Revelation Revealed is a chapter by chapter, verse by verse, line by line, commentary.To help you get the most out of Revelation it is vitally important to begin at 01 and work down to 50. You will not fully comprehend Revelation if you randomly select links out of orderThe bookmark links are there to help you get back easily to resume your studies, all you need do is write down the number you wish to begin at as you progress, and click the link which will take you directly to the next chapter. The commentary runs through from Revelation chapter 1 to Revelation 22 and will answer a number of questions which were perhaps unanswered up until now.

Copyright © 2004 by Tony Garland.
Anyone may reproduce and distribute unmodified copies of this commentary in any media provided that this copyright notice is retained in full. Copyrighted images which appear herein by special permission may not be extracted or reproduced for use in derivative works. In preparing this commentary the writer has received help from many sources, some acknowledged and many unacknowledged. He believes the material contained herein to be a true statement of Scripture truth, and his desire is to further, not to restrict, its use. This commentary may be obtained free of charge from www.SpiritAndTruth.org.

Synopsis

From before Genesis when God’s creation was ruined by the rebellion, and arrogance of Lucifer we were all very happy to be where we were. Unfortunately the result of 33% of the sons of God decided unequivocally to join Lucifer, and the results were disasterous.

It would have been very easy for God to have ended the rebellion there and then; but the seeds had already been supplanted in the minds of the rebellious ones. The objections raised by these rebels, and particularly Lucifer were;

1. Living under God’s conditions were too restrictive.

2. It would be more beneficial to rule themselves, and make their own decisions.

3. That Lucifer; instead of God would rule over-all, and in his own way.

As you can see by todays standards it is totally unworkable, and disasterous situation we find ourselves in; blaming God for all the misfortunes that befall us.

Lucifer is just a man trying his hardest to replace, and to become God, but it was not always like this.

This tells us that Satan was in the Garden of Eden in this earth age. This also goes on to tell us that Lucifer was very blessed in the first earth age. At one time, God was very pleased with him and gave him great responsibilities. It is very important to note that God created Lucifer; he was not born of woman. Lucifer, who had his name changed to Satan by God, is a supernatural being. He has more powers than we do but even Satan has to ask God's permission to do something. (Read the first two chapters of Job). Also, in Luke Christ gave us power over Satan. The Garden of Eden is always where God Himself is.

God immediatly put His plan into action:

This meant He had to destroy the whole of the first earth age, and everything living on it. First He had to move His Garden of Eden off the earth, and His light, to it’s heavenly realm were it is today, including all the loyal angels, as well as the “Tree of Life,” (Christ) and the “Tree of knowledge of good and evil.” (Lucifer) who He would use to punish the rebellious people in the second age, then flooded the whole earth leaving it dark.

"the face of the waters" of Genesis 1:2. The whole earth was covered with those waters to end that time. The earth was created at Genesis 1:1, then it became 'tohuw va bohuw' (a waste and a ruin), and God brought the drowning waters upon it to end Satan's rebellion, but the earth was still always there from its original first formation.

God then set about restoring His creation, putting in place His plan for a way for those who love Him to return. We were all created by God so quite rightly He is our Father, and no other. By going about His plan this way He ensured that the right ones came back to Him, because they searched and wanted to, and not the rebels.

When any of his children die the souls return to Him and it is these souls that are born into the flesh age, this one we are now in with God’s covering, (Flesh)

To get back to Him we have to discard our corruptible flesh bodies, and put on our incorruptible spiritual bodies. This is why the whole of the Bible (KJV) from Genesis to Revelation is about the only person who can lead us back to God, and that person is Jesus Christ our Saviour. He took away the sins of the world, was crucified, dead and buried, and arose on the third day, where He sits at the right hand of God our Father until the Lord’s Day, His victory over death is a sign to the overcomer. Meanwhile Lucifer the dragon is hurled down to earth and will rule until Our Saviour Jesus Christ returns at the second advent to crush Satan’s head, and rule with a rod of iron.

Satan all this time is in Heaven and because of the fall and rebellion of Adam and Eve, instigated by Satan, is doing his hardest to undo God’s plan. But God is aware of it and allows him to continue, so that all who want to be with him can be. “Tares & Wheat” parable. Tares being the enemy, known as Kenites. (The Kenites are a race of people created by satan and not God wheat being Christ’s). All will be separated at Christ’s advent.

Jude 1: 4, 10.

4. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, (feeling morbid sexual desire or a propensity to lewdness) and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

10. But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

Restoring His Ruined Creation. God’s Plan of Salvation.

Revelation is the compliment of Genesis. Either without the other would be unintelligible.

Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep and the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Finds its correspondence in Rev 21-22 THE PEOPLE ON THE NEW EARTH.

So here Genesis and Revelation are the two clasps of the Divine Word, which link together and enclose between them in “perfection of beauty’’ and harmonise the whole of the Scriptures in which God has been pleased to reveal His “Eternal Purpose’’.

“The day of the Lord’’ being yet future, it follows that the whole book must concern the things belonging to “that day’’, and consequently is wholly prophecy. Though partial adumbrations (A faint sketch; an outline; an imperfect portrayal or representation of a thing.) of judgement may be traced in connection with affairs of past history, yet the significant, solemn warning here;

John 1:10. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.

that the “judgements’’ in Revelation relate to the day of the Lord, “the day of vengeance.’’

The gospels contain the prophecies of the great tribulatation: Revelelation describes it;

In between, come the Scriptures of the intermediate period. Acts and the Epistles. Chronologically and canonically, Revelelation follows after the Epistles,

though logically in God’s purpose.

Eph 3:11 According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

It follows the Gospels. Therefore we see the scope embraces the wind- up of all the affairs of time; it records the end of prophecy, the end of “the secret of God’ the end of all “enmity towards God’’, and the dawn of the “ages of the ages’’

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ITS HEBREW CHARACTER.

The language of the book is Greek: Its thoughts and idioms are Hebrew. This links it with the O.T. (Old Testament), and shows that its great purpose is to declare God’s final dealings with the Jew and the Gentiles as such; and that “the church of God’’ of the Pauline Epistles and this dispensation has no place in Revelation (other than in association with its glorified Head). All the imagery of the book, Temple, Tabernacle &c, belongs to Israel.

Again in Matthew (the Hebrew Gospel) are some 92 quotations from and references to the O.T. In Hebrews there are 102. In Revelation are found no fewer than 285. This emphatically stamps its close connection with the O.T. and Israel; and it equally stamps the latest utterances of “modern scholarship’’, viz. (Viz. and the adverb videlicet are used as synonyms for "namely," "that is to say,") that whatever view may be taken of the indebtedness to Jewish sources, there can be no doubt that he (the writer) has produced a book which taken as a whole is profoundly Christian’’, as being the dicta of men who wittingly or unwittingly, are blind to this fundamental fact of Revelation.

God our Father had created the heavens and the earth but this, (as will be shown further on) is only the beginning of the restoration. Take note of the three trees: “Knowledge” mans ruin; “ the Cross” mans redemption; “the Tree of Life mans Regeneration. Good and evil; Knowledge sense or perception, Obedience proving what was good, disobedience; revealing what was evil. Opposition to God’s Word is Satan’s sphere of activity. This is Satan’s first utterance in scripture. Eve misquotes God by omitting “freely’’

Eve adds the sentence; “neither shall ye touch it,’’and “lest ye die.’’ Is also misquoted; by not repeating the emphatic figure, and thus omitting “surely’’

Ye shall not surely die = Satan’s second utterance, and contradiction of God’s word. This has become the foundation of Spiritism and traditional belief as to death. Ye shall be as gods = be as god, Heb Elohim. This is the foundation of Satan’s second lie; “The immanence of God in man.’ Good for food = “Lust of the flesh”

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Matt 4:3. And when the tempter came to Him, He said, “ If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. Pleasant to the eyes “Lust of the eyes’’. Make one wise. = “Boastful of life’’.

Matt 4:5.Then the devil taketh Him up to the holy city, and setteth Him on a pinnacle of the temple.

They knew before, but their knowledge now received a new meaning. Adam becomes “naked’’ by losing something of Elohims glorious likeness.

Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them, which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit, may refer to this. The man-made covering contrasted, in the structure, with the God-made clothing.

Thou gavest’’ is Adam implying blame to Jehovah as well as to his wife. Here God asks the serpent no question, there is no parley, and the sentence was pronounced.

Gen 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her Seed; It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.’’

This denotes the temporary suffering of the Seed (Christ), and the complete destruction of Satan and his works.

Rev 1:11 The First and the Last. This is our Lord Jesus Christ giving instructions to John to write down in a book (Revelation) all he sees.

The “Bride’’ and the “Wife’’ of…

Rev 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, “Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.

Must not be confused with the “wife’’ of Rev19:7.

Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.

The latter is Israel called out from among the nations for blessing in “the Land’’; the earthly consort of “the Great King’’

Ps 45 (Read all)

and;

Jer 3:14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:

This “wife’’ of Rev 19:7 is connected with the Millennial Jerusalem; which, with the rest of the earth “that is now’’ will pass away and give way to the new earth with the new Jerusalem, succeeding and replacing the former. “The bride, the Lamb’s wife’’ of Rev 21:9: is still of Israel, but the Israel of the “heavenly calling’’.

All those connected with the” heavenly country’’ and “the city with the foundations’’ for which they looked;

Heb 11: 13 -16.

13. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

15. And truly if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, (Israel) they might have had opportunity to have returned.

16. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city.(New Jerusalem)

The Israel of Rev 19:7 is not spoken of as bride (numphē) because she has become wife (gunē). The “married to you’’ = am become your husband (consummation), of Jer 3:14, and see the note there relating to the “restoration’’ time. Here (Rev21: 9) the term “bride’’ indicates clearly that the betrothal has taken place and that the marriage will be consummated when the bride shall have come down out of heaven. John sees her coming down.

Rev21: 10. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.

The loose way in which we speak of a “bride’’ as not only a contracting party at the time of the marriage ceremony, but also of her after she has become wife (gunē), is responsible for much confusion as to the wife of Rev 19:7 and the bride-wife of Rev 21:9 Strictly speaking, “bride’’ is to be applied only to a betrothed virgin (Gr. Parthenos = Heb bethūlāh), when the marriage (legal) ceremony takes place. Directly after, she ceases to be “bride’’, and has become (legally) “wife’’, although from the forensic point of view, consummation of the marriage may be delayed.

Matt 1:25,. And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn Son: and he called His name JESUS.

See the Note there: Knew her = for cohabitation. Note the imperfect tense = was not knowing, till Matt 12:46-50; 13 55, 56, clearly show that she had sons afterwards.

According to the Mosaic Law, a betrothed maid (Heb bethūlāh) was legally a wife (‘ishshāh),

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Therefore “THE” Revelation.

Rev 1:3. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Rev. 1:4. JOHN to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him which is, and Which was, and Which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne.

These seven Spirits of God will be sent forward into all the earth as we approach the Day of the Lord. The seven Spirits represent the various gifts of the Holy Spirit, which He will give us for reverencing and following Him, which means to believe on His Son, the Branch, Jesus Christ, and do our best to follow His Commandments. They are:-

1.Spirit of the LORD.

2.Spirit of Wisdom.

3.Spirit of Understanding.

4.Spirit of Counsel.

5.Spirit of Might.

6.Spirit of Knowledge.

7.Reverence of the LORD.

The question has to be asked; How many will take up this offer? I would hazard a guess that very few will, which leads to God causing a great delusion. When Satan is thrown out of heaven, (and his followers) he will take up his position here on earth as the False Christ, supported by the Man of sin, and the Beast. Billions will worship this counterfeit evil trilogy as they begin performing miracles.

