No.13.
We now have an opportunity to look at the contents of the book taken by Jesus from the Father’s hand.
John says, “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.” Revelation 6:1.
John is about to see a prophetic lineup that parallels the prophetic application of the seven churches, but with more detail of events at the end.
First Seal
“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.” Revelation 6:2.
Who does John see riding a white horse?
It is Jesus Christ Himself.
Turn further on in Revelation and you will see another time when the Saviour is seated upon a white horse.
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war…. His name is called the Word of God.” Revelation 19:11.13.
We can be clear that the rider on the white horse represents the Son of God.
But it also represents the apostolic church prior to when it lost its first love. Early in its history, the church went forth in the name and power of Jesus Christ ‘conquering and to conquer’.
In the book of Acts, Luke writes of this. “Then they that gladly received his word (Peter’s) were baptised: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls…
And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles… and they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat (meals) with gladness and singleness of heart. Praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:41.43.46.47.
After being condemned by the Jewish council and beaten, the apostles went back to the temple and began again to preach Jesus. “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” Acts 5:42.
“And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.” Acts 4:33.
When forbidden by the Jewish council to teach in Jesus’ name, Peter replied, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29.
“And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.” Acts 5:14.
The word of the Lord was published throughout all the region, so much so that it was said, “These (that) have turned the world upside down…” Acts 17:6.
Second Seal
John heard a second voice say ‘Come and see’. Revelation 6:3.
“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.” Revelation 6:4.
Go back in your mind to the second church, Smyrna. Christ said to them, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer; behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days; be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Revelation 2:10.
Here is the answer to the meaning of the second seal. Satan is represented as riding the red horse and causing men and women to shed their blood for Christ’s sake.
You will remember that the apostle Paul, before his conversion, brought about a great persecution against the church at Jerusalem and the surrounding areas. (His name Saul was changed to Paul when he was converted)
“As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house and haling men and women committed them to prison.” Acts 8:3.
After the Jewish persecution, pagan Rome began to persecute Christians. Some of the emperors murdered anyone and everyone they chose, but others were not so merciless. Christians were given an opportunity to put a pinch of incense before a heathen deity, and only when they refused, were they condemned.
You see, Rome had a state religion, and anyone who refused to honour the heathen gods was condemned as a criminal against the State. It was treason. This is the curse of the union of Church and State.
The historian Edward Gibbon wrote of Rome’s emperors from the days of Christ, “… dark, unrelenting Tiberius, the furious Caligula, the feeble Claudius, the profligate and cruel Nero, the beastly Vitellius, and the timid, inhuman Domitian, Rome groaned beneath an unrelenting tyranny….” The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Edward Gibbon. Ch iii, par 33..
The following period was for Rome “mandates of despotism, incessant accusations, faithless friendships, the ruin of innocence; an unvarying repetition of causes, terminating in the same event (with) tiresome reiteration.” Annals of Tacitus. Bk iv, Ch Xxiii.
Diocletian was proclaimed emperor in AD285. He was friendly to Christians, having appointed a number to the public office. Unfortunately, one of his appointed ruling associates by the name of Galerius, persuaded Diocletian to issue a decree to prohibit any Christian from holding public office or employment.
The emperor hesitated, but finally agreed, however, he spoke strongly against the shedding of blood. Gradually Galerius persuaded Diocletian to hold a council of the officers of the state. As a result, “a general edict of persecution was published”. Diocletian was still averse to bloodshed, but Galerius proposed that “anyone refusing to offer sacrifice should immediately be burnt alive.” Two Republics. A.T. Jones p170.
As the prophecy foretold, many Christians were killed because they refused to surrender their allegiance to Christ. They were to suffer “ten days”, and ten years later, the Eastern persecution ceased. (Ten prophetic days would be ten literal years) (Galerius was stricken by a fearful disease, where his body became a mass of loathsome and fetid sores, a living corpse, devoured by countless worms. In this condition, he issued a proclamation giving liberty to Christians. Ibid p174)
The prophecy proved true and the blood of Christians ran red during the period of the red horse.
Third Seal
Again John hears a voice say, ‘Come and see’.
“And I beheld a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 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.” Revelation 6:5.6.
As we progress we see that the black horse coincides with the third church of Pergamos.
It was a dark time for the church, as it dwelt in the midst of false doctrine and wickedness. Its situation was the centre of Satan’s mystery religion. Those who dwelt and worshipped during this corrupt time were to hold fast their faith, and not to compromise. Their lives were to be pure, in spite of the sins committed around them.
