When we look at the sixth seal being opened, we notice that something strange happens on the earth. Men beg to be buried in order to hide from what they see. It seems unusual for those who have been killing others to all of a sudden fear the face of the Living God and the anger of the Lamb. We see the day of vengeance unfolding bit by bit one seal at a time. We see the wrath of the Lamb increasing and now the humans on the earth are in fear. The children of the Living God are still watching the seals being opened. The children of wrath are being recompensed. Remember the first seal noted a change in the dispensation, the second seal took peace off the earth and people slaughtered one another. The third seal brought food shortages and price gouging. The forth seal allowed Death and Hades to use the sword, famine, plague, and wild beasts, to kill a fourth of the population. The fifth seal saw those adhering to the word of God and the testimony of the Lamb to be murdered under the altar of sacrifice. What we see transpire with the sixth seal is due to the slaughter under the altar of the fifth seal.
We must remember to keep our time period straight, this is the “day of vengeance”, not the “Day of the Lord”. Isaiah talks about this day a few times and he gives us some interesting insight into garments as we also saw last week. There is also an interesting side note that comes up during the seals regarding people who are in heaven and people who are martyred that we should explore. Who are the called, chosen, and faithful? It is easy for people to feel that they deserve special privileges for serving the Lord, yet the benefit of salvation is the same for all. However, the invitation to the wedding is another matter. Let’s start with the sixth seal.
Revelation 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
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.
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 hide 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?
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.
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 hide 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?
Revelation 6:12 G2532 And G1492 I saw. G2532 And G3753 when G455 he opened G3588 the G4973 [2seal G3588 G1622 1sixth], G2532 even G4578 [2earthquake G3173 1a great] G1096 took place, G2532 and G3588 the G2246 sun G3189 [2black G1096 1became] G5613 as G4526 a sackcloth G5155 made of hair, G2532 and G3588 the G4582 moon G1096 became G5613 as G129 blood;
There are several events taking place at once here. An earthquake, which could also include a volcanic eruption with ash darkening the sun. This also says the moon ‘became as blood’, which usually happens when the atmosphere has ash or debris in it. At the time of this occurrence, in the parts of the earth where it is day, the sun is blackened, and in the parts of the earth where it is night the moon is reddened.
Revelation 6:13 G2532 and G3588 the G792 stars G3588 of the G3772 heaven G4098 fell G1519 unto G3588 the G1093 earth, G5613 as G4808 a fig-tree G906 casts G3588 G3653 its immature figs G1473 G5259 [2by G3173 3a great G417 4wind G4579 1being shaken].
4098LSJ Gloss:πίπτω to fall, fall down
Dodson: πίπτω I fall, fall under I fall, fall under (as under condemnation), fall prostrate.
Thayer:
1) to descend from a higher place to a lower
1a) to fall (either from or upon)
1a1) to be thrust down
1b) metaph. to fall under judgment, came under condemnation
2) to descend from an erect to a prostrate position
2a) to fall down
2a1) to be prostrated, f
πίπτω, πέτω
piptō petō pip'-to, pet'-o The first is a reduplicated and contracted form of the second (which occurs only as an alternate in certain tenses); probably akin to G4072 through the idea of alighting; to fall (literally of figuratively) KJV Usage: fail, fall (down), light on.
The stars fall. When we see usages of stars in the context of going dark or falling it is usually in reference to the Day of the Lord, but this is not the Day of the Lord. This is just under seven years before the Day of the Lord. At this time, the stars themselves may be falling to earth like figs from a tree, but these stars may also be comets or a heavy meteor shower. Is it possible that between debris from possible volcanos falling back to earth and meteors it looks like stars falling? Since we see stars talked about on the Day of the Lord, this tells us that there are still stars in the sky at that time.
However, there may be something else going on here. We may gain a clue from some earlier scriptures in Revelation 1. The seven stars are the seven angels of the seven churches. It may be that the stars that fall like figs are angels leaving their posts. As we saw in Enoch, angels have assignments in the heavens managing the heavenly bodies. Are the angels “alighting” as the definition implies, meaning leaving their posts as one gets off a bus? Or are the angels prostrating when they see the Living God? They are in a lower atmosphere than the throne, so when the sky rolls back they prostrate at the same time that the meteor showers erupt in the sky. We have a hard time thinking outside of our own galaxy, but the Living God is beyond all galaxies. So the definition gives us some pause to think about what else is taking place beyond what we may have imagined. It is not only about earthlings, but the other sons of God as well.