All because they have not studied the Bible properly from beginning Genesis, to the end Revelation, preferring instead to listen to man’s word and doctrines, or neither. These billions are made up of atheists, and agnostics, the majority of which are Christians who love Christ but have preferred to remain on the milk of God’s Word, by listening to false prophets. May I ask you, how many churches preach the Gospel of Christ properly? That Christ came to earth to fulfil the law, not to destroy it, (why?) That He was persecuted by the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes. (Why?) That He was crucified dead and buried. (Why?) That He arose on the third day. (Why?) That He ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of God (Why?) That He will return to earth. (Why?) (When?) And (How?) The churches; almost all of them, are very quiet on all these questions as was the Pharisees of Christ’s time and raises even more questions.

Do they know themselves?

If they do why aren’t they telling everyone?

Are they like the Pharisees keeping it Quiet?

The answers to these questions will be answered as we read through

Revelation.

Rev 1: 3. Blessed is He that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Rev 1:4. John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from Him Which is, and Which was, and Which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne.

Rev 1:11 Saying, “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and what thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.”

These seven Epistles, however primarily addressed to these seven Churches of Asia, were also written for the edification of the Universal Church; in the same way, that is, as St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, or to Timothy, or St. James’ to the Dispersion, were written with this intention. The warnings, the incentives, the promises, the consolations, and, generally, the whole instruction in righteousness in these contained, are for every one in all times, so far as they may meet the several cases and conditions of men. . . Thus far there can be no question. “All Scripture,” and therefore this Scripture, “was written for our learning.”

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Believers and Unbelievers

The letters recognize that each church is composed of both believers and church-going unbelievers. “Church” is a compound word made up of “from” or “out” also “I call” and is used in a variety of contexts:

This word [ecclesia] translated church or assembly is found in at least four important meanings in the New Testament. It is used to mean an assembly of people. In this sense it has no special theological meaning. It can refer to Israel as a gathered people in the wilderness (Acts 7:38) or a regular assembly of citizens (Acts 19:39) or a group of people gathered for religious worship (Heb. 2:12). The same word is used for an assembly of Christians in a local church (Acts 8:1, 8:3; 11:22, 26) and in the plural for a group of such churches (1Cor. 16:19; Gal. 1:2). Each assembly or church has a local gathering composed of professed Christians. That all in the assembly are not necessarily true believers is clear from the messages to the seven churches of Asia (Rev. 2:1-3:22). Ecclesia is also used of the total of professing Christians without reference to locality and is practically parallel in this sense to Christendom (Acts 12:1; Rom. 16:16; 1Cor. 15:9; Gal. 1:13; Rev. 2:1-29, 3:1-22; etc.). The same word is used of the body of Christ, composed of those baptized by the Holy Spirit into the church (1Cor. 12:13). Ecclesia used in this connection becomes a technical word referring to the saints of this age.

If we fail to understand that the letters address both believers and “church-going” unbelievers, then the promises attending each letter will be misconstrued.

The letters involve the visible church rather than the invisible Church. The latter is the Body of Messiah, composed of all true believers since Pentecost. It is sometimes referred to as the Universal Church. But the visible church is the local body or local church, which may have both believers and unbelievers. It includes all professing believers whether they really are or not.

The omniscience and piercing gaze of Jesus is evident by His detailed knowledge of the condition of each church. Jesus “knows” their works (Rev. 2:2, 9, 13, 19; 3:1 8, 15). “Know” [Oida] , (Rev. 2:2) expresses the Lord’s self-claim of knowledge in each of the seven messages in contrast to [ginōskō]

(“I know”), which speaks of progress of knowledge, oida reflects full or complete knowledge. It depicts absolute clearness of mental vision, which photographs all facts of life as they pass. It, not ginōskō, is always the word used of Christ’s knowledge in Revelation. We call the contents of these chapters Epistles; but they are not so much messages from an absent Lord but as sentences of a present Judge, engaged in the solemn act of inspection and decision.

As to the definition of overcomer, it can best be understood in light of what John says elsewhere:

1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

1 John 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

The overcomers in each church do so, not by their actions—rather their actions are an indication of their identification with the Overcomer, Jesus Christ

John 16:33; These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

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.

John indicates that those who overcome do so by way of their relationship with God:

1 John 2:13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him That is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one

Rev. 12:11. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Those who overcome do so by trusting in Christ and His sacrifice, remaining unwavering in their faith, even when faced with death.

Rev. 21:7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall My son.

They inherit all things because of their position in Christ as sons of God.

The multitude of dissertations, essays, and books, which have been, and are still being written, in support of this scheme of interpretation, must remain a singular monument of wasted ingenuity and misapplied toil . . . a future looking into Scripture for that which is not to be found there . . . a resolution to draw out from it that which he who draws out must first himself have put in. Men will never thus make Scripture richer. They will have made it much poorer for themselves, if they nourish themselves out of it with the fancies of men, in place of the truths of God.

Rev. 2:14. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

It is said that Balaam taught Balaak to influence the Israelites “to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. How similar this is to the warning given to the Gentiles by the Jerusalem council:

Acts 15:19-20.

19. Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God.

20. But we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

In both passages a connection is made between eating meat sacrificed to idols and sexual immorality: The Jerusalem conference had in its decree brought into juxtaposition the eating of and indulgence in sexual impurity and John had not lived in a Greek city without becoming aware that the two things were in fact closely bound up together. Pagan festivities were too often occasions of immoralities from which Gentile converts had been rescued with the greatest difficulty. (Christmas-Easter-Whitsun etc).

Acts 15: 27. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

If the Nicolaitans taught a similar doctrine to Balaam, it most likely urged believers to make a practical compromise with the society within which they found themselves. “They taught that Christians ought to remain members of the pagan clubs, and that they might do so without disloyalty to their faith.” How doubly-dangerous is such compromise with the surrounding culture: eroding the sanctification of the believer while simultaneously denigrating the witness of the Church.

However, the view that this was the doctrine of the Nicolaitans supposes that the mention of the Nicolaitans adjacent to Balaam indicates a similarity of teaching. If this is not the case, then we know virtually nothing specific from Scripture about Nicolaitan practice and beliefs. Those who discount the historic witness to an actual sect known as the Nicolaitans see the meaning of the name as being a key to understanding their errant teaching.

The meaning of the Greek is “rulers of the people.” This meaning may imply that this was an attempt to divide and make an unnatural distinction between the clergy and laity, creating a division in which the clergy exercised rulership over the laity. (In religious organizations, the laity comprises all persons who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not an ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity), Certainly, elders have the biblical authority to determine the policy of the local church. But the authority described here probably went much further than the issues in the local church and may have extended to the personal lives of the members. If this is the Nicolaitan error, then one only need look at the top-heavy ecclesiastical structures which characterise much of Christendom throughout history to see the sour fruit of such teaching. This is one of many reasons why the doctrine of the priesthood of the believer (2Cor. 3:6; 6:4; 1Pe. 2:5, 9; Rev. 1:6; 5:10 ;20:6 is so important for the saints of every age.

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Worldly Churches.

The letters to the Seven Churches of Asia describe a range of conditions which can be seen within different churches to differing degree throughout history. Much of the criticism which Christ levels at the churches is an indictment of the ever-present tendency to compromise with the culture.

The Bible does not hesitate to condemn worldliness for the serious sin that it is.

John 15:19. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Worldliness is any preoccupation with or interest in the temporal system of life that places anything perishable before that which is eternal.

Since believers are not part of the world system, they must not act as though they were.

Rom. 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world,” wrote the apostle Paul, “but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect”

The Pressure to Compromise

In the case of the historic churches of Asia, pressure to compromise came on at least two fronts:

(1) Pressure by the state to worship the emperor and,

(2) Pressure by the trade guilds to participate in pagan activities.

Because of its belief in one God the church found itself engaged in a struggle with the Roman state which permitted no compromise and from which eventually only one of the two parties would emerge victorious. The Martyrdom of Polycarp sets out quite clearly both the issue at stake—Lord Christ versus - Lord Caesar—and the state’s (as well as the general population’s) view of Christians as disloyal atheists who threatened the well-being of the empire. ( In those days Caesar was considered a god).

The Christian was faced with a cruel dilemma. His safety was assured only by preparedness, in time of need, to identify Himself either with pagan society, by sacrifice to the emperor and the expected participation in the religious aspects of guilds and social life. . . or with Judaism on whatever terms would gain him acceptance in the synagogue, that is, probably, at least an implicit denial of his Lord. The first inducement was naturally strongest in those places where the pressures of authority and pagan society were most direct (Pergamum and Thyatira, and also Ephesus, where it was steadfastly rejected): the ‘synagogues of Satan’ brought the opposite threat against those who scorned the pagan compromise (Smyrna and Philadelphia, and perhaps the commended minority in Sardis). The situation also introduced a new occasion of disunion between Jewish and Gentile Christians, on whom it impinged (to have had an effect : made an impression) differently. (Mark of the Beast)

Christian Liberty or Licentiousness?

When faced with such pressures, it is often easy to rationalise participation in pagan activities and reinterpret them as being compatible with the grace of God and the maturity and freedom of the believer. Christian liberty can stumble weaker brothers and easily cross the line where we find ourselves participating in events which are neither helpful or edifying and even border on licentiousness (1. Lacking moral discipline or ignoring legal restraint, especially in sexual conduct.

(2. Having no regard for accepted rules or standards). Rom. 6:1-2; Jude 1:4).

1Cor. 8: 9-13

9. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.

10. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols?

11. And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

12. But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

13. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

1.Cor 10:19-23.

1 Cor 10:19. What say I then? That the idol is anything, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?

1 Cor 10:20. But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to devils and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

1 Cor 10:21. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils; ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.

1 Cor 10:22. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

1 Cor 10:23. All things are lawful for me, but not all things are not expedient; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify not.

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The Results of Compromise.

The first result of compromising with the culture is the one which offers the greatest temptation: Peace is achieved between the believer and the world. The church at Sardis and the church at Laodicea had this in common: no mention is made of any burden being born or conflict with foes. These churches appear to be at peace with the culture. The church at Sardis had the appearance of opposing the culture, but a tacit understanding had evidently been reached between the church and the culture Concerning the Laodicean church,

Of the absence of heathen adversaries there has been occasion to speak already; but more noticeable still is the fact that there neither appear here nor there Nicolaitans, as at Ephesus, or Balaamites, as at Pergamum, or Jezebelites, as at Thyatira, or those who say they are Jews and are not (Kenites), as at Smyrna and Philadelphia; seeking to seduce Christ’ s servants, and constraining (restricting) them to earnestly contend for the truth.

The world could endure the churches at Sardis and Laodicea because they were not only in the world, but of the world. Consistent peace with the culture is a clear indication that the believer is not separated to God, but is considered one of the world’s own: This road to peaceful coexistence with the culture is typically paved with a series of incremental compromises.

The Jerusalem conference had in its decree brought into juxtaposition the eating of and indulgence in sexual impurity; and John had not lived in a Greek city without becoming aware that these two things were in fact closely bound up together. . . . From participation in a pagan guild-feast to licentiousness was but a step.

