CONTINUING THE STUDY OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION, WE BEGIN TO LOOK AT “THINGS WHICH MUST BE HEREAFTER” WHICH CHRIST SHOWS TO THE APOSTLE JOHN IN VISIONS.
PREPARE YOURSELF FOR WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO READ HERE BY PRAYER.
KEEP IN MIND THAT THE PROPHECIES OF REVELATION ARE NOT GIVEN IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER OF THEIR ACTUAL OCCURRENCE.
REVELATION CHAPTER 4 SYNOPSIS:
JOHN SEES A DOOR OPEN IN HEAVEN AND VOICE LIKE A TRUMPET SAYS, “COME UP HITHER, AND I WILL SHOW YOU THINGS WHICH MUST BE HEREAFTER.”
JOHN, NOW IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, SEES INTO HEAVEN GOD UPON A THRONE WITH A GREEN RAINBOW ABOUT IT.
AROUND THE THRONE WERE 24 SEATS WHERE 24 ELDERS CLOTHED IN WHITE SAT UPON THEM WITH CROWNS OF GOLD ON THEIR HEADS. (COMMENTARY: REPRESENTATIVES OF THE WHOLE CHURCH OF GOD.)
OUT OF THE THRONE CAME THUNDERINGS AND LIGHTNINGS.
THERE WERE 7 LAMPS OF FIRE BURNING BEFORE THE THRONE.
IN FRONT OF THE THRONE THERE WAS A SEA OF GLASS LIKE A CRYSTAL: AND AROUND THE THRONE WERE FOUR BEASTS WITH EYES IN FRONT AND IN BACK. THE FIRST BEAST WAS LIKE A LION (DENOTING COURAGE), THE SECOND BEAST WAS LIKE A CALF (DENOTING INNOCENCE AND SACRIFICE), THE THIRD BEAST WAS LIKE A MAN (DENOTING DISCRETION), AND THE FOURTH BEAST WAS LIKE A FLYING EAGLE (DENOTING THE WISDOM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT).
EACH OF THESE FOUR BEASTS HAD SIX WINGS ABOUT HIM.
(COMMENTARY: SYMBOLISM: 6 DAYS OF CREATION, 6 DAYS OF WORK, 6 DAY THEORY = 6000 YEARS OF MAN HISTORY) AND THEY WERE FULL OF EYES WITHIN (COMMENTARY: SYMBOLISM: INTROSPECTION/SELF EXAMINATION.
SOME BIBLE SCHOLARS BELIEVE THESE BEASTS ARE SYMBOLIC OF THE TRUE MINISTERS OF GOD STANDING BETWEEN GOD AND THE 24 ELDERS (WHO ARE THE PEOPLE OF THE CHURCH.)
THE BEASTS REST NEITHER DAY NOR NIGHT AND SAY ALOUD, “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, WHICH WAS, AND IS, AND IS TO COME.” WHILE THE BEASTS SAY THIS, JOHN SEES THE 24 ELDERS (THE PEOPLE OF THE CHURCH) THAT SAT UPON THE THRONE FALL DOWN BEFORE HIM AND WORSHIP HIM CASTING THEIR CROWNS BEFORE THE THRONE SAYING, “YOU ARE WORTHY, O LORD, TO RECEIVE GLORY AND HONOUR AND POWER: FOR YOU HAVE CREATED ALL THINGS, AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE THEY ARE AND WERE CREATED.”
REVELATION CHAPTER 5 SYNOPSIS:
JOHN SEES THAT GOD SITTING UPON HIS THRONE HOLDS A BOOK SEALED ON THE BACK WITH SEVEN SEALS (COMMENTARY: SEALED ON THE BACKSIDE IS SYMBOLISM FOR THE END OF THE SECULAR WORLD HISTORY: THE END OF THE 6000 YEARS!).
I SAW A STRONG ANGEL (LIKELY MICHAEL) PROCLAIM WITH A LOUD VOICE, “WHO IS WORTHY TO OPEN THE BOOK, AND TO LOOSE THE SEALS THEREOF?”
AND NO MAN IN HEAVEN, OR IN EARTH OR UNDER EARTH WAS ABLE TO OPEN IT, NEITHER TO LOOK AT IT.
JOHN BEGINS TO CRY BECAUSE NO MAN WAS FOUND WORTHY.
