< >
Chapter Six
The last few years of this Age. Rev.4v1 to 20v3
The seven seals. Rev.6v1-17. and 8v1
The seals show the stages in the evil career of Antichrist, he comes to power with a small number of people, but rapidly increases his power and influence. He enters the scene as a peacemaker, but his true character soon reveals itself. The best manuscripts omit the words “and see.” from “come and see.” Some say that it is the cry of the living creatures for Jesus to return. Others think that it is John being called to see what happens at the first four seals, and still others think that it is a call for the riders of the horses to make their appearance. The horses of Zech.1v7-11. and 6v1-8., represent divine angelic ministry, and contrast sharply with the horses of Rev.6., which reveal Satan's evil plans through Antichrist.
The First Seal. Rev.6v1,2.
Antichrist comes seated on a white horse and the bow and a crown. He will follow the example of Antiochus Epiphanes and come in “peaceably,” and by “working deceitfully” and “with flatteries,” he “obtains a kingdom.” Dan.11v21-23. The phrase in Dan.8v25. “by peace shall destroy many,” gives the picture of a man who acts as if he were a champion of peace, when he is really using a peace image to delude and deceive people, and hide his intention to conquer by war. The bow has no arrow in it, it is not in use, or John would have told us, it is probably the protection that is offered to Israel when the “holy covenant” is made. Compared with the sword, the arrow is a long distance weapon, and probably signifies that he is not defending his own kingdom, or fighting a neighbour, but threatening someone a distance away, He is probably threatening those who are threatening Israel. Though a crown is given to Antichrist, he is not content with it, he lusts for more power, his aim is conquest, and he goes forth conquering and to conquer, to extend his power and influence.
The Second Seal. Rev.6v3,4.
In the first seal Antichrist has only one crown, here we see how he gets the other nine, he uses a great sword, and begins to show his true character. The key to the second seal appears to be in Dan.7v8,20,24., which states that there is an alliance of ten kings, Antichrist fights against three kings and rules over them. Rev.17v12,13. Antichrist has some connection with these ten kings before he rules over them, for in Dan.7v8., we read that the little horn comes up “among them.” He rules over one of the kingdoms before he brings all ten under his rule. They seem to have some alliance between themselves before Antichrist brings them all under his control. The key phrase here is, “one another they should kill,” it seems that Rev.6v4., is probably Antichrist fighting the three kings of Dan.7v8.. It is a dreadful war and results in awful slaughter until Antichrist is established as the undisputed ruler of the ten kingdoms. Dreadful purges will doubtless follow this fighting, and this struggle for power will result in huge numbers of people who are not politically safe being put to death, as they were in the days of Stalin and Hitler.
The Third Seal. Rev.6v5,6.
Here we see another dreadful result of Antichrist's career, a black horse and a pair of balances. This is a period of famine. for the prices for food stated here are famine prices, £10 for a £1 loaf would convey to us better the prices here mentioned. Lev.26v24-26. Ezek.4v16. Gen.41v49. A full days wage will only buy a day's ration of wheat for a man, there would only be sufficient food for dependants if barley was bought instead of wheat. All the income of a family can only buy enough food to keep them alive. This time of famine could probably be the result of the wars of the previous seal. It appears that there will be an abundance of oil and wine, the luxuries of the rich, while the necessities of life for the poor will be in very short supply.
The Fourth Seal. Rev.6v7,8.
At this seal there emerges a pale horse, the Greek word “chloros,” means a yellowish green, and is the word from which “chlorine” is derived. Death is seated upon this horse and Hades follows. Death reaps and Hades garners, a terrible picture of the most dreadful slaughter that the world has ever known. Multitudes die in the wars and purges that Antichrist starts to further his design for conquest and worship. This seal can be no other than the time of great tribulation that the Lord Jesus warned us about. Mt.24v21,22,29-31. Dan.12v1,6,7. Rev.13v5. Death and Hades have power over the fourth part of the earth, this shows that there will be very wide-spread war around the Middle East, that will have its effects on a large part of the world. We know that Antichrist loses some battles earlier in his career and does not achieve total victory in the Middle East until a few days before the end of the great tribulation.
The main area of conflict during the great tribulation will be in the Middle East and Palestine, this is why it is called “the time of Jacob's trouble.” Jer.30v7. The fourth seal gives a ghastly picture of death, bloodshed and horror. Antichrist will excuse the carnage and distress he causes with the usual dishonest and deceitful political excuses that are made by megalomaniacs like Hitler and Stalin. The result will be a travail and sorrow that effects much of the world. Most people have thought that Satan's way of selfishness and greed is the way to Utopia, the great tribulation will prove that this is not true. God allows Satan to fulfil his desires and plans for 42 months, and the world experiences death, destruction and Armageddon. Antichrist is the embodiment of evil and Satanic power, and will cause even greater carnage, death, and destruction than those two other arch villains, Hitler and Stalin. God allows the fruits of men's evil ways to come upon them to prove to all, that the way of the transgressor is very hard indeed. Exek.14v21.
The Fifth Seal. Rev.6v9-11.