“To effect a reasonable compromise with the established usages of Graeco-Roman society”; they taught that Christians ought to remain members of the pagan clubs, and that they might do so without disloyalty to their faith. Such a course involved nothing worse than the abandonment of an obsolete decree. The Jerusalem decree had been issued at the first beginning of Gentile Christianity; it had been circulated by St Paul in Pamphylia and Lycaonia (Acts 16:4), and doubtless had reached Ephesus. But St. Paul himself had permitted at Corinth some modification of the ban against, recognizing the liberty of Christians to partake without question of meat which was sold in the markets or set before them at a friend’s table, which he insisted that charity to weaker brethren should preclude them from eating and which had been declared to be such, or from taking part in a banquet held in a pagan temple.

1 Cor. 8:10 Neither murmer ye, as some of them also murmered, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

1 Cor 10:25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

As the church becomes comfortable with the culture, its witness is compromised and it begins to forfeit the favour of God.

By enticing God’s people into an idolatrous practice, Balak got them out of God’s favour, compromised their testimony, and caused internal chaos and grief—this is what compromise with the world does to the Church.

II Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the LORD, and touch not the unclean thing.

Makes this same point of separation from the world by repeating…

Isa. 52:11. Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence , touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.

Clearly, God requires Christians to be different from the world.

1Cor. 10:28-29

28. But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the LORD’S, and all its fullness.”

29. “Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience?

Compromise has always been a chief tool of Satan.

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Friendship with the World

If the path of accommodation and compromise continues unabated, eventually the church reaches a point of friendship with the world. This is an extremely dangerous place for the believer. Like the proverbial frog in the boiling pot, he has lost the ability to sense the heat slowly rising and is likely to slowly cook until almost all distinction from the culture is lost.

This was precisely God’s point when He dealt with Israel in the Old Testament. God went to great lengths to separate Israel from the surrounding nations because He knew all too well the eventual destination of the path of incremental compromise and accommodation:

Exodus. 34:12-16.

12.Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be a snare in the midst of thee.

13. But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves.

14. For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous GOD,

15. Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods and make sacrifice to their gods, and one of them invites you and you eat of his sacrifice,

16. And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods.

How often do we read similar passages and wonder at the seeming harshness of God’s instructions to Israel? Yet the seriousness of God’s commands to Israel are merely a reflection of the waywardness of man. In many instances, God’s laws are not motivated as much by rectifying the immediate situation as they are by His perfect foreknowledge of the consequences which will eventually ensue once men begin down such a path.

Christ’s New Testament condemnation of the worldliness of the Thyatiran and Laodicean churches stands in stark contrast to the modern “seeker-friendly” strategy of church growth: “Today’s user-friendly, seeker-oriented, market-driven church doesn’t preach much against worldliness. To do so might make unbelievers (not to mention many believers) uncomfortable, and is therefore avoided as poor marketing strategy.” In John’s day and our own, we need to be constantly reminded of the words of Paul, John, and James:

2Cor. 6:14-17

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?

15.And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God. As God hath said: “I will dwell in them and walk in them. and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

17” Wherefore “Come out from among them and be ye separate”, says the LORD. And touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”

1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

James. 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Rev 3:10. Kenites.

Rev 3:21-22. Overcomers.

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To show His servants.
The Revelation is not just for John, nor just for the Seven Churches of Asia, but for all saints of all ages.

“Here, then, in the Prologue are five links in the chain of authorship: God, Christ, his angel, his servant John, and those servants to whom John addressed his book [the seven churches and the saints of all ages].”

The revelation is to be shown to His servants, these are they who hear His voice (John 10:3, 16, 27; Acts 22:14; Heb. 3:7, 15; 4:7) and respond in faith. Those who lack faith in the Son are unable to comprehend what is shown here: This is why unbelievers find the book of Revelation incomprehensible; it was not intended for them. It was given by the Father to the Son to show to those who willingly serve Him. Those who refuse to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord cannot expect to comprehend this book. “A natural man,” explains Paul,

1Cor. 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Seven spirits.
Isaiah provides a list of qualities of the Spirit which shall rest upon the Messiah who shall come from the stem of Jesse (David’s father):

Isa. 11:2 And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.”

In the fourth chapter, John calls our attention to…

Rev. 4:5 “Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.”

These Spirits are also said to be…

Rev. 5:6 “seven eyes, which are the Seven Spirits of God sent out unto all the earth.”

The omniscience of the Holy Spirit is in view and His worldwide ministry, also mentioned by Zechariah (Zec. 4:6-10). One of His worldwide ministries is convicting “of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8). He provides the breath of life to all the world’s creatures (Gen. 2:7; Job 34:14-15). He strives with all men to restrain sin (Gen. 6:3; 20:6; 2Th. 2:6-7). The number of spirits matches the number of lampstands and would seem to represent the activity of Christ through the Holy Spirit in and to the seven churches (Zec. 4:6). The epistle to each church closes with the admonition,

Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”

And from Jesus Christ.
Within this simple greeting can be found a neglected doctrine of paramount importance: the Trinity. The greeting is from each member of the Trinity: from Him who is and who was and who is to come (the Father), from the Seven Spirits who are before His throne (the Holy Spirit), and from Jesus Christ (the Son). Before we have even begun to plumb the depths of the amazing statements made concerning Christ in the verses to follow, His divinity is already in plain view before us.

Firstborn from the dead.
He is the firstborn from the dead “that in all things He may have the preeminence”

Col. 1:18. And He is the Head of the body, the church: Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead.

He thus establishes the pattern for all His brethren who will also rise from the dead

Rom. 8:29. For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

These are the loyal followers from the first earth age, through death to glory.

Made us kings and priests.

Appointed us a kingdom (singular), priests to God. A similar difference occurs in Revelation 5:10. The singular form (a kingdom) would be in keeping with the original calling of Israel to be “a kingdom of priests” (Ex. 19:6). Some have noted the Jewish audience of Peter’s epistle and rightly understood 1Peter 2:9 as being a reminder to his readers of the original calling of the Jews. Yet in this book the concept is unmistakably broadened to include all those who trust in Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, from among every…

Rev. 5:10. And hast made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth.

Our priesthood is made possible by our…

Heb. 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest that has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God.

Heb. 4:16. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” therefore we have complete and full access to the Father.

Both now and in the future, our function is primarily priestly. That is, we are to minister to God. Here we run into an extremely important distinction which has not been adequately appreciated among many who lead God’s people. Our primary responsibility is to minister to God and not to men. Our focus is to be God-ward rather than man-ward. We are to,

1Pe. 2:5. Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house an holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God byJesus Christ.

As we take care to minister to God, He will minister to men through us.

The focus of our ministry is the…

New Covenant 2Cor. 3:6. Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

not the Law of Moses, and is characterised by a series of contrasts and seeming contradictions 2Cor. 6:4-10. Our lives should evidence a consistency of living whether with the people of God or with unbelievers:

Zec. 14:20-21.

20. In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD’S house shall be like the bowls before the alter.

21. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein; and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.

God intends the eventual abolition of all distinctions between holy and profane, sanctified and common. In one sense, there has been and will only ever be a single “kingdom of God.” This is His universal dominion over His entire creation. Yet, in another sense, God has chosen to use men as mediators of His rule during periods of history. The progression of the kingdom of God is revealed in stages:

John’s mention here of Jesus coming with clouds is an allusion from the book of Daniel which records the presentation of the Son to the Father:

Dan. 7:13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him.”

This presentation of the Son is to receive His kingdom (Dan. 7:14) and does not take place until all of His enemies are made His footstool (Ps. 110:1). This includes His future enemy, Daniel’s “little horn” (Dan. 7:8, 20-21). At present, He is seated at the right hand of the Father awaiting that day. The Son began the period of sitting at the right hand and waiting for His enemies to be made His footstool at His ascension (Acts 2:32-35; Heb. 10:11-13). His earthly kingdom did not come at the time of His ascension, but occurs when He rises from His seat beside the Father and descends to take up His Davidic throne on earth (Mtt. 25:31; Luke 1:32-33).

Even they.
A subgroup from among every eye, establishing the global nature of the manifestation of Christ.

Both Jews and Gentiles are responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus (Acts 4:27-28). It was Jewish mouths (Mark 15:13; Luke 23:21; John 19:6, 14-16) together with Gentile hands (John 19:23) which crucified Jesus. Ultimately, it was the sin of all mankind which sent Jesus to the cross (Rom. 4:25). Yet this passage refers to the Jews who have a particular responsibility (Acts 3:12-15) because Jesus is their promised national Messiah (Rom. 9:4-5). The Jewish generation which witnessed the crucifixion of Messiah made the fearful mistake of pronouncing a curse upon themselves and their children:

Mtt. 27:25. Then answered all the People, and said, “His blood be on us, and on our children.”

So it is Jews who will specially mourn when they realise their grave error and the historical destruction it has wrought. As Lightner observes: “You don’t put kings on crosses, you put them on thrones!”

The sword goes out of His mouth in agreement with all the creative acts of God which were spoken forth by the Word of God (Gen. 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26; 2Pe. 3:5). It is for this reason that Jesus is the Word [logos] . The speaking forth of God’s will can bring creation or destruction. Isaiah informs us that the mouth of the Messiah is “like a sharp sword” (Isa. 49:2) and with His lips He will “slay the wicked” (Isa. 11:4). The Word spoken through the prophets is a weapon in the hand of God (Hos. 6:5). It is the only offensive weapon of the Christian (Eph. 6:17). Its power as a sword is seen in its ability to pierce “even to the division of soul and spirit” and discern “the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb. 4:12). The Word of God has already slain His enemies because it sets forth their impending doom in words “which cannot be broken” (John 10:35). That which is prophecy today, will be accomplished history tomorrow. It is in this sense that Jesus slays His enemies with the sword of His mouth (2Th. 2:8; Rev. 2:12, 16; 19:15). The sword signifies His judicial power which will be in accordance with His Word (Mtt. 25:31-32; John 5:22; Acts 10:42; 17:31; Rom. 2:16; 14:10; 2Cor. 5:10; 2Ti. 4:1; 1Pe. 4:5; Rev. 20:12).

Having completed the letters to the Seven Churches of Asia, John is called up to the throne room in heaven where he is given a vision of God the Father on His throne.

I will show you.
This is the primary purpose of the Revelation being given to John (Rev. 1:1, 19; 22:6). The scenes in the book of Revelation often follow a pattern where a heavenly setting is described followed by an earthly setting:

Things which must take place after this.
The things to come are sure for they must take place. God’s prophetic word cannot be broken (John 10:35). This is why the sword extends from the mouth of Jesus—the will of God, once having been spoken forth, is unstoppable (Rev. 1:16; 19:15). After this is perhaps better translated after these [things]. It is the same phrase which begins the verse: [meta tauta] . This verse follows “the things which are” and Jesus is now introducing the next major topic—the things which are yet future to John’s time.

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One sat on the throne
Prior to being given great revelation, prophets are often exposed to the glory of God. Earlier, John saw the glorified Jesus. Now he will be shown the throne room in heaven. Isaiah had a similar vision of God on His throne (Isa. 6:1). This is where Jesus is presented to the “Ancient of Days” to receive His kingdom (Dan. 7:9-14). In Ezekiel’s vision, “on the likeness of a throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man” (Eze. 1:26). Isaiah also saw Him:

Isa. 6:1. In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.

A rainbow around the throne.
The brilliant light emanating from the throne resembled a rainbow of emerald hues. The rainbow was given as a sign following Noah’s flood to remind God of His covenant never again to destroy all flesh with a flood (Gen. 9:13-16; Isa. 54:9-10). Ezekiel saw this same rainbow as the brightness around the throne (Eze. 1:28). The world that was previously perished in the flood. In the chapters to follow, the judgment will be “reserved unto fire” (2Pe. 3:5-7).