The balances in the hand of the rider of the black horse represent the union of Church and State that was being set up during the days of this horse.
“The balances denoted that religion and civil power would be united in the person who would administer the executive power in the government, and that he would claim the judicial authority both in church and state. This was true among the Roman emperors from the days of Constantine until the reign of Justinian, when he gave the same judicial power to the bishop of Rome.” Miller’s Lectures p181.
Wheat and the barley grew during the early part of the year in Israel. The time of harvesting was an important event in the religious life of the people, but during the time of the third seal, men and women were eager for monetary gain, rather than spiritual blessings.
The oil and the wine were crops that came later in the year, and were both used in religious services.
In symbolism, there is a difference between that which was being bought and sold – the wheat and barley – and that which the voice said must not be hurt – the oil and wine.
Oil represents the grace of the Spirit that is to flow into surrendered hearts, making lives holy and pure to witness for Jesus. Oil is what gave the candlestick its power, and so it is with the Christian. The heavenly voice says these faithful ones must not be hurt.
“It is the love of God continually transferred to man that enables him to impart light.
Into the hearts of all who are united to God by faith, the golden oil of love flows freely, to shine out again in good works, in real, heartfelt service for God.” Christ’s Object Lessons p419. (See Zechariah 4:1-6. 11-14 for the golden oil flowing through the golden pipes. This is symbolism for the Spirit of God flowing from heaven to God’s people by His Spirit)
The wine is not alcoholic, but fresh grape juice.
In the Bible, there are many Hebrew and Greek words translated wine, most of them being unfermented juice and not alcoholic. Fermentation represents sin. (Remember this if you take wine for the Communion service. This is why some churches use fresh grape juice with their unleavened bread. Certain churches even use a risen loaf, not realising that the leaven in the bread also represents sin)
When Jesus turned the water into wine, it was pure grape juice, and when served, the governor of the wedding said, “Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine, and when men have well drunk then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.” John 2:10.
The words “well drunk” do not mean they could no longer discern between good and inferior juice, but because weddings in those times lasted many days and the wine had run out.
I have personally drunk grape juice prepared in the way the Jews used to make it; a heavy juice that can be taken as it is, or diluted with water. It is the best I have ever tasted. No doubt the juice made by a miracle was even better. I can imagine the elation of the ruler of the wedding.
Again, the oil and the wine – those faithful ones during the black horse period – were not to be hurt.
You will remember that Antipas, believed to be those who opposed the rise of the papal power, were martyred during this time. Martydom does not seem to be the sparing of God’s people, however, if they are faithful unto death, their salvation is secured and they will rise from the grave.
Soon the fourth seal was opened.
Fourth Seal
Again one of the beasts said, ‘Come and see’.
“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.” Revelation 6:8.
The colours of the previous horses are natural colours, but the colour of this horse is unnatural. What colour is pale? It is probably a sickly yellow-white colour like a dying plant.
This seal represents the dominion of the Papacy, possibly ending short of the 1260 years, as persecution ceased some time before its power ran out.
The rider is most definitely Satan for he is called Death, with Hell (the grave) following. The fourth part of the earth would be the area dominated by the Papacy, and the description of ‘sword’, ‘hunger’, ‘death’ and ‘beasts’, is quite appropriate.
It is not pleasant to consider the means by which the Roman Church tortured and killed those they deemed to be heretics, but history is clear that they were gruesome. Some can even be seen at Kryal Castle, Ballarat (Victoria, Australia), together with bloodied dummies writhing in agony. I was appalled when I saw it, turning in disgust within a few seconds.
However, we do know it was taking place in the dungeons of castles and cathedrals of the Catholic world. A few have been unearthed, as revealed in the trial of the perpetrators of Maria Monk’s incarceration in a cloistered convent. The horrors of the pale horse were portrayed in stark reality.
(I first heard of Charlotte Eckler in 1962 while in America. She has long since been silenced in giving her personal testimony to live audiences, but her story lives on. My friends lived very near a cloistered convent and I wanted to see it. We entered the castle doors very cautiously, passing a statue of Mary lying in a glass case. I went to the reception, which had a huge iron door at its entrance. Would it close on me? At the window I heard a lady’s voice ask what I wanted. I could not see her as a black cloth covered the window. I just asked if we could look around and take some photos. She said ‘Yes’. Of course we were only in the public section and there was no way we could go behind the closed doors. I knew young and old nuns were being held captive and perhaps tortured. If not tortured with instruments of torture, I do know they were playthings of visiting priests. Much has been made public of these atrocities and the consequences, even to lime pits being unearthed in basements. God has a record of every moan and tear, and those dear nuns will one day be vindicated)
During the days of the fourth seal’s pale horse, the little horn of Daniel 7 rides apace. Praise God ‘Foxe’s Book of Martyrs’ still survives. It is a difficult book for some to read, but shows clearly that the Bible predictions of persecution really took place.
