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The Book of Revelation Unveiled at Last!
by Herbert W. Armstrong
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The Prophecies of the Book of REVELATION
are revealed at last! The closed, sealed prophecies are opened. Here is
a startling, eye- opening booklet vividly picturing the catastrophic
events soon to bring the END OF THIS AGE!
GOD'S TIME has come! At last, the most mysterious, intriguing, never-before-understood Book of Revelation stands unveiled!
In this heretofore closed, sealed Book, the Eternal God now reveals,
not only the wonderful world of PEACE -- of PLENTY -- of HAPPINESS and
JOY soon to shine forth on this very present generation, but also the
terrifying world-catastrophes this present world is first bringing on
itself!
Science, technology and industry are producing more
and more frightful weapons of mass destruction. Already they have
produced the means to erase human life from the earth!
Meanwhile, immorality, crime, violence, poverty, sickness and disease,
famine and starvation stalk the earth, in fast-increasing acceleration.
However, there exists a living God of love, mercy, compassion,
wisdom, justice, of transcendent PURPOSE and of SUPREME POWER, very
soon now to intervene, and BY FORCE to save humanity from itself. If He
did not exist -- then indeed the imminent end of the world would become
also THE END OF HUMAN LIFE!
But the living GOD, happily, is
VERY MUCH ALIVE! -- alive to world trends -- alive to the
self-inflicted plight fast closing in on a humanity now caught
hopelessly in the trap of its own rebellion -- utterly helpless to
extricate itself from its fast-approaching fate!
What's Coming First?
But
this happy WORLD TOMORROW, under the government of Almighty GOD, will
not come until man has actually reached the end of his rope! Not until
man has proved beyond his last shadow of doubt that he is utterly
incapable of ruling himself -- not until he has been given his last
chance!
The time has come when this world must be warned!
The present strife between major nuclear powers -- the constantly
accelerating international tensions -- the internal upward spiral
within nations of crime, race riots, violence of every sort- -combining
to plunge the world into a holocaust of destruction and death such as
never happened before -- and never shall again!
The God of
Creation knows human nature and its inevitable END. Every gigantic step
in world events from here is pictured in God's prophecies!
God's time has come to OPEN WIDE to human understanding the awesome prophecies of the BOOK OF REVELATION.
Today this solemn warning is being thundered around the world, as a
witness! Take warning yourself, while you may, and mark well this fact:
No PLAGUE NEED COME NEAR YOU! YOU may, if you heed and obey
God, be accounted worthy to escape these things that shall certainly
come to pass!
These Not Normal Times
It's time to wake up! These are not normal times! After nearly 6,000
years of comparative quiet, the whole world suddenly erupted in
world-shaking VIOLENCE beginning in 1914. But we have seen NOTHING,
yet, compared to what is soon coming!
Suddenly knowledge has
increased. Scientific knowledge, technological development.
Instantaneous communication, rapid transportation, frightening
inventions have resulted. Man has learned at last the secret of the
atom. Man has learned how to unleash powers and forces and energies of
nature that can destroy human life from off this planet!
At
this same time, God Almighty is opening up new knowledge. Mysteries of
God, never before known or understood by man, are now revealed to God's
true servants!
What Does All This Mean?
It
all means that a purpose is being worked out here below! And the time
has come for the Eternal -- the Creator-RULER of the universe reveal to
us HOW world events, from here, are going to work out the tremendous
CLIMAX of that divine PURPOSE! The whole earth is now shaking with
convulsions, preparatory to the mightiest happenings of earth's
history!
We are now in the very CRISIS AT THE CLOSE of this present evil and unhappy world!
A Third of Bible Is PROPHECY
Approximately ONE THIRD of all the Bible is devoted to PROPHECY. Many
whole Books of Scripture, especially in the Old Testament -- Isaiah,
Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and all the so-called "minor" prophets -- are
devoted primarily to PROPHECY.
And do you realize that the
very CHURCH of Jesus Christ is actually built on the very FOUNDATION of
these PROPHETS, and of their prophetic writings? You'll read that in
Ephesians 2:20.
But the actual FRAMEWORK, or superstructure,
of all the prophecies is found in two prophetic Books -- one in the
Old, the other in the NEW Testament -- the Books of Daniel and the
Revelation. And in the Book of Revelation, alone, do we find events of the various other prophecies correlated in order of TIME SEQUENCE.
While the Book of Revelation,
itself, is a vital KEY to a large portion of the other prophecies,
there are certain KEYS which open up this Book to understanding.
ONE important key is that in the Book of Revelation
is a STORY-FLOW, relating one future event to another in time order --
with occasional INSETS injected into the continuous story-thread.
Let us TURN to this Book that has appeared to many as the most
mysterious and unfathomable of ALL prophecies. NOTHING could be more
intriguing. NOTHING, in today's upset and jittery world, could be MORE
IMPORTANT at this hour! For it describes this very HOUR in which we
live -- it draws back the curtain on the FUTURE!
A SEALED Prophecy
The
Revelation was given as a mystic and CLOSED book, sealed with seven
seals. Some of the prophecies revealed to and written by Daniel also
were closed and sealed until this very time of WORLD- CRISIS at the
close of this present age.
Daniel wrote, at the conclusion of
his Book: "I heard, but I understood not" -- that is, he heard what the
angel had revealed, which Daniel wrote in his Book -- but he himself
did not understand the very prophecies he had been inspired to write.
The angel said to Daniel: "The words are CLOSED UP, and SEALED till the
time of the end" -- and the Moffatt translation renders it "till the
crisis at the CLOSE" -- that is, till this world-crisis at the close of
this age! (Dan. 12:8-9.) Again, verse 4: "But thou, O Daniel, shut up
the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall
run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased."
As the
prophecies of Daniel were CLOSED and SEALED until this time of the END
-- this world-crisis at the close -- this time of rapid transportation,
men running to and fro -- this time of INCREASED KNOWLEDGE -- so also
the prophecies of the Book of Revelation were SEALED!
Yes, they were sealed with seven seals, as we shall see!
But today we live in the dynamic, exciting, terrible "time of the END"
-- the world-crisis at the CLOSE of the age! The prophecies and
mysteries of God, sealed until now, are today REVEALED to those whom
God has chosen to carry His last Message to the world as a witness!
Jesus Christ, Head of His Church, is the REVEALER! Christ has opened
these mysteries to His servants!
The time has come for God's
servants to open up to YOU -- to lay bare before your startled eyes --
these tremendous prophecies of the Book of REVELATION!
I want you, now, to look at this Book! We're ready, now, to come
directly to the first chapter and first verse of this mysterious,
exciting Book. We're ready, now, to see what it does say -- and you
have SURPRISES coming!
The REVEALING of CHRIST
The very opening verse says:
"The revelation of Jesus Christ ... to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass."
The very word "Revelation" -- the English word translated from the
original Greek word "Apocalypse," as it is called in one version --
means the REVEALING. Not the hiding, sealing, or closing up, but the
REVEALING! Yet the prophecy of future world events in this Book was
sealed with seven seals!
Of course! And absolutely NO ONE,
except Jesus Christ, was able to strip off the seals, to open up, to
REVEAL the meaning of the prophecies.
Now notice, GOD gave
this prophecy to CHRIST. The first three verses form the introduction.
Let us read them: "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto
him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass;
and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: who
bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ,
and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they
that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are
written therein: for the time is at hand" (Rev. 1:1-3).
So
notice, the prophecy first CAME from God the FATHER! It is the
REVELATION -- not the concealing, but the REVEALING -- the EXPLAINING
-- the OPENING UP -- of JESUS CHRIST, but God gave it to Him sealed!
Christ is the WORD -- the SPOKESMAN. And He tells us plainly, in John
12:49 and elsewhere, that He spoke NOTHING of Himself, but only as the
FATHER commanded Him! Christ is the WORD. Christ is the REVEALER. Now
we come to another popular error of men.