Twenty-four elders.
The twenty-four elders repeatedly worship the Father One of the elders comforts John explaining that Jesus has prevailed to loose the seven-sealed scroll (Rev. 5:5). Later, an elder explains to John the identity of those coming out of the Great Tribulation (Rev. 7:13-14). The 144,000 with the Father’s name on their foreheads sing a new song before these elders and the living creatures (Rev. 14:3). A wide range of opinions attends the identification of these elders. “There are at least thirteen different views of their identity, ranging from the twenty-four ruling stars (or judges) in the heavens to the simple figure of wholeness and fullness.”

Four living creatures.
There are four creatures indicating the universal character of their representation They are Living creatures, [zōa] : “to denote beings that are not human and yet not really animals of the usual kind . . . Of the four peculiar beings at God’s throne, whose description Rev. 4:6-9 reminds us of the [zōa] in Eze. 1:5 the cherubim. Ezekiel also sees four living creatures, [tessarōn zōiōn] (Eze. 1:5-22; 3:13; 10:1-20). Ezekiel’s creatures have close similarity to these:

1. They attend the throne.

2. They are winged.

3. Aspects of their character represent a lion, an ox (or calf), a man, and an eagle.

But there are also significant differences:

1. Ezekiel’s creatures had four wings whereas these have six.

2. Ezekiel’s creatures each had all four faces of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle whereas these each have one of the characteristics.

3. No mention is made of Ezekiel’s creatures themselves having eyes—although the wheels they attend are full of eyes. These creatures themselves are full of eyes.

Satan was created as one of these cherubim serving at God’s throne until he fell (Eze. 28:14). “Here are the living ones, in every way his equals, yes, infinitely his superiors, since they have access to all the power of God. These are not with him in his rebellion. They are ready to carry into effect the orders of divine judgment.”

These living creatures call John’s attention to the effects of the Lamb’s loosening of the first four seals whereupon the four horsemen of the Apocalypse ride forth (Rev. 6:1-7). One of the four living creatures gives the final seven bowls of God’s wrath to the seven angels who will pour forth the seven plagues.

Him who lives forever.
The one living into the ages of the ages. This is God the Father seated on His throne. How similar His identity is with that of Jesus:

Rev. 1:18. I am He that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

His eternal existence is coupled with His role as Creator because He alone is without previous cause. He is the unique “uncaused cause” which has always existed and from which all else was brought forth. If God were not eternal, then all eternity would have been nothingness because no agent would have preexisted creation to bring it forth. “This is the strongest possible expression for an unending eternity. We make special mention of it because later we shall see that the same phrase is used of the duration of the punishment of Satan, his captains and those of earth who have followed him.”

Their crowns.
They recognized the supreme worthiness of the One on the throne. Their own crowns are entirely dependent upon His grace and bestowal. “What are these crowns? . . . they are the symbols of reward. They are the prizes, which have come from God’s heart of grace, given unto those who, at the best, were unprofitable servants. When we shall see the worship of the mighty cherubim, we shall realize therefore, that no crown belongs to us rightfully and we shall cast them down before the presence of Him who lives forever.”

You created all things
If there could have been any doubt about Who is seated on the throne, here it is removed. He alone is creator, all else is creature. He alone is independent, all else is dependent upon Him. Recognition of this distinction is the foundation of all right worship, for worship of any other is directing to that which is dependent what is only for the Originator (Rev. 22:8-9). All worship directed elsewhere is idolatry.

Scripture reveals that all three persons of the Trinity participated in creation:

1. The Father (Gen. 1:1-31; Isa. 40:21-28; Isa. 43:1, 7; Isa. 45:12, 18; 48:13; 51:13; Acts 14:15; 17:24).

2. The Spirit (Gen. 1:2; Job 26:13; 33:4; Ps. 104:30; Isa. 42:5).

3. The Son (John 1:3; Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:3; Rev. 3:14).

Here we need to alert the reader of the danger of allowing the chapter break between chapters 4 and 5 to destroy the flow of the text. There is an intimate connection between the words of the cherubim and elders concerning creation and the events of the next chapter where the Lamb takes the seven-sealed scroll. For here the subject is creation and there it will be redemption. Not redemption positionally which was accomplished at the cross, but experientially. (Relating to or derived from experience) Not just redemption of saved men, but of the entire created order (Rom. 8:18-22) which has been subject to Satan since the fall (Mtt. 4:8; Luke 4:6; John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; 2Cor. 4:4; 1Jn. 5:19; Rev. 13:1; 13:7).

5.1 - Revelation 5:1.

Having seen the Father and His glorious throne, John’s attention is now drawn to a scroll held in the Father’s hand. The redeeming Lamb takes the scroll and prepares to open its seals, initiating God’s judgments in the Day of the Lord and beginning the reclamation of the earth in preparation for God’s direct rule.

And I saw.
John’s focus now shifts from the details of the throne and the living creatures and elders to that which lays upon the right hand of “Him who sat on the throne.” The scene which presents itself to John is among the most sublime in all of Scripture. If Isaiah 53 can be said to be the “holy of holies” of the OT, then perhaps Revelation 5 holds that honour in the New Testament.

Right hand.
The side of favour and strength (Ps. 20:6; 74:11; 80:17; 89:13; 98:1). This is the side at which the Son is seated awaiting His kingdom (Ps. 110:1; Dan. 7:13-14; Mark 16:19; Acts 5:31; 7:55; Eph. 1:20; Col. 3:1; Heb. 1:3; 10:12) and making intercession for His Church (Rom. 8:34).

Rev. 3:21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.

and shares the power and reign of the Father (Rev. 5:13; 6:16; 7:10 The long period of waiting while He remains seated is about to come to an end.

A scroll.
[biblion] , Also rendered book, later a mighty angel appears with a little book [biblaridion] and cries out at which seven thunders utter their voices. John is told to seal up the things which the seven thunders utter and not write them the angel declares(even swears) that “in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.” John is then commanded to eat the little book which will be sweet to the taste but bitter in the stomach. The book given to John, like that eaten by Ezekiel, apparently contains prophetic pronouncements of God, of woe and judgment, which must come to pass.There are similarities between this scroll and these other books. This scroll is also sealed. Great prophetic streams find their fulfillment in the opening of the scroll.

These similarities have led some to suggest that the sealed scroll primarily contains prophetic information previously unrevealed which is now made known through the things shown John.

Ladd suggests the scroll is a form of ancient will. “The little book is in the form of an ancient will, which was usually sealed with the seals of seven witnesses. It contains God’s inheritance for His people, which is founded upon the death of His son. This view has the advantage of explaining the emphasis found here upon the death of the Lamb. The events which transpire following the loosing of the seals are directly related to Christ’s inheritance

Although the loosing of the seals results in the realisation of the promised inheritance ( Pledge a promise or agreement) it seems that more than just a will is in view. (Purchase) was made at the cross, and now the deed of that purchase is being claimed by its rightful owner. (Redeemed reclaimed, and redeemed).

While Babylon had besieged Jerusalem, God told Jeremiah to purchase a plot of ground in Israel. Even though the land had fallen to Babylon, Jeremiah’s purchase demonstrated the reality of God’s promise to restore Israel back to the land (Jer. 32:14-15, 43-44). There are significant parallels between Jeremiah’s deed of purchase and Messiah’s redemption described in this chapter. In both cases, a purchase was made in advance and a period intervened before the possession was fully awarded at a future date.

Who is worthy to open.
“A mighty angel shouts out a challenge for anyone to come forth who is ‘worthy’ to open the great scroll and its seals. All creation in heaven and earth and under the earth stood motionless and speechless. . . . no one had the authority and virtue for such a task.” “As the echoes of his cry recede there is only silence. The powerful archangels Michael and Gabriel do not answer. Uncounted thousands of other angels remain silent. All the righteous dead of all the ages, including Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, David, Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Peter and the rest of the apostles, Paul, and all the others from the church age, say nothing.” The question of worthiness hinges on several factors. Only Christ has the necessary qualifications:

Perfect Judgment - A combination of perfect justice and perfect compassion. One who extends perfect mercy while not flinching from exacting perfect justice.“Because He is faithful. He must discharge His office as judge, not shrinking from the administration of discipline or punishment where it is needed. Because He is true.He cannot alter the standards of God which condemn sin. Favouritism and laxity cannot be found in Him, for He is the perfect administrator of justice in a world where injustice has long since reigned.”

Relationship to Mankind –

Dominion of the earth was originally given to Adam from whence it was lost to Satan due to sin. “As a result of getting the first man, Adam, to join his revolt against God, Satan usurped tenant possession of the earth away from its original tenant and has been exercising administration control of the world system against God ever since. Several things indicate that this is so. For example, Satan had the authority to offer Jesus all the power and glory of the kingdoms of the world (Luke 4:5-6); Satan declared that it had been delivered to him by someone else (Adam, Luke 4:6); Jesus called Satan ‘the prince of this world’ (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11); and Paul called him ‘the god of this age’ (2Cor. 4:4).” Dominion is to be restored by a man. Not just any man, but the perfect man “Just as the Israelite redeemer had to be a kinsman (a relative from the same clan and tribe) of the person who lost the tenant possession, so the Redeemer of mankind and their forfeited tenant possession of the earth had to be a kinsman (a relative of the same kind) of mankind. He had to be a human. No angel or any other kind of being would qualify.”

Right of Possession.

Possession of that which was lost required the payment of a redemption price. The price to redeem a world lost to the ravages of sin was the shedding of truly innocent blood.(Rev. 5:6, 9).

Ability to Possess.

The right to possess is meaningless without the might to possess. “Martin Kiddle wrote: “The strong angel’s challenge to find some one worthy to open the scroll and to break its seal was much more than to ask for some one capable of revealing the world’s fate. The demand was for one able not only to disclose God’s plan, but to set it in motion, accomplish it, bring it to pass.”

When Adam forfeited dominion in the Fall, all men born of the line of Adam fell with him (Rom. 5:12; Acts 17:26). Having inherited the sin of Adam, none is able to prevail. Herein lies the need for the virgin birth of Christ. For Christ is the only man for which the truism “Absolute power corrupts absolutely,” does not hold.

I wept much.
I was weeping. John evidently understood the significance of the scroll and the great need to open it and to read its contents. From this we understand overwhelming sadness attends any future which continues apart from redemption. For the horrors of sin, sickness, murder, death and the warping of all things God intended for good would continue unabated for unending millennia if it were not for the cross of Christ. If God had not sent His Son—at His own initiative—mankind would have forever and completely remained lost. Locked within an eternity of generations darkened by depravity and pain, there would have been forever no hope. Aside from the cross, the history of man is one long testimony of inability to overcome the ravages of sin. Thankfully, man was not left abandoned to a history of self-perpetuated depravity. For history is HIS story—

“History, then, has its centre in Jesus Christ and its goal is his triumphant reign over all the powers of the world.”

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The Lion of the tribe of Judah .
God had revealed that the ruler would be like a lion, an offspring of Judah (Gen. 49:9-10; Ps. 60:7). Jesus was born in the line of Judah. Although Reuben was the firstborn, due to his sin and the sins of his brothers, the right of kingly rule fell to Judah: The genealogical records of the tribes of Israel were lost in the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. This poses a problem for Judaism which, having rejected Jesus, still awaits Messiah. If Messiah comes now, how will it be determined that He is the Lion from the tribe of Judah?

Job 14:7-9.

7. For there is a hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.

8. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;

9. Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.

This root was repeatedly chopped back, but never completely terminated as Satan attempted throughout history to thwart the Messianic line of promise.