Another evidence of reality is in Spain. H.Grattan Guinness travelled to Spain in 1870 and actually handled the remains of Inquisition martyrs. He wrote, “On reaching Madrid I went… to see the newly opened Quemadero. Some workmen employed in cutting a road across the summit of a low hill close to the city had inadvertently dug into a broad bank of ashes, which had been buried for one or two centuries. Mingled with the ashes they had found a large quantity of charred human bones, together with fragments of rusted iron, and melted lead. The spot was speedily verified as the famous Quemadero, or place of burning, one of twelve places where so-called ‘heretics’ were annually burned in Spain, during the reign of the Inquisition…” History Unveiling Prophecy p393.
He continues, “The strange stratum displayed seemed about six feet in depth and covered quite a large area. There then, exposed to the light of day were the ashes of Spanish martyrs. I stood in silence and looked at the ghastly monument…. I could examine them, and satisfy myself of their character. I could handle them, and did. Reverently I removed some burnt bones from the general mass, and wrapped them, together with a quantity of ashes, in a Spanish newspaper…
Sadly turning from the spot I carried the parcel to my hotel where that evening under the influence of strong emotion, I wrote the following lines. (It is a long poem, so I will show just portion of it)
“…. I saw them at their work; I brought away
Some pitiful remains, while as I write
These very works are lying in my sight….
I take something from it like a stone,
‘Tis grey and light, ah ‘tis a piece of bone;
This was the side on which the muscles grew,
The other side its chambers are burnt blue,
These four are lumps of iron; they are red,
Like letters that have rusted off the dead.
This was an iron belt, ‘tis long and curved,
To hold a chain or cord it doubtless served;
This is a hollow bone burnt through and through,
It leaves upon my hand a dusky blue;
This was a bar of iron, now mere rust;
And this is indistinguishable dust.
O Rome! thou Mother of a cherished race,
Blush not to show the world thy kindly face!
Thy bosom – hide its demons, hush – thy breast,
‘Tis there alone that suffering men find rest.
How mild the chastisements thy love has used
Whene’er thy children have thy laws refused!
Gentle coercion! Pity’s tender tones!
TELL ME, THOU MURDERESS BLACK,
WHAT MEAN THESE BONES?……….”
Ibid p395.6.
It is a graphic poem, written with the emotion of a Christian who had seen the evidence of the suffering and death of those who died for the Word of God and their testimony of faith.
Fifth Seal
This time there is no voice from heaven. When the seal is opened, John sees a strange sight.
“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: 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?’” Revelation 6:9.10.
What is John seeing – disembodied souls?
No.
The word ‘soul’ is not used as much today, but it is a common word in the King James Bible. However, we must understand what it means according to the Scriptures and not many secular dictionaries. The little Oxford dictionary I have in front of me is accurate, as it says, ‘the spiritual part of man; human being; spirit’. Many speak of it as being the ‘immortal part of man that separates from the body at death’. This is a heathen teaching and totally wrong. Sadly, it is what most Christians believe today.
(There are two meanings in the Scriptures -- a soul is a human being; and – a soul is the mind of a human being. This means you are a soul, and you have a soul. It depends on which aspect you are referring to. They must not be confused or there are dire consequences doctrinally)
John is actually seeing human beings under an altar crying out for justice.
These are the martyrs who have died for their faith. Firstly, they are the millions who died under papal Rome’s dominion. (Remember the seal follows the pale horse and its rider called Death)
But it also includes those who died under the red horse of pagan Rome. And the martyrs of Pergamos. In a sense it refers to the martyrs of all ages, beginning with righteous Abel, son of Adam and Eve.
When God was speaking to Cain about the murder, he said, “… thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.” Genesis 4:10.
Abel’s blood still cries for justice. His righteous life calls out, and “by it he being dead yet speaketh”. Hebrews 11:4.
John is seeing, in symbolism, men and women crying out to God, “How long?”