John NOT the Revelator
We
hear the expression so commonly -- and erroneously -- "John the
Revelator." But JOHN is not the Revelator. This is not the Revelation
of John, it is the Revelation of JESUS CHRIST. It is CHRIST, not John,
who does the explaining, the revealing. That is another vital KEY to
understanding. So it originated with Almighty God the FATHER. God gave
it to CHRIST. Christ sent and signified it by His angel unto His
servant John -- so John is merely a SERVANT, who BARE RECORD -- that
is, who RECORDED the Revelation in WRITING. He was merely the private
secretary -- the stenographer, so to speak- -not the Revelator.
And now notice, John bare record -- or recorded in writing -- THREE
THINGS: 1st, the Word of God; 2nd, the Testimony of Jesus Christ; and
3rd, all the things that he, John, saw!
And so the Book of Revelation,
like all Scripture, is the plain Word of GOD. But part of it is the
direct saying, or quotation, of Jesus Christ -- the very words of
Christ Himself. If you have a "red-letter" Bible or New Testament,
printing all the words in red which Christ spoke directly Himself,
you'll find a good many passages in the Book of Revelation
are printed in RED. And then, John recorded the things that he SAW, in
VISION, or, as it is worded, in SPIRIT. Most of the actual PROPHECY of
the Book is contained in the things that John SAW, in VISION -- and
most of these things are SYMBOLS.
And then, the third verse
states: "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of
this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the
time is at hand."
A BLESSING is pronounced on you for READING
these words -- provided you are submissive and obedient to KEEP those
things which are written therein!
The beautiful salutation
begins with verse 4, continuing through the remainder of the first
chapter. The dominant keynote of the Book -- its subject, its theme --
is struck in the 10th, or MIDDLE verse of this chapter.
The THEME of the Book
And
so here is the very KEYNOTE verse, sounding the THEME of the whole
Revelation! And it is here that most people begin to stumble, and to
misunderstand!
The theme is THE DAY OF THE LORD. Let us read
it: "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great
voice, as of a trumpet" (verse 10).
As this is not
understood, endless controversy and strife and confusion have come from
arguing as to whether the day of the WEEK on which John WROTE this
message was Saturday or Sunday. John was NOT referring to any day of
the week.
The day of the week on which this happened to be
written -- IF it could have been all written within one day -- is not
important, and that is not what this verse means at all. It does NOT
refer to any day of the week -- but to that prophetic period referred
to in more than 30 prophecies as "The great and terrible DAY OF THE
LORD."
As Greek scholar Adolf Deissmann wrote, the grammar
and connection both favor the view "according to which 'the day of the
Lord' here stands for the day of Yahwe: the day of Judgment"
(Encyclopedia Biblica, article "Lord's Day"). New Testament and textual
scholar F.J.A. Hort agrees that this meaning fits "best with the
context" and "gives the key to the book" (The Apocalypse, pp. 15-16).
In spirit -- in VISION -- John was carried forward some 1900 years --
projected into the DAY OF THE LORD -- during the time which is now just
AHEAD OF US, to occur in this present generation!
The "Day of
the Lord" is described by the Prophet Joel as a time when God will send
DESTRUCTION upon the unrighteous and sinning nations of the world. It
is described by Zephaniah as the day of GODS WRATH. It is described all
through the Revelation as the time when God Almighty will soon, now,
step in and supernaturally INTERVENE in this hellish strife and
friction and destruction among men, and send PLAGUES upon the sinners
of the earth! It is the time which FOLLOWS the Great Tribulation, and
leads up to and CLIMAXES in the glorious SECOND COMING OF CHRIST!
The house of John is John's house. The Day of the Lord is the Lord's
DAY. Listen to the translations of two Greek scholars and translators:
In the Rotherham translation: "I came to be, in Spirit, IN the Lord's
Day." The Concordant version: "I came to be, in Spirit, IN the Lord's
Day."
A Revelation for OUR Day
In
Spirit, or in VISION, when John was shown the things of the prophecy --
the thing which he SAW -- he was projected into the period of OUR
present, and the immediate future. The same thing happened to the
Prophet Ezekiel, as chapter 8, verse 3 states: "And he put forth the
form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit
lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the
visions of God to Jerusalem."
Ezekiel was not actually taken
to Jerusalem, but the SPIRIT lifted him up and carried him IN VISION to
Jerusalem. In like manner, John IN SPIRIT, was carried to see IN VISION
the events of the DAY OF THE LORD -- the events ALREADY, now, beginning
to take place on earth -- the events YOU AND I SHALL LIVE TO ACTUALLY
SEE.
This vision is vital! The theme, or subject, of the
prophecy is NOT the middle Ages -- it is the teeming, chaotic PRESENT
-- this very time you and I are just now starting to LIVE THROUGH! GOD
HELP US, then, to UNDERSTAND!
So the very purpose of this
Book is to show us of this generation NOW LIVING, the coming
world-shaking events of the DAY OF THE LORD -- the time of God's
JUDGMENTS at this age-END leading up to, and climaxing in, THE SECOND
COMING OF CHRIST, and the happy, peaceful WORLD TOMORROW!
I
have taken time to explain this introduction and salutation- -because
it is the KEYNOTE of the whole prophecy -- the THEME -- the SUBJECT of
the prophecy. It is IMPORTANT to get our bearings -- to get off to a
right START -- to get the FUNDAMENTALS straight.
Message to the Churches
The first real message of the Book is contained in the second and third
chapters -- the messages to the Seven Churches. These messages come
DIRECTLY FROM CHRIST -- they contain the direct TESTIMONY OF JESUS
CHRIST. If you have a red-letter Bible, you will find these letters in
red. Here Jesus takes the actual spiritual condition and FUNCTIONING of
these seven Churches, then existing in Asia Minor, as a PROPHECY of the
spiritual condition and the works and accomplishments, in carrying out
Christ's Great Commission, of the true CHURCH OF GOD during the SEVEN
successive periods of time up until the END of this age and the second
coming of Christ.
Men have never understood these seven
messages! They have never known what to look for! These are not
messages to the great, visible, Prefacing churches in all their
sectarian divisions and political organizations. These are messages
from Christ, the living HEAD of His Church, to HIS OWN TRUE CHURCH in
its seven successive eras of time from about 100 A.D., until a period
even YET future. Since these messages are not addressed to the public
since they do not concern the PROFESSING organized churches -- since
they do not contain actual prophecies of present or future WORLD
CONDITIONS, with one exception, we pass on over these two chapters, in
this booklet.
And now we pass quickly on to the 4th and 5th
chapters, where we find the PRELUDE -- or the STAGE-SETTING for the
MAIN PROPHECIES of the Book.
The Stage Is Set
John actually was on the Isle of Patmos, in the Mediterranean Sea. But
in his VISION, he appeared to be taken up to heaven, to the very throne
of God.
In the vision he saw God the Father sitting on His
throne. Before the throne were to four living creatures, and the 24
elders. And in the midst of them, STANDING in front of the throne on
which the Father was SITTING, was Jesus Christ. The Book of the
Prophecy was in the right hand of the Father.
Notice the
actual description of it: "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was
opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a
trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew
thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the
spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the
throne" (Rev. 4:1-2).
The remainder of this fourth chapter
describes this heavenly setting which John saw in his vision. Around
the throne were the 24 elders, seated on 24 smaller thrones, clad in
WHITE garments, with golden crowns on their heads. On each side of the
throne were the four living creatures -- all worshipping God Almighty
seated on His throne.
Here is a revelation at the very Throne
of the Ruler of the Universe. Here is a glimpse of the seat of
GOVERNMENT of all the Universe!
Now we come to the vital fifth chapter of the Book of Revelation.
Notice: "And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a
book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals" (Rev.
5:1).
A Mysterious Book
Here
is the real BOOK of the PROPHECY. It is significant that this book was
in God's RIGHT hand. But this was not the same kind of book we use
today, made up of many pages bound together. This was a scroll, or a
ROLL -- one very LONG sheet of parchment, written on BOTH sides, rolled
into a scroll, and SEALED with seven SEALS. That number is significant!
Seven is God's number denoting COMPLETENESS. This Book of Prophecy,
then, was sealed COMPLETELY -- completely CLOSED UP, so it could not be
seen or read, much less UNDERSTOOD.
The Book came originally
from God the FATHER. As it came from God it was SEALED UP. And notice
carefully, the seven seals cover the ENTIRE BOOK of prophecy.