To loose its seven seals.
Having paid the ultimate price of redemption, being made sin on our behalf (Isa. 53:6; 2Cor. 5:21), the Lamb has earned the right to loose the seals bringing judgments on those who continue to reject His gracious offer of redemption (John 3:35-36). As each of these seals is loosed, additional judgment is brought upon the earth. The first six seals result in preliminary judgments. At the loosening of the seventh seal, the judgments become more pronounced as all seven trumpet judgments are within the seventh seal (Rev. 8:1-6). At the opening of the seventh seal, the first four trumpets are sounded because the last three trumpet judgments are especially severe, there is a pause in the judgments as angelic warning is given concerning the severity of the last three trumpets. Then the first two of the final three trumpets sound. At the sounding of the final trumpet, the declaration is made:

Rev. 11:15. And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great 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.”

By this we understand the last seven bowl judgments to be subsumed within the seventh trumpet. Prior to the pouring forth of the seven bowls of wrath, three more additional angelic warnings are given. The judgments of God’s wrath are completed in the pouring forth of the seventh bowl.

In the loosing of all seven seals, and the subsequent trumpet and bowl judgments, Christ retakes that which He purchased at Calvary. To bring the kingdom of God to earth, the kingdom of Satan must first be overthrown.

Much of what follows in this book must be understood in the context of the overthrow of Satan’s kingdom prior to the setting up of God’s kingdom on earth.

A Lamb
“When John turned, he saw, not a Lion, according to the Elder’s announcement, but a Lamb, according to the prior historical fact.” For the Lion of Judah must first be the Lamb of God in order to purchase redemption and earn the right to go forth as a Lion in judgment. Here we see the character of God—grace and mercy preceding judgment. “In one brilliant stroke John portrays the central theme of NT revelation—“victory through sacrifice.”

Twice in John’s gospel, John the Baptist refers to Jesus as “the Lamb of God,” referring to His impending sacrifice which will atone for the sins of the world. Isaiah also described the Messiah as a sacrificial lamb, a passage which Philip explained to the Ethiopian eunuch. Peter describes the precious, sinless blood of Christ “as of a lamb without blemish and spot,” an allusion to the Passover lamb whose blood “covered” the Israelites from the destroying angel in the plague which took the firstborn of Egypt. In fulfillment of the requirement that no bones of the lamb may be broken, the Roman soldiers found Jesus already dead and did not break his legs as they did those of the thieves crucified beside him, Paul clearly understood Jesus to be the Passover lamb. “For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us”. It is by “the blood of the Lamb” that believers overcome the diabolos who “throws-against” them accusations, for it is the blood which cleanses them of sin and provides their white robes. It is the blood of Christ which provides for their eternal life as those who are written in the “Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world”.

The Lamb is to be contrasted with the beast throughout this book. The second beast who “had two horns like a lamb” may be mistaken as this lamb by those who are deceived, but he speaks “like a dragon”

Stood.
The lamb had been there for some time. Having been seated to the right hand of the Father for millennia, Jesus now rises. The time of sharing the Father’s throne is rapidly drawing to a close. Once He takes the scroll, as the Root of David, He will initiate a series of irreversible events which will result in the establishment of the Davidic kingdom upon the earth.

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Seven horns.
“Here is the intimation that something more than sacrifice and intercession is now to be His business.” The horn is a biblical symbol denoting power or government; The seven horns indicate the complete power of Christ and the finality (completeness) of His kingdom. “As a horn is the emblem of power, and seven the number of perfection, the seven horns may denote the almighty power of Jesus Christ.” His is the only “everlasting dominion” and kingdom “which shall not be destroyed”. Other “horns” have risen and fallen on the world stage, but the “stone cut without hands” will strike all previous horns and smash them to pieces. Christ is the horn of salvation who…

Took the scroll
Having stood, Christ now takes the scroll out of the hand of the Father. As Christ initiates these actions, the world slumbers below, oblivious to the thief approaching in their night. “He who moved at first to create, now moves to restore. . . . The Lamb Becomes a Lion . . . in the scene before us Christ is not on the Father’s throne; the age of His intercession has come to a close. We shall see Him acting in an entirely new character. . . . The age of the Church is over. This is now prophecy of the future.” the lineage of the house of David: Here is a pivotal moment in history, second only to the crucifixion in its import. “This is the sublimest individual act recorded in the Apocalypse. It is the act which includes all that suffering creation, and the disinherited saints of God have been sighing, and crying, and waiting for, for all these long ages—for six thousand years of grief and sorrow.” “His taking of the scroll marks the initiation of proceedings to convert its contents into reality and eventually usher in the promised kingdom.”

After age-upon-age of death, murder, disease, and sin—while countless bones piled upon the earth below—God has waited in patience so that all who would come to Him would respond. (Even since the cross, where the cost of sin was paid in full, justice has slept due to grace. With the Lamb’s taking of the scroll, the events of history take a turn toward the impending redemption of all that is God’s from the dominion of Satan and sin. Once the Lamb rises from the right hand of the Father to take the scroll, the die is cast and the programme leading to the redemption of the created order moves now in rapid succession. The Son of God has begun to take the nations for His inheritance. He is now about to take possession of that which has been His since the cross, an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away—the one kingdom which shall not be destroyed. When the last of the seals has been loosed, triggering the trumpet and bowl judgments, it will be said,

It marks the beginning of the end of the groaning. This is no gradual conversion of the world to Christ, but the initiation of a dramatic, cataclysmic intervention into His history to reject Satan and unrepentant earth dwellers.

Harp.
Harps are played by the 144,000 from the twelve tribes of Israel and all those who have victory over the beast by refusing to take the mark and worship him (Rev. 15:2). The Levites used harps as part of their priestly service ministering to God, as did the psalmist.

Golden bowls full of incense which are the prayers of the saints.
It was at the hour of incense that the people were praying when the angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharias announcing the birth of John the Baptist. The prayers of the saints—many of which have remained without answer for thousands of years— will find their fulfillment in the events to come. Later, similar bowls will contain the wrath of God. It seems we are to see a correlation between the prayers of the saints offered up to God as incense and the resulting vengeance poured forth as God’s wrath. Prior to the sounding of the seven trumpets, an angel offers the prayers of the saints with incense on an altar before God. He then exchanges the contents of the censer for fire from the altar and throws it to the earth resulting in “thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake” —all sounds of impending judgment.

The continual cries of God’s elect throughout history are like the fragrance of incense which rises to God.

“And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?” Malachi spoke of a time when incense would be offered to God, not just in the Temple, but across the entire world. Not just by the priests of Israel, but by all the Gentiles. This offering pictures the global prayer which even now ascends from the saints as a memorial to His throne. When on our knees we are contributing to the contents of these bowls. “And who can reckon up the volumes and oceans of such entreaties, which remain to this day unanswered? But, not one of them is lost. They are carefully treasured in golden bowls.”

By your blood.
A bloodless gospel is no gospel. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. The redeemed of this age are “the church of God which He purchased with His own blood”. Redemption provides for the forgiveness of sin—that which separates man from God—and was made possible “through His blood” . This is the reason why Christ’s blood is said to be “precious”.

Every tribe and tongue and people and nation:

The global emphasis of this book is seen in this phrase and similar. The redeemed come out of “all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues”. John is told to prophesy about many “peoples, nations, tongues, and kings”.The earth dwellers, who rejoice over the death of the two witnesses, represent the “peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations” The worldwide scope of the Antichrist’s power is seen in that he is granted authority over “every tribe, tongue, and nation” The gospel is preached by an angel to “every nation, tribe, tongue, and people”. The waters upon which the harlot sits “are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. The work of the Church is to reach these global peoples with the message of the gospel and results in a global harvest of incredible diversity. The four categories denote global extent..

This is the same promise made earlier to the overcomer in Thyatira and Laodicea. The saints will be given power over the nations and will co-rule with Christ.They will sit with Him on His throne.They shall reign (future tense) on the earth in fulfillment of the familiar petition within the “Lord’s Prayer”: Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. The rule will be upon His throne, not upon the throne of the Father where He currently is seated. This occurs at the Millennial Kingdom following His appearing.The psalm writer said, “those who wait on the LORD, they shall inherit the earth”. Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth”. There is real, physical land involved in the redemption which pours forth from this book. The taking back of man’s dominion over the earth which was lost by Adam and the restoration of Israel to the Promised Land.

Ten thousand times ten thousand.
myriads of myriads, a countless multitude. A similar phrase describes the demonic horsemen, two myriads of myriads. Assuming demons are fallen angels, and only one-third of the angels fell, then the total number of the elect angels is truly staggering, essentially innumerable.

3.6.1 - Revelation 6:1

Having taken the scroll from the Father, the Lamb now begins to open the seals. As each seal is opened, a new judgment comes upon the earth. John is shown the judgments associated with the first six seals.

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When the Lamb opened.
The Lamb had been slain to redeem men and the world. Having paid the ultimate price, He is now worthy to open the first seal and initiate the steps which will lead to His global rule on earth. “Each time, with the opening of a seal, nothing is read from the scroll (Lenski), but actions occur that unquestionably match the corresponding part of the scroll exposed through each consecutive seal.”

None of the horrendous judgments about to take place transpire until the Lamb opens a seal. Human history records a litany of wars, natural disasters, famines, and the like, but what is about to come forth upon the earth is completely unique. What has transpired up to now is the routine manifestation of human selfishness, sin, and the fallen world in which man lives. As Jesus explained, “all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. Wth the opening of the seals by the Lamb, a divinely-initiated series of judgments begin which are historically unique in a number of aspects:

1. Severity - The judgments are more severe than any previously experienced in history. This coming day is unique so there is “none like it”. Wrath of the Lamb - Unlike previous times when God the Father has manifested His wrath upon nations, this is the time of the “wrath of the Lamb”. It is the Son, the Lamb of God, Who’s wrath is being manifested.

2. The Final Flowering of Sin - Humanism and Satanism will be at their apex on a global scale. The ascent of man, as humanists view human history, will have reached its apex—which is in reality its lowest point since the ascent is really a descent. At this time, there will be a full flowering of sin unique in all history for its depravity and extent.

3. Ushering in God’s Kingdom on Earth - The wrath of the Lamb which comes forth is not merely a disconnected judgment of sin. It is part and parcel of the sweeping away of the systems of man to make way for the promised Messianic Kingdom on earth—the only kingdom which will never pass away.

This last point, the ushering in of God’s earthly kingdom, can be seen in the similarities between the events found in this book when compared with the events leading to the establishment of the first Theocratic Kingdom on earth—when Israel was delivered from Egypt.

Since it is the Lamb Who unleashes the events about to transpire, we are not surprised by the close correlation between the sequence of events here and those which Jesus, the Lamb of God, taught would come.

They include:

1. False Messiahs: Mtt. 24:5, 11; Mark 13:6; Luke 21:8; Rev. 6:2.

2. Wars: Mtt. 24:6-7; Mark 13:7; Luke 21:9; Rev. 6:4.

3. Famines: Mtt. 24:7; Mark 13:8; Luke 21:10; Rev. 6:5-6, 8.

4. Pestilences: Luke 21:11; Rev. 6:8

5. Persecution: Mtt. 24:9; Mark 13:9-13; Luke 21:12-17; Rev. 6:9-11.

6. Earthquakes: Mtt. 24:7; Mark 13:8; Luke 21:11; Rev. 6:12

7. Cosmic Phenomena: Mtt. 24:29; Mark 13:24-25; Luke 21:11; Rev. 6:12-14

As the Lamb opens the seals, a sequence of events are initiated which are closely parallel to Matthew 24.The first four seals are set apart from the final three in their common representation by riders on horses.

