After looking at Aristeas’s letter last week, we have a
clearer picture of descriptive communication in the Bible. So that we don’t
think the law was merely about mice and weasels but about not taking on
destructive behaviors like mice and weasels, we can relate that to the rest of the
descriptive imagery in the Bible. The Book of John shows us Jesus using similes
and allegories. Fifty six times Jesus describes himself as something; bread, a
lamb, light, a door. He also says he is “from God”, he is “from above”, and he
is “the judge”. The biggest news announcement Jesus makes regarding himself is
that he is the “I AM”. Who did Moses talk to? Right, that was hard for many to
believe, that the one Moses talked to was the same one who walked and talked to
Abraham as a friend, and the same one in front of them that day. As we also saw
last week from the Book of Barnabas, Abraham prophesied of the coming messiah
as the “I AM” on the cross. In Abraham’s day that was something people were to
look for. In the first century Jesus was standing among people claiming he is
the “I AM”, but when he hung on the cross Abraham’s prophecy was fulfilled.
Today, looking back on those things, they all make sense. But how would we
describe them today? What kind of ideas and imagery would we use to communicate?
By the time of the first century people had progressed from Paleo Hebrew to now writing in Aramaic
and speaking Greek. At this time Hebrew was nearly a lost language. So when
John had a vision that he was going to write about, he was not writing in hieroglyphs
as Abraham and Moses did, but in Aramaic letters.
In Revelation 5 Jesus is the Lamb of God. We have drawn
many pictures and paintings of Jesus as a lamb, but Jesus isn’t a four footed,
fluffy sacrifice, but a gentle yet strong individual who figuratively clothes
us, feeds us, and lays down his own life for the benefit of others; and by his
shed blood, is the atonement for everyone who accepts Him. The heavenly star
picture is Jesus as Aries. The star picture
of the slain lamb was derived from the ancient star names. The entire
constellation means the redeemed consummated and enjoyed. That is exactly what
we see in Revelation 5, the redeemed, consummated and enjoyed. In Revelation 5
the Lamb takes the scroll, the redeemed rejoice, and all of heaven sings.
Remember, we recently looked at the mysteries of heaven and saw ten different
locations in the heavens where different things take place. Paradise was called
the third heaven where the righteous dead go until they put on incorruption.
When the dead in Christ start to rise out of Paradise, those who are alive on
earth will join them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Wherever this
sphere of Paradise is, when the righteous come out of it they go to meet Jesus
in the air, which implies it is somewhere other than where they were. We then
see all the redeemed, the one’s from Paradise and the one’s from earth singing
about being redeemed. This is the timing of the gathering together or rapture;
somewhere before the first seal is opened. In Revelation 6 the seals are
opened.
When a scroll was sealed, the seal had to be broken open
before the document could be read. As these seven seals are each opened,
possibly before being read, things start happening on earth. If we keep in mind
that the perspective is that this is to put pressure on people to make a
decision for or against Christ, we will understand the middle part of the Book
of Revelation better. Also since this is our 30,000 mile high view, and we have
previously looked at this in great detail, I won’t reiterate what we have
studied previously. Instead we will take a higher perspective. Because this
book is to be unsealed to the called out, we want to understand events and
timing. As we just put into perspective, the redeemed are worshipping somewhere
in heaven, where Jesus will be opening the seals. Remember, humans are the only
ones that can be redeemed, not angels or other beings. When the seals start to be
opened, four angelic beings are noticed on earth, they have been on a mission,
but now their mission is changing. Let’s look at Zechariah to see if we find
anything interesting.
Zech 6:1-8 AND AGAIN I lifted up my eyes and saw, and
behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains; and the mountains
were mountains of firm, immovable bronze. 2 The first chariot had red or bay
horses, the second chariot had black horses, 3 The third chariot had white
horses, and the fourth chariot had dappled, active, and strong horses. 4 Then I
said to the angel who talked with me, What are these, my lord? 5 And the angel
answered me, These are the four winds or spirits of the heavens, which go forth
from presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth. [Ps 104:4; Matt
24:31.] 6 The chariot with the black horses is going forth into the north
country, and the white ones are going forth after them [because there are two
northern powers to overcome], and the dappled ones are going forth toward the
south country. 7 And [the chariots with] the strong [horses] went forth and
sought to go that they might patrol the earth. And [the Lord] said to them, Go,
walk to and fro through the earth and patrol it. So they walked about through
the earth [watching and protecting it]. 8 Then He summoned me and said to me,
Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted My Spirit [of
wrath] and have caused it to rest in the north country.