Its meaning was sealed -- completely HIDDEN. Now notice carefully! "And
I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to
open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven,
nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book,
neither to look thereon" (verses 2-4).
I want you to NOTICE that!
This PROPHECY is SEALED! No MAN is worthy or able to OPEN UP this prophecy -- to read its real and true MEANING!
Why haven't men read that plain and simple statement? No MAN can open
up -- no MAN can REVEAL the meaning of this great prophecy. IT'S SEALED
-- utterly, completely SEALED -- totally closed! Why, then, have MEN
been trying to tell the public they could read and reveal this amazing,
this ASTOUNDING Prophesy?
JOHN is not the Revelator. THIS is
not the Revelation of JOHN, or of any modern man or church leader or
religious sect or denomination! IT HAS BEEN SEALED from them all!
But NOTICE -- HERE comes the KEY to unlock the doors of understanding!
"And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the
tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and
to loose the seven seals thereof" (verse 5).
Who Will Open the Book?
THERE'S
the key to this riddle! The Lion of the Tribe of Judah -- the ROOT of
David -- is JESUS CHRIST! No MAN can interpret this momentous prophecy
-- but Jesus Christ -- God the SON -- here standing BEFORE the throne
of God the Father -- here standing at the very RIGHT HAND of God -- is
able to open these seals, and to REVEAL to us the meaning.
This is not the interpretation of Herbert W. Armstrong. This is what JESUS CHRIST reveals!
JESUS CHRIST is the Revelator! Not John, not some modern church leader,
not any man, not any religious organization, sect, or denomination.
THIS is the Revelation of JESUS CHRIST, which God the Father gave to
HIM! And now notice: "And he came and took the book out of the right
hand of him that sat upon the throne" (verse 7).
Now we are
coming to the KEY that shall unveil this mystic prophecy that has
confused and baffled all the religionists and the churches of this
world for the past 1850 years. Jesus Christ is the Revelator who alone
can open up the MEANING of this greatest of all prophecies, pertaining
to WORLD EVENTS TODAY, and the tremendous world-happenings of these
immediate years JUST AHEAD!
Before we come to chapter 6,
where we see what's actually written in this mystic Book, as Christ
begins one by one to strip off these SEALS, notice: "And they sang a
new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the scroll and to open its
seals, for thou wast slain and by thy blood didst ransom men for God
from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and hast made them a
kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on earth" (Rev.
5:9-10, RSV).
Yes, the VISION appears in HEAVEN -- but it
portrays EVENTS to occur here ON THE EARTH. They sang a glorious SONG
-- saying that those whom Christ has REDEEMED are to RULE -- they are
to REIGN WITH HIM as kings, and to MINISTER to SAVE people as PRIESTS
-- where? -- up in heaven? -- NO! Observe this carefully -- "THEY SHALL
REIGN ON THE EARTH!
Jesus Christ said, "If I go" -- and He
went to the right hand of God the Father -- to the FATHER'S throne, in
heaven -- but He said if He WENT, I will COME AGAIN! And He is coming
AGAIN to rule all the EARTH as the KING of kings, and the LORD of
lords! The very last words of this Book of Revelation are: "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen! Even so, calm, Lord Jesus!"
We now come to the sixth chapter of Revelation -- the REVELATION PROPER.
The SEVEN SEALS
One by one, Jesus OPENS these seals. SIX of the entire seven seals are
opened in this sixth chapter alone. Only ONE chapter is devoted to the
first SIX of the seven seals. Doesn't that strike you as peculiar? VERY
little space is devoted to each of these first SIX seals -- so little
that SIX of the seven are condensed into one single chapter. There
remain yet SIXTEEN WHOLE CHAPTERS in the Book. And since the SEVEN
seals cover the ENTIRE PROPHECY -- all of its remaining 17 chapters --
we are left with 16 chapters for the events of that SEVENTH SEAL ALONE!
As we come to this pivotal SIXTH chapter of the Book of Revelation,
REMEMBER the stage-setting -- it is recording the VISION of John; and
although John himself actually was on an island in the Mediterranean
Sea, here on the EARTH, he appeared, in the vision, to be taken up to
the very heaven of GOD'S THRONE. The BOOK OF PROPHECY, in the form of a
ROLLED SCROLL, is in the RIGHT HAND of God the Father, sitting on the
throne. And Jesus Christ, here pictured as the LAMB of GOD, is STANDING
before His father's throne.
Christ, the Revelator, now TAKES
the Book of prophecy out of the right hand of God the Father, and one
by one He strips off the SEALS which SEALED the prophecy.
The
PROPHETIC portions of this writing of John are contained in the things
that John SAW, in VISION. Notice, now, the first verse of chapter 6:
"And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it
were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and
see."
John is recording for us what he SAW, in the vision. He
SAW the Lamb, Jesus Christ the Messiah, opening the first of the seven
seals. And the four living creatures invited him to come and SEE what
was under that first seal. "And I saw, and behold, a white horse: and
he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he
went forth conquering, and to conquer" (verse 2).
The Revelation Is in Symbols!
And right HERE begins the real MYSTERY. What is this WHITE HORSE? It is
merely a SYMBOL. And mark well this fact! -- SYMBOLS are susceptible of
MANY DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS! For generations men have been putting
their own HUMAN interpretations on these SYMBOLS. This white horse has
been interpreted many different ways.
But let's read on: "And
when he had opened the second seal, I 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 unto him a great
sword.
THE STORY FLOW of the Book of Revelation
SEALS
1) False Prophets
2) War
3) Famine
4) Pestilence
5) Tribulation
6) Heavenly Signs
7) Trumpets
1-4 Injure the earth, sea, trees, and rivers
5 First Woe
6 Second Woe
7 Third Woe or The Seven Last Plagues.
(ARMAGEDDON)
SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
CHAPTER OUTLINE of the Book of Revelation
Chapter The Story Flow
Insets
1) INTRODUCTION
2-3) .................... MESSAGE TO 7 CHURCHES
4-5) PRELUDE -- SETTING
6) 1st SIX SEALS
7) THE TWO COMPANIES
8-10) THE TRUMPETS
11) THE TWO WITNESSES
12) .................... THE TRUE CHURCH
13) .................... THE TWO BEASTS
14) .................... THE THREE MESSAGES
15-16) THE 7 LAST PLAGUES
17-18) .................... THE FALSE CHURCH
19) THE SECOND COMING
20) THE MILLENNIUM
21-22) THE NEW HEAVEN & THE NEW EARTH
"And
when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come
and see. And I beheld, and, lo, a black horse; and he that sat on him
had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of
the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures
of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
"And when he had opened the fourth seal, I 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" (verses 3-8).
And THERE are the well-known FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE.
That word "apocalypse" is not an English word. It is a GREEK word. The Apostle John wrote this Book of Revelation
in the GREEK language. Translated into the English language that Greek
word apocalypse simply means, REVELATION, or REVEALING, or OPENING UP,
or UNFOLDING. Some English translations of the Bible have left the word
"apocalypse" untranslated, and have used the original GREEK word for
the caption of this entire book. It all means the same thing, whether
we use the Greek word apocalypse, or the English word, REVELATION. So
the famous FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE are merely these four
prophetic SYMBOLS of the Book of Revelation.
But what are these mystic four horsemen? What do these symbols
represent? Who has the right interpretation? The answer is that no man,
no organization of men, whether religious or otherwise, has any power
or ability to reveal this meaning. Only JESUS CHRIST was found worthy,
and able, to make this meaning known. JESUS CHRIST is the Revelator!
This is the Revelation of JESUS CHRIST -- not of John- -not of any
human religious leader, not of any sect, church, or religious society
or organization!
When Jesus Christ stepped forward, in John's
vision, and stripped off the first four of the seven SEALS that sealed
this prophetic roll, John merely sees what is written there! And the
writing is in SYMBOLS. And God uses symbols to HIDE the meaning from
men, until that meaning is revealed BY NONE OTHER THAN JESUS CHRIST
HIMSELF!
And so mark well this situation! Here in these first
eight verses of chapter 6, we find the description of Jesus Christ
revealing the writing, which is in mystic SYMBOLS; but Christ, who
alone is the Revelator, does not at this time and place open up the
meaning! He has here merely opened up the words, in symbolic form, but
not here the MEANING.
