THE SEVEN
SEALS
 Let
us collapse the Revelation again in order to reveal
the mysteries of The Seven Seals.
05.01.01
The First Seal Rev 6:1-2
A White
Horse
Rev 6:{1}
Then I saw the Lamb open one of the seven seals, and
I heard one of the four living creatures call out,
as with a voice of thunder, "Come!"
{2}
I looked,
and there was a white horse! Its rider had a bow; a
crown was given to him, and he came out conquering
and to conquer.
Chapter 4 took us into heavenly glory. Now we are
back, and the Lamb, Yahshua Christ, has received a
scroll of judgment from the One who sits on the
divine throne. It is sealed with seven seals. (A
document was rolled then sealed with a lump of clay
stamped with a signet, identifying the maker.) The
Lamb that was slain is worthy to open the seven
seals of the scroll owing to his being chief of
martyrs.
The Lamb
breaks the seals of the scroll one by one, with dire
consequences for the ungodly and unrepentant. The
breaking of the first four seals loose "The Four
Horsemen of the Apocalypse." Zechariah's visions in
Zech 1:7-12 and 6:1-8 set the precedence for
horsemen; Yahweh has sent them out to patrol the
earth. The horsemen return with news that the earth
is at peace. But now the horsemen go forth from
Heaven as agents of judgment, and on earth peace
cannot be found.
The first of the "living creatures" (zoön,
"beasts"), having the face of a lion and the
thunderous voice of Eloha's authority (4:5),
commands Erchou! -- Go! (Erchou is the imperative
of erchomai meaning either "come" or "go." "Go"
makes more sense. We might say, "Take off!")
THE WHITE HORSE – CONQUEROR! The white horse
represents Parthia, the long-term enemy and sometime
ally of Rome. Parthia was ruled by a king (Parthian
kings were known for their huge, unwearably heavy
crowns); its symbol was the Parthian bow. In John's
day, Parthia was a competing empire composed roughly
of modern-day Syria, Iraq, Iran, Eastern Turkey and
Armenia – the Moslem states. These countries have
been the enemy of Europe from the time of Julius
Caesar through the 19th century, and they currently
constitute a threat to both Europe and the United
States. We remember that Eloha used the Chaldeans (Parthians
/ Babylonians) to chastise Israel in the time of
Habakkuk. Joel spoke of Babylon / Chaldea / Parthia
as "Yahweh’s army," comparing their armies to a
plague of locusts devastating Israel. Moreover
Yahweh allows Babylon / Chaldea / Parthia to raise
havoc again in these modern times, with their
stockpiles of nerve gas, biological weapons,
terrorists and rogue plutonium. These nations are a
perpetual plague to the entire world.
If this prophecy is for the future, then it speaks
of another war between Europe and the Middle East.
We remember that the One World Government (Europe /
United Nations) did go to war against Babylon /
Chaldea / Parthia / Iraq in 1990-91. At this writing
(February 1998) we are narrowly averting a war that
may lead a world war, if the threat of Rus(sia)'s
president is to be taken seriously. At this writing
(June 1999), Russia is coming together with Serbia
(now at war with NATO) and these Middle East
countries for more global mischief. War has begun;
who will be dragged in?
05.02.01 The Second Seal Rev 6:3,4
A Red Horse!
Rev 6:{3}
When he opened the second seal, I heard the second
living creature call out, "Come!"
{4}
And out
came another horse, bright red; its rider was
permitted to take peace from the earth, so that
people would slaughter one another; and he was given
a great sword.
"Take off!" cries the "beast" with the face of an
ox. The red horse stands for bloodshed as a result
of the snatching away of the peace. As usual,
"conqueror" (the White Horse) and "peacetaker" (the
Red Horse) ride tandem, and the result is slaughter
by the "sword" (violence). Just as the bow was a
symbol of the Parthian Empire, the sword was a
symbol of the Roman.
The "earth" does not necessarily mean "the whole
earth." The Greek word for "earth," ge, can just as
well mean "land." Peace is taken from the
particular land that is destined for judgment. This
war may be localized. Nevertheless, like the war
between Iran and Iraq in the seventies and eighties,
this war may claim millions. Add to that the
genocide perpetrated against the ethnic varieties
within Iraq, Iran, Armenia, Yugoslavia and Turkey
(specifically, Kurds and ethnic Albanians), and you
have more people dead in the last twenty years than
were even living in John's day in the whole world.