Abel’s blood has been crying out for almost six thousand years. Even the martyrs who died during the papal persecutions have been calling for justice many centuries.
Will God do something?
YES.
In fact, He is just as anxious to vindicate the saints as they are portrayed in this vision. Anxious is not the right word for God, but He is longing for the whole reign of sin to be finished.
One day God will vindicate His people before the vast assembly of earth’s inhabitants, that is, before every person who has ever lived, good and bad. The time will come when “all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.” Revelation 15:4.
This does not mean the lost will worship God with surrendered hearts, but they will all acknowledge that the “statutes of the LORD are right” and the “judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.” Psalm 19:8.9.
Everyone on earth will bow before God’s Son, including Satan and his evil host, for “at the name of Jesus every knee should (will) bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should (will) confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10.11.
Notice how God responds to the cry of the martyrs under the altar of sacrifice.
“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.” Revelation 6:11.
The white robes will be given at the resurrection of the righteous, but in typical Bible fashion, the future promises are made to stand in the present. God’s promises are sure.
Then comes God’s answer. Rest until…..
The saints are to wait in their graves until “their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” Revelation 6:11.
This is another prophecy -- future persecution will take place, with martyrs.
We do not like to think about it, but God’s Word is certain; the prophecies of the past will be fulfilled.
As we progress through the book of Revelation you will learn more about this time or persecution. In the meantime, let us allow the martyrs to rest while we move to the next seal.
Sixth Seal
John says, “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; 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.” Revelation 6:12.13.
The apostle is now brought down to the end of the Papal dominion, or just a little prior to its conclusion. We have already spoken of the stars falling from heaven, and briefly mentioned the moon becoming blood red. Now we will think of them as a unit, plus one not mentioned earlier.
A Great Earthquake
This earthquake is called the Great Lisbon earthquake. It took place at about 9.30 on Saturday morning, November 1, 1755. It was All Saints’ Day when most of the people were in Catholic churches.
The first quake lasted about ten minutes, and was accompanied by a very loud sub-surface roar. The buildings shook, but did not fall. After a pause there was a second shock, lasting two minutes. This brought down palaces, roofs, churches, walls, houses and shops, in a deafening roar of collapse and destruction. Then came the third shock, which completed the carnage. A huge dust cloud rose above Lisbon and settled over what had been a clear day.
About an hour after the three shocks, the waters of the Tagus began rising, culminating at 11.00am in huge waves hitting the waterfront. More aftershocks resulted in three tsunamis. These obliterated most of Western Lisbon. At 12.00 noon, another big aftershock caused much damage to Northern Lisbon.
The epi-centre was in the Atlantic Ocean, and geologists estimate that it approached a magnitude of 9 on the Richter scale.
The Lisbon earthquake was wide reaching, and although the death toll is not the highest of all time, destruction touched locations as far away as Algiers on the African coast.
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One historian wrote of the extent of the quake as follows. “It pervaded the greater portion of Europe, Africa and America; but its extreme violence was exercised on the southwestern part of the former.
In Africa, this earthquake was felt almost as severely as it had been in Europe. A great part of Algiers was destroyed… Similar effects were realised at Morocco… In the north, it extended to Norway and Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, France, Great Britain, and Ireland… Mr Barretti says that 90,000 persons ‘were lost on that fatal day’.” Wonders of the World. Sears p50,58,381.
The Encyclopedia Americana stated that the quake was felt in Greenland.
Immediately after the earthquake struck, it was concluded by the priesthood that the people of Lisbon had been punished for their sins. www.iknowportugal.co.uk/tourist_information/lisbon/lisbon_centre/ 1755_lisbon_earthquake.htm
Moralising sermons, religious poetry and various tracts and pamphlets rolled across Europe for many years after the earthquake, particularly within Lisbon, “keeping people in a perpetual panic and bubble of fear, and of course aligned and under sanction of the Catholic Church with the full consent of the Pope.” http://www.olympus.net/personal/gofamily/quake/famous/lisbon.html
The Great Lisbon earthquake is seen today as the first of modern disasters.
The Dark Day
In this group of disasters, the earthquake was to be followed by a dark day and unusual night. It took place on May 19, 1780, and this time seen in North America, especially the northern part, over New England and surrounding areas.
The day began as usual, but by 9.00am, it was as dark as if the sun had set. There was no eclipse and no known cause.
“Birds were silent and disappeared. Fowls retired to rest. It was the general opinion that the day of judgment was at hand.” Connecticut Historical Collection. President Dwight.