The “four horsemen of the apocalypse” as they have been
called, have been, and are already, here. As soon as the seals are opened their
mission changes from peace keeping and reporting to God, to allowing turmoil. Similar
to the seven spirits of God from Revelation chapters 3, 4, and 5, and Zechariah
3 and 4, these beings go out into the earth with a purpose. The seven spirits
go out and report back while these four horsemen go on peace patrol and report
back until the seals start to open.
This next part is a shadow or type that has to take place
on earth so that it will take place again with the Messiah. Frequently, men
have to do or preform certain things in a certain way so that they will be
fulfilled later by Jesus. Think of Abraham sacrificing Isaac, substituting a
ram or lamb.
Zech 6:9-13 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 10
Accept donations and offerings from these [as representatives of the] exiles,
from Heldai, from Tobijah, and from Jedaiah, who have come from Babylon; and
come the same day and go to the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah. 11 Yes,
take from them silver and gold, and make crowns and set [one] upon the head of
Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, 12 And say to him, Thus says the
Lord of hosts: [You, Joshua] behold (look at, keep in sight, watch) the Man
[the Messiah] whose name is the Branch, for He shall grow up in His place and
He shall build the [true] temple of the Lord. [Isa 4:2; Jer 23:5; 33:15; Zech 3:8.]
13 Yes, [you are building a temple of the Lord, but] it is He Who shall build
the [true] temple of the Lord, and He shall bear the honor and glory [as of the
only begotten of the Father] and shall sit and rule upon His throne. And He
shall be a Priest upon His throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between
the two [offices — Priest and King]. [John 1:14; 17:5; Heb 2:9.] AMP
The four horsemen precede the revealing of Jesus and the
Father, during the sixth seal. The seals in Revelation are being opened so that
Jesus can build the temple and rule for one thousand years. The shadow of the
four different colored horses with peace keeping and patrolling missions in
Zechariah is the parallel to Revelation 6; four different colored horses ridden
by angels, this time to take away the peace on earth. Angelic beings are
holding back violence on the earth. When the seals are opened their mission
changes. While the devil is the god of this world and the prince of the power
of the air who stole dominion from Adam, he cannot do whatever he wants, he has
some boundaries and these angelic beings enforce these boundaries. But as the
seals are opened, the time changes and peace leaves the earth. This is the
start of Jesus building his temple for the millennial reign. How is he building
his temple? People are the temple, and people start dying en mass. Remember the
church is not on the earth, the church is worshipping, and as we will observe
shortly, praying. These are people left on earth who are now experiencing
distress and death. Death is a shedding of our earthly tent, but our spirit is
freed into another dimension. We technically are living our eternal life now,
while on earth in our mortal bodies as our spirits are now eternal. Being set
free from this habitation, or tent, or earthly body, is not an end but a
beginning of eternity without earthly constrictions.
The fifth seal shows us that people are martyred under
the altar. We know that in the end times Daniel tells us of a peace treaty
where the temple will be rebuilt in Israel and that the Jews are misled by this
person. They will not realize it until after the first 42 months. Just as there
are a number of people who are to enter into the body of Christ in this time
period, there will be a number of martyrs that will be murdered for their faith
in Jesus as Lord. There is a temple and there are sacrifices made during this
time. This is another key in our timeline to make note of. No seals have been
opened as of today as the body of Christ is still on the earth, the called out
church is still supposed to read and hear this book, and there is no temple in
Israel yet. There is also relative peace today. I say relative or virtual peace
on the earth, even during previous world wars, because compared to the seals
opening, the trumpets sounding, and bowls being poured out, there is still
peace in many places, even when some nations rise against each other. Reading
through the seals, trumpets, and bowls, we recognize that there will be
calamity after calamity. Some supernatural, some man made, and some demonic.
What there won’t be is peace.
By the time we get to the sixth seal, everyone on earth
will see two things, the wrath of the Lamb and the Father on the throne. Two
things will be evident to everyone on earth, that there is a God seated on a
throne, and that there is an angry Jesus. No one will question if there is a god, everyone will know
that there is a God. Everyone sees this event, the sky receding as a scroll,
and everyone one earth is scared. There is no getting around this one, this
hasn’t happened yet.