The KEY to the SEVEN SEALS
To whom shall we look for the true MEANING? Why, to the true REVELATOR,
of course. And since Jesus Christ the Revelator does not reveal the
meaning in this particular passage of Scripture, WE MUST LOOK
ELSEWHERE, to find when and where Jesus Christ does explain the meaning
of these symbols!
That is the paramount key to the Book of Revelation!
That ought to make plain to you WHY the men of this world -- religious
leaders or church denominations -- have not been able to open to you
the true and significant meaning of these four horsemen!
Now
keep in mind two things: first, Jesus Christ is called in the very
first verses of John's gospel, the WORD of God -- God's SPOKESMAN.
Jesus, in Person, 1900 years ago, was the personal, living WORD OF GOD.
But today we have the written Word of God -- the Holy Bible. The entire
BIBLE is the WORD OF GOD. Its real divine Author, then, is JESUS CHRIST
-- the whole BIBLE is His written WORD!
Second, a symbol is a
good deal like a PARABLE. A symbol is a FIGURE or a THING, used to
represent something else; and a parable is an experience employed to
represent something else.
And now I want you to realize a
most important FACT, bearing on our problem, which most of you never
realized before. Haven't you supposed, along with nearly everyone else,
that Jesus spoke in PARABLES in order to make His meaning clears a sort
of illustration, so that people would better understand His meaning?
Well, you have supposed WRONG! On the contrary, believe it or not,
Jesus spoke in parables to cover up, to hide the true meaning from the
crowds that constantly followed Him! This knowledge puts in our hands
the KEY that will unlock these symbols of the Book of Revelation.
Notice the parable of the sower and the seed:
"And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked
of him the parable. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know
the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all
these things are done in parables: that seeing they may see, and not
perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any
time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them"
(Mark 4:10-12) ... and then Jesus proceeded to explain in plain
language the meaning of the parable to His disciples!
UNDERSTAND THIS! Jesus used parables to conceal the true meaning from
those He did not intend to understand! He did not, at that time and
place, reveal the meaning of the parable. But, later, He did explain in
plain language the true meaning, to His disciples.
And in
exactly the same manner, we find in this sixth chapter of Revelation a
prophecy cloaked mysteriously in SYMBOLS which have HIDDEN the true
meaning from men these 1850 years! And so, if we want to really
UNDERSTAND, we must do as those disciples did -- we must go to Jesus,
who alone is the true Revelator -- and since His message to us of this
day is now the WRITTEN WORD OF GOD -- the Bible -- we must look to see
where in His written Word, this same Jesus explains to us, in plain
language, the same identical events which are represented by these
symbols.
Did Jesus, then, in plain language, explain these
same events of this world crisis at the close of this age -- these
turbulent world-war days leading to the DAY OF THE LORD, and the Second
Coming of Christ?
He did! When His disciples came to Him on
Mt. Olivet -- when they to whom He revealed His parables -- they to
whom it was given to know these mysteries -- came to Him privately, and
asked Him: "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the
Sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" Jesus gave, in plain
language, a startling prophecy of these very world conditions of TODAY,
and our immediate future!
What DO the SEALS Mean?
Here, then, is the explanation of the SYMBOLS of Revelation 6!
Here is the KEY that opens up the meaning of the seals!
This tremendous Olivet prophecy is recorded in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and
Luke 21. And here Jesus outlined in plain language exactly seven things
to occur! Here in PLAIN LANGUAGE Jesus Christ the Revelator reveals the
true meaning of the seven seals that covered the entire prophecy of the
Revelation!
And now, from Matthew's account, let us read the first four stages of events Jesus foretold:
"And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive
you. For many shall come in my name, saying I am Christ; and shall
deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye
be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is
not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes,
in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows" (Matt.
24:4-8).
HERE IS THE HIGH-SPOT SUMMARY OF WORLD NEWS FROM 31 A.D. UNTIL NOW!
Notice this consistent principle: Once a condition which Jesus predicts
sets in, it REMAINS CONTINUOUS up until His very second coming!
I want you to notice a consistent principle in this prophecy of Matthew
24, and of the 6th chapter of Revelation. SEVEN successive things, or
events, are to occur. As an example: The very first condition Jesus
foretells is that of FALSE PREACHERS, misleading and deceiving, not the
few, but the many!
That condition set in almost immediately.
The Apostle Paul wrote of it, and said this spirit of iniquity was
already working, even as HE wrote! And it has never relaxed or ceased,
but rather has developed in intensity, until the whole world, as
distinctly prophesied, has become deceived and misled as to these Bible
truths of God!
And so the next thing Jesus said would occur
was WARS, and rumors of wars. There were wars in those days. But wars
have not stopped. They have grown progressively worse and worse, more
and more horrible and destructive, until today, we face the question of
whether human life can survive the next atomic and hydrogen bomb war!
Yes, as Scripture says truthfully, SIN and sinful men wax worse and
worsen -- not better and better, as men like to believe!
And so Jesus named these four things:
1st, FALSE TEACHING about Christ, doing away with His true Gospel.
2nd, wars, climaxing at this crisis at the close of this age in WORLD
WARS -- nation against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. We are now
in the second recess between stages of WORLD WAR!
3rd, FAMINE, and 4th, PESTILENCE, or epidemics of DISEASE which follow in the wake of great famines and wars.
And that's where we are, right now! And this is just the beginning of
the colossal WORLD EVENTS prophesied for this 20th century A.D.
The first two world wars have occurred. Rumors of wars will continue.
Next to strike the earth are famine, disease epidemics and World War
III -- all of such staggering magnitude as this world has never
dreamed!
But now compare that with the first four seals of
Revelation 6. Here is the revelation of Jesus Christ. Here is Jesus'
own interpretation, in plain language, of these mystic symbols of the
four horsemen.
The Amazing Comparison
The first was a WHITE HORSE. Many men, using human interpretation, have
looked over into the 19th chapter of Revelation, where we find the
description of the glorious return of Christ pictured as coming on a
white horse, and have made the great error of deciding that this first
seal, then, since it is a white horse, pictures the second coming of
Christ. But CHRIST'S OWN revealing of the meaning is that this white
horse of the first seal pictures exactly the opposite -- those
preaching a FALSE Christ, different from the Christ of the New
Testament! It refers to this GREAT DECEPTION that has descended like a
dark cloud to cover the earth and hide from it the glorious truth of
God!
All war is the result of violating the supreme spiritual
Law of God, which Jesus lived and taught! The false teaching of doing
away with the LAW of God, and the GOVERNMENT of God, and endorsing the
ways of men, led inevitably to WARS, which have grown progressively
more frightening and colossal in scale, until it is now questionable
whether the world can survive another war, unless God Almighty steps in
supernaturally to intervene!
And so the second seal pictures
a RED horse -- the color of blood -- and this horseman, as Jesus
Himself reveals, is WAR. "And there went out another horse that was
red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the
earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto
him a great sword" (Rev. 6:4).
And in like manner the third
horse is the FAMINE: "And when he had opened the third seal, I heard
the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and, lo, a black
horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I
heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat
for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou
hurt not the oil and the wine" (Rev. 6:5-6).
And, fourth,
following in the wake of famine, DISEASE EPIDEMICS: "And I looked, and,
behold, a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell
[the grave] followed with him. And power was given unto them over the
fourth part of the earth, to kill with the sword, and with hunger, and
with death, and with the beasts of the earth" (Rev. 6:8).
THERE IS CHRIST'S OWN EXPLANATION of the four horsemen! But this brings
us to the fearful PRESENT. This is only the very beginning of the
prophecy!
Now let us come immediately to the very next prophesied event that will rock this world to its foundations!
The GREAT Tribulation
Literally dozens of prophecies in both Old and New Testaments describe
this colossal world event. To explain all that is written about it, in
the Bible prophecies, would require the full length of many articles.
It is mighty important to know -- and to be prepared -- for you need have no fear, if you heed and seek the protection of God!