In reference to Cyrus, Isaiah records the Lord saying that he gives charge to all the stars, meaning they have orders or commands. They are not just elements, they have directions to follow. Just as Yahweh gave charge to the stars, he also gave charge to Cyrus.
Isaiah 45:11 G3754 For G3779 thus G3004 says G2962 the lord G3588 G2316 God, G3588 the G39 holy one G* of Israel, G3588 the one G4160 making G3588 the G1904 coming things, G2065 Ask G1473 me G4012 concerning G3588 G5207 my sons. G1473 G2532 And G4012 concerning G3588 the G2041 works G3588 G5495 of my hands, G1473 G1781 shall you give charge G1473 to me!
12 G1473 I G4160 made G1093 the earth, G2532 and G444 man G1909 upon G1473 it. G1473 I G3588 [4 by G5495 5my hand G1473 G4732 1solidified G3588 2the G3772 3heaven]. G1473 I G3956 [2to all G3588 3the G798 4stars G1781 1gave charge].
The stars are obeying commands, and Enoch records that the angelic beings are in charge of making sure these elements follow their required instructions.
The Book of the Secrets of Enoch
Here they took Enoch up on to the fourth heaven where is the course of sun and moon.
11:1 THOSE men took me, and led me up on to the fourth heaven, and showed me all the successive goings, and all the rays of the light of sun and moon.
2 And I measured their goings and compared their light, and saw that the sun's light is greater than the moon's.
3 Its circle and the wheels on which it goes always, like a wind going past with very marvellous speed, and day and night it has no rest.
4 Its passage and return are accompanied by four great stars, and each star has under it a thousand stars, to the right of the sun's wheel, and by four to the left, each having under it a thousand stars, altogether eight thousand, issuing with the sun continually.
5 And by day fifteen myriads of angels attend it, and by night a thousand.
6 And six-winged ones issue with the angels before the sun's wheel into the fiery flames, and a hundred angels kindle the sun and set it alight.
12:1AND I looked and saw other flying elements of the sun, whose names are Phoenixes and Chalkydri, marvellous and wonderful, with feet and tails in the form of a lion, and a crocodile's head, their appearance is empurpled, like the rainbow; their size is nine hundred measures, their wings are like those of angels, each has twelve, and they attend and accompany the sun, bearing heat and dew, as it is ordered them from God.
2 Thus the sun revolves and goes, and rises under the heaven, and its course goes under the earth with the light of its rays incessantly.
14:1AND again those men led me away to the western parts, and showed me six great gates open corresponding to the Eastern gates, opposite to where the sun sets, according to the number of the days three hundred and sixty-five and a quarter.
2 Thus again it goes down to the western gates, and draws away its light, the greatness of its brightness, under the earth; for since the crown of its shining is in heaven with the Lord, and guarded [by four hundred angels, while the sun goes round on wheel under the earth, and stands seven great hours in night, and spends half its course under the earth, when it comes to the eastern approach in the eighth hour of the night, it brings its lights, and the crown of shining, and the sun flames forth more than fire.
15:1 THEN the elements of the sun, called Phoenixes and Chalkydri break into song, therefore every bird flutters with its wings, rejoicing at the giver of light, and they broke into song at the command of the Lord.
2 The giver of light comes to give brightness to the whole world, and the morning guard takes shape, which is the rays of the sun, and the sun of the earth goes out, and receives its brightness to light up the whole face of the earth, and they showed me this calculation of the sun's going.
3 And the gates which it enters, these are the great gates of the computation of the hours of the year; for this reason the sun is a great creation, whose circuit lasts twenty-eight years, and begins again from the beginning.
16:1THOSE men showed me the other course, that of the moon, twelve great gates, crowned from west to east, by which the moon goes in and out of the customary times….