Chapter seven of Revelation tells us there are angels also
protecting us from the elements and are not to harm the earth, the sea, or the
trees, until the 144,000 are sealed on their foreheads. Ezekiel 9 tells us that
angels marked those who mourned over the terrible idolatry in Jerusalem. The
mark was to protect the righteous from another angel who was to bring death
Ezek 9:4-11 The Lord told him, “Go throughout the city of
Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of everyone who sighs and moans over
all of the loathsome things that are happening in it.”5 As I continued to
listen, he also told the others, “Follow him through the city and start
killing. Don’t spare anyone you see, and don’t show pity of any kind. 6 You are
to execute old men, young men, young women, little children, and women. But
don’t touch anyone who has been marked. Begin at my Holy Place!” And so they started
with the elders who were in standing in front of the Temple.7 “Desecrate my
Temple,” he told them, “and fill its courtyard with the dead!” So they went out
and began striking down people throughout the city. Ezekiel Intercedes for
Israel 8 While they were out carrying out the executions, I was left alone. So
I fell on my face and cried out, “O Lord God, are you going to destroy all of
the survivors of Israel when you pour out your anger on Jerusalem?”9 “The house
of Israel and Judah is guilty—and theirs is a stubborn guilt, at that!” he
replied to me. “The land is filled with blood, and the city overflows with
injustice, because they keep saying, ‘The Lord has abandoned the land,’ and
‘The Lord isn’t watching.’ 10 So as for me, I’m not going to show pity, and I
won’t look in their direction with mercy. I’m repaying them for what they have
done.”11 Then I noticed the man dressed in linen who wore the writing case by
his side as he brought back this message: “I’ve done as you have commanded
me.”ISV.
Just like the destroyer angel at the time of the exodus,
the marking of the 144,000 is for their protection. We are not told in Ezekiel,
by what method death came, plague, famine, natural disaster, or war. Who is
being protected? Hereditary Israelites, those from the line of Jacob. The
angels know our DNA. God knows who among the people of earth at that time of
the seventh seal will be virgin males with Jacob’s lineage.
Chapter seven contrasts the 144,000 to the nations in
verse 9. The nations, from all tribes, peoples, and tongues, are still being
martyred while a small group of genetic Jacobites are sealed and protected for
a time. Chapter seven is another portion of the story that is taking place at or
about the same time as the seals being opened. The earthly characters of
importance at this time are those who die for making Jesus Lord since the
rapture, the 144,000 genetically descended virgin males who are from Jacob’s
line, and all those not believing on Jesus. That is it. There is no
differentiation of Jew, Muslim, Catholic, or Buddhist. At this point in time on
the earth there are Jesus followers being murdered by non-Jesus followers, and
144,000 others who are hidden. This is important to note because there are some
who want to contend their importance is due to being “something” or of some
religion. There are only three people groups here. If you are not a virgin male
during this time, chances are good that you are not of the 144,000. Previously,
we saw that these have to be men as the connotation is someone who has not been
married to a woman. This does not infer any particular age, therefore these
144,000 could be babies, young boys, teenagers, or adults. So if one were to
find oneself living during this time period, and the requirements of the
144,000 are not applicable, then one must be a follower of Jesus, or not a follower
of Jesus. There are no special groups, even though at this time people will
believe in the anti-Christ who will make a treaty and build the temple, and
Jews will be sacrificing in the temple. One is either martyred for Jesus, or is
not a follower of Jesus. Remember, the whole world saw God seated on the throne
and the wrath of the Lamb. How hard must one’s heart be to ignore or forget
about the sky rolling back and revealing that?
In case we thought the church is missing in action, the
seventh seal tells us what those who have been gathered up have been doing. In
Revelation 5 we saw the golden bowls of incense which are the prayers of the
saints that sing a new song about being redeemed. In Chapter 8, an angel
gathers up the prayers of the saints and throws them to earth. What? We, the
redeemed saints who had been gathered before the seals were opened, have been
praying and interceding, so much so that our prayers will be collected and
violently affect the earth. Obviously the redeemed saints can’t be on the earth
if their prayers are thrown down to earth. The function of the redeemed, both
the living gathered and the redeemed gathered from Paradise, during this period
of time that the seals are being opened, is prayer.
As soon as the prayers of the saints are thrown down, the
trumpet judgments start. The angels are loosed on earth and the heavens and
earth start to suffer; the plants, the sea, the water, the sun, the moon and
the stars are all affected. Then something crazy happens, something that has
not happened up to this point in time. Locusts are loosed upon earth to torture
those without the seal of God for five months. That is very specific timing,
five months of torture for those who are not of the 144,000 virgin males. The
king over the locusts is Gog the locust king/Abaddon/Apollyon. This is one of
the “three woes”.
Let’s not forget who God sees when he looks at the earth.
To state it again, during this time there are Jesus followers, non-Jesus
followers, and the 144,000 male virgins from Jacob’s lineage. That’s it. Just
like in Ezekiel, those without the mark will be tortured for five months. If
that wasn’t enough, by the sixth trumpet sounding, the four angels who have
been bound in the Euphrates will be loosed to gather an army. Today, people
think there is so much evil in the world, but this time period is far worse.
Many, many people will die. If they are not following Jesus by this time, they
will spend eternity in the lake of fire. The tribulation is the greatest time
of conversion to Jesus’ Lordship because of the hardship people will endure.
Yet, even still, up to this time there are still people who refuse to say Blessed is he who comes in the name of the
Lord. Jesus said that people in Jerusalem would not see him again until they
accept him as Lord.
