In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. Rom 2:16
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The Seals<The Four HorsemenFirst of all I take the position that the Great Tribulation period begins with the opening of the first seal. Most of this below is of my opinion, which certainly doesn't make it correct, but it is what I have come to believe. I have come to my conclusions from studying the Bible along with commentaries of others. The First SealRev 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.Rev 6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. The white horse symbolizes a conqueror, the bow symbolizes power, and the crown symbolizes dominion. Is this Christ? The answer is NO. How can I say that? There are several reasons. Notice that he has no arrows to go with the bow. In other words he is going to come in peace. Also in Rev 19, Christ comes on a white horse to rule and to reign forever. And Christ said: Joh 5:43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. And another reason - Christ is opening the seals and he is directing these events from heaven and is giving the orders to the four horsemen to ride. And the last reason is: Christ's reign shall not bring war, famine and strife. Yes it is going to bring about the last great battle, but Christ's reign is going to bring peace forever. The Second SealRev 6:3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.Rev 6:4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. There is no doubt that this is an indication of the military warfare that is going to break out. The hope of permanent peace by means of the United Nations and other means is not going to work. The Third SealRev 6:5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.Rev 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. The third horse speaks of famine, because after a war there is generally a famine. A days wages for a measure of wheat or three measures of barley. It will take a days wages just to feed one person. How is a sole breadwinner going to feed a family? Starvation will be the norm of the day. The Fourth SealRev 6:7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.Rev 6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. The Greek word for the pale color of the horse is chloros. It is where we get the name of a bleach manufacturer. When you pour bleach on colored fabric, the fabric will turn a pale, greenish yellow. What happens to the color? It dies. The pale horse represents plague and pestilence that will stalk the earth. Notice that they are killed by the sword, with hunger (starvation), by pestilence (plagues), and by the beasts of the earth. Think about the beast of the earth for a moment. It very well could be that the beasts are rats. They carry disease, which could bring about the plagues. Ok, now we've went through the four horsemen. Now for something else to think about. Here is what Christ said in Matthew with my notes thrown in. Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many (white horse).Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars (the red horse): see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines (the black horse), and pestilences (the pale horse), and earthquakes, in divers places. Mat 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. The Fifth SealRev 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:Rev 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? Rev 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. Some think that the souls mentioned here are the Old Testament saints along with the ones that are slain in the Great Tribulation period. I firmly believe that they are at least those that are slain during the GT. Notice that Christ knows the number of the saints that will be slain (Rev 6:11). The Sixth SealRev 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;Rev 6:13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. Rev 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Rev 6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; Rev 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: Rev 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? Notice everything that happens during this seal. A great earthquake, the sun becomes black as sackcloth and the moon as blood and every mountain and island are moved out of their places. These are not localized events. These are worldwide events. Also notice what those that are on earth are doing, they are hiding. Notice that the first five seals have largely originated in human decision, but beginning with the sixth seal, it starts God's punishment being inflicted on a blasphemous world. The Seventh SealRev 8:1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.Rev 8:2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. The opening of the seventh seal which then introduces the seven trumpets. This silence could be the transition from grace to judgment. One other thing to think about when looking into the seals, trumpets and vials is that if you think about it, the trumpets are the seventh seal, not following the seals. The vials are the seventh trumpet, not following the trumpets. We will get into the seven trumpets next. |
Everlasting Life He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3:36. Are You Ready Links • Are You Ready • How to Get to Heaven • Forgiveness • Understand the Scriptures Part 1 • Understand the Scriptures Part 2 • Salvation by Baptism? Part 1 • Salvation by Baptism? Part 2 • Salvation by Baptism? Part 3 • What Happens When You Die • Things about Revelation Part 1 • Things about Revelation Part 2 The Rapture The Tribulation • The Tribulation • Tribulation Purpose --The Seals --The Trumpets |
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