The secular encyclopedia of great events in America’s first century wrote that “…May 19, 1780 was a most unaccountable darkening of the whole visible heavens and atmosphere in New England, which brought intense alarm and distress to multitudes of minds, as well as dismay to the brute creation, the fowls fleeing, bewildered, to their roasts, and the birds to their nests, and the cattle returning to their stalls.
Indeed, thousands of the good people of that day became fully convinced that the end of all things terrestrial had come… The extent of this darkness was also very remarkable. It was observed at the most easterly regions of New England; westward to the farthest part of Connecticut, and at Albany; to the southward, it was observed all along the seacoast; and to the north, as far as the American settlements extended. It probably far exceeded these boundaries, but the exact limits were never positively known.” Our First Century p89.90.
Mr Tenney, a witness of the event wrote, “A sheet of white paper held within a few inches of the eyes, was equally invisible with the blackest velvet.” Exeter New Hampshire.
That night, when the moon became visible in the blackness, it was blood red, exactly as the Bible predicted.
The Falling Stars
Following the dark day was the falling of the stars. This took place on November 13, 1833. Here is an account of how they fell. “The falling stars did not come as if from several trees shaken, but form one. Those which appeared in the east fell toward the east; those which appeared in the north fell toward the north….
And they fell, not as ripe fruit falls; far from it; but they flew, they were cast, like the unripe, which at first refuses to leave the branch, and when, under a violent pressing, it does break its hold, it flies swiftly, straight off….” New York Journal of Commerce. Nov 14. 1833.
“Extensive and magnificent showers of shooting stars have been known to occur at various places in modern times; but the most universal and wonderful which has ever been recorded, is that of the 13th of November, 1833, the whole firmament, over all the United States, being then, for hours in fiery commotion. No celestial phenomenon has ever occurred in this country since its first settlement, which viewed with such intense admiration by one class in the community, or with so much dread and alarm by another. During the three hours of its continuance, the day of judgment was believed to be only waiting for sunrise.” Our First Century. p329.
Notice how these predictions fit with other dates already recorded. They are like the warning of a trumpet, and designed to awaken men and women to consider the times in which they lived.
A ten-year-old living at the time of the Lisbon earthquake would have been eighty-eight when the stars fell, so it was within the lifetime of a person. If not, the father and grandfather would remember these events and enlightened the new generation what had taken place many years earlier.
________1755 __________1780____________1798____________1833__________1844
Lisbon Dark day Time of the end Falling stars Judgment
Even though these signs have been fulfilled more than two centuries ago, they will be fulfilled again just before the return of Christ.
But there is more to the sixth seal.
“And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.” Revelation 6:14.
This is the second coming of Christ.
John is quoting from the prophet Isaiah. “And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down… as a falling fig from the fig tree.” Isaiah 34:4.
(Notice the ‘host’ (stars) fall as figs from a fig tree. This is a repeat of the falling stars of 1833, but now at the coming of Christ. See also Joel 2:30. 31)
It is quite a jump from the Lisbon earthquake (dark day, falling stars) to the return of Jesus. This tells us that the sixth seal encompasses the whole period from 1755 to the end.
SIXTH SEAL
1755___________________________________________END
The seal continues.
“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; 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. For the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?” Revelation 6:15-17.
These are very sad, descriptive words of those who will not be ready to meet Christ face to face. Notice how the prophet Isaiah described the scene.
“Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty.
And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold… to the moles and to the bats…” Isaiah 2:10.19.20.
May this not be our state in that day.
We have reached the end of chapter 6 and still have one more seal to go. But as we look at chapter 7, it is not there. No, the seventh seal is just one verse in chapter 8. But why is there a whole chapter between the sixth and the seventh seal? Probably the best way to understand it is to think of it in brackets. (Remember there was no punctuation in the original, and the translators were only translating the words, not interpreting. A parenthesis is interpretation)
The last part of the sixth seal gives a graphic picture of the lost at Christ’s return, and we might ask – What about the saved?
Chapter 7 is partly the answer. “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more…. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Revelation 7:16.17. Praise God.
Seventh Seal
“And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.” Revelation 8:1.
The last part of the sixth seal stated that the “great day of his (Christ’s) wrath is come.” Revelation 6:17.
Although the return of Christ is a day of wrath for the wicked, it is a day of joy and salvation for the righteous.
But why half an hour silence?
Notice first of all, the silence is in heaven.