Back quickly to Matthew 24. Remember, we are now in the time of the
second intermission of world war. Famines and disease epidemics have
increased in magnitude in recent years, but the final GREAT worldwide
famine and disease epidemic has not yet struck. These events brought us
to verse 8. We are already INTO these events, but we haven't reached
the final FURY of them. So notice, now, what is said of THESE things:
"All these are the beginning of sorrows" (Matt. 24:8).
Yes, THESE things, even, are only the BEGINNING of sorrows -- or, more properly translated -- of TRAVAIL, or TRIBULATION!
Yes, when we come to the full FURY of the famine and disease epidemics,
and what undoubtedly will be the continuance of world war, THAT will be
the very BEGINNING of the MUCH-prophesied GREAT TRIBULATION! And THAT
is now the NEXT event that God Almighty WARNS this world is coming!
Let us notice exactly how Jesus explained this FIFTH world- shaking
event in PLAIN language. "Then shall they deliver you up to be
afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for
my name's sake" (Matt. 24:9).
Notice, Jesus used two pronouns
-- "THEY," and "YOU." Then THEY shall deliver YOU up to be afflicted,
and shall KILL you." Remember this: In New Testament Bible language the
pronoun "YOU," unless otherwise clearly defined, refers either to truly
converted CHRISTIANS, or to NUTSHELL Israel or Judah or to both
Christians and Judah or Israel. If it is speaking spiritually and
individually, the pronoun "YOU" refers to those who are truly begotten
children of God. If the context is speaking nationally, it refers to
Israel, or Judah, or both.
In this particular case,
comparison with the account in Mark 13 and Luke 21 makes it very
evident that Jesus used this pronoun in the DUAL sense, including BOTH
Spirit-begotten CHRISTIANS, and flesh-born Israelites as nations!
Right here we have to explain another KEY to nearly all prophecies.
There is a DUALITY in nearly everything in God's PLAN in working our
His purpose here below! There was the first Adam, and Christ the second
Adam. There was the Old Covenant, and there is the NEW. This duality
runs through the entire plan of God. It runs also through the
prophecies. There is usually a former, typical, and then a final
antitypical fulfillment of many prophecies. Not understanding this
vital KEY, many are in total error in their attempts to understand or
explain prophecies.
This tribulation did actually occur, in
the typical forerunner sense, to the nation Judah, in 70 A.D. But that
was merely the early type, and forerunner of the great NATIONAL
invasion and captivity YET to occur.
This is described more
plainly in the modern English of the Moffatt translation of Luke's
account of this same prophecy. Luke 21:23-24: "For sore anguish will
come upon the land and wrath on this people; they will fall by the edge
of the sword, they will be carried prisoners to all nations, and
Jerusalem will be under the heel of the Gentiles TILL the period
[Times] of the Gentiles expire."
That is speaking of WAR --
of NATIONAL invasion and captivity. That actually did happen to JUDAH
in 70 A.D. But that was merely the typical fore-runner. The climactic
major event of this prophecy is yet to occur, just shortly before the
coming of Christ!
ALSO a Religious Persecution
Turn again to Matthew 24: "And then shall many be offended, and shall
betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets
shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound,
the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end,
the same shall be saved ... For then shall be great tribulation, such
as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever
shall be ... For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets,
and shall shew great signs, and wonders; insomuch that, if it were
possible, they shall deceive the very elect" (Matt. 24:10-13, 21, 24).
This is also speaking individually of truly Spirit-begotten CHRISTIANS
who have become so lukewarm, so out of prayerful contact with God, that
they will not be accounted worthy to escape all these things. And that
phase of this Great Tribulation is very clearly brought out in the
opening of the fifth seal of Revelation 6: "And when he had opened the
fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for
the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried
with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou
not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And
white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto
them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow
servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were,
should be fulfilled" (Rev. 6:9-11).
NOTICE that! Here is the
GREAT TRIBULATION! And this fifth seal pictures it as a time of
martyrdom of saints -- of truly converted, begotten children of GOD!
Notice, verse 9. Those that were slain, in a former and a typical
Tribulation -- actually millions were slain many centuries ago -- are
crying out, "How LONG, O God, before you shall avenge our blood on the
powers that martyred us?" They knew that GOD said, "Vengeance is mine."
They knew that in the terrible DAY OF THE LORD, God is going to take
vengeance by sending His plagues on the persecuting powers! And those
plagues of the DAY OF THE LORD -- the time of God's vengeance upon this
great persecuting power -- will occur at the precise time of the second
coming of Christ!
NOTE IT. NOTE IT CAREFULLY! These martyrs
that were killed, centuries ago, allegorically are asking how long
before the second coming of Christ and the end of this age? And HERE'S
the tremendous answer! It shall not occur until another Great
TRIBULATION -- another martyrdom of saints -- until their
fellow-servants and their Spirit- begotten brethren in the Lord shall
be killed, as they were.
And that is speaking of the final
GREAT Tribulation. It will be a time of WAR and national invasion and
captivity of God's nation ISRAEL! Not Judah! These prophecies refer to
the so-called Lost Ten Tribes of Israel. WHERE are they? -- WHO are
they, today?
The surprising answer is found in our free
booklet The United States and British Commonwealth in Prophecy. Write
for your copy.
Notice, this Tribulation -- this MARTYRDOM OF
SAINTS -- must occur and be completed before God pours out the vials of
His Wrath -- His PLAGUES -- at the second coming of Christ.
When Will the END Come?
The
disciples had asked Jesus when His Coming would occur, and the end of
the world -- the end of this AGE! The false preaching was not the end.
The wars and rumors of wars were not the end. But in Matthew 24:14,
Jesus interrupted to tell them WHEN the end shall come -- after the
very event now taking place -- yes, actually taking place this minute.
"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for
a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."
THERE is Jesus' answer. He had warned them of false prophets deceiving
the MANY -- saying that Jesus was the Christ -- but doing away with His
message -- His Gospel -- which was the KINGDOM OF GOD -- the government
of God -- the RULE of God. God rules by HIS LAWS -- and the whole world
has been deceived into transgression, which is SIN, by believing that
God's LAW and God's RULE over our lives is done away! Men have been
deceived into believing they could hold to the traditions of men, and
by WORSHIPPING CHRIST, still be saved. But Jesus Himself said (Mark 7),
"IN VAIN do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of
men ... making the Word of God of none effect through your TRADITION."
But, just before the END Jesus said: "THIS gospel OF THE KINGDOM" --
the announcement of the government of God -- the RULE of God -- the
COMMANDMENTS of God -- the same Gospel that JESUS PREACHED -- shall go
to all the world for a witness unto all nations -- and THEN shall the
end of this world come.
And THAT'S the world event of this very hour!
THIS HOUR IS THIS SCRIPTURE FULFILLED BEFORE YOUR EYES!
He that hath an ear to hear, let him hear!
If we are to bring you the REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, we certainly
cannot bring you the popular interpretations you have been hearing from
men -- from the great religious leaders of this world.
The
great men of this world have confused the Great Tribulation that is
coming, with that period revealed in more than 30 prophecies in the
Bible as the DAY OF THE ETERNAL -- or, the Day of the Lord.
Now turn to Matthew 24:29.
Notice carefully. Read with your own eyes what the great religious
leaders of THIS world seem never to have learned: "Immediately after
the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon
shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the
powers of the heavens shall be shaken" (Matthew 24:29).
Astronomical Signs
There
are to be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. But these heavenly signs
occur -- WHEN? Did you catch it? -- IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE GREAT
TRIBULATION. The Great Tribulation, which Jesus describes here in
Matthew 24, is His PLAIN-LANGUAGE explanation of the fifth SEAL of
Revelation 6. I want to give you further details of this, both from
Matthew 24, and from Revelation 6, a little later; but right now I want
you to notice in Revelation 6 what immediately follows the Great
Tribulation of the fifth seal.
Turn quickly, now, to Revelation 6. Read it in your own Bible.
"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; 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" (Rev. 6:12-13). "For the great day of his wrath is come;
and who shall be able to stand?" (Verse 17.)