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The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Revelation 6:2

White horse
This white horse is the first of four horses of different colours, similar to the horses seen by Zechariah (Zec. 1:8; 6:2-6). Within the context of the book of Revelation, white represents righteousness. “The white horse . . . emerges as an emblem of righteousness, though there is no guarantee that the righteousness is more than apparent.”

He who sat on it.
The similarities between this rider and Christ are striking:

1. Riding a White Horse - Both ride upon a white horse indicating victory (Rev. 6:2; 19:11).

2. Wearing a Crown - Both wear a crown (Rev. 6:2; 19:12). (But Christ wears multiple crowns.)

3. Overcome - Both are “overcomers”—victorious in their pursuits (Rev. 6:2; John 16:33; 1Jn. 4:4; Rev. 3:21; 17:14).

Even so, this is not the white horse which carries He who is Faithful and True in Revelation 19:11. For it is the Lamb who has just loosed the first seal sending this horseman out. It violates all logic for the same person to be opening the seal and sending himself forth. “Moreover, it would be inappropriate to have an angelic being called forth by Christ or his servants.” If Christ rides forth here, who is it that remains in heaven to open the remaining seals? This rider carries a bow whereas Christ’s weapon is a sword (Rev. 2:12; 19:15). This rider is alone whereas Christ is followed by the armies in heaven also riding on white horses (Rev. 19:14). Finally, this rider sets forth at the beginning of the Tribulation whereas Christ rides forth at its end.

In light of related passages, it seems best to understand this rider as representing a movement which ultimately culminates in the one whom Jesus described:

John 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.”

To an unsuspecting world he looks like Messiah, the political saviour of mankind, yet he is a deceiver, the anti- or pseudo-Christ.

Here is documented the initial appearance of the figure of the Antichrist upon the stage of world history. Although there will be numerous false messiahs down through history, there will be none as convincing and successful as this final figure. The Restrainer has been taken out of the way so that the Antichrist, the son of perdition, might be revealed in his own time.

2Th. 2:6-7.

6. And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

7. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

He is the one who will be destroyed with the breath of the mouth of the Lamb (2Th. 2:8; Rev. 19:20).

The first six seals. . . are thus set here, in order to show us that these judgments do not arise from chance, but are all under Divine control. The great False Messiah of the first Seal cannot be revealed until the appointed moment shall have come and the voice from the throne gives the permissive command “Go!” The judgments cannot fall until the same command is given.

A bow.
The bow is a symbol representing strength.

Some understand the mention of a bow, but no arrows as an indication of his initial deception by peace and agreement.

Dan. 9:27. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate.

The Antichrist is seen riding a white war-horse, and with bow in hand, but with no arrow fitted to it. The symbol suggests bloodless victories.” Like Antiochus Epiphanes before him, he would “come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue . . . and after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully.

Dan. 11:21-23.

21. And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.

22. And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.

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.

Dan. 8:23-26.

23.And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

24.And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: And he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise; and shall destroy the mighty, and the holy people.

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 human hand.

26. And the vision of the evening and morning which was told is true: wherefore shut, up the vision, for it shall be for many days

There is no question among expositors that Antiochus is in view in this prophecy. What was prophesied was fulfilled literally through him. However, the prophecy looks beyond Antiochus to a future person (the Antichrist) of whom Antiochus is only a foreshadowing. This coming one is said to “stand against the Prince of princes” (Dan. 8:25). This can be none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus the prophecy must go beyond Antiochus and look forward to the coming of one whose ministry will parallel that of Antiochus. From Antiochus certain facts can be learned about the forthcoming desecrator:

(1) He will achieve great power by subduing others (Dan. 8:24).

(2) He will rise to power by promising false security (Dan. 8:25).

(3) He will be intelligent and persuasive (Dan. 8:23).

(4) He will be controlled by another (Dan. 8:24), that is, Satan.

(5) He will be an adversary of Israel and subjugate Israel to his authority (Dan. 8:24-25).

(6) He will rise up in opposition to the Prince of princes, the Lord Jesus Christ (Dan. 8:25).

(7) His rule will be terminated by divine judgment (Dan. 8:25).

So it may be concluded that there is a dual reference in this striking prophecy. It reveals Israel’s history under the Seleucids and particularly under Antiochus during the time of Greek domination, but it also looks forward to Israel’s experiences under Antichrist, whom Antiochus foreshadows.

So before the terrors of the Tribulation break loose and lead to the battle of Armageddon there will come a period of world peace. But it will be a deceptive peace, as the world is lulled into a false sense of security followed by war, famine, and death.

The world’s desperate desire for international peace will serve as the bait for the satanic trap. That longing for security and safety will play into the hands of Antichrist, Satan’s ruler, who will convince the world that he can provide them. He will particularly deceive Israel, whose people have for so long desired peace…

Dan. 9:27. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one 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.

Antichrist’s peace pact and protection of Israel will not last, however: “in the middle of the week [the Seventieth Week of Daniel’s prophecy = 3½ years); during the tribulation he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate. The false peace that Antichrist brings will come to an abrupt halt at the midpoint of the Tribulation when he desecrates the temple in Jerusalem, betrays the Jewish people, and launches deadly attacks on them ( Mtt. 24:4-10). There cannot, and will not be peace until the Prince of Peace sets up His earthly kingdom (Rev. 20:1-6).

Like Antiochus before him, the Antichrist plays a special role in relation to Israel during the events to come:

God will have specific purposes for bringing Antichrist on the world scene.

One purpose will be the punishment of Israel, the desolation of Israel by the Antichrist will be part of God’s judgment of the nation because it rejected its Messiah in His first coming [John 5:43]

A second purpose will be the repentance of Israel. God will bring the Antichrist on the world scene to play a major role in shattering Israel’s rebellion, and bringing them to their Knees in repentance.[Dan. 12:7].

A third purpose will be the judgment of the world. God will judge the world by giving it the kind of ruler it deserves.

A fourth purpose will be the exposure of the world’s unbelief. God will bring the Antichrist on the world scene and permit him to make his claim to be God to demonstrate mankind’s unbelief.

A fifth purpose will be the instigation of the final showdown between Christ and Satan’s forces and the defeat of those forces.

A crown of thorns.
Generally used of a victor’s crown or wreath.

Was given to him.
Although the rider likely believes he has gained his own crown for himself, it is only his by permission. Everything which proceeds from the opening of the seals is subject to the permission of the one seated on the throne and the Lamb. The sovereignty of God is heavily emphasised throughout the book of Revelation—there is nothing which transpires that God Himself does not grant authority for it. This is seen in the frequently-found phrase was given which denotes the granting of permission to an agent from another, namely God.

The first horseman (White) is granted his crown (Rev. 6:2).

The second horseman (Red) is given to take peace with a great sword (Rev. 6:4); Death and Hades, who ride with the…

Third horseman (Black) And he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

Fourth horseman (Pale) power to kill a fourth part of the earth.

the four angels are given the power to hurt the earth and sea. the star from heaven is given the key to loosen the demonic locusts from the abyss, who were themselves given power to torment men. the beast is given authority to continue for forty two months, and to make war against the saints and overcome them, the fourth bowl is given the ability to scorch men.All of these horrific and terrible realities—the very manifestation and flowering of sin of which God is no author—are harnessed for His purposes. The troubling and yet comforting reality is that there is no creature which ultimately does not serve God’s purpose , either willingly or unwillingly.

Troubling, because in the inscrutable purpose of God such evil is allowed to continue. Comforting, because everything we suffer is subject to God’s approval and purpose (Job 2:6; Rom. 8:28).

“How irresistible the grasp of Omnipotence on the powers and forces of evil. They are effectually bridled till the plans of God are ripe and ready for action.” Once the reality of God’s sovereignty is understood, the bondage of Satan is seen for what it is. For Satan has less freedom in rebellion against God than he once had in obedient service of the Master.

He will be endowed with the most extraordinary power…

Dan. 8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: And he shall destroy wonderully, and shall prosper, and practise; and shall destroy the mighty, and the holy people.

Before his exploits the fame of Alexander and Napoleon will be forgotten. None will be able to stand before him. He will go “forth conquering and to conquer” (Rev. 6:2). He will sweep everything before him so that the world will exclaim, “Who is like unto the Beast? who is able to make war with him?” (Rev. 13:4). His military exploits will not be confined to a corner, but carried out on a vast scale. He is spoken of as the man who will “shake kingdoms” and “make the earth to tremble” (Isa. 14:16).

Ezekiel 34:23-30 says that when God establishes His covenant of peace with Israel, the covenant will result in safety, peace with nations, and the elimination of harmful beasts by famine. By contrast, when the Antichrist establishes his covenant of peace with Israel [Dan. 9:27], God will inflict the world with conditions opposite of those His covenant of peace will bring.

He will unleash war (the sword)…

[the second seal, Rev. 6:3-4, famine

(the third seal, Rev. 6:5-6), and harmful beasts

(the fourth seal, Rev. 6:7-8) upon the earth to demonstrate that the Antichrist’s covenant of peace is not the covenant of peace that will bring true safety, as foretold in the Old Testament.

fiery red “As a colour fiery red, red (as fire).” The same colour as the dragon in Revelation 2:3.

Was granted.

Ultimate power rests with God who allows the judgment for His purposes.

To take peace from the earth.

Although the rider on the white horse appears to conquer by means of negotiation and avoids bloodshed, this does not last. Eventually he shows his true colours as the second rider joins the ride—bringing war and death. This may correspond to the point in Daniel’s vision where another …

Dan. 7:20. And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

It appears that the little horn may only progress so far by means of peace before he is forced to go to war and assert his position with violence. Shortly after this point: “I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them” This is the time of the “beginning of sorrows” which Jesus spoke of.

Matt. 24:6-8.

6. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

7. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places.

8. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

A great sword.
This sword is wielded by the second horseman, but it is sent by God: This is the pattern of God’s judgment to nations who reject Him—He makes them mad and turn upon one another.

Eze. 38:21. And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord God: every man’s sword shall be against his brother.

A black horse.
Black which is used “Of clothing used in mourning . . . as the colour of evil.”

A pair of scales.
Here the black speaks of judgment and famine, for the rider carries a pair of scales (balances) used to weigh food and indicating its scarcity.

A quart.
“The measure spoken of here is the Greek measure of capacity of very ancient usage, the choenix. As early as the time of Homer it was indicated as the amount of wage given to a workman for a full day’s work (Odyssey XIX:XXVIII). Herodotus also gives this as the measure of wheat consumed by each soldier in the army of Xerxes (VIII:CLXXXVII).” (Two pints = 1 quart and 4 quarts = 1 gallon.)

Wheat.
Used of wheat in the context of hardship “as an indication of severe famine and rising prices . . . Ignatius, in his fervent longing for martyrdom, uses this symbolic language . . . I am God’s wheat and will be ground by the teeth of the wild beasts.”

A denarius.
That famine is intended here is evident for this amount “was a workman’s average daily wage.” Men will work an entire day and barely procure enough to stay alive. “Ordinarily, from sixteen to twenty measures were given for a denarius.”

do not harm the oil and the wine

Pale horse.
Pale is [chlōros] from which we derive chlorophyll, which denotes the green pigments found in plants. It may denote a mottled appearance, like the sorrel or dappled horses in Zechariah’s vision. Here it denotes “the colour of a person in sickness as contrasted with the appearance of health,” for the name of the rider of the pale horse is death.

