October, 2021

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Posted by: Zerubbabel | on October 7, 2021

Opening of the Seven Seals

Following on our earlier presentation, “Seals opened in context of the judgement”, in which we showed that the Seven Seals are opened after the judgement is convened, and we considered the opening of the first seal, we now consider the opening of the remaining seals. Before we do, just a word as to why study and present this matter currently. The reason is this: based on Bible prophesy, the world is on the cusp of major changes that will see a tremendous crisis that will affect everyone and challenge our very survival; the world should not face such a crisis without being alerted and warned about what is coming.

As we discussed previously, the first seal, when opened, brought to view a white horse which represented the raising up of the Sabbath-keeping Advent Movement after the passing of time, at the end of 2300 prophetic days, in 1844. This started the restoration of truth that had been trampled underfoot during the Dark Ages. The rider, “went forth conquering, and to conquer.” (Rev. 6:2).

World Wars I and II prophesied

The opening of the second seal sees a red horse and “and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another” (Rev. 6:4). After the initial period of the raising up of the Advent Movement, the world went into a period when peace was taken from the earth. This is the period of World Wars I and II. There is hardly another period in the history of the world when it would have been true to say that peace was taken from the earth and power was given to people to kill one another. For the first time, in 1914, there was a war that was so extensive as to be described as a World War. Then followed the second World War, beginning on September 1, 1939, when Germany invaded Poland. This is considered the deadliest conflict in human history, that involved over 30 countries and saw an estimate of 50 to 85 million people being killed.

The opening of the third seal sees a black horse, “and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine” (Rev. 6:5, 6). The imagery of trading is inescapable. After the world war era, the world saw an era that was dominated by trade. We were still in that era up to the beginning of 2019. That is where we have been in the prophetic unfolding of events. There was never an era before when there were global trade agreements, economic sanctions, and a market-driven determination of global affairs as the period after the Second World War, continuing up to the beginning of 2020. But things have begun to change.

Extensive loss of life imminent

The fourth seal opens with a pale horse being seen, “and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.” (Rev. 6:8). At any time now, the world will be plunged into a period of extensive loss of life, to the extent of one-fourth or a quarter of the world’s population. Are you ready for it? Whether or not we like it, it is coming. Jesus also predicted it in Matthew chapter 24.

In Matthew 24, Jesus gives a sequence of events that would lead up to the second coming of Christ. He tells us that there would be wars and rumours of wars, but we should not be troubled when we see those things, because “the end is not yet” (Matt. 24:6). He went on to say that nation would rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, that there would be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes and that such would be the “beginning of sorrows” (Matt. 24:7, 8). Note what comes next: “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.” (Matt. 24:9). That is the sequence of events. The last part has not yet taken place. It is the same sequence as depicted in the opening of the seals. There would be wars, as in World wars I and II, but it would not be the end just yet. Afterward they are going to deliver up God’s people to be killed. But others are going to be killed as well.

We have seen increasing pestilences and earthquakes, so do we think that the part to follow, wherein God’s true people will be hated by all nations and will be persecuted and killed will not happen, or that it is far away? Think again! It is within that context, that Jesus continues by saying that the gospel will be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations and then shall the end come (Matt. 24:14). That is the Loud Cry of the Angel of Rev. 18 being described there, wherein there will be a second more extensive outpouring of the Holy Spirit than at Pentecost, in what the Biblical prophet Joel calls the Latter Rain. You’ll get the sequence quite easily if you read in order, verses 4 to 14 of Matthew 24.

Pre-advent judgement

The fifth seal opens and “I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” (Rev. 6:9-11). This depicts a time when many would have been killed already and, as it were, their souls were crying out to God for Him to intervene. It is further confirmed that this takes place during the pre-advent judgement because white robes were given to them at that point, even though they were told to wait a little longer. Others of their brethren would be killed, as the judgement passes from the dead to the living.

The opening of the sixth seal sees massive natural upheavals, “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Rev. 6:12-17).

The end

The events, as described here, are in quick succession. Obviously, these have not happened yet, since every mountain and island have not yet been moved out of their places and the heavens have not yet departed as a scroll when it is rolled together. Even though there have been historical events that reflect partial fulfilment of this prophecy, the full unfolding of the prophecy will take place in its entirety, with all the elements occurring in quick succession. This is a description of the end, and the question is asked, “who shall be able to stand?”

The scene then shifts, in the next verses continuing in Revelation chapter 7, to show those who will be able to stand. “The living saints, 144,000 in number”, will be able to stand (Ellen G. White, Early Writings, p. 14) . They would have gone through the great tribulation and would have “washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev. 7:14). The context shows that these are faithful end-time survivors who will be alive to see Christ’s second coming.

The seventh seal opens, and “there was silence in heaven” (Rev. 8:1). Christ and His retinue of angels would have left heaven to come to earth to receive His faithful children – those who would have overcome the tribulation of the last days, and those who would have died in faith, whom He would raise from the dead.