NOTICE it! Will
you read it with your own eyes, in your own Bible? Here in this 6th
chapter of Revelation, as these six seals are opened, we have 1st false
preachers; 2nd, wars climaxing in world wars; 3rd, famines; 4th,
disease epidemics; 5th, GREAT TRIBULATION -- martyrdom of saints; 6th,
the heavenly signs, in the sun, moon, and stars. And then WHAT NEXT --
what is to follow this sixth seal?
THE GREAT DAY OF GOD'S WRATH -- and that, as I shall show you, is the great DAY OF THE LORD!
Now quickly turn to the prophecy of Joel in the Old Testament. "The sun
shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the
great and terrible day of the Lord come" (Joel 2:31).
THERE
IT IS! In Matthew 24:29 you read in your own Bible that the heavenly
signs in the sun, moon, and stars would occur immediately after the
Great Tribulation. In Revelation 6 you saw with your own eyes that the
heavenly signs in the sun and moon of the sixth seal follow immediately
AFTER the Great Tribulation, or the martyrdom of the saints, of the
fifth seal. Also you saw there, that following these heavenly signs of
the sixth seal was to come the terrible day of GOD'S WRATH.
Now here in Joel 2:31 we see that these heavenly signs in the sun and
moon must occur before the great and terrible DAY OF THE LORD!
Tribulation Is NOT the Day of the Lord
So here we have three successive world-shaking events to come- -first,
and, now, next to occur in possibly this decade or the next, THE GREAT
TRIBULATION. Second, immediately after the Tribulation, the heavenly
signs in the sun and moon and stars. Third, following the supernatural
signs in the heavens, the terrible DAY OF THE LORD!
Now what
IS that great and terrible DAY OF THE ETERNAL? Before you turn away
from Joel's prophecy, notice how Joel was inspired to describe it:
"Alas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a
destruction from the Almighty shall it come" (Joel 1:15).
Now
notice how God inspired the Prophet Zephaniah to describe it: "The
great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even
the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there
bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a
day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a
day of clouds and thick darkness ... And I will bring distress upon
men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned
against the Lord: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and
their flesh as the dung" (Zeph. 1:14-15, 17).
THIS is the
time of GOD'S wrath. THIS is the time of GOD'S PLAGUES sent upon the
sinners of this world. God says HE will bring this distress upon
defiant and sinful men who hate truth and peace, and love evil. THIS is
the time of the Plagues God shall send -- but this is not the Great
Tribulation, as men have supposed!
No, this day of the
Eternal's plagues shall not come until after the heavenly signs in the
sun and moon. And those startling supernatural heavenly signs shall not
come until immediately after the Great Tribulation!
If you
would know what is going to happen NEXT in the world -- if you would
know what is as sure as the rising and setting of tomorrow's sun --
what is coming in your lifetime -- what you are going to live through
-- it is vital to understand the distinction between the Great
Tribulation and the Day of the Eternal.
You have probably
heard a great deal about the Great Tribulation -- if you have heard any
preaching about prophecy at all. But you probably have heard very
little or nothing about the DAY OF THE ETERNAL -- and yet, this DAY OF
THE LORD is described in more than 30 different prophecies scattered
through both Old and New Testaments. But the Great Tribulation is
spoken of by this term: the Great Tribulation, only in Matthew 24:21,
29!
WHY? Religious leaders have SUPPOSED that all these
prophecies about the Day of the Eternal -- the time of GOD'S WRATH --
of the PLAGUES -- are identical with the Great Tribulation. They have
SUPPOSED that the Great Tribulation is GOD'S wrath -- GOD'S plagues
upon the sinners of the world.
The Great Tribulation is not
the wrath of God -- just the opposite. This is the wrath of SATAN THE
DEVIL. He knows that he has but a short time. When God intervenes --
when God's PLAGUES fall- -when CHRIST returns to this earth as the KING
of kings and the LORD of lords, to rule the earth, Satan knows full
well he will be through. The Great Tribulation, as I shall show you --
if you will just keep both your mind and your Bible open -- is Satan's
last persecution and martyrdom against the true begotten sons of GOD
whom he can't deceive, as he has deceived the world as a whole!
The "Day of the Lord"
Now turn again to Revelation 6. Those of the former great martyrdom of
saints are told that the JUDGMENTS OF GOD -- the plagues which lead up
to, and occur at the time of CHRIST'S return to earth -- cannot come
until their fellow-servants and their brethren -- other Spirit-begotten
Christians -- should be killed as they were! Here is the Great
Tribulation -- another coming martyrdom of God's people! And what
follows? The sixth seal, we have seen, will mark the beginning of the
intervention of God in world affairs -- the terrifying signs in the
heavens -- and then men shall cry out, "The terrible day of GOD'S WRATH
is come!"
"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 every bond man,
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 sitteth 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?" (Rev. 6:14-17.)
This is the DAY OF THE ETERNAL,
bringing us, at last, the RETURN OF CHRIST to earth in ALL power and
glory, to RULE the peoples of earth, and to bring us PEACE!
You NEED NOT FEAR OR WORRY over the things coming on the earth in the
meantime. In this same prophecy of Jesus as reported by LUKE, regarding
the world disturbances now ahead -- regarding the Great Tribulation and
the DAY OF THE LORD -- Jesus ended His Olivet prophecy with these
assuring words: "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be
accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass,
and to stand before the Son of man" (Luke 21:36).
May God
help you to be one of those studying the prophecies, watching world
events as they fulfill them, and praying always that you may be
accounted worthy to escape all these things, and to stand before Christ
at His coming!
WHY These Plagues
Notice! For 6,000 years God has sent His loving messages to mankind. In
love God revealed His Law -- His WAY of life that would lead to
everything good and desirability our first parents, Adam and Eve. God
has sent all His prophets with HIS message of PEACE, revealing to
mankind the WAY to peace and happiness -- but men have rejected the
message, and killed the prophets.
They put to death God's SON
who brought the GOOD NEWS of the KINGDOM OF GOD -- which is the WORLD
TOMORROW -- they martyred Jesus APOSTLES who went out into the world
with the message of God's way of life, and GOD'S RULE over our lives.
All these men of God have pleaded with this rebellious world in love.
They have brought a message of PEACE, of LOVE, of MERCY and compassion.
Through them God has pleaded with this stiff-necked and self-willed
world for 6,000 years. God has warned the world of where its own ways
and devices will finally lead -- to the total annihilation of human
life from off this planet!
In love and in tender mercy, God
has given this stubborn, misguided human race every chance for 6,000
long years, to save itself from a self-imposed destruction. But men
would not heed. THEY WILL NOT HEED TODAY. They continue, even now, to
devise forces of destruction that will result in the suicide of the
human race, unless God does intervene.
But God is about to
step in and speak to this rebellious and hell-bent world in the only
language the world will heed -- God will now punish this world for its
evil! As any loving parent punishes his child who will not listen to
kind and loving admonition, so now God is going to punish this world
with just judgments -- with PLAGUES so terrible that the world will at
last be forced to turn from its wicked ways and to seek God and HIS
WAYS that lead to peace and everything good. God will prevent the
suicide of humanity. He will save this evil world from itself. And that
is the period coming, described in more than 30 different prophecies
scattered through both Old and New Testaments, as THE DAY OF THE LORD,
which shall lead directly into the Second COMING OF CHRIST, to bring
us, at last, WORLD PEACE!
God's Wrath Restrained
But, as we begin the 7th chapter of the Book of Revelation,
we find that the DAY OF THE ETERNAL -- the time of these terrible
plagues God shall send -- is to be held up temporarily, until a certain
other event of GOD'S doing takes place.
Notice the
introduction of chapter 7 of this greatest prophecy ever written: "And
after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of
the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should
not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw
another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living
God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was
given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth,
neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our
God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were
sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of
all the tribes of the children of Israel" (Rev. 7:1-4).
Now
consider carefully a few important points. First, the preceding words
show that the judgments of the DAY OF THE LORD have come at this exact
juncture. But God holds it back. Notice that just as the DAY OF THE
LORD is about to strike, John sees in his vision four angels, holding
back the four winds which are about to blow on the earth. You will see,
a little later, that these winds blow the seven TRUMPETS which are to
follow. These, of course, are symbols, but they represent things this
world will find are very real. But they are restrained until the
SERVANTS OF GOD are sealed in their foreheads. First to be sealed are
the 144,000.
