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VI. THE 7 SEALS OF REVELATION
CHAPTER 6.
There are 2 wraths spoken of in Revelation. These are the wrath of the Antichrist and the wrath of Almighty God. I personally consider the breaking of all or any of these seals to be "The wrath of God", as the lamb of God is the one breaking the seals.
1). The First Seal
The rider of all 4 different colored horses is the same rider, and he is the antichrist. The rider merely switches horses. The first horse is white. The rider is said to have "a bow" but no arrows are mentioned here. This rider goes forth conquering and intends to conquer!
White here is a symbol of "PEACE". His motives "appear pure" and he conquers with out firing a shot. This is because he brings a "covenant of peace".
Daniel 9:27
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Please understand that this is a "week of years" meaning that it is a 7-year period. The "midst of the week" means in a three and one-half year period.
The antichrist will be a political ruler with a peace plan.
2) The Second Seal
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.
Daniel 8:25
And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
Daniel 11:23
And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.
The antichrist will be so subtle that it will appear that his use of war is to keep peace, because he works deceitfully. He will come from a small nation (become strong with a small people). He will appear to be the "Great Liberator". It is possible that he could be an apostate Catholic with Jewish background. No one knows for sure at this time. His economic plans will win him the favor of all people, thereby giving him the allegiance he needs to make war. In the 1940's Hitler was a deceitful man who nearly conquered the entire world, so don't think it won't happen again! The antichrist will "subdue 3 kings".. since the 10 countries of the ECM give him allegiance, these must be outside of that realm. In scripture, Israel is considered the center of the Earth where directions are given from. Egypt would be the country tword the south, Syria and Iraq, and Iran would be tword the East, and of course, the pleasant land would be Israel. By war he will seek to expand his kingdom.
3) The Third Seal
Rev. 6:5-6
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. 6And 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.
In King James times, when the scriptures were translated, a penny was a day's wage. So, what this passage is saying is that it will take a days' wages just to eat. Such will be his control of the economy. The antichrist will determine whether a person or nation will receive food, wages etc. The balances in his hand indicate that he decides how much of a substance for what cost. Balances are the ancient form of cash register, with the product on one side and various weights on the other to determine cost. This also indicates his economic rule is now totally worldwide.
4) The Fourth Seal
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.
According to the Rev. Dr. Marvin Treece, (UPCI) This would be more correctly said as "ghastly" or a pale-yellowish green color. This symbolizing death and terror, and possibly disease that would follow war. Since the church is now gone, and only Jews will now be saved, then Hell follows their death. One fourth of the world’s population will die at this time. To be in the hands of the antichrist will certainly be death and Hell! The 144,000 that are sealed Jews is not told us whether that means only that number will be saved, or maybe that number are marked to be killed by the antichrist (Treece) . The remnant of Jews does not again turn unto God until the resurrection of the two witnesses. (Treece, p214, The Literal Word. Treasure House Press) According to Romans 11:25 says that hardness in part has happened to Israel until the (full number) of the Gentiles be come in. So after the rapture, and God is revealing himself to Israel, what Gentiles can be saved? ANSWER: NONE. Please note that after the third chapter of Revelation, the church is seen in Heaven.
Some think that Rome is destroyed by this time, and the antichrist begins a religious take over at this time.
5) The Fifth Seal
Rev. 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:
According to Bro. Treece, the first four seals are a unit showing what happens on earth. Now the focus switches to events in Heaven. John cannot describe both events on earth and events in Heaven at the same time. This verse, according to Bro. Treece is NOT intended to mean salvation by martyrdom because men have never been able to give their own lives as a sacrifice for their sins. These souls are set in Heaven without a time frame being given to us. Therefore, it must be assumed that they represent all of the martyrs of the church from its beginning. Why should only end-time martyrs be recompensed? The word testimony is derived from the word martyr and does NOT imply salvation by martyrdom. According to Bro. Treece, a man's own lifeblood has never been sufficient to purchase his own salvation. Only Jesus' blood can do that. Therefore this passage refers to all who have been martyred for the name of Jesus throughout time. These souls are also in Heaven already, so they are not part of this period of wrath, either.
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?
Since they cry out to the throne with a loud voice, How long? It must be understood that they have been waiting a long time. They become the focus of Heaven. This should tell us that God answers prayers, and they are never forgotten! Since it is the time of judgement, why not now, God? Could it be their martyred blood that is crying for justice…as Abel's blood cried? What about the blood of Jesus..shurely it also cries out! Pay attention, saints! Do violence to the blood of NO ONE!
Matthew 24:3
And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
6) The Sixth Seal
Rev. 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. 6:17
For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
*Read Rev. 6:12-17
PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD!!!!! That is what this is saying. Notice how these folks never prayed to God during their lives, and do not yet do so, but now pray to the mountains and the rocks.
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:
Based upon Rev 6:17.. if the church were still on earth, she would be able to stand. So obviously, she is not there!
Consider also, that 1 John 4:4 ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. You have power over the Devil & antichrist.
Mark 16:17
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
If these scriptures do not cease to be true, couldn't the church take authority over the Devil possessed antichrist if he were still present on earth?
Jesus no longer is traveling in disguise, all recognize that he is their God who sits upon the throne! (if trinity were true, wouldn't you see three here?)
7) The Seventh Seal
Rev. 4:4
And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
Rev. 7:9
After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Rev. 19:9
And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
Romans 11:25-27
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. 26And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
The word "fullness" here means the "full number". Who of the gentiles can be saved after the full number? NONE.
Rev. Dr. Marvin Treece, in his book, The Literal Word, Revelation, pp225 says " Tradition has attached a great significance to the article associated with Thlispeos (tribulation, pressure, or oppression). Quite erroneously, men have associated The great tribulation with this final seven years of prophecy. However, tribulation is not the best word to use for these last years. Jesus called the period from the day of the persecution and death of the Apostles (Matt 24:7-28, Lk 21:7-24, Mk 13:4-23) a great tribulation (Matt 24:21, Mk 13:19).
……The changes in the solar system and the universe, the changes in the sun, moon, and stars, even the shaking of the "powers of the heavens" mark, not thlipsis (tribulation) but orge (wrath). (Rev 6:16, 17, 11:18, 14:10) The days which make up tribulation include everything from persecution and death of the Apostles, to the destruction of Jerusalem, even the martyrdom of the saints through the ages. But here in the apocalypse, the wrath of God begins. This wrath begins with the seals. This is not the suffering brought upon the church by the world, but it is the cataclysmic upheaval which is direct from God."
So Bro. Treece believes that the breaking of the first seal is the wrath of God, and that the church is not in any way subject to the wrath of God. To this I also agree, this is what I have heard, studied and found out also for myself. This view is known among "us" as pre-tribulation rapture.
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