7 And when the western gates are finished, it returns and goes to the eastern to the lights, and goes thus day and night about the heavenly circles, lower than all circles, swifter than the heavenly winds, and spirits and elements and angels flying; each angel has six wings.
8 It has a sevenfold course in nineteen years.
We see from Enoch that the angelic beings have jobs to do regarding the commands of the elements; the stars, constellations, the sun, and moon. We see angels, seraphim, phoenixes, and chalkydri, heavenly winds, spirits, and elements, all doing the will of the Living God. With that in mind it is possible the disruption of the sixth seal with the heavens rolling back causes the angels to do obeisance before the vision of the Living God and the wrath of the Lamb. The breach in dimensions effects the angels because the angels always worship the Heavenly Father.
Revelation 6:14 G2532 And G3588 the G3772 heaven G673 had been separated G5613 as G975 a scroll G1507 being rolled, G2532 and G3956 every G3735 mountain G2532 and G3520 island G1537 from out of G3588 G5117 their places G1473 G2795 were shaken.
673LSJ Gloss:ἀποχωρίζω to part
Dodson:ἀποχωρίζω I separate from I separate from; mid: I part; pass: I am swept aside.
Thayer:
1) to separate, sever
2) to part asunder
3) to separate one's self, depart from
ἀποχωρίζω
apochōrizō ap-okh-o-rid'-zo From G575 and G5563; to rend apart; reflexively to separate KJV Usage: depart (asunder).
1507 Strong’s:εἱλίσσω to coil or wrap
Derivation: a prolonged form of a primary but defective verb εἵλω (of the same meaning); KJV Usage: roll together.
Thayer:
1) to roll up or together
εἱλίσσω
heilissō hi-lis'-so A prolonged form of a primary but defective verb εἵλω heilō (of the same meaning); to coil or wrap KJV Usage: roll together. See also G1667.
While the earth quakes, the sun and moon are clouded over, stars fall, and the heavens roll up like a scroll. What does this mean? It seems there will be a breach in the sky and the people on earth will be able to see into the higher heaven. This seems to be an inference to a period of time where there will be expanded dimensions for humans. Humans are bound in three/four dimensions (length, width, depth, and time), but the Living God is multi dimensional. (Think of Jesus’ resurrected body, it was solid but he could walk through walls, appear and disappear, and eat and drink without food leaking out, even while he still had holes in his body.) Somehow a window will open into the throne room of heaven and the mountains and islands will move.
5117 LSJ Gloss:τόπος a place
Dodson:τόπος a place a place, region, seat; an opportunity.
Thayer:
1) place, any portion or space marked off, as it were from surrounding space
1a) an inhabited place, as a city, village, district
1b) a place (passage) in a book
2) metaph.
2a) the condition or station held by one in any company or assembly
2b) opportunity, power, occasion for acting
For Synonyms see entry G5875
τόπος
topos top'-os Apparently a primary word; a spot (generally in space, but limited by occupancy; whereas G5561 is a larger but particular locality), that is, location (as a position, home, tract, etc.); figuratively condition, opportunity; specifically a scabbard KJV Usage: coast, licence, place, X plain, quarter, + rock, room, where.
2795LSJ Gloss:κινέω to set in motion, to move
Dodson:κινέω I move, stir, excite I set in motion, move, remove, excite, stir up.
Thayer:
1) to cause to go, i.e. to move, set in motion
1a) to be moved, move: of that motion which is evident in life
1b) to move from a place, to remove
2) metaph.
2a) to move excite
2b) a riot, disturbance
2c) to throw into commotion
κινέω
kineō kin-eh'-o From κίω kiō (poetic for [ εἶμι eimi to go ]); to stir (transitively), literally or figuratively KJV Usage: (re-) move (-r), way.
Look at the word for “places”, topos as in topography. The topography of the earth is moved, or set in motion. This could be eluding to continental plate shifts. Whatever happens to the mountains and the islands they are thrown into commotion.
Isaiah 34 http://ecmarsh.com/lxx/Esaias/index.htm
34:1 Draw near, ye nations; and hearken, ye princes; let the earth hear, and they that are in it; the world, and the people that are therein. 2 For the wrath of the Lord is upon all nations, and his anger upon the number of them, to destroy them, and give them up to slaughter.
