1^st SEAL – THE WHITE HORSE

27AD – 100AD

CHURCH PERIOD – EPHESUS

To commence our study we begin with a description of the throne of heaven with the twenty four elders sitting round about the throne. There is a ceremony being held here for the unsealing of a book– with 7 Seals.

Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. 2 And immediately I was in the spirit; and behold; a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. 4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. 5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices; and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

Now let’s take a look at the Seven Seals in that setting. Here we read about a book with Seven Seals but no man is worthy to open it

Revelation 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals therefore? 3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look therein. 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

Who then is worthy to open the book?

Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

Jesus was the only one was the only one found worthy. What does Jesus say about Himself in reference to the past present and future?

Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Revelation 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.

Jesus was dead and is alive again and he has the keys. There is something in his life which is worthy to open the book.

John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

Jesus was the “I AM”. He was equal with God and he was worthy to open the book because he died for humanity.

Genesis 49:9 Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? 10 The scepter shall not depart form Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the fathering of the people be. This is a direct reference to the one of the lion of the tribe of Judah.

Luke 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David. 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, though it not robbery to be equal with God. 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Jesus is the only one who prevailed as a human being to make the opening of the book possible. The unveiling of the book, (of the future) could not be fulfilled until all that was required of Jesus was done.

What Was Revealed

Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began. 26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandments of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

This was a mystery since the world began but now it is made manifest for the obedience by faith. The book of Revelation is a motive for us to be obedient. The book of Revelation lays before us the future.

Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. 8 The lion hath roared, who will not fear? The Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy.

The Lord will do nothing but he will reveal his secret to his servants.

Revelation 5:11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of 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. 12 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. 13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 14 And the four beasts said, Amen, And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

This ceremony was in consequence of the fact that Jesus was found to be the one worthy to unveil the book. It was a ceremony for the unveiling of the future. And if such a scene of rejoicing was the response in heaven, what should this do to us?

Revelation 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him and he went forth conquering and to conquer.

What does the first seal, the white horse signify?

Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse, and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

Who is the rider of the white horse? It’s Jesus.

Mathew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Jesus commands the early church to go out and teach. All power is given me, go therefore I am with you

Jesus launched out His church in all its purity.

Song of Solomon 6:10 Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.

1 Timothy 1:18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare.

Every person in Christ is to wage a war.

11 Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entagleth himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

Colossians 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rules of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

This is a war against powers and principalities

Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

We are fighting with the Word of God

Psalms 45:2 Thou art fairer that the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever. 3 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with the glory and thy majesty. 4 And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. 5 Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies, whereby the people fall under thee.

This scripture is dealing with conquering in meekness and righteousness. Riding the White Horse symbolises the spreading of the pure truth in the first century of the Christian era.

How did the gospel come to be dispersed among the gentiles?

Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

The gospel was launched out to the gentiles after the stoning of Stephen. From 34AD to 100AD the message went out to an unknown world.

The persecution gave great impetus to the work of the gospel. Success had attended the ministry in Jerusalem, and there was danger that the disciples would linger there too long, unmindful of the Saviour’s commission to go to all the world. Instead of educating new converts to carry the gospel to those who had not heard it, they were in danger of taking a course that would lead all to be satisfied with what had been accomplished. To scatter His representatives where they could work for others, God permitted persecution to come. Driven from Jerusalem, the believers “went every where preaching the word. Acts of the Apostles p56

Acts 11:19 Now they which were scatter abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to non but unto the Jews only.

Acts 17:6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;

How do we know the white horse represents the spreading of the pure truth?

Revelation 3:4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white for they are worthy.

In the above scripture we read that white represents worthiness, not having defiled themselves. White equals purity – no error.

2nd SEAL – THE RED HORSE

100AD to 313AD

CHURCH PERIOD – SMYRNA

Revelation 6:3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another and there was given unto him a great sword.

Here we have the picture of a red horse ridden by a man with a great sword.

Isaiah 1:18 Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Red = Corruption and Sin.

The Christian church launched by Jesus started off white – in the pure truth, but now we see a change of character, of sinful corruption. Red has a double meaning in this text because from 100AD the pagan persecution against the early Christian church intensified. There was corruption entering into the church and literal bloodshed with the martyring of the saints..