Remember,
this judgment deals primarily with Europe and the
Middle East. America may be in John's Revelation,
but not specifically in the opening of the scroll.
You will be surprised where America turns up. The
war prophesied may have little effect on America (or
much less effect). But what has affected us and
will affect us is the taking away of peace --
"people will slaughter one another." "Slaughter"
may be the best way to describe the lawlessness of
our country -- a wilderness of terror amid a facade
of peaceful affluence. (America is a spiritual
wilderness.)
05.03.01 The Third Seal Rev 6:5,6
A Black Horse!
Rev 6:{5}
When he
opened the third seal, I heard the third living
creature call out, "Come!" I looked, and there was a
black horse! Its rider held a pair of scales in his
hand,
{6}
and I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst
of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of
wheat for a day's pay, and three quarts of barley
for a day's pay, but do not damage the olive oil and
the wine!"
"Take
off!" cries the "beast" with a man's face, then off
flies the black horse to deliver its judgment upon
the land -- "poverty"! A voice in the midst,
perhaps that of the lamb (5:6), quotes inflationary
prices for staple items like wheat and barley.
Luxury items, such as oil (makes the face shine)
and wine (makes the heart glad, Ps 104:14-15) are
nonexistent for the common people. Only the rich
(like us) can afford such luxuries, we are willing
to pay for them, and we are. Some California olive
oils are now being sold for $80 or more per pint!
(CNN, 9/94)
The word "damage" should be translated "loose" or
"let loose of." What is described is a gross
inequity in the distribution of foodstuffs. The
haves have; the have-nots have not. Fat European
clones hold the wealth of the world; Third Worlders
starve. Not because there isn't enough, but because
the haves will not divest.
It is a common but overlooked fact that 35,000
children under the age of fifteen worldwide die
every day of malnutrition correlated diseases.
35,000 every day! And this while Americans pay
billions to lose weight. This is a mortal, venal
sin. It is gluttony. You and I are guilty. And we
are just as trapped in our indulgence as tightly as
those in the grip of poverty. Study Isaiah 58, then
feel all that spirituality you've claimed disappear.
As for oil and wine and Bible typology: they were
used as offerings to Eloha (Neh 13:12) and as tithe
due the priest (Deu 14:23). Such luxuries and
blessings are given by Eloha to be enjoyed by all
(Ps 104:14-15), not just some. They are
prescription drugs (Luke 10:34). To withdraw them
means mockery among the nations (Joel 2:19). These
are biblical conclusions about oil, wine and
gluttony. How shall we break free?
HISTORICAL NOTE: Emperor Domitian, the eighth horn,
decreed that 1/2 the vineyards in the Roman
provinces were to be burned and replanted with grain
to avert a world-wide famine in 92 AD. If John were
living at this time (as many historians have us
believe), this would have certainly been a "black"
time for him and his group -- no oil nor wine to be
had anywhere but on the tables of affluent Romans.
05.04 The Fourth Seal Rev 6:7,8
A Pale Horse!
Rev 6:{7}
When he
opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the
fourth living creature call out, "Come!"
{8}
I looked and there was a pale green horse! Its
rider's name was Death, and Hades followed with him;
they were given authority over a fourth of the
earth, to kill with sword, famine, and pestilence,
and by the wild animals of the earth.
The
fourth seal on the scroll of judgment is broken and
a beast with the face of the Eagle cries, "Take
off!" The pale green (or "pale horse") signifies
the color of a corpse in rigor. I have seen many
corpses; some do indeed appear “green around the
gills.”
HADES: The rider of the pale horse has a name:
Death and Hades. Hades (also translated Hell) is
the abode of the dead and synonymous with the Sheol
of the Hebrew Bible. The dead remain so until the
resurrection. (The dead neither go to Heaven or
Hell. They are just dead.) In the resurrection of
the dead, Death and Hades are swallowed up in
victory.
TARTARUS, THE BOTTOMLESS PIT: Hades is not to be
confused with Tartarus, the place where Peter tells
us Yahshua went to proclaim his victory to captive
spirits. Tartarus is the pit in which the Titans of
Greek mythology were held captive. It is the same
place 1 Enoch calls "the abyss," the temporary
residence of the spirits of the "giants" described
in Genesis 6 and 1 Enoch 6. Tartarus is also
mentioned in Revelation as the abyss or bottomless
pit. According to Jewish lore, both Hades and
Tartarus are located deep inside the earth.