Remember this is the day of wrath. He is giving them up to slaughter, remember the first four seals? It is a time of humans killing humans and Death and Hades instigating death.
Isaiah 34:3 And their slain shall be cast forth, and their corpses; and their ill savour shall come up, and the mountains shall be made wet with their blood. 4 And all the powers of the heavens shall melt, and the sky shall be rolled up like a scroll: and all the stars shall fall like leaves from a vine, and as leaves fall from a fig-tree.
What day is this? It is the day of wrath, not the Day of the Lord. This is the time of vengeance. Notice that we see elements of the first four seals here, then the sixth seal. The explanation of why the heavens melt and the sky rolls up is because of the fifth seal as we shall see shortly.
The word for star here is astron (neuter) for “constellation”, while John uses the word aster meaning “spread out over the sky”. They fall in the same way, pipto peto, they prostrate or are alighting.
Isaiah 34:5 My sword has been made drunk in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and with judgment upon the people doomed to destruction. 6 The sword of the Lord is filled with blood, it is glutted with fat, with the blood of goats and lambs, and with the fat of goats and rams: for the Lord has a sacrifice in Bosor, and a great slaughter in Idumea. 7 And the mighty ones shall fall with them, and the rams and the bulls; and the land shall be soaked with blood, and shall be filled with their fat.
What happened in the fifth seal? There were temple sacrifices being made, and then they were stopped. People then died under the altar. This is the day of judgment, or separating. The day of vengeance and payback. What makes the Lamb of God angry is the martyring of people who hold his testimony. This is why people see the wrath of the Lamb when the sixth seal opens. The seals escalate in severity and the trumpet judgments are coming. This is the time of the Lamb’s payback.
Isaiah 34:8 For it is the day of judgment of the Lord, and the year of the recompence of Sion in judgment.
After the seven years, some of the land is utterly destroyed like sodom was, but even though it is destroyed, animals and demons will live there. This is the area of Edom and it takes place during the millennial kingdom. We studied this a long while back.
Isaiah 34:9 And her valleys shall be turned into pitch, and her land into sulphur; and her land shall be as pitch burning night and day; 10 and it shall never be quenched, and her smoke shall go up: it shall be made desolate throughout her generations, 11 and for a long time birds and hedgehogs, and ibises and ravens shall dwell in it: and the measuring line of desolation shall be cast over it, and satyrs shall dwell in it. 12 Her princes shall be no more; for her kings and her great men shall be destroyed. 13 And thorns shall spring up in their cities, and in her strong holds: and they shall be habitations of monsters, and a court of ostriches. 14 And devils shall meet with satyrs, and they shall cry one to the other: there shall satyrs rest, having found for themselves a place of rest. 15 There has the hedgehog made its nest, and the earth has safely preserved its young: there have the deer met, and seen one another’s faces. 16 They passed by in full number, and not one of them perished: they sought not one another; for the Lord commanded them, and his Spirit gathered them. 17 And he shall cast lots for them, and his hand has portioned out their pasture, saying, Ye shall inherit the land for ever: they shall rest on it through all generations.
The Holy Spirit gathers these animals, and this is where they shall live. Also in this place, which becomes a wilderness, live satyrs and demons. This is going to be a place no one goes in the millennial kingdom, people will go around this area to avoid it. Again, this part takes place after the seven years.
Back to the sixth seal. When the heavens roll up, the people will see something that they will be very afraid of.
Revelation 6:15 G2532 And G3588 the G935 kings G3588 of the G1093 earth, G2532 and G3588 the G3175 great men, G2532 and G3588 the G5506 commanders of thousands, G2532 and G3588 the G4145 rich, G2532 and G3588 the G2478 mighty ones, G2532 and G3956 every G1401 bondman, G2532 and G3956 every G1658 free man, G2928 hid G1438 themselves G1519 in G3588 the G4693 caves, G2532 and G1519 in G3588 the G4073 rocks G3588 of the G3735 mountains.