Romans 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same. 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

The government at this time were using the sword to persecute God’s people. The character of the church that Jesus sent out, entered into the position of rulers like Constantine. From 100Ad – 323AD Roman rulers not only persecuted the early church but took over the doctrines as well.

Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulations ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Ten prophetic days of tribulation = Ten literal years of extreme persecution under the reign of Diacletion (church period Smyrna). Then in 323 AD the killing and bloodshed ceased for a time because the Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity.

3^RD SEAL – THE BLACK HORSE

313AD – 538AD

CHURCH PERIOD – PERGAMOS

Revelation 6:5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld and lo a black horse: and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measure of barley for a penny, and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

It is interesting when you notice that the horse started out white, then became red and is now black. There has been colour deterioration over time which is symbolic of the deterioration of the Christian church. Through gradual infiltration, the early church became attached to platonic philosophies and popular opinions enlarged and embellished in the reign of Constantine. Some of these doctrines included veneration for departed saints, celebrant priests, worshipping of images and relics, Superstition etc.

The black church is equated with Pergamos because the civil and religious powers were beginning to come together. By 538AD, after the reign of Constantine and Justinian, the Papacy had political and Christian principles held in the balances.  Uriah Smith – Daniel and the Revelation p405-406

We read in Revelation 6:6 about the wheat and the barley.  What do the wheat and barley signify?

Mathew 13:37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one.

The seed are God’s people. In Revelation 6:6 we now begin to understand that the selling of the wheat and barley at a cheap price signified the children of the kingdom being bought with worldly wealth and attraction.

Revelation 6:6 And see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.  What do the oil and wine signify?

Zechariah 4:1 And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep. 2 And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps (7 churches of Revelation) which are upon the top thereof. 3 And two olive trees (Cherubim standing either side of the throne of God) by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. 4 So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord? 5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. 6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. 11 Then answered I, an said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? 12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches (cherubin) which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil (Holy Spirit) out of themselves.

The oil running through the candlestick signifies the Holy Spirit.  In Revelation 6:6, the scripture refers to those who have been illuminated by the graces of the Holy Spirit (The Oil).

1 Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

The Wine, the application of the blood of Christ must not be lost. The church leaders at this time were beginning to fail. The prosperity of the church was responsible for much of the falling away and abominations that transpired. But the people still held on to the bits of truth they had known.

4^th SEAL – THE PALE HORSE

538AD – 1517AD

CHURCH PERIOD – THYATIRA

The pale horse signifies the sickly, deathly state of the church.

Revelation 6:7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth best say, Come and see. 8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death and with the beasts of the earth.

In this period of the church there was a complete death of all that Jesus had originally launched out in his church organization. It was now the church that was doing the persecuting and not the pagan leaders. The early church (the woman) was launched out by Jesus but was to undergo extreme persecution.

Revelation 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: 13 And when the dragon saw that he was east unto the earth, he persecuted the woman (pure church) which brought of the man child (Jesus). 14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness (the waldensies and other groups), into her places, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, (1260 years from 538AD to 1798AD) from the face of the serpent. 15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the blood. 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon (Satan) was wroth with the woman (The pure church), and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

In the study of the seven churches, it is the pure church that carries on right through to the end. Jesus has the 7 churches (candlesticks) in his hand.

Song of Solomon 6:8 There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number. 9 My dove, my undefiled is but one, she is the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare her. The daughters saw her, and blessed her; yea the queens and the concubines, and they praised her.

The is referring to the pure church – she is amidst all the blackness, oppression and persecution of the dark ages but she is still there hiding in the wilderness trying to escape persecution.

5^th SEAL – PLEA OF THE MARTYRS

1517AD to 1755AD

CHURCH PERIOD – THYATIRA

Why did the pale horse end in 1517?

Revelation 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held.

In the Hebrew Sanctuary the altar of incense was where the prayers of the saints ascended to heaven.  Here, in this picture of the heavenly sanctuary it’s referring to the altar of incense.

Revelation 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11 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.

Many people had been slain but that still more people were to be slain up until the year 1755. It is significant that the fifth seal commenced in the year 1517 because this was the year that Martin Luther nailed the 95 thesies on the door of the Wittenberg Church in Germany (where he ministered). Luther had now entered boldly into his work as a champion of the truth and millions were converted through his writing and teachings.