ONE OF THE ELDERS (PEOPLE OF THE CHURCH) SAID TO HIM, “WEEP NOT: BEHOLD THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH, THE ROOT OF DAVID HAS PREVAILED TO OPEN THE BOOK, AND TO LOOSE THE SEVEN SEALS THEREOF.”
JOHN SEES THE LAMB (JESUS CHRIST) WITH SEVEN HORNS AND SEVEN EYES (WHICH ARE THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT) TAKE THE BOOK FROM GOD THE FATHER UPON THE THRONE.
THE FOUR BEASTS (THE TRUE MINISTERS OF GOD) AND THE 24 ELDERS (THE PEOPLE OF THE CHURCH) FELL DOWN BEFORE THE LAMB OF GOD (JESUS). EVERY ONE OF THEM HAD HARPS, AND GOLDEN VIALS FULL OF INCENSE (WHICH ARE THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS, THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH).
THEY BEGIN TO SING A SONG, SAYING, “YOU ARE WORTHY TO TAKE THE BOOK, AND TO OPEN THE SEALS THEREOF: FOR YOU WERE SLAIN, AND HAVE REDEEMED US TO GOD BY YOUR BLOOD OUT OF EVERY KINDRED, AND TONGUE, AND PEOPLE AND NATION; AND HAVE MADE US TO OUR GOD KINGS AND PRIESTS: AND WE SHALL REIGN ON THE EARTH.”
JOHN HEARS THE VOICES OF ANGELS, THE FOUR BEASTS (THE TRUE MINISTERS), AND THE 24 ELDERS (THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH) AND THE NUMBER OF THEM COULD NOT BE COUNTED.
THEY SAID 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 BLESSINGS.”
“AND EVERY CREATURE WHICH IS IN HEAVEN, AND ON THE EARTH, AND UNDER THE EARTH, AND SUCH AS ARE IN THE SEA . . . HEARD I (JOHN) SAYING,
BLESSING AND HONOUR, AND GLORY, AND POWER, BE UNTO HIM THAT SITS UPON THE THRONE, AND UNTO THE LAMB FOR EVER AND EVER.”
THE FOUR BEASTS (THE TRUE MINISTERS) SAY, “AMEN.”
AND THE 24 ELDERS (THE PEOPLE OF THE CHURCH) FELL DOWN AND WORSHIPPED HIM THAT LIVES FOREVER AND EVER.
REVELATION CHAPTER 6 SYNOPSIS:
JOHN IS WATCHING AS THE LAMB OPENS ONE OF THE SEALS, AND HE HEARS THUNDER AND ONE OF THE BEASTS (THE TRUE MINISTERS) SAYING, “COME AND SEE.”
“AND I (JOHN) SAW, AND BEHOLD A WHITE HORSE: AND HE THAT SAT ON HIM HAD BOW; AND A CROWN WAS GIVEN UNTO HIM: AND HE WENT FORTH CONQUERING, AND TO CONQUER.”
(COMMENTARY: MANY BIBLE SCHOLARS SEE THE OPENING OF THE FIRST SEAL AND THE MAN ON THE WHITE HORSE WITH A BOW AS A PORTEND OF THE COMING OF THE ANTICHRIST, NOT JUST ANOTHER MINOR ANTICHRIST SUCH AS NAPOLEON, HITLER OR OBAMA, BUT THE ANTICHRIST. MANY BIBLE SCHOLARS BELIEVE THE FIRST SEAL IS ABOUT TO BE OPENED WHEN THE PEACE DEAL IN THE MIDDLE EAST IS IMPLEMENTED AND SIGNED.)
AND WHEN HE OPENED THE SECOND SEAL, I (JOHN) HEARD THE SECOND BEAST SAY, “COME AND SEE.”
“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 TO HIM A GREAT SWORD.”
(COMMENTARY: THE ACTUAL FORMATION OF A PALESTINIAN STATE IS HARBINGER FOR THE RED HORSE TO RIDE.ISRAEL IS NEVER, NEVER SUPPOSED TO GIVE LAND FOR A FALSE PEACE AND SECURITY. GOD GAVE THEM THE LAND OF CANAAN FOR A PURPOSE; HE PROMISED THEM HE WOULD BE THEIR BUCKLER AND THEIR SHIELD AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO FEAR THEIR ENEMIES OR GIVE UP LAND FOR A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY. THE RED HORSE IS A SYMBOL OF WAR AND DESTRUCTION, AND OF THE ANTICHRIST COMING IN THE FLESH.)