It will be very different on earth. Not only will men and women be crying out for the rocks and mountains to cover them, but the mountains will actually fall on them.
Notice further on in Revelation it says, “And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.” Revelation 16:20.
This will cause tsunamis beyond imagination.
Think of the massive Swiss Alps disappearing, or the Rockies of Canada. It is no wonder every island will flee away; submerged under the ocean.
Listen to another description from Isaiah. “Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it… Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.” Isaiah 13:9.13.
Not only will there be the flooding of oceans, lakes and rivers, but fires will break out also. Earthquakes often cause pipes to burst and gases to explode, and this will certainly take place, but there is another reason.
“The day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night (that is, unexpectedly); in the which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the earth also and the works that are shall be burnt up.” 2 Peter 3:10.
So, with the ‘great noise’ of the heavens passing away, the sound of the elements in commotion, gale force winds, raging waters and fires, together with the screams of people and animals, the earth will not be silent.
Again we ask, why will there be silence in heaven?
Remember that the sixth seal describes the return of Christ in power and glory. Look who will attend Him.
“When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory…” Matthew 25:31.
Yes, ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of angels will attend the King of kings when He returns to this earth.
Do you think Enoch, Elijah, Moses and the resurrected firstfruits from earth (possibly the twenty four elders) would want to stay in heaven while Jesus descends to resurrect earth’s inhabitants?
No.
Among those brought back to life will be their loved ones and friends. It will be the most marvellous day of their lives.
So who is left in heaven?
Only one Person – God the Father.
He will be silently waiting, but with great joy.
Meanwhile, “The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel (His own voice as Commander of the angels), and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16.17.
With the voice of eternal life, Christ will call to the sleeping saints, ‘Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust…” Isaiah 26:19.
‘Arise’ -- to immortality.
“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed… then shall be brought to pass the saying, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory’.” 1 Corinthians 15:52.54.
“He will swallow up death in victory…. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isaiah 25:8.9.
As the righteous dead rise from their graves, Jesus will send His angels to the far corners of the earth to welcome the saints to life eternal. “And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth, to the uttermost part of heaven.” Mark 13:27.
Each angel will be assigned to the person he has guarded and protected during his or her life. Think of it, you will see your guardian angel. Gathering the resurrected ones together, they will escort them to the heavenly retinue that will soon leave for the New Jerusalem.
This is a trip that will last seven days.
Half an hour in Bible prophecy is portion of a prophetic day, actually one 1/48th of a day, which equals seven twenty-four-hour days. Of course, when we are travelling in outer space, time will not mean quite the same, but as the prophecies are for God’s people living on the earth at this present time, we are given time periods we can understand. (Actually it is 7.5 days in a 360-day year)
Jesus had promised His disciples before He left the earth that He would prepare homes for His people in heaven.
“In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:2-4.
Yes, dear friend, if you and I are faithful to the end, we will have a place in heaven. Hear Peter’s encouraging words.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us…
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time…” 1 Peter 1:3-5.
Isn’t that wonderful?
Can you imagine Jesus and million of angels leading the vast company of redeemed, blood-bought children through the magnificent corridor of space to the gates of the holy city?
When the royal train arrives, the gates are still closed.
Remember, the Father has been waiting for His Son to return with His earthly family. It has been a joyous anticipation, and now they have arrived.
But the Father still waits…..
This is the Son’s glorious hour when He will welcome His children to the heavenly mansions.
I hope you are embracing the spirit of holy gladness as you read these words. One day, if faithful, we will be there to experience the heavenly delight of being at the gates of heaven at last.
In conclusion to this study, I will quote from a book written in 1882. It pictures the wonderful scene so beautifully.
“Then I saw a very great number of angels bring from the city glorious crowns – a crown for every saint, with the name written thereon. As Jesus called for the crowns, angels presented them to Him, and with His own right hand, the lovely Jesus placed the crowns on the heads of the saints….
Then Jesus looked upon His redeemed saints; their countenances radiant with glory: and as He fixed His loving eyes upon them, He said, with His rich, musical voice, ‘I behold the travail of My soul, and am satisfied. This rich glory is yours to enjoy eternally. Your sorrows are ended. There shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain’.” Early Writings p288.289.
‘Welcome my children, welcome home.’
“Language is altogether too feeble to attempt a description of heaven…. The most exalted language fails to describe the glory of heaven or the matchless depths of a Saviour’s love.” Ibid p289.
Then Jesus opens the gates and bids His children enter.
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