At the time of the first six trumpets God is allowing
demonic entities to harm the earth and the people left here. Imagine the
perspective of those on earth at that time. How many will curse God? Look how
society has been trained to think today; every time there is a natural disaster
God the creator is blamed, yet clearly we know there is a god of this world, a
prince of this world who has power over earth’s atmosphere, and yet people
don’t know there is a devil who blinds their minds and works in children of
disobedience. What a poor job the church as done to teach the world that there
is a devil, and a spiritual battle that has gone on longer than humankind has
been in existence. Imagine if the non-believers of today were taught that there
is a devil vying for their souls with the intent of causing them to suffer in
eternity, and every decision a human makes is vitally important to their
future. More people would get saved. Instead we have a large number of groups
who disregard the demonic spiritual element in the world, and they claim God is
beating up humans. What a pitiful perspective. If we think through this time of
the tribulation and compare it to the devil being loosed at the end of the one
thousand year millennial reign, we can understand that the devil is being used
to determine allegiance. The devil hated Adam and humanity because humanity was
made as a ruling class until the devil stole Adam’s authority. We are now
living out Adam’s term under the devil’s rule. We have to understand
dispensations and administrations to make full sense of this. At this time
period God is not sending fires, floods, famine and fear, this is the
administration of the Holy Spirit, not wrath.
Chapter ten of Revelation starts another look at
something else happening, besides what we have seen taking place on earth.
There are seven thunders, but John is
not allowed to tell us what is said; however John does tell us in a veiled way
what happens. There is something specific here we are not allowed to know, it
does not have anything to do with the saints in heaven or the earthly
inhabitants. It is the time of the war in heaven. As we saw a few weeks ago,
there are many places in heaven, and satan was removed from access to the
higher levels, but he still has some access to accuse us before the throne of
God day and night. (What a pest! Don’t you hate it when someone constantly
complains?) At this time, satan and his angels will go to war with Michael and
his angels. This is when the devil will be bound to earth. How do we know this?
Revelation 12 tells us. John gives a timeline perspective, which is a veiled
sequence of events. How can we relate that to the period of Revelation 10?
Because the mystery of the Nations, the number of people coming into the
sheepfold, the mystery Paul declared has been finished. The mystery of this
dispensation is not only that people from all nations, tribes, and tongues
would enter into the sheepfold and brought home as the constellation picture of
cancer tells us with its decans of Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, and Argo; but the
rulership of earth has changed from the devil to the King, the lion of Judah,
the story of the constellation of Leo. The story has been written in the
heavens since the beginning.
After the thunders sound John eats the book the angel
has. Jeremiah says he ate the words of God. What does that mean? The times of
humanity, the story that we are living, has been written, as well as the
future. John was told to eat the book and prophesy. John had to consume this
knowledge then speak about it. So John then tells us about the two witnesses.
The two witness are on earth as soon as the church is gathered. They do signs
and wonders for three and one half years, or the first half of the tribulation.
They are contending against much hostility and the people who decide to follow
Jesus at that time are being martyred while seals are opening and trumpets are
sounding. Look who kills the two witnesses, Abaddon/Apollyon/Gog the locust
king. As we have previously studied, the two witnesses are the only two people
mentioned in the Bible that still have their original earthly bodies. That is
Enoch and Elijah.
Right after the two witnesses are killed, people on earth
start to rejoice and give each other gifts. The earth people have been told
that the witnesses are causing all the trouble on earth, therefore people blame
them instead of the devil. But on the third day, the two witnesses are
resurrected and everyone sees it. Take note, a voice says “Come up here” just
like in chapter 4 of Revelation. Once the witnesses go up, the seventh trumpet
sounds and the announcement is made that Jesus is now the King of the world and
all the kingdoms are his. This is how we know in chapter 10 that when the
thunders sound there must be a commotion that removes the old ruler because the
new ruler is now stepping in. As soon as Jesus is crowned he gives out rewards
to his servants, those who were gathered and redeemed on the day of redemption.
This is the mid-point in the tribulation. Three and one half years has passed.
Now Jesus is newly crowned and his bride is preparing. John goes into
historical perspective in chapter 12 and tells us in a timeline up to the time
the devil is thrown out of heaven. We know he hasn’t been thrown out yet and
that he is still accusing us before the throne day and night. This is John’s
way, using imagery to help us understand that the last thing that happens
before Jesus is crowned King is that satan is thrown out of heaven. Now, the
second half of the tribulation begins and the devil is very mad. Taking this
overview we can see that while John was not allowed to write what the thunders
actually said, we can get the idea of what happened. Next, the world leaders
are given covert names and titles, while the people on earth are still those
who died for Jesus, those who reject Jesus, and the 144,000 virgin males from
Jacob’s family line.