The opening of the Seven Seals marks the events that would transpire from the start of the judgement through to the second coming of Christ. When all the seals are opened, there is nothing left to be seen. It is not at that time that the book is now ready to be opened, as though all the seals must be opened before the book can be read. One scroll at a time is opened and read as its seal is opened and its contents brought to view. We are now moving out of the third seal, the black horse period. Are we ready for what is coming next?

“He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matt. 11:15).

For further information, please visit Patience of the Saints at http://thecommandmentsofgodandthefaithofjesus.com/

Questions and comments may be sent by e-mail to: commandmentsofgodandfaithofjesus@yahoo.com

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Posted by: Zerubbabel | on October 4, 2021

Seals opened in context of the judgement

There is an inescapable parallel between the setting of Revelation chapters 4 and 5, in which the seals are opened, and the judgement scene of Daniel chapter 7. We’ll consider some of the parallel elements and the implications for the present time, but before we do so, the following word of admonition is most instructive: “Study Revelation in connection with Daniel, for history will be repeated” – White, Ellen G., Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 116. Here are some of the parallels:

Thrones were set – Daniel says, “I beheld till the thrones were cast down [set]” (Dan. 7:9; Revelation says, “a throne was set in heaven” (Rev. 4:2) and “round about the throne were four and twenty seats” (Rev. 4:4). Note that the persons who were seated on the twenty-four seats “had on their heads crowns of gold” (Rev. 4:4), so these twenty-four seats are really thrones, but obviously not as impressive as the one on which God sat. That explains why Daniel says “thrones”, while Revelation says, “a throne” and “four and twenty seats”.

God sat on a throne – Daniel says, “the Ancient of days did sit” (Dan. 7:9); Revelation says, “one sat on the throne” (Rev. 4:2).

Millions of angels gathered around God’s throne – Daniel says, “thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him” (Dan. 7:10); Revelation says, “many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands” (Rev. 5:11).

Christ comes to the Father – Daniel says, “one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days” (Dan. 7:13); Revelation says, “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain” (Rev. 5:6).

Christ receives glory, honour and power – Daniel says, “And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom” (Dan. 7:14); Revelation says, “Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing” (Rev. 5:12).

Books were opened – Daniel says, “the judgment was set, and the books were opened” (Dan. 7:10); Revelation says, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof” (Rev. 5:2) and “he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne” (Rev. 5:7), also, “And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals” (Rev. 6:1). Daniel says “books” (Dan. 7:10), while Revelation says, “a book” (Rev. 5:1). A comment from Uriah Smith, an early Adventist pioneer, explains the seeming discrepancy. In the comment, he quoted John Wesley as follows: “The usual books of the ancients were not like ours, but were volumes, or long pieces of parchment, rolled upon a long stick, as we frequently roll silks. Such was this represented, which was sealed with seven seals. Not as if the apostle saw all the seals at once; for there were seven volumes wrapped up one within another, each of which was sealed; so that upon opening and unrolling the first, the second appeared to be sealed up till that was opened, and so on to the seventh.” – Smith, Uriah, Daniel and the Revelation, p. 420 (1909).

Daniel declares that the setting is the judgement. This judgement takes place before the second coming of Christ. The result of the judgement is that Christ receives “a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” (Dan. 7:14). It was further explained to Daniel that “the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” (Dan. 7:27). Thus, Christ receives the title deed to this earth along with the list of all those who will be His faithful subjects. He then returns to earth to claim the dominion. At that time, it will be declared, “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” (Rev. 11:15).

The opening of the seals within the context of the judgement means that although there may be a historic interpretation of the seals, there is undoubtedly, an end-time fulfillment that began in 1844, when the judgement commenced (For an explanation of why 1844, please see article “If Jesus, Why Not Sanctuary Cleansing?”). The opening of the first seal sees events unfolding that are depicted as a white horse, whose rider “went forth conquering, and to conquer” (Rev. 6:2). This coincides with what is described as the Church of Philadelphia, to which was presented “an open door” that no man could shut (Rev. 3:8). This is a church for which there was no rebuke but only commendation. This opening of the first seal also coincides with the appearance of the Third Angel of Rev. 14 – indeed, a period of the gospel going forth with renewed power and direction from God. This is the period of the early Adventist pioneers (For an explanation of the identification of the early Adventist pioneers with the Philadelphia Church of Revelation, please see article “The Three Angels’ Messages and the Seven Churches”).

Back in the day, it was popular for the Advent people to sing, “Have you heard of the Advent Church, how she is moving according to prophecy?” Today, many of the Advent people, while being convinced of the Sabbath, are not so sure that the Advent Movement has any special significance, more than any other religious movement. But God sees otherwise. This Movement was raised up for a purpose, to preach the final message to the world. While we win the hearts of people with our health message, we should not stop there. People must be taught the mission for which the Movement was raised up, so that we can fulfill our God-ordained purpose.

By God’s grace, we will look, in another presentation, at the events associated with the opening of the remaining seals and consider where we are now in the unfolding fulfillment of prophecy.