THE EARTH / LAND: The Four Horsemen of the
Apocalypse are given authority over a quarter of the
land (or "earth," same thing). Translating ge as
"land" instead of “earth” localizes the judgment to
Israel. As J. E. Leonard points out in her unique
and insightful commentary (Come Out of Her, My
People), ge is the Greek translation of the Hebrew
eretz, which even today means the area of the earth
that Eloha has given over to the children of Israel.
(As for eretz Israel, See Ezekiel 7:2.)
FOUR HORSEMEN: The result of the horsemen judgments
is death by four general means: war (sword), famine,
pestilence and disease ("wild animals"). All are
unnatural deaths, the results of sin.
05.05.01 The Fifth Seal Rev 6:9-11 Fall On Us"
“Souls” Beneath the Altar
Rev 6:{9}
When he
opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the
souls of those who had been slaughtered for the word
of Eloha and for the testimony they had given;
{10}
they cried
out with a loud voice, "Sovereign Lord, holy and
true, how long will it be before you judge and
avenge our blood on the inhabitants of the earth?"
{11}
They were
each given a white robe and told to rest a little
longer, until the number would be complete both of
their fellow servants and of their brothers and
sisters, who were soon to be killed as they
themselves had been killed.
TIME, CHRONOS V KAIROS: The first six seals are
broken by the Lamb in rapid succession. The
resulting judgments may or may not be quick to
follow. One cannot use chronological time to form
an opinion about anything in Revelation, for it is
not a chronological vision; it is a kairotic vision.
It is set not in linear time, but in pregnant time.
Anything may burst forth at any time. It is
untimely – ripe time. "This" does not necessarily
happen before or after "that." Only the person with
divine prophetic wisdom may chronologize the events
of the vision. Never trust an interpretation that is
right down to the year, for the chronological year
is not set in the first place. The prophetic events
that are to occur are not scheduled, but burst forth
when the world is ripe.
The Lamb opens fifth seal; John sees a vision of the
psychas ("spirits," not "souls") of those martyred
for "the word of Eloha and the testimony of
Yahshua." They reside "under the altar" (i.e.
"under the blood of the sacrificed Messiah").
Whereas those who are subject to judgment die,
these spirits cannot die. Only those "born from
above" are spiritually alive and therefore survive
physical death (Eccl 3:12). The unregenerate simply
die. Their spirits go nowhere because they do not
have living spirits. (The unregenerate are
spiritually dead.)
But the spirits of the faithful martyrs go, in a
symbolic sense, under the altar (as do all the
spirits of the regenerate) and cry out for
vengeance. (Doesn't it seem uncharacteristic of
saints to clamor for retribution?) Yet the saints
know the identity of their blood avenger: it is
Yahweh; Yahweh will repay. The cry for revenge
harkens back to Job's lamentation: "I know that my
redeemer (go’el, “blood avenger”) liveth." To the
saints the Lamb replies, "Give me just a little more
time..."
Martyrdom has been discussed in depth in the section
titled "The History of Persecution." Suffice it
here to say that according to David Barrett, the
statistician for the Southern Baptist Convention, by
the year 2,000 expect to see 300,000 martyrs for
Yahshua per year (D. Barrett, "Annual Statistical
Table on Global Mission: 1990," International
Bulletin of Missionary Research, January, 1990, p.
26.)
In 1995, conservative estimates put the number of
Christians killed for their faith at 150,000. I
noted one example of persecution in my journal that
has escalated exponentially since. On December 27,
1994, three Catholic priests (two French, one
Belgian) were murdered by Moslem fundamentalists in
Algeria. By the end of 1997, thousands of
Christians had been murdered in that country with
absolutely no intervention by western Christians.
Each martyr is given the white robe of purity (as
were the conquerors from Sardis, Rev 3:4; Pergamum,
3:18; elders 4:4). Chapter 7 reveals specifically
who will be robed in white. The saints are told to
"rest a little while longer" until the completion of
their number, at which time they will be mustered
forth as the cloud of witnesses accompanying the
Lamb in his vengeful advent to Mt. Zion.
One sure sign of the imminent public return of the
Messiah is the cup of martyr’s blood being filled.
(“Rest until the number is complete.”) Christians
are dying at the hands of the enemies of Yahweh in
fantastic numbers. There must be literally millions
of "souls under the altar" awaiting a restored
earth. Are you willing to be a martyr? Are you
willing to help those who are even now "being killed
all day long" for their faith in Yahshua?
