Prophecy about the end time (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21). The first seal (Revelation:6:1-2 ) represents widespread deception by a false Christianity that began in the days of the apostles (Matthew:24:4- 5). The second seal (Revelation:6:3-4 ) refers to the increasing devastation caused by war as the end approaches (Matthew:24:6-7 ). The third seal (Revelation:6:5-6 ) represents increasing hunger and famines (Matthew:24:7). Other consequences of war and famine are represented by the fourth seal (Revelation:6:7-8 )—such things as disease, plagues and civil unrest that kill many people (Matthew:24:7). All of the events in the first four seals have been occurring, with varying frequency and intensity, from Christs time to our day. But they have greatly intensified over the last century and will grow even worse in the suffering mankind will have to endure nearer the end. The fifth seal (Revelation:6:9-11 ) brings us directly to the time of the end. It acknowledges the past persecution and martyrdom of Gods servants and announces they will have to wait a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed, before God avenges their deaths. In Matthew:24:9 Jesus tells His followers this will be a time when they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My names sake. He also describes it as a time of great tribulation unlike anything the world has ever experienced (verse 21). The sixth seal The next seal describes how powers of the heavens will be shaken (Matthew:24:29) after the end-time tribulation and martyrdom of the saints has begun but before Gods wrath is unleashed in the day of the Lord (Joel:2:31). These heavenly signs announce the beginning of the Day of the Lord. Terrifying heavenly signs announce Jesus Christs direct intervention in world events to save mankind from itself. This shows that, while God has permitted the previous end-time disasters, Satan has been their driving force. Now God begins to demolish Satans kingdom, pouring out His wrath on a rebellious and insolent world. I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and 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 His wrath has come, and who is able to stand? (Revelation:6:12-17 ). Jesus described this sixth sign in His Olivet Prophecy: And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; mens hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption [rescue] draws near (Luke:21:25-28 ). Consequently, in the latter part of the 3 1⁄2 years of Satans wrath, God will intervene, first with signs and wonders in the heavens, then by orchestrating His final punishments before Jesus Christs return. The seventh and final seal Finally the seventh seal is opened (Revelation 8). It describes seven other aspects of end-time events, each announced with a trumpet blast. In the first four of these plagues God strikes the earth and mankinds environmental support systems. The fifth trumpets plague inflicts great pain on those refusing to serve God. In the sixth trumpet plague, God permits an unimaginably destructive and all-out worldwide war to begin (Revelation 8-9). With the sounding of the seventh trumpet, the Bible reveals that the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets (Revelation:10:7). This mystery of the end time was briefly alluded to in the Garden of Eden and its meaning glimpsed by the patriarchs and prophets. John writes: Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever! (Revelation:11:15). God is in control. Every prophetic detail will be carried out according to His time frame. (To learn much more about this intriguing book, be sure to request our free booklet The Book of Revelation Unveiled . ) As Christ concluded His Olivet Prophecy in Luke:21:34-36 , He warned His disciples who would live during the end time: But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass [the terrible end-time events], and to stand before the Son of Man.
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 10:51:58 +0000
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