Death, and Hades followed.
Death and Hades are here personified ( Isa. 28:18 where Death and Sheol sign a covenant). These two are often found together in Scripture for Hades is the destination of the unsaved upon passing through the gateway of death. This seems to be their relationship here because Hades followed behind Death—taking in the soul and spirit of those who had first died. Elsewhere, the appearance of Death with Hades may denote the destination of the material and immaterial parts of man, respectively. For the body moulders in the grave (death) while the spirit and soul enter the underworld (Hades). Thus, “Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them” may refer to the release of the spirit and soul of the unsaved from imprisonment in Hades to be joined with a bodily resurrection from the grave in order to stand before God in judgment.

The eventual casting of death and Hades into the Lake of Fire may describe the total victory over these unsavoury realities brought about by the cross of Jesus, or denote those destined for the lake—the unsaved dead whose bodies remained in the grave and souls remained in Hades until the Great White Throne Judgment. Jesus has the keys of Death and Hades. Death and Hades either both ride the same horse, or Death is the horseman and Hades follows on foot. In either case, the two are inseparable as Hades takes in all that Death supplies.

Over a fourth of the earth.

A staggering judgment when seen in relation to today’s population: If today’s [2010] world population figure of 6 billion is used, . . . “one fourth of the earth” means that Death and Hades have authority, which they apparently will exercise, to take the lives of one and a half billion people. The magnitude of this catastrophe can hardly be grasped because nothing comparable has happened throughout history (Swete). If limited to two continents, which it will probably not be (Beckwith; Lenski; Mounce), it will amount to the elimination of people from two of the world’s most populous ones (Walvoord).

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fifth seal.
With the opening of the fifth seal, we break from the judgments associated with the four horsemen. “There are no voices of command from heaven under this seal, and no messengers dispatched from the throne; for the reason that bloody persecutions of God’s servants come from beneath—not from above.”

We now leave the “the beginning of sorrows” spoken of by Jesus behind and enter the time of tribulation characterized by martyrdom: All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Matt. 24:8-10.

8. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

9. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name’s sake.

10. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

The beginning of sorrows have passed and the Great Tribulation is now upon the world, a time of unprecedented martyrdom and anti-Semitism.(Matt. 24:15-22).

The futurist interpretation takes these as the first martyrs of the tribulation of Daniel’s 70th Week. The fifth seal corresponds to Mtt. 24:8-28, martyrdoms.” By now, a heightened religious persecution attends the events upon the earth for these saints did not perish due to beasts, famine, pestilence, or war—but were slain for the word of God . Their testimony was seen as a dangerous and undesirable witness against the false religious system riding the beast (Rev. 17:6). At this point in the sequence of events, the Antichrist has not yet become the centre of all worship:

The testimony which they held.
Like the first martyr of the Church (Acts 7:59) and Antipas of the church at Pergamos (Rev. 2:13) they will hold a consistent testimony up to and beyond the point of death (Rev. 12:11). They are faithful sheep whose blood is spilled for God’s sake.

Rom. 8:36. “Yet for Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

Their death is as much a part of their testimony as their life. Those who “die in the Lord” have works which follow them (Rev. 14:13).

Dwell on the earth.

Their persecutors appear to be currently living on the earth which argues for understanding these as recent martyrs from the times described by the seals. This phrase denotes the earth dwellers and has significance far beyond merely designating people who happen to be living upon the earth. In this book, it takes on a soteriological and eschatological sense as a technical phrase describing those in the end times who refuse salvation, persecute the saints, and continue to blaspheme God in the midst of judgment. These are the ones being tested by this time of trial from God (Rev. 3:10) and rejoice when God’s two witnesses are killed.(Rev. 11:10). It is they who are subject to the wrath of both God and the devil (Rev. 12:12) and who will be deceived into worshiping the beast. Even though an angel preaches the everlasting gospel to each one, they continue in their rejection of God to the end. Therefore, their names are not written in the Book of Life.

Here again a most difficult reality presents itself. God Who has the power to step in and end this holocaust at any moment instead chooses to allow it to play out in all its gruesome detail. Although we will never fully apprehend His divine patience, we know that it is explained, in part, by His great mercy toward those who have not yet turned, the glorious testimony being accrued by the martyred saints, and the filling up of the cup of injustice of the perpetrators. If He were to move immediately in vengeance at the time of their request, then some would be eternally lost that are yet to become their brethren.

Killed as they were.
They are probably being slain initially at the hand of the harlot who is…

Rev. 17:6. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

She rides the beast who probably does the actual execution at her behest. Once she is destroyed, then the beast himself will carry out their martyrdom. Many will be beheaded (Rev. 20:4).

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Sixth seal.
“It would be difficult to paint any scene more moving or more terrible than that described at the opening of the sixth seal.” Up to now, the effects of the first five seals, although unprecedented in their global impact, could still be explained away as an intensification of what history already records: conflict, war, death, famine, disease, and martyrdom. With the opening of the sixth seal, all such explanations vanish for the signs which attend this seal are unmistakable in their uniqueness and scope. The magnitude of the earthquake and cosmic disturbances that will occur when Christ breaks the sixth seal (Rev. 6:12-14) forces the conclusion that this will be an awesome expression of the wrath of God, not the work of unregenerate mankind. When the sixth seal is opened, there are unmistakable global signs of astronomical proportions, but the Lamb has yet to ride forth on His horse (Rev. 19:11)—He is still in heaven loosing seals. How can His riding forth to destroy the armies of the earth be tonight if none of these unmistakable signs have transpired? Yet Scripture teaches His coming is imminent. The answer to this dilemma, as we’ve seen, is in recognizing that signs precede His final arrival in judgment and His coming as a bridegroom for His bride.

A great earthquake.

The uniquely intense earthquakes which attend the judgments of the Tribulation period provide tangible evidence of God’s hand in the events which transpire. During the Tribulation, even though men understand the source of the earthquakes, most fail to repent (Rev. 6:16). A rare exception is the case of the great earthquake in Jerusalem, where those who avoid death,

Rev. 11:13. And the same hour was was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Jesus said great earthquakes would be one of the signs of “the beginning of sorrows” (Mtt. 24:7-8). The OT prophets also predicted a time where God would intensely shake the earth. Haggai revealed that global earthquakes and the overthrow of the Gentile kingdoms would precede the return of God’s glory to His (millennial) Temple:

The earthquake affects more than just the face of the earth. [Seismos] means “shaking; of a storm on the sea, with waves caused by high winds [Mtt. 8:24].” In the Septuagint, it is used in…

Joel 2:10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

to describe the heavens trembling. This catastrophic event extends beyond the geography of the earth to effect the cosmic realm.

The sun became black as sackcloth of hair.
Jesus said that cosmic signs would be associated with the time of the end. From other considerations, we understand that the signs associated with this sixth seal are not the only cosmic signs of this time period. The sun and moon were created for “signs” (Gen. 1:14). They now provide indication that the events associated with this seal cannot be explained by natural phenomena—but result from the One Who controls the universe! The darkening of the sun may be from the perspective of viewers on the earth—due to material ejected into the upper atmosphere by the earthquake or the impact of asteroids in the next verse. Although the sun is darkened, the moon continues to reflect light (as if the path light follows between the sun and moon is only minimally affected). In the fifth trumpet judgment, it is smoke which darkens the sun (Rev. 9:2). Eventually, like the earth, the sun and moon are judged to show those who dwell on the earth Who the true source of light is—the Lord Himself. If the trend in our own day is any indication, worship of the heavenly bodies will still be prevalent at that time and so God interferes with that which man has idolised (Zep. 1:5). As always, the message is to turn from dead idols to serve the living God:

Isa. 60:19-20

19. The sun shall no longer be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.

20. Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself; for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.

The moon became like blood.
The entire moon in all its fullness. John uses simile to describe the effects upon the moon. The entire moon takes on a reddish appearance, as when atmospheric dust darkens or moisture refracts its light. The red appearance conveys the idea of judgment.

Stars of heaven fell to the earth.
Stars is [asteres] from which we get the word asteroid. The word is also used of the supernatural manifestation which led the magi to the babe. Christ who is the “morning star” angels and astronomical objects. Here and in Revelation 8:10 stars are said to fall to the earth. It seems best to understand these as asteroids or meteors for even the smallest sun would consume the entire planet should it ever fall to earth.

The sixth seal presents a disturbance of nature so vast that we naturally seek to explain it as hyperbole, but this is not merely hyperbolic language these are the very signs that Jesus predicted would attend the period preceding His return:

Matt 24:29. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give its light; and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear.

In heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Isaiah had been shown this fearsome time:

Isa. 13:9-13.

9. 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

10. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

11. I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

12. I will make a man more precious than fine gold, even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.

13.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.

In these judgments, God is shattering the puny pillars of support which men trust in when they turn away from Him.

Heb. 12:25-28.

25. See that ye refuse not Him That speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused Him That spake on earth, much more shall not we escape if we turn away from Him That speaketh from heaven:

26. Whose voice then shook the earth: but now He hath promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.”

27. And this word, “Yet once more,” signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28.Wherefore, we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

The increasingly severe judgments which fall during this period are specifically designed to remove hope in all else but God so that all creatures recognize their utter dependence upon the Creator. Hope placed anywhere else is idolatry. God now begins a systematic destruction of the natural order (sun, moon, stars, earth,) and which men have often deferred to in place of the Creator. In its failure to recognize the Creator, environmentalism eventually fails in its effort to preserve the creation.Passages such as this tempt the interpreter to jettison the literal approach and “go symbolic.” Yet events which are so far removed from our daily experience as to be completely foreign need not be incredible when initiated by the hand of the Almighty. It is as if we were to try to explain the design of a nuclear plant to the ant! The construction of the starry realm is far beyond our grasp and the description which meets us here is at best an approximation which only hints at the full dimensions of what transpires. Clearly, it is an enormous and terrifying sight which could not even begin to be explained by modern physics. “This is the human perception of the magnitude of the disturbance, but is not the ultimate passage of the heavens, which does not come until Rev. 20:11; . . . The impression of all these heavenly phenomena is that the universe is coming apart.”

In response to these events, men recognize the wrath of the Lamb. Mills offers an unusual suggestion concerning the purpose for the splitting of the sky:

In order to ensure that there is no misunderstanding on the source of these disasters, God will open the heavens for an instant, and the people on earth will be given a glimpse of God and the Lamb on their thrones (Rev. 6:16). Revelation 6:14 pictures an extended scroll suddenly being split; the two ends recoil, spring-like, around the end rod to which the scroll is attached. Suddenly, earth can peer into Heaven as Stephen did in Acts 7:56. Man sees Him who sits on the throne and the Lamb. Men will know they are experiencing the wrath of God, and this knowledge will be even more fearsome to them than the great natural catastrophes they will have endured.

Every mountain and island was moved out of its place.
The seismic disturbances will be of such magnitude that the entire geography of the earth is permanently altered.The extensive mapping of the earth, both by GPS and sonar, will eventually be for naught as in a moment every geophysical mapping database is rendered obsolete. As great as this earthquake is, it is but a precursor to an even greater one associated with the seventh bowl at which

Rev. 16:20. Every island fled away and the mountains were not found.

It would appear that the islands sink from sight and the mountains are leveled by God’s final outpouring of wrath.

Hide us from the face of Him.

Attempting to hide from God illustrates how sin and fear warp the intellect, for it is impossible to hide from the Omnipresent One (Job 34:22). How different the motivation of the godly from the ungodly.

Those with faith in Christ desire His presence and seek His face. (Ps. 17:15; Pr. 8:7;

Those who reject God fear His presence and flee His face.