WHO Are the 144,000?
You
have probably heard many interpretations. They are all in error. Men
are unable to interpret this prophecy. The first thing to notice is
that the TIME of the sealing of this 144,000 is yet in the future -- it
is after the Great Tribulation and the heavenly signs, and just before
the plagues of God's Judgments! It has not happened yet!
Second, this prophecy is plain, and means just what it says- -144,000
of the 12 tribes of Israel -- 12,000 of each tribe. Where are they
today? Where are the lost ten tribes?
But these 144,000 are
not all! "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude which no man
could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues,
stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes,
and palms in their hands ... And one of the elders answered, saying
unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence
came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me,
These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed
their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Rev. 7:9,
13-14).
And what is sealed in the foreheads? They are sealed
by the Holy Spirit, in their foreheads. If you will turn to chapter
14:1, you will see that it is the Father's name that is written there.
Jesus' very last prayer for His Church was that they would be kept in
the FATHER'S name. Today we find the churches of this world under every
possible manmade name; many named after men. But 12 times in the New
Testament His own Church is the CHURCH OF GOD -- yes, GOD'S Church.
Who Constitute the Innumerable Multitude?
Now
how about this innumerable multitude? They have come through THE Great
Tribulation. God will not send His frightful PLAGUES to punish the
world, until He has first sent a great supernatural warning. God has
warned the world through all His prophets -- through His Son Jesus
Christ -- He is warning the world right now through this very work. But
God is a God of mercy and compassion. He will yet warn this world once
again -- by supernatural signs, in the sun, the moon, and the stars.
God will leave men no excuse.
And after the Great
Tribulation, when men are seized with stark terror at these
supernatural heavenly signs, multiplied thousands will at last
recognize that it is really GOD warning them! Yes, multiplied thousands
who now hear this warning from God will not heed it now. They are
deceived. They still believe and follow their various human leaders, or
groups. Their minds are not fully opened to recognize this as God's
last warning to this world! They are not repenting or turning to God,
now! Oh, how well I know that! But when they see these things actually
occur which they heard from no others -- when they have seen how the
world was deceived and misled about the Great Tribulation, and they
have gone through it -- when they see these terrifying supernatural
SIGNS in the heavens, then, at last, hundreds of thousands of them --
perhaps even some of you -- will at last recognize the TRUTH, and at
last turn to God in complete submission, fully repenting, and coming
through Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world! We of this ministry well
know that our real reward in the harvest of precious lives will mostly
come after our labors are finished!
The Seventh Seal Opened
But now we come to chapter 8. Here is the opening of this seventh seal.
And what is this seventh seal? Remember, as each seal was opened, John
recorded what he saw, in his vision. In every case, the things he saw
were symbols -- but these symbols represent actual world events
occurring in a definite time-order. So notice what John saw, when this
seventh seal was opened: "And when he had opened the seventh seal,
there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw
the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven
trumpets" (Rev. 8:1-2).
John sees the SEVEN TRUMPETS! Here is the third vital key to this Book of Revelation.
The seven TRUMPETS are of course, symbols. They represent real world
events to come. These "trumpets" are not, as so many have believed,
contemporaneous with the seven SEALS.
Neither do they follow
the closing of the seventh SEAL. They are -- they constitute the
seventh seal. This seventh seal occurs, then, in seven successive
stages. Each of these seven stages, or parts, of the seventh-seal is
called a TRUMPET. These trumpets are PLAGUES which God shall send in
physical punishment of the forces of evil in this world. Notice, at the
end of the sixth of these trumpets, how they are plainly called
PLAGUES: "And the rest of the men which were not killed by these
plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should
not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and
stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk" (Rev.
9:20).
What Do the Trumpets Symbolize?
A
trumpet is an instrument into which one blows. A trumpet sounds by
blowing wind through it. These seven trumpets, which compose the
seventh seal, follow immediately after the sixth seal. At the time of
the sixth seal, described in the last of the 6th chapter of Revelation,
it was announced that "the GREAT DAY OF GOD'S WRATH was come. These
symbolic TRUMPETS portray, then, THE DAY OF THE LORD -- the day of
GOD'S WRATH! The day God intervenes in world affairs to PUNISH this
world for its EVIL -- the day God pleads with all flesh in the physical
language it can UNDERSTAND! -- and, as Zephaniah 1:16 says: "A day of
THE TRUMPET and alarm against the fenced [that is, fortified or
defended] cities, and against the high towers [that is, military
fortifications]."
The TRUMPET was always blown as a warning
of war, or approaching armies. It signifies war and destruction. When
ISRAEL turned a deaf ear to all God's prophets -- rejected God's loving
pleading through preaching -- God punished ancient Israel by sending
the armies of Assyria to conquer them. When Judah disobeyed worse than
Israel, God Almighty sent the armies of the CHALDEANS to conquer them.
As God steps in to punish the whole world -- yes, ALL NATIONS, for
their evil, which is destroying them and bringing such suffering and
unhappiness on all their peoples, the TRUMPETS, or alarms of WAR, are
sounded. Trumpets are blown by wind. Now again notice: "And after these
things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth,
holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on
the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree" (Rev. 7:1).
God's Children Protected
These winds were held back from blowing these seven trumpets until the
sealing of the 144,000 and the great innumerable multitude that came
out of the GREAT TRIBULATION from all nationalities and peoples. They
who repent and turn to GOD for protection are first brought under the
divine protection, so that just as God protected the children of ISRAEL
when He poured out the plagues on ancient Egypt, so shall He protect
ALL His children who rely on Him from these plagues now about to come
on the modern BABYLON! And, incidentally, the plagues God sent on Egypt
in the days of Moses were a direct type of these plagues that shall now
be poured out on BABYLON. Those protected from those ancient plagues
were taken under Moses to the promised land, the Holy Land. Those saved
from these plagues will be taken by CHRIST into the KINGDOM OF GOD --
to be set up on earth with headquarters in Jerusalem.
The
first four of these trumpet-plagues are described in chapter 8 as winds
that blow on the earth, trees, rivers, and seas. You will read that in
verses 6 through 12, chapter 8 of the Book of Revelation.
The last three trumpets are called WOES, because of the terrible WOE
that shall befall the forces of evil on earth. This is stated in the
13th and last verse of chapter 8.
The first WOE, which is
also the fifth trumpet, is described in chapter 9, verses 1-11. The
power that causes the destruction, this time to men, comes out of the
symbolic "bottomless pit." This is interpreted in Revelation 17:8-14.
There we learn that a rebirth of the ancient ROMAN EMPIRE is the power
which emerges out of "the bottomless pit" or abyss -- a condition of
underground existence not visible to the world. Verse 7 shows this
FUTURE power will be a WAR-making, revived fascist power. It is
described in prophecy as a power to the NORTH of the Holy Land, because
the prophecies always speak from the focal point of the Holy Land -- to
the north and west.
The second WOE, with its symbols of
horses and horsemen, is interpreted by Ezekiel 38:4, 15, and is also
referred to as an event in the DAY OF THE ETERNAL in Joel 2:4. This
refers to a tremendous military power -- also to the NORTH -- due
north! They come with an army of two hundred million! Think of it -- an
army of two hundred million! World events are now moving rapidly to
make possible the creation of a Communist Eurasian army of that
unbelievable manpower! Yes, it's time to wake up to what's taking place
today -- the true significance of the time in which we live, and where
it is leading!
The Two Witnesses
Before the THIRD WOE -- the last trumpet -- we find the two witnesses
described. Men have come forth with every possible interpretation of
these witnesses. Notice the time element. They end their mission
(described in chapter 11) at the time of the end of the second WOE.
(Verses 1214.) Their mission lasts only 3 l/2 years. So, contrary to
erroneous human interpretations, their mission has not as yet even
begun.
They are endued with supernatural protection, and they
give out God's last warning to the evil powers of earth delivered
through human instrumentalities, before this final Trumpet sounds. They
are to be killed by "THE BEAST," symbol of a power described in
Revelation 13 and 17, and identified by Daniel 2 and 7 as the
resurrection of the ancient ROMAN EMPIRE.