FIGHT PERSECUTION: To find out
how, contact:
Christian
Solidarity Network (540) 636-8907
Compass
Direct News Service (714) 862-0300
Institute of Religion and
Democracy(202) 986-1440
Open Doors
with Brother Andrew (714) 752-6600
The Voice
of the Martyrs
(918) 337-8014.
05.06.01 The Sixth Seal Rev
6:12-14
Atmospheric Phenomena
Rev 6:{12} When he
opened the sixth seal, I looked, and there came a
great earthquake; the sun became black as sackcloth,
the full moon became like blood,
{13}
and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the
fig tree drops its winter fruit when shaken by a
gale. {14}
The sky vanished like a scroll
rolling itself up, and every mountain and island was
removed from its place.
Seven signs follow the
breaking of the Sixth Seal:
1. A great earthquake
2. Sun blackened
3. Moon "like blood"
4. Stars fall to earth
5. Sky rolls up and
vanishes
6. Every mountain...
7. ..and island moved.
There are at least four ways to interpret these
signs. We may interpret them geologically (from ge,
meaning "land," “earth”), historically, symbolically
and mythologically.
GEOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION: The seven signs of the
sixth seal are indicative of a collision with an
asteroid or a mammoth volcanic eruption. Of course
you know that an asteroid has been blamed for the
"extinction" of the dinosaurs as evidenced by the
worldwide radioactive rhodium layer in the
geostratae. The dust layer scattered by the
radioactive asteroid darkened the sun and moon,
killing the fauna, then the herbivores, and then the
carnivores, including the dinosaurs.
Most of us witnessed the Shoemaker-Levy comet
collide with Jupiter in July 16, 1994. Despite the
heavy gas layer of the Jupiter giant, the result of
the event could be seen, even with binoculars, for
years afterward. (Jupiter, by the way, is the
father of the Roman pantheon.)
In 79 AD, just two months into the reign of the
"seventh horn" Titus, the towns of Pompeii and
Herculaneum were wiped out by the eruption of
Vesuvius. The great volcano blackened the sky with
ash and poured hot lava out in such a gush that the
inhabitants of these towns were taken quite by
surprise. The solidified lava preserved these
places for restoration in our time. The prophetic
import of this (besides the fact that John may have
predicted or witnessed the eruption) is that the
city of Pompeii was famous for her chief citizen,
Poppaea (Nero's wife), and was named after her.
Uncovered in Pompeii is her villa, with its slave
quarters, lavish accommodations, and brothel
(complete with pornographic art and couches).
To the present: In the early years of this century
(June 30, 1908) a comet or asteroid exploded above
Siberia, creating a large, atomically-charged, area
of destruction that is intensively studied today.
Now we learn from USA Today (March 8, 1998) that a
huge, deadly asteroid is predicted to hit or miss
earth in 2028, thirty years from now. Astronomers
predict that if this monster hits, earth is
finished. Do you expect to be here in 2028? If you
are born from above, you will be here.
As for the "great earthquake," why not understand it
literally, since "the great city" is to be split
into 3 parts? In our times we have experienced
monster earthquakes, like the one that hit Guam,
August 8, 1993: 8.1 on the Richter scale. Now
that's a monster! Mexico City, Kobe and Los Angeles
also come to mind. My brother was in an elevator in
Kunming, China when that city's biggy hit a few
years ago. His is a frightening story. The author
experienced a mild earthquake in Indiana many years
ago. It was like falling, falling, falling -- and
consternation.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION: Discussion of
earthquakes allow us to segue into a historical
perspective, recalling historical events that fit
the general description of these seven geological /
stratospherical signs. Nobody is yet alive who has
experienced
· the "Great Earthquake" of Lisbon, November 1, 1755
(in the closing years of the First Reich, or the
Millennium). Within 6 minutes 60,000 were killed,
the sea rose over 50 feet;
· the "Dark Day" of May 19,
1780 which cast darkness over the entire eastern
U.S.A. -- forest fires plus heavy clouds caused
the appearance of midnight at noon -- the moon
appeared red in color;
· the Leonid Star Shower
November 12, 1833 witnessed throughout the
hemisphere unlike any other, although two rival
showers have occurred in my lifetime (I am a witness
to both): in 1968 and in 1993 (not to mention the
incredible lunar eclipse and the convergence of
planets in 1997).
· Popular on TV “Discovery
shows” feature inquiries into lost Atlantis, with
theories as to its location under the seas of
Greece, and in the oceans around Antarctica,
destroyed and submerged by great earthquakes,
volcanos or tectonic shifting.