This dichotomy is seen today in the reaction of people to the preaching of the gospel:

2Cor. 2:15-16

15. For we are to God a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved, and in them that perish.

16. To the one we are the savour of death unto to death; and to the other the savour of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?

At the scene of God’s final judgment of the ungodly, there will be nowhere available to hide from His face, all things are naked in His sight!

Rev. 20:11. And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was no place found for them.

The wrath of God began earlier, when the Lamb arose from His seat to open the first seal. Now it is recognised for what it is. “It should be noted that the passage does not say that the wrath of God begins only with the sixth seal, but that only with the sixth seal do unbelievers recognise that it is the wrath of God.”

Those on the earth are ignorant of the Scriptures. Yet even they recognize that the time of God’s wrath has now come upon the earth.

From the east.
Literally, from the rising of the sun. Within Scripture, east is often the direction of the deliverance or judgment of God.( It is the direction to which the glory of the Lord departed from both Solomon’s and Herod’s Temple, and the direction by which it will eventually return (Eze. 43:2-4; 44:1-2). Here, it is “the direction of God,” the direction from which God’s protective sealing comes prior to the unleashing of the judgments to come.

The seal.
This is not a seal itself, but “the instrument with which one seals or stamps.” This angel carries the means by which the one hundred and forty-four thousand will be sealed “This text does not explicitly say what this seal is, but Rev. 14:1 suggests that it is the name of the Lamb and that of His Father ( Isa. 44:5).” Those who are to be sealed are one of three groups who survive this horrific time of judgment. Two of the groups are described in this chapter

Of the living God.

Throughout Scripture, the One True God is contrasted with dead idols who are dumb and cannot respond. Nevertheless, the pattern of history is that man has more often sought help from dumb idols than from the living God. Satan’s most successful ploy to keep men captive to idolatry, he mimics the living God by empowering the false prophet “to give breath to the image of the beast” (Rev. 13:15). Life-giving power is an intrinsic characteristic of God.on…

Their foreheads.

The seal identifies them as belonging to God (Rev. 14:1) and may be similar to the promise given to the overcomer in Philadelphia that Jesus would “write on him My new name.”

Rev. 3:12. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the Temple of My God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God: and I will write upon him My new name.

Rev. 14:1. And I looked, and lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having His fathers name written in their foreheads.

The picture of sealing for protection by marking the servants on their foreheads recalls a vision shown to Ezekiel in which most in Jerusalem were practicing idolatry which God was about to judge. Prior to His judgment going forth, an angel was told to;

Eze. 9:4. Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.

In the judgment which followed, those without the mark (seal) of God were killed (Eze. 9:5-6).

As Master Imitator, Satan, through the beast, will mark those who are his, who are thereafter unredeemable (Rev. 14:9-10).

Rev. 7:3. Saying, “ Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.”

so also we read that Satan, by his angels, will set a mark in the foreheads of his devotees (Rev. 13:16).”

During the time of the Tribulation, it appears there will be three categories of people:

Those who are sealed and protected by God for special ministry. Rev. 7:4-8 14:1

Those who accept the mark of the beast, and are doomed They are not written in the Book of Life.

Those who refuse the mark of the beast, many of whom are martyred (Rev. 20:4).

Who were sealed.
The angel recounts the total number of individuals who, by this time, have been sealed. The seal identifies those who are set apart for special protection in the midst of the judgments from God. “The mark which denotes ownership also carries with it the protection of the owner,” in this case, God. The seal may not be visible to men, but is evident to God and the angels and demons who carry forth his judgment (Rev. 9:4). It is analogous to the sealing of believers today, who are baptised into the body of Christ and sealed with the Holy Spirit.

Seiss suggests that in order to stand in the midst of this time of unparalleled judgment and tribulation, those who are sealed will require a special measure of spiritual enablement:

One hundred and forty-four thousand (12000 x the 12 tribes of Israels Lost Tribes).

In our discussion of Interpreting Symbols , we noted the tendency of many interpreters to ignore the literal meaning of numbers whenever a cherished theological viewpoint makes the literal value given in the text unpopular. Perhaps the two most abused numbers in the entire book of Revelation are the 144,000 sealed individuals here and the 1,000 years of the millennial reign. Although this passage goes to great lengths to make plain the literal nature of what is being conveyed, this hasn’t stopped many from flights of interpretive fancy which substitute subjective conjecture for the plain facts:These sealed Jews are those who come to faith in Jesus as Messiah during the Tribulation period. They are further described as;

Rev. 14:4. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the lamb.

…indicating that they compose the first stage of a final harvest of Jewish souls to be gathered later at the Lord’s coming in glory. . . . These comprise the “remnant”of Israel “who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ”.

Of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Literally: sons of Israel. These are the same twelve tribes of the children of Israel whose names are written on the gates of the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:12). These are a specific group of people who are physical offspring of Israel and differentiated from the rest of men (Zec. 9:1). In the regeneration, Jesus said the apostles will rule over these tribes Luke 22:30. “Immediately after the Translation of the heavenly saints (1Th. 4:15-17), God will work in grace amongst His ancient people, and among the Gentiles at large outside the apostate part of the world.”

A great multitude which no one could number.
Here is a second group who will survive the time of God’s wrath—the faithful who come out of the Great Tribulation. Like the saints under the fifth seal the majority of these probably die for their faith. But their death—at the hands of the harlot and later, the beast—will be their ultimate victory as overcomers. They have successfully applied the teaching of Jesus:

Matt. 10:28. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: But rather fear Him Which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

This innumerable company of believers indicates an innumerable company of people who come to faith in Christ during the time of the end.

of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues
A fourfold designation emphasising the global origin of this group.That the 144,000 of Revelation 7:4 cannot be symbolic of believers in general is seen by this verse. The 144,000 were from “all the tribes of the children of Israel” whereas these are from all . . . tribes. Both Old Testament and New Testament indicate that multitudes of non-Jews(Co-Heirs) will join with the believing Jewish remnant in seeking the Lamb. Like the multitude in Revelation 5:9, these too are redeemed, but at a later date. These come out of the Great Tribulation. These have come from all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues. Evidently, by this time, the gospel message has indeed been preached

Matt. 24:14. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

If the scene shown John includes future saints which have yet to die in the judgments or persecution about to come, then they will have heard the preaching of the divinely commissioned angel;

Rev. 14:6. And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.

3.8.1 - Revelation 8:1

Now that God’s servants have been sealed for protection, the seventh seal can be opened. Seven angels are given seven trumpets. The first four angels sound their trumpets resulting in great devastation to the life-supporting systems of the earth. As harsh as these judgments are, they are less severe than the remaining three trumpets to come.

He opened.
We must ever bear in mind that it is the Lamb who opens each of the seals initiating the judgments which befall the earth and its citizens.

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Seventh seal.
The seventh seal contains the seven trumpet judgments and the seventh trumpet contains the seven bowl judgments. The full effects of opening all seven seals include all seven trumpet judgments and the seven bowl judgments: 6 seal judgments + 6 trumpet judgments + 7 bowl judgments = 19 specific judgments in all. At the opening of the seventh seal, 6 judgments (the six seals) have passed and 13 remain (six trumpets and seven bowls within the seventh trumpet).

Nine. Denotes finality of judgement. It is 3x3, the product of Divine completeness. The number nine, or its factors or multiples, is seen in all cases when judgement is the subject.

Ten. Denotes ordinal perfection. Another new first, after the ninth digit when numeration commences anew.

The Seven Angels with Trumpets.

These are seven specific angels who are said to stand before God. Some have identified these with angels which are named in the books of Enoch and Tobit.

But God has only chosen within the pages of inspired Scripture to reveal the names of three powerful angels: Lucifer (Isa. 14:12), Gabriel (Dan. 8:16; Luke 1:19), and Michael (Dan. 10:13; It is pure speculation to attempt to identify these specific angels other than recognising that Scripture reveals that Gabriel “stands in the presence of God” (Luke 1:19).

To them were given seven trumpets.
The trumpets were given to the angels by divine permission. The judgments which come forth once they are blown are initiated by God.

These are the next set of seven judgments in the series of seals, trumpets, and bowls.(vials) As the judgments progress, they escalate in intensity. The trumpet judgments are more severe than the preceding seal judgments, but less severe than the bowl judgments to follow. For example, at the second trumpet, a third of the seas become blood (Rev. 8:8). At the second bowl judgment, the remaining two-thirds of the seas become blood as of a dead man (Rev. 16:3). At the sounding of the seventh trumpet, whose effects include the bowl judgments which follow, the announcement is made:

Rev. 11:15. And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, “ the kingdoms of this world has become the kingdoms of our LORD and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”

All this occurs in answer to the prayers of the saints. There are those who think of prayer as a complete waste of time, and are always asking:

Job 21:15. What is THE ALMIGHTY, that we should serve Him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto Him?

The true answer is, ‘very much in every way.’

There is an eye that never sleeps
Beneath the wing of night;
There is an ear that never shuts
When sink the beams of light.

There is an arm that never tires
When human strength gives way;
There is a love that never fails
When earthly loves decay.

That eye is fixed on seraph throngs;
That arm upholds the sky;
That ear is filled with angel songs;
That love is throned on high.

But there’s a power which man can wield,
When mortal aid is vain,
That eye, that ear, that love to reach,
That listening ear to gain.

That power is PRAYER, which soars on high,
Through Jesus, to the throne;
And moves the hand which moves the world,
To bring salvation down!

Fire.
Fire generally speaks of judgment. When John the Baptist spoke to the Pharisees and Sadducees who came to his baptism, he called them a “Brood of vipers!” and warned them of impending judgment. He spoke of a Coming One who was greater than he who would baptise with the Holy Spirit and fire . Those who repented and turned to God, after the Day of Pentecost, were baptised by Jesus with the Holy Spirit and joined to the Body of Christ.

1 Cor. 12:13. For by one Spirit are we all baptised into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

Those who rejected God would eventually be baptised with fire.

Mtt. 13:41-42.

41. The son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity.

42. And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

In the context of this baptism, John presented two alternative categories which encompass all men: wheat and chaff:

Mtt. 3:12. His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Here, the earth dwellers get their first taste of God’s judging fire which ultimately culminates in the Lake of Fire.

Thrown to the earth.
This is the first judgment specifically targeted at the destruction of life-supporting natural systems on the planet. Even now, those who reject God worship the creature rather than the Creator (Rom. 1:25). At the time of the end, God will set about destroying this idol of the earth dwellers.

People today are very concerned about saving the environment. Fears about the depletion of the ozone layer, pollution, the destruction of the rain forests, and global warming are constantly in the news. There is a passionate concern to save endangered species, everything from whales to spotted owls to California condors, and a host of lesser-known species. For many, protecting the environment has become far more than a concern for health and safety; it has become an issue of idolatry, as they worship “Mother Nature” by trying to protect and perpetuate the earth. . . . Fallen mankind has failed to recognize and honour God as Creator, choosing instead to make a god out of the earth. But the environmental, evolutionary pantheism that devalues man, elevates animals and plants, and ignores the Creator will be severely judged. “Earth Day” that year will be a gloomy and dismal affair; in a scorched and ravaged world there will be little of the environment left to celebrate. These are the judgments which the 144,000 Israelites were sealed for protection from:

Alas for the day!

Joel 1:15-20.

15. Alas for the day, for the day of the LORD is at hand; and as a destruction from the ALMIGHTY shall it come.

16. Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness from the house of our God?

17. The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners (storehouses) are in laid desolate; the barns are broken down, for the corn has withered.

18.How do the beasts groan! The herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.

19. O LORD, to Thee will I cry; for the fire hath devoured the open pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field.