AND WHEN THE LAMB OPENED THE THIRD SEAL, I (JOHN) 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. AND I HEARD A VOICE IN THE MIDST OF THE FOUR BEASTS SAY, A MEASURE OF WHEAT FOR PENNY, AND THREE MEASURES OF BARLEY FOR A PENNY . . .”
(COMMENTARY: NOW THE BLACK HORSE AND RIDER DENOTES WOE, DARKNESS AND LIKELY BLACK MARKETEERING IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS THROUGH THE OPERATIONS OF PROFITEERS, ANOTHER BYPRODUCT OF WARS, BROUGHT ON BY ECONOMIC PROBLEMS, TRUCKING 3-DAY DELIVERY SYSTEM FAILURES, AND CROP FAILURES LEADING TO FAMINE.)
AND WHEN THE LAMB OPENED THE FOURTH SEAL, I (JOHN) HEARD THE VOICE OF THE FOURTH BEAST SAY, “COME AND SEE.”
“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.”
(COMMENTARY: AGAIN, THIS RIDER IS THE OUTCOME OF WAR AND DESTRUCTION. “THE BEASTS OF THE EARTH” IS A REFERENCE TO PESTILENCE AND PLAGUE: HIV/AIDS, WEST NILE, SMALLPOX VIRUS AND MANY OTHERS.
DURING THE TRIBULATION PERIOD 25% (2 BILLION) OF ALL THE POPULATION OF EARTH WILL DIE THROUGH PESTILENCE.)
“AND WHEN THE LAMB 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: AND THEY CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE, SAYING, HOW LONG, O LORD, HOLY AND TRUE, DO YOU NOT JUDGE AND AVENGE OUR BLOOD ON THEM THAT DWELL ON THE EARTH?
AND WHITE ROBES WERE GIVEN TO 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.”
(COMMENTARY: AFTER THE RAPTURE OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH THERE WILL BE MANY MORE PEOPLE ON EARTH THAT FINALLY WAKE UP AND EMBRACE CHRISTIANITY ONLY TO BECOME THE SAINTS OF GOD OR MEMBERS OF THE POST RAPTURE CHURCH WHOM WILL DIE. ANYONE WHOM FOLLOWS CHRIST WINDS UP AS A SACRIFICE AND A TESTIMONY AGAINST THE PERSECUTING SECULAR ONE WORLD NEW WORLD ORDER SYSTEM.)
“AND I BEHELD WHEN THE LAMB HAD OPENED THE SIXTH SEAL, AND, LO, THERE WAS A GREAT EARTHQUAKE; AND THE SUN BECAME BLACK AS SACKCLOTH OF HAIR, AND THE MOON BECAME AS BLOOD.
AND THE STARS OF HEAVEN FELL TO THE EARTH . . . AND THE HEAVEN DEPARTED AS A SCROLL WHEN IT IS ROLLED TOGETHER; AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND ISLAND WERE MOVED OUT OF THEIR PLACES.
AND THE KINGS OF THE EARTH, AND THE GREAT MEN, AND THE RICH MEN, AND THE CHIEF CAPTAINS, AND THE MIGHTY MEN, AND BONDMAN, AND EVERY FREE MAN, HID THEMSELVES IN THE DENS AND IN THE ROCKS OF THE MOUNTAINS. AND SAID TO THE MOUNTAINS AND ROCKS, FALL ON US, AND HIDE US FROM THE FACE OF HIM THAT SITS ON THE THRONE, AND FROM THE WRATH OF THE LAMB: FOR THE GREAT DAY OF HIS WRATH IS COME: AND WHO SHALL BE ABLE TO STAND?”
REVELATION CHAPTER 7 SYNOPSIS:
THIS CHAPTER DEALS WITH THE THINGS JOHN CONTINUES TO SEE AFTER THE OPENING OF THE SIXTH SEAL —
HE SEES 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.” (COMMENTARY:THEY PREVENT DESTRUCTION.)
HE SEES ANOTHER ANGEL ASCENDING FROM THE EAST, HAVING THE SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD (A MARK IN THE FOREHEAD PLAINLY SEEN). THE ANGEL CRIES WITH A LOUD VOICE TO THE FOUR ANGELS, “TO WHOM IT WAS GIVEN TO HURT THE EARTH AND THE SEA.” THE ANGEL SAYS TO THEM, “HURT NOT THE EARTH, NEITHER THE SEA, NOR THE TREES, TILL WE HAVE SEALED THE SERVANTS OF OUR GOD IN THEIR FOREHEADS.”