Matthew 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day. 21 For then shall be great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

The 5^th Seal points to a demarcation where in 1517 a work of reformation was begun amongst the people. Had not the time of tribulation been shortened (ended in 1755) God’s people would have been entirely wiped out “there should no flesh be saved.”

The robes of those who were killed revealed that they were martyrs for Jesus.

Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakeness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

2 Corinthians 4:8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm you love toward him. 9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. 10 To whom ye forgive any thing. I forgive also; for if I forgive any thing to whom I forgive it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ. 11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

The cries of the martyrs ascend day and night to God saying, “who will avenge our blood”. All the scenes that took place on earth during this time are recorded in heaven and the cries of the martyrs are replayed there under the altar.  Where was the altar of sacrifice situated in the earthly sanctuary? The outer court.

Exodus 27:1 And thou shalt make an altar of shittim wood, five cubits long, and five cubits broad; the altar shall be foursquare; and the height thereof shall be three cubits. 2 And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof: his horns shall be of the same: and thou shalt overlay it with brass. 3 And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basons, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass. 4 And thou shalt make for it a grate of network of brass; and upon the net shalt thou make four brazen rings in the four corners thereof. 5 And thou shalt put it under the compass of the altar beneath, that the net may be even to the midst of the altar. (The net held the coals above it.)

Exodus 29:38 Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually. 39 The one lamb though shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even. 40 And with the one lamb a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil; and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering. 41 And the other lamb thou shalt offer at even, and shalt do thereto according to the meat offering of the morning, and according to the drink offering thereof, for a sweet savour, an offering made by fire unto the Lord. 42 This shall be a continual burnt offering through out your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee.

The sacrifice of Jesus is the word of God. This is the activity of the Word of God in saving us, always bearing in the body.

Revelation 11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod; and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months (prophetic period of 1260 years)

As the saints are being sacrificed by the gentiles, they are being measured/examined on the heavenly altar. The people were scattered on the earth but their cries are recorded on the altar in heaven.

Revelation 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

Genesis 4:9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brothers keeper? 10 And he said, What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.

The voice of Abel, the voice of those who were slain – This is how God reads suffering, He hears the cries of the dilemma of death.

James 5:4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of saboath.

Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

From 1517 onwards it was not the end of all the slaughtering. Those that were already slain should rest a little while longer.

Revelation 6:11 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 fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

1 Corinthians 4:11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place. 12 And labour, working with our own hands, being reviled, we bless, being persecuted we suffer it: 13 Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. 14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

Under the organization of the pale horse, this is the experience that was met. But when Martin Luther’s thesis was published, the people began to regard the martyrs with honour. Prior to this time they were not.

Revelation 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Through the reformation, there was the help that came to the woman (God’s pure church.)

Revelation 11:2 Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. 3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of Christ is God.

538AD to 1798 AD was the complete period of the two witnesses, the Old and New Testament preaching in sackcloth.

Daniel 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most high, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time (1260 year prophetic period)

Luke 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. 25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring.

The end of the preaching of the gospel for the Jews was 34AD. After the stoning of Stephen the gospel then went out to the gentiles.  The end of the preaching for the gentiles was 1798 & 1844. We are now in the period of the judgment in which both the Jews and Gentiles are to be sorted out, sifting the wheat from the tares.

6^th SEAL – THE DAY OF GOD”S WRATH

1755 TO THE SECOND COMING

CHURCH PERIODS – PHILADELPHIA 1833-1844 & LAODECIA 1844 TO CLOSE OF PROBATION

Revelation 6:12 And I behold when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake;

1755 The earthquake of Lisbon – most terrible earthquake ever recorded. It extended to Europe, Africa, and America. It was felt in Greenland, the East Indies, Madeira, Norway and Sweden, Great Britain and Ireland, and extent of not less than four million square miles. In the course of 6 minutes, 60,000 persons perished.