Every type of person, whether rich or poor, political leaders or slaves, everyone on the earth will be in so much fear they will attempt to hide in caves and under rocks. The whole earth sees the same thing, and the people cry for the mountains and rocks to fall upon them to hide them. It is interesting to note that at this time all the angelic beings, saints, and the recently martyred are in the presence of the Father and the Son. None of those people are afraid, the saints are singing a new song, and the martyrs are asking when they will be avenged. They are all perfectly happy. On earth however, the people are in great fear. They cannot look upon the face of the Father and the Son. These people may be realizing that they themselves are not god.
Revelation 6:16 G2532 And G3004 they say G3588 to the G3735 mountains G2532 and G3588 to the G4073 rocks, G4098 Fall G1909 upon G1473 us, G2532 and G2928 hide G1473 us G575 from G4383 the face G3588 of the one G2521 sitting G1909 upon G3588 the G2362 throne, G2532 and G575 from G3588 the G3709 anger G3588 of the G721 lamb!
17 G3754 For G2064 is come G3588 the G2250 [2day G3588 G3173 1great] G3588 G3709 of his anger; G1473 G2532 and G5100 who G1410 is able G2476 to stand?
Why are these people so afraid? They are the children of wrath, and they now know that they cannot stand in the presence of a Holy God. With the first four seals we saw a big cultural change and lots of death on the earth. With the fifth seal we saw people killed under the altar. Now it is time for the wrath of the Lamb. Isaiah says his sword is made drunk in heaven. Jesus isn’t fighting in heaven. His sword is made drunk with the blood of the martyrs. The Lord has a sacrifice in Bosor. Bosor from the Hebrew name Beor, the father of Balaam, meaning torch.
Isaiah 63:1 Who is this that is come from Edom, with red garments from Bosor? thus fair in his apparel, with mighty strength? I speak of righteousness and saving judgment.
We will look at this verse again shortly, but for now we see that Isaiah is talking about the same person coming in judgment whose sword is drunk with blood. The reality for people on the earth at this time is that there really is a creator, a God who is so fierce that they cannot look at him with all their sin. Who will cry out for death? Everyone.
Jesus told us something about the kingdom of heaven that should encourage us. He told two stories that are of two different things, but he used the same phrase in both. People don’t have to live through this time, they can leave earth with the saints at the harpazo. He said the last will be first and that many are invited or welcome, but only a few are selected.
Matthew 20:1-16 (KJV)
1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Matthew 20:16 G3779 Thus G1510.8.6 will be G3588 the G2078 last G4413 first, G2532 and G3588 the G4413 first G2078 last. G4183 For many G1063 G1510.2.6 are G2822 called, G3641 but few G1161 G1588 chosen.
2078LSJ Gloss:ἔσχατος outermost
Dodson:ἔσχατος last, at the last, finally last, at the last, finally, till the end.
Thayer:
1) extreme
1a) last in time or in place
1b) last in a series of places
1c) last in a temporal succession
2) the last
2a) last, referring to time
2b) of space, the uttermost part, the end, of the earth
2c) of rank, grade of worth, last i.e. lowest
ἔσχατος
eschatos es'-khat-os A superlative probably from G2192 (in the sense of contiguity); farthest, final (of place or time) KJV Usage: ends of, last, latter end, lowest, uttermost.
4413 Dodson:πρῶτος first, before first, before, principal, most important.
Thayer:
1) first in time or place
1a) in any succession of things or persons
2) first in rank
2a) influence, honour
2b) chief
2c) principal
3) first, at the first
πρῶτος
prōtos pro'-tos Contracted superlative of G4253; foremost (in time, place, order or importance) KJV Usage: before, beginning, best, chief (-est), first (of all), former.
2822 LSJ Gloss:κλητός called, invited, welcome
Dodson:κλητός called, summoned called, invited, summoned by God to an office or to salvation.
Thayer:
1) called, invited (to a banquet)
1a) invited (by God in the proclamation of the Gospel) to obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom through Christ
1b) called to (the discharge of) some office
1b1) divinely selected and appointed
κλητός
klētos klay-tos' From the same as G2821; invited, that is, appointed, or (specifically) a saint KJV Usage: called.