The souls of the saints, who had been killed by Antichrist and his followers, and other evil people, cry to God for vengeance upon their murderers. In Lk.18v1-8., Jesus informs us that persecuted Christians who are alive at this time will pray that these evil people will be judged by God. These martyrs in Heaven are told to rest for a little while and wait until their fellowservants and brethren are also killed as they have been. Mt.24v9. Lk.21v16. Dan.11v32-35. Rev.12v11,17. 13v7. 17v6. These Christians overcome the terrible darkness of the last days and are faithful to death, and pure in soul, for they are clothed with white garments. Rev.3v5. 16v15. 19v8. This vision proves that a great number of Christians will be martyred during the great tribulation. We need to remember that the key words for this time are “endure,” “beware,” and “watch and pray,” for failure to pray through in these evil days will almost certainly result in backsliding or apostasy.
These Christian martyrs address God as “Ho Despotes,” which means one who exercises absolute authority, Lord, Master, Ruler; it is applied to God in Lk.2v29. and Acts.4v24., and to our Lord in 2Pet.2v1. and Jude.v4.. Though “Ho Despotes,” speaks of God being the ruler who has absolute power, there is no thought of tyranny here, for these martyrs also call God, “the holy and true,” “ho hagios kai alethinos,” that is, He rules with perfect dedicated love, and faultless truth and justice. The answer to the world's problems will never be found in human politics; it will only be found in the perfectly loving and selfless rule of the God of love. God's benevolent rule is infinitely superior to the rule of selfish and sinful men, whose desire to rule often springs out of a corrupt ambition for political, worldly and religious power and wealth.
The torture and murder of God's dear children produces tremendous anger in God, and He pours His judgement out on the wicked. Is.42v13-17. 63v1-6. Rev.15 and 16. The souls that had been slain are spoken of as under the altar, because they had been slain for God's sake, their blood had been poured upon the altar and flowed down beneath it. Their blood will cry from the ground, like the blood of Abel, the first martyr. Gen.4v10. 9v4. Mt.23v35. The blood of the sacrificial animals was received by the Old Testament priests and poured out at the foot of the altar. Ex.40v29. Lev.4v7. 8v15. Is.29v1. The souls of the righteous receive white garments and rest in Paradise, but they are first seen under the altar, the place where righteousness, justice and the Law, as well as forgiveness, was established by Christ's shed blood. Rom.3v31. The place where mercy is bestowed, is the place where justice is dispensed. Christ's atoning death established the Law and righteousness, and ensures pardon for every repentant sinner, but it also makes condemnation sure for every hardened impenitent sinner. Rom.3v21-31.
The Sixth Seal. Rev.6v12-17.
The sixth seal shows the awesome events that take place on the last day, the great day of the wrath of the Lamb. Numerous signs in the earth and heavens precede and accompany the coming of our Lord, the sun goes black, the moon red, the stars fall, and the heavens roll up as a scroll. The geography of the whole world is changed as it is shaken with a series of colossal earthquakes, when the feet of Jesus touch the Mount of Olives. Is.24v18-20. 34v4. Zech.14v4,5,10-12. Mt.24v29-32. Mk.13v24,25. Lk.21v25. Acts.2v20. 2Pet.3v10. Rev.16v18,20. 19v11. Haggai.2v6,7. The glory and majesty of Jesus and the Father terrifies many of the unconverted, and they try to hide themselves underground, to escape from the wrath of Christ. Hardened by years of rebellion against God, Antichrist and his armies turn to fight against Jesus, boasting that their modern weapons of war will annihilate Him. Is.2v10,19,20. Lk.23v30. Rev.6v15-17. They are amazingly arrogant, and are confident that they can assassinate and murder Jesus, but Ps.2v1-12. tells us that He laughs at their reckless folly, nothing can protect them from the wrath of the Lamb. Antichrist's armies are killed by huge hailstones and spiritual weapons against which they have no defence. Zech.14v12. Rev.16v21. 19v21. Antichrist and the False Prophet are put directly into the lake of fire, and Satan himself is put into the abyss for 1,000 years. Rev.19v19v19 to 20v3.
This seal speaks of the wrath of the Lamb. The rest of the wicked, who are spared sudden destruction, come before Christ's throne for judgement before they “go away into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” Mt.25v31-46. The phrase “the wrath of the Lamb,” is only found in Rev.6v16., and it is full of meaning. The lamb is the gentlest of all God's creatures, and here we see the gentle, kind and lowly Saviour, stirred to fury by the suffering that the wicked have caused. This judgement is “His strange act,” for a God of love, and He does it because He is determined to make sure that the wicked will not cause any more suffering in the world. Is.28v21. 34v1-6. 42v13-17. 63v1-6. Joel.2v10,11,30-32. There will only be freedom from tyranny, and “quietness and assurance for ever,” when Jesus, the Prince of peace, comes to judge and reign. Is.32v1,16-18. 9v6,7.
The Seventh Seal. Rev.8v1.
All of the inhabitants of Heaven look down upon the shattered earth in shocked silence. The Devil's proud boast that he can be like God, and rule like God, are seen to be empty lies, and an evil lust for power that produces misery, destruction, and death. Man's arrogant and foolish boast that he can run the world without God's help, is seen to be utter folly. The evil consequences of millenniums of political corruption and greed is openly manifested in the fullness of its evil, and its most ghastly scenario, for all to see. The citizens of Heaven look down upon a truly terrible sight, great areas around the Middle East, and elsewhere, are almost destroyed by war, and stripped of all vegetation and life, and are filled with the dead and dying. All in Heaven view in shocked silence the results of people following sin, selfishness, and Satan. The heavenly videos record the horrific effects of Satan's holocaust, before the work of restoring the earth begins.
< >
|