Now comes the third WOE -- the seventh and last TRUMPET. What is this seventh trumpet?
The Last Trumpet
In many other prophecies it is recorded that the second coming of Jesus
Christ to this earth -- the time of Christ's literal bodily return to
this earth -- shall occur at the time of the last trump! The same Jesus
who came to earth over 1900 years ago, taught the way of happy living
which men rejected, was put to death, resurrected from the dead, and
ascended to heaven -- this same Jesus is coming again in almighty POWER
and GLORY. He is coming as world RULER -- as KING of all kings -- as
LORD of all lords, to rule all nations, and to enforce the way to
PEACE!
And His coming shall occur at the last trump. You will find that in I Corinthians 15:62; I Thessalonians 4:16; Matthew 24:31.
We know from these prophecies that this last trumpet is the time for
the actual appearing of Christ as WORLD RULER! But what else is
described? Notice the sounding of the seventh trumpet.
"And
the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven,
saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord,
and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever" (Rev. 11:15).
THERE IT IS! It is announced that the WORLD-RULE of Jesus Christ over
all nations has arrived. All human government on earth shall fall,
under the divine power of Almighty God. Men have never wanted God's
rule -- even though it is the only way to peace, happiness and joy. And
so the rulers of human governments over mankind are found angry! They
shall have been deceived by the false teaching about a secret rapture
theory into believing that this is the ANTI-Christ! They shall fight
against Christ and His rule over the earth.
Notice it: "And
the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the
dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward
unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear
thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the
earth" (Rev. 11:18).
Yes, when the seventh trumpet is sounded
the nations are going to be angry. Once again it is proclaimed, "Thy
WRATH is come." The only thing described under the opening of this
seventh trumpet that could possibly be the third woe is THE WRATH OF
GOD! But all the trumpets have been plagues, pouring out the WRATH of
God -- His punishments to bring this hell-bent world to its senses and
to a happy peace! The seventh trumpet consummates this wrath!
And what is it that consummates -- fills up -- completes, the wrath of God?
The Seven Last Plagues
"And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels
having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of
God" (Rev. 15:1). The Moffatt translation renders it, "For they
complete the wrath of God."
In the 14th chapter, and 10th
verse of Revelation, it is stated that these seven last plagues are to
be poured out "in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence
of the Lamb." "The LAMB" is a symbol representing JESUS CHRIST. And
when He shall come to rule the world, all the holy angels are coming
from heaven with Him!
Notice that in Jesus' own prophecy:
"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels
with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before
him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from
another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall
set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall
the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the
world" (Matt. 25:31-34).
Jesus Christ is coming to rule. The
KINGDOM OF GOD is a kingdom -- a government, bearing rule over every
other kingdom on earth. But the KINGDOM of God also is described by
Jesus and throughout the Bible as a family finally grown into the great
world-ruling DIVINE Nation a nation of IMMORTALS. Jesus taught that we
may inherit the Kingdom of God, but only by being first begotten of
God, and then born of God. The Apostle Paul said plainly that flesh and
blood -- that is, a mortal human -- cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.
It is not a mortal kingdom. It is not a human kingdom. It is a divine
kingdom into which humans may be finally born, when they are changed
that is, converted, from mortal to immortal -- from human to divine!
Now notice carefully! At Christ's coming, the DEAD in Christ are to be
resurrected immortal. The living in Christ (I Cor. 15:50-54) shall be
changed -- converted -- in the twinkling of an eye, from mortal to
immortal. They are then born into the Kingdom of God. They then come
into their inheritance of the Kingdom of God. And Jesus will then say,
"Come, ye blessed of my Father -- inherit the Kingdom prepared." Jesus
Christ is then sitting on His throne -- KING of the WORLD. When He
comes all the holy angels come from heaven with Him. And the seven last
plagues are poured out at His coming -- actually in the very presence
of Christ and all the holy angels! Yes, how plain!
The Great KEYS
So
the seventh Trumpet, then, like the seventh Seal, is divided into seven
parts -- the seven last plagues. The seven last plagues earthy
constitute -- the seventh trumpet, just as the seven trumpets are, and
constitute, the seventh SEAL.
The seven seals cover the whole prophecy! This sequence and sevenfold arrangement of events is the one great KEY to the long- closed Book of Revelation.
The seven last plagues complete the WRATH of God -- they are the last
seventh part of the seventh seal, and a part of the seventh SEAL. They
show the coming of Christ to bring this world peace -- by forcing the
nations to be governed by the government of GOD -- and God governs by
His laws!
Yes, CHRIST is the way -- and the only way to peace, and to happiness, and to LIFE ETERNAL! There is no other way.
The world has spurned that way. Now it shall be compelled to find that
way! God loves this world. God Almighty shall yet intervene to save
this world!
Now to conclude the KEYS to this marvelous Book of Revelation.
Chapter 12 is an inset chapter, injected into the main story- thread.
Just as any writer will stop his narrative at a certain point, to go
back and sketch a different scene involving different characters and
events, bringing them up to, and connecting them with, his story-thread
at that juncture, so here John pictures the TRUE CHURCH, from the time
prior to Christ's birth (verse 4), through His birth, resurrection and
ascension (verse 5), and the 1260 years of persecution when the TRUE
CHURCH was forced to flee completely beyond the bounds of organized
government persecution. The TRUE CHURCH has always existed.
The church of Chapter 17 is the great false church. Revelation 12
brings the story of the true Church to the present, when the devil,
knowing he has just a short time (verse 12), persecutes the true
Church, pictured as a remnant or small in number, and keeping the
Commandments of God (verse 17). (Write for our free booklet Where Is
God's True Church Today?)
The 13th chapter is another inset,
picturing the symbolic "beast" and the second two-horned "beast."
Chapter 14 shows the three angel messages, proclaiming the fall, or
DOOM, of "Babylon" through the seven last plagues; and the warning
against the MARK OF THE BEAST, which those in "Babylon" are deceived
into having.
Chapters 15, 16 describe THE SEVEN LAST PLAGUES,
which are the third woe or seventh trumpet. These are God's judgments
against this world's false system, "Babylon" (Rev. 18:4, 10).
Chapters 17 and 18 picture the revived Roman Empire and the great false
church with her daughter churches (17:5) deceiving all nations (17:2,
15 and 18:3).
Israel is today in Babylon -- deceived! We are
God's people, Israel -- in Babylon today, as Israel was in Egypt when
God's plagues were on Egypt! And God calls us out (Rev. 18:4) and tells
us to keep His Commandments!
The 19th chapter shows the
second coming of Christ, and the 20th, the thousand year reign on earth
(Rev. 5:10) and Great White Throne Judgment -- 21st and 22nd chapters,
the new heaven and new earth through eternity.
Where Are We Today in Prophecy
But now, finally, do you realize where we stand today? We are in the
semi-chaotic lull between the second and third world wars. But one
thing is prophesied for NOW! One of these prophesied events is taking
place this instant. In His great Olivet prophecy, which was the very
key to the symbols of Revelation, the disciples asked Jesus privately
what would be the sign of His coming, and the end of this WORLD --
today's world!
When Jesus told them of the many who would go
forth preaching in His Name, proclaiming that Jesus is the CHRIST, yet
deceiving the world as to Christ's Gospel -- that was not the END. The
famine and the pestilence to come was not the sign of His coming and of
the end of this world. The series of WORLD WARS was not the sign of His
coming, and of the end. It is only in verse 14 of this prophecy that He
gave it. I want you to notice the tremendous significance of this: "And
this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a
witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" (Matt. 24:14).
There it is! Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the KINGDOM OF GOD -- which
is the GOOD NEWS of the WORLD Tomorrow! Soon men went out proclaiming
CHRIST -- they appropriated His Name and the prestige of His Name in
order to deceive the world, and to HIDE from the world the MESSAGE that
Christ brought. But, in this end-time, when the end of this age is at
hand, this same Gospel of the Kingdom of God -- the GOVERNMENT of God
-- being born into the family of God -- this same Gospel is now once
again being announced to ALL THE WORLD! That prophecy is being
fulfilled in "The WORLD TOMORROW" broadcast and telecast, and in the
pages of The Plain Truth.