3641LSJ Gloss:ὀλίγος few, little, scanty, small
Dodson:ὀλίγος small, brief, few, soon (a) especially in plur: few, (b) in sing: small; hence, of time: short, of degree: light, slight, little.
Thayer:
1) little, small, few
1a) of number: multitude, quantity, or size
1b) of time: short
1c) of degree or intensity: light, slight
ὀλίγος
oligos ol-ee'-gos Of uncertain affinity; puny (in extent, degree, number, duration or value); especially neuter (adverbially) somewhat KJV Usage: + almost, brief [-ly], few, (a) little, + long, a season, short, small, a while.
1588LSJ Gloss:ἐκλεκτός picked out, select
Dodson:ἐκλεκτός chosen, elect, choice, select chosen out, elect, choice, select, sometimes as subst: of those chosen out by God for the rendering of special service to Him (of the Hebrew race, particular Hebrews, the Messiah, and the Christians).
Thayer:
1) picked out, chosen
1a) chosen by God,
1a1) to obtain salvation through Christ
1a1a) Christians are called "chosen or elect" of God
1a2) the Messiah in called "elect", as appointed by God to the most exalted office conceivable
1a3) choice, select, i.e. the best of its kind or class, excellence preeminent: applied to certain individual Christians
ἐκλεκτός
eklektos ek-lek-tos' From G1586; select; by implication favorite KJV Usage: chosen, elect.
This has a very interesting connotation. The newer Christians get the same salvation that people who have been Christians longer get. Everyone is welcome. Yet from this group there are some who will be selected. Selected for what? Jesus tells a similar story with a further understanding for us.
Matthew 22:1-14 (KJV)
1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
We should note the garment. As stated last week there are different garments for different administrations and different people. We can see in our own language we may say coat, or jacket, or parka. These words are similar but not the same. Let’s look.
Matthew 22:12 G2532 And G3004 he says G1473 to him, G2083 Friend, G4459 how G1525 did you enter G5602 here G3361 not G2192 having G1742 [2garment G1062 1a wedding]? G3588 And he G1161 G5392 was halted.
1742 LSJ Gloss:ἔνδυμα a garment
Dodson:ἔνδυμαa garment, raiment a garment, raiment, clothing.
Thayer:
1) garment, raiment, cloak, an outer garment
ἔνδυμα
enduma en'-doo-mah From G1746; apparel (especially the outer robe) KJV Usage: clothing, garment, raiment.
5392LSJ Gloss:φιμόω to muzzle, shut up as with a muzzle
Dodson:φιμόω I muzzle, silence.
Thayer:
1) to close the mouth with a muzzle, to muzzle
2) metaph.
2a) to stop the mouth, make speechless, reduce to silence
2b) to become speechless
3) to be kept in check
φιμόω
phimoō fee-mo'-o From φιμός phimos (a muzzle); to muzzle KJV Usage: muzzle.
In this culture, people attending a wedding wore a wedding garment, an outer garment for the occasion. Notice this is a special honor, and the man not wearing a wedding garment was speechless. He was thrown out. The king asked people to attend, they were welcome, but they did not accept. The king invited others and they all came to the wedding. Yet someone came in from somewhere else, or at a later time because he did not receive a wedding garment like the others. He was thrown out. Imagine it this way, people walking into the banquet hall are given an outer garment, but this man didn’t walk in the same way others did, which is why he was thrown out.
When Jesus comes back to earth on the Day of the Lord he will be wearing a garment dyed red and an outer garment.
Isaiah 63:1 G5100 Who G3778 is this, G3588 the one G3854 coming G1537 from out of G* Edom, G2062.2 with [2dyed red G2440 1garments] G1537 from out of G* Bozrah? G3779 This one G5611 beautiful G1722 in G4749 his apparel, G1473 G970 [3force G3326 1with G2479 2a mighty]? G1473 I G1256 reason G1343 righteousness G2532 and G2920 the case G4992 of deliverance.