Revelation 6:12 And the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood:

Twenty five years later appeared the next sign. The time of its fulfillment had been definitely pointed out in the Saviour’s conversation with His disciples upon Olivet. “In those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light.” Mark 13:24, Joel 2:31. The 1260 days, or years, terminated in 1798. A quarter of a century earlier, persecution had almost wholly ceased. Following this persecution, the sun was to be darkened. On May 19, 1780, this prophecy was fulfilled.

North America was covered in complete darkness for an entire day. An eye witness in Massachusetts described the event as follows: “A heavy black cloud spread over the entire sky except a narrow rim at the horizon, and it was as dark as it usually is at nine o’clock on a summer evening. Fear, anxiety, and awe gradually filled the minds of the people. After midnight, the thick cloud of darkness disappeared and the moon when first visible had the appearance of blood.

Revelation 6:13 And the star of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree, casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. (Also in Mathew 24:29)

In 1833 the last of the signs appeared which were promised by the saviour as tokens of his second advent: This prophecy received a striking fulfillment in the great meteoric shower of November 13 1833, the most extensive and wonderful display of falling stars ever recorded. “Never did rain fall much thicker than the meteors fell toward the earth; east, west, north, and south, it was the same. In a word, the whole heavens seemed in motion. Form two o’clock until broad daylight, the sky being perfectly serene and cloudless, an incessant play of dazzlingly brilliant luminosities was kept up in the whole heavens.” “It seemed as if the whole starry heaven had congregated at one point near the zenith, and were simultaneously shooting forth, with the velocity of lightning. To every part of the horizon; and yet they were not exhausted – thousands swiftly followed in the tracks of thousands, as if created for the occasion.” “ A more correct picture of a fig tree casting its figs when blown by a might wind, it was not possible to behold.”

In the New York Journal of Commerce of November 14,1833, appeared a long article regarding this phenomenon: “No philosopher or scholar has told or recorded an event, I suppose, like that of yesterday morning. A prophet eighteen hundred years ago foretold it exactly, if we will be at the trouble of understanding stars fall to mean falling stars,…in the only sense in which it is possible to be literally true. Thus was displayed the last of those signs of His coming, concerning which Jesus bade His disciples:

Mathew 24:33 When ye shall see all these things, know that is near, even at the doors.

Many who witnessed the falling of the stars looked upon it as a herald of the coming judgment.

Revelation 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 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. 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hid e us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. 17 For the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand.

In the following text we are picking up the details of God’s wroth – the 7 last plagues.

Revelation 16:8 And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun, and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. 9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed that name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. 12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.

Revelation 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth holding the four winds (winds = war) of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea. 3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

The angels are holding back the winds of strife – war, which is one of the last plagues.

Mathew 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Revelation 12:16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her moth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

Isaiah 2:10 Enter into the rock, and hide there in the dust, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty. 11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled and the haughtiness of men shalt be bowed down, and the lord alone shall be exalted in that day. 12 For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan. 14 And upon every high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up. 15 And upon all the ships of Tar’shish, and upon all pleasant pictures. 17 And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be exalted in that day. 18 And the idols he shall utterly abolish. 19 And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. 20 In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship to the moles and to the bats. 21 To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, which he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

Joel 3:16 The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

So where are we in time with regard to the seven seals?  We are between Revelation 6:13-14 & Revelation 7:1-4 (between the 5^th and 6^th Seals).

Revelation 6:13 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. 14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

Revelation 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea. 3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. 4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

7^th SEAL – THE CONTROVERSY ENDED

CHRIST’S RETURN

Revelation 8:1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. The seventh seal is simply one verse which denotes that Jesus has left heaven with all the angels for the second coming.

In prophesy a day = 1 year therefore half an hour equals 1week. When Christ comes to claim those that are His with all His angels, they are away from the courts of heaven for 7 days.

Matthew 26:31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night; for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the clock shall be scattered abroad.

The disciples didn’t understand Christ’s mission. They didn’t understand the prophecies that pointed to Christ’s death and when the time came for Christ to die they became scattered and lost their faith. It is important that we understand the prophecies so that we don’t become like the disciples. Christ says that just prior to his coming there is to be a time of trouble coming such as never there was. We need to know how to be sealed in our foreheads as God’s people and to trust Him in this terrible time.

Revelation 19:11 But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. 12 For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake, He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

Amen.