JOHN HEARS THE NUMBER OF THOSE SEALED — 144,000 OF ALL THE TRIBES OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. HERE’S THE BREAKDOWN —
JUDAH — 12,000
REUBEN — 12,000
GAD — 12,000
ASHER — 12,000
NAPHTALI — 12,000
MANASSAS — 12,000
SIMEON — 12,000
LEVI — 12,000
ISSACHAR — 12,000
ZEBULON — 12,000
JOSEPH — 12,000
BENJAMIN — 12,000
(COMMENTARY: NOW THERE ARE MANY THEORIES FROM BIBLE SCHOLARS ON THE MEANING OF 144,000, TOO MANY TO COVER HERE! THERE SEEMS TO BE, OF COURSE, THE LITERAL AND THE FIGURATIVE SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT ON THIS MATTER.
THE ONLY LITERAL INFORMATION IS THE NUMBER 144,000.
SO LET US MOVE ON TO THE FIGURATIVE ASPECTS OF WHAT THIS COULD MEAN. KEEP IN MIND THIS IS SPECULATIVE. BUT HERE’S WHAT SOME SCHOLARS SAY –
THESE 144,000 ARE TRIBULATION ERA SAINTS (WHO ARE MESSIANIC JEWS) THAT HAVE SURVIVED THE SIX SEALS OPENING AND HAVE SUFFERED SOMEWHAT IN THOSE JUDGEMENTS.
WE KNOW FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY WHENEVER A CENSUS WAS DONE BY THE NATION OF ISRAEL, THE MALES WERE COUNTED AS REPRESENTATIVES OF LARGER GROUPS, I.E. TOKEN HEADS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
THIS IS WHAT I BELIEVE 144,000 REPRESENTS, HEADS OF A LARGER BODY OF TRIBES OR PEOPLE.)
JOHN CONTINUES HIS VISION—
HE SEES A GREAT MULTITUDE, WHICH NO MAN COULD NUMBER, OF ALL NATIONS, AND KINDREDS, AND PEOPLE, AND TONGUES STANDING BEFORE THE THRONE AND THE LAMB CLOTHED IN WHITE ROBES WITH PALMS IN THEIR HANDS.
THEY CRY ALOUD, “SALVATION TO OUR GOD WHICH SITS UPON THE THRONE, AND UNTO THE LAMB.”
ALL THE ANGELS, ELDERS, THE FOUR BEASTS STOOD AROUND THE THRONE. THE ANGELS FALL ON THEIR FACES WORSHIPPING GOD AND SAYING, “AMEN: BLESSING AND GLORY, AND WISDOM, AND THANSKGIVING, AND HONOUR, AND POWER, AND MIGHT BE UNTO OUR GOD FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN.”
ONE OF THE ELDERS SAYS TO JOHN, WHO ARE THESE IN THE WHITE ROBES? WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?
JOHN SAYS, SIR, YOU KNOW. “THESE ARE THEY WHICH CAME OUT OF GREAT TRIBULATION, AND HAVE WASHED THEIR ROBES, AND MADE THEM WHITE IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB.”
THESE PEOPLE SERVE GOD NIGHT AND DAY IN HIS TEMPLE AND GOD SHALL DWELL AMONG THEM. THEY WILL NOT BE HUNGRY OR THIRSTY OR HOT ANYMORE. THE LAMB SHALL FEED THEM AND GOD SHALL WIPE THE TEARS FROM THEIR EYES.
AT REVELATION CHAPTER 7:9 JOHN SEEMS TO MOVE FROM THE SUBJECT OF THE 144,000 WITH THE BEGINNING STATEMENT,
“AFTER THIS I BEHELD . . .”
SO IN REVELATION CHAPTER 7 UNDERSTAND WE ARE DEALING WITH TWO MULTITUDES: ONE NUMBERED BODY OF 144000 MESSIANIC JEWS, AND ONE NUMBERLESS BODY OF CHRISTIANS MARTYRED DURING THE GREAT TRIBULATION.
NEXT . . . REVELATION CHAPTER 8 THE OPENING OF THE SEVENTH SEAL!!!