· Seldom a year goes by that
we don't hear of some outlandish natural disaster
that is destroying some aspect of somebody's
civilization. Taken as a whole, we've seen all this
and more.
SYMBOLIC INTERPRETATION: Using Revelation 12 as a
guide, the sun might represent the Testimony of
Yahshua, the moon represents the Commandments of
Eloha, stars represent angels falling, the sky,
mountains and islands referring back to ancient
interpretations of their source in Isaiah. Loosely,
this interpretation says that the Commandments of
Eloha and the Testimony of Yahshua will be darkened;
rebellious angels and principalities will be falling
with great frequency (and ascending up from the pit,
as per the fifth and sixth trumpet), and the Day of
Yahweh will be upon the earth, with its "sky rolling
up as a scroll: the trumpet will sound and Yahweh
will descend... ." Nevertheless, as the hymn
continues, it shall be "well with my soul."
MYTHOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION: In Jewish lore
(biblical and otherwise), the falling of heavenly
bodies is symbolic of the "falling from power" of
political, economical and religious powers (see for
instance Isaiah 13:10-11 and many other references).
Such is the result of anarchy, nationalism or
conquest. All three of these dire circumstances are
described in the Revelation. In fact we see the
number of the nations of the earth increasing with
great rapidity due to the spirit of nationalism so
prevalent in every culture today, including our own.
Kings, elected officials and self-styled dictators
are falling at a rapid pace, indicative of a great
move in the realms of heaven and heaven's angels.
Political upheavals, so prevalent today, are a
perfect example of the mythological meaning of
falling stars and uprooted mountains.
05.06.02 "Fall On Us" Rev 6:15-17
Rev 6:{15} Then the
kings of the earth and the magnates and the generals
and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave
and free, hid in the caves and among the rocks of
the mountains, {16}
calling to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and
hide us from the face of the one seated on the
throne and from the wrath of the Lamb;
{17}
for the great day of their
wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
Political systems are
in upheaval at seven levels:
1. Kings,
2. Magnates,
3. Generals,
4. Rich,
5. Powerful,
6. Slaves,
7.
Free.
People, irrespective of social
position, will be hiding underground, in shelters,
calling out to the mountains to hide them from "the
face of the one on the throne" and "the wrath of the
Lamb" (Eze 38:12) All will be certain that the
something like the "Day of Yahweh," as described
many places in scripture, has come (see Hos 10:8,
Luke 23:30).
Specifically, people will be
seeking shelter from the violence of regional war.
The idea of rocks and caves as protection may come
from 1 Samuel 13:6 in which the Philistines are
encamped around Gilgal. The Israelites gathered
there under King Saul who see these advanced
armaments of war, including chariots and swords, are
terrorized and hide in “caves, thickets, rocks,
holes and pits” while others escape out of the
country.
The author recalls the scurry
to build bomb shelters in America's backyards of the
50's and 60's. The grade school and junior high
school that I attended were both designated as
fallout shelters. Nuclear war was imminent in 1960!
Little did we know then that those homemade
shelters were totally inadequate against nuclear
fallout or any other by-products of war. Rocks,
caves and bomb shelters will be equally useless
against the armies of Eloha’s wrath.
Today only certain political elites have access to
safe bunkers in case of the "Day of Yahweh."
Consider who has them: heads of state, like
President Clinton and his Cabinet, and military
types. (Ay yi yi.) VIP bunkers are built inside of
mountains at great cost of dollars and time. Yes,
people like President Clinton and his cabinet,
military geniuses and their staff members (slaves),
along with the Ted Turners, Malcolm Forbes', and
other "magnates" expect to find safety in the depth
of the mountains. Yet safety is only to be found in
a biological sense -- those that will be safe in the
day of Yahweh will be those who have been born from
above, under the spiritual protection that even
death cannot overcome.
A prophet has little capacity
to interpret prophecy. The prophet is too "black
and white," but biblical-style prophecies can only
be understood from the perspective of "gray."
5.07.01 The Seventh Seal Rev 8:1
Silence
Rev 8:{1}
When the Lamb opened the
seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about
half an hour.
The seventh seal on the book of judgment is finally
cracked and there is a short but awesome silence,
for the book is now completely unsealed and now must
be opened. We are reminded that wars and famines
and pestilence are the normal plight of earthlings.
But now the time for divine judgment has come.
(Compare with Is 41:1.)
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