2 G1302 Why G1473 are your G2063 [2red G3588 G2440 1clothes], G2532 and G3588 G1742 your garments G1473 G5613 as G575 from G3962.1 a trampled G3025 wine vat,
3 G4134 full G2662 of that being trampled? G2532 And G3588 of the G1484 nations G3756 there is not G1510.2.3 G435 a man G3326 with G1473 me. G2532 And G2662 I trampled G1473 them G1722 in G2372 my rage, G1473 G2532 and G2616.4 I broke them in pieces G1473 G5613 as G1093 ground, G2532 and G2609 led G3588 G129 their blood G1473 G1519 unto G1093 the ground. G2532 And G3956 all G3588 G2440 my garments G3392 are defiled.
4 G2250 For a day G1063 G469 of recompense G1904 came upon G1473 them, G2532 and G1763 a year G3085 of ransoming G3918 is at hand.
2440 LSJ Gloss:ἱμάτιον an outer garment, a cloak
Dodson:ἱμάτιον outer garment a long flowing outer garment, tunic.
Thayer:
1) a garment (of any sort)
1a) garments, i.e. the cloak or mantle and the tunic
2) the upper garment, the cloak or mantle
ἱμάτιον
himation him-at'-ee-on Neuter of a presumed derivative of ἕννυμι hennumi (to put on); a dress (inner or outer) KJV Usage: apparel, cloke, clothes, garment, raiment, robe, vesture.
Jesus is wearing the wedding garment and a cloak or tunic. Revelation 19 also points out his crowns. Both garments are red. Jesus’ bride has just made herself ready and she is wearing fine linen. Where were the guests called to? The wedding of the kings son. After the man is thrown out, Jesus says the same thing he said earlier, many are called but few are chosen.
Matthew 22:14 G4183 For many G1063 G1510.2.6 are G2822 called, G3641 but few G1161 G1588 are chosen.
Many guests are called, but from the guest list only a few are chosen. Chosen for what? Chosen for war.
Revelation 17:14 G3778 These G3326 [2against G3588 3the G721 4lamb G4170 1shall wage war], G2532 and G3588 the G721 lamb G3528 will overcome G1473 them, G3754 for G2962 [2Lord G2962 3of lords G1510.2.3 1he is] G2532 and G935 king G935 of kings; G2532 and G3588 the ones G3326 with G1473 him G2822 are called, G2532 and G1588 chosen, G2532 and G4103 trustworthy.
4103LSJ Gloss:πιστός liquid medicines to be trusted
Dodson:πιστός trustworthy, faithful, believing.
Thayer:
1) trusty, faithful
1a) of persons who show themselves faithful in the transaction of business, the execution of commands, or the discharge of official duties
1b) one who kept his plighted faith, worthy of trust
1c) that can be relied on
2) easily persuaded
2a) believing, confiding, trusting
2b) in the NT one who trusts in God's promises
2b1) one who is convinced that Jesus has been raised from the dead
2b2) one who has become convinced that Jesus is the Messiah and author of salvation
πιστός
pistos pis-tos' From G3982; objectively trustworthy; subjectively trustful KJV Usage: believe (-ing, -r), faithful (-ly), sure, true.
There is a benefit to accepting the invitation. All who accept the invitation receive the same salvation. However, those who are found faithful and trustworthy are coming back with Jesus to wage war. This is the army of the saints. If we accept the invitation and show ourselves faithful, we are coming back with Jesus. This is why we want to leave the earth in the harpazo. If we do, we may be found faithful to return with Jesus on the Day of the Lord.
The sixth seal shows the anger of the Lamb. We may forget that at this time that we live in, the Lamb is not harming, punishing, or judging the earth. The satan is in charge today and accuses us before the throne day and night. However, when that day and time comes, and the Lamb begins to open the seals, his sword will become drunk with the blood of the martyrs and his wrath will be seen on the earth by all those who have rejected him. When the sky rolls back, the earth’s inhabitants will be in so much fear that they will wish to die. The angels will prostrate and possibly leave their posts in the heavens. As the harpazo’d saints and newly martyred watch this seal open, the earth experiences the effects of the breach in the dimensions of the Living God seated on His throne, far beyond our universe. The time of the wrath of the Lamb has come.
