Oh! how sublime is the beauty which the Holy Ghost reveals to my spirit, when I meditate upon the realities of Christ. The truth of God is life-giving ~ if we will embrace it.
No one of course has to believe me, when I say that God has "unveiled" the mystery of the Rapture, to me, in Scripture. Yet, many with whom I have shared what I am now sharing with you, have thus been helped to see it for themselves. And once that the truth is perceived, it bears witness of itself.
Thus far in this series, I have shown that the first five of the Seven Seals have already been "opened." By "opened," I mean that the events which were symbolically represented in those "seals," in Scripture, have in fact occurred in (recent) historical time. Before proceeding to discuss the all-important Sixth Seal, however, I have somewhat more to say about those seals which have already been opened.
Some have objected to the idea that the First Seal was opened, as I have claimed, in the mid-nineteenth century; saying, that such a timeframe would neither be meaningful nor would it then be useful ~ as a "sign" of Christ's coming. But they are wrong. And here is why.
As I have repeatedly explained in this series, the first five seals have entailed judgments which, necessarily, have required a substantial measure of time for their respective fulfillment. The End-time Apostasy of the Church could not have occurred overnight, so to speak. Anyone who is reasonably familiar with the history of Western Society (which is a secular euphemism for those nations and cultures where Christianity was predominant, until about the late-nineteenth century), knows that Christianity was the main pillar upon which those societies and their cultures once stood. Biblical knowledge permeated those cultures, whose social institutions were explicitly and very largely established upon Biblical ideals and precepts. Those social institutions ~ involving government, law, education, and Church, could not have been subverted and dismantled easily nor quickly. Can you imagine what early nineteenth-century Christians, in America or in Europe, would have thought about the condition of so-called Christianity as that appears today?
Neither was it possible that there could have been any "world" war ~ prior to World War I. For, technology (related to transportation, communication, etc.) was not yet then sufficiently developed to have enabled international, global warfare. Not only was the lack of technology a limiting factor, prior to WWI. Moreover, the nature of international relations (especially, in what was then a more rational Age) is (was) such that circumstances which may lead nations to the brink of all out war, do not precipitate rashly; but the breakdown of international relations occurs over years of time ~ and not months or weeks. The Second Seal did indeed serve, in history, as a "sign," because, it involved: global war, and on a scale, and of a kind, thitherto unheard of in human history.
Nor did famine ~ of unprecedented scope and scale ~ transpire within a year, or two, or three ~ nor yet ten, nor even twenty! But a whole generation of time (40+ years) was needed in order to fulfill the "sign" of the Third Seal.
Of course! the "opening" of the First Seal, as well as of the Second and even the Third, was not perceived as being a "sign" ~ at that time when the events associated with those Seals were (first) occurring. But, then, neither did God intend that the Rapture was going to occur during those former generations, in which the first several Seals were opened. Those generations of Christians did not perceive the first three (opened) seals as "signs," because those "signs" (of the coming Rapture) did not pertain to those generations.
The now-opened (five) seals can only with hindsight be perceived as being the fulfillment of the "signs" of Christ's imminent return. Only the generation which shall actually witness and experience the Rapture, is thus capable to perceive the now-opened seals as "signs." Foolish teachers! are those who object to a new idea, before even having heard those reasons (including facts) which substantiate it.
By the end of the last century, the Fifth Seal had been established, by historical facts ~ as having been "opened" during that century; that is to say, if we accept the notion that an unprecedented epoch of Christian martyrdom and persecution qualifies as fulfilling the "sign" of the Fifth Seal. In a twisted perversion both of Scripture and of reason, many who reject the system of interpretation I am herein elaborating, will nevertheless vociferously defend the idea that (an even greater number of) Christians must be killed during the Tribulation ~ and that during a mere handful of months! ~ in order for the Fifth Seal then to be fulfilled! Never minding the fact that the true Church shall not then be found in the earth, during the Tribulation.
I just learned that a non-profit organization called "Aid to the Church in Need" is seeking to call attention to the vast numbers of Christian persecutions happening globally, by making the world famous Trevi fountain, in the city of Rome, flow with blood-red water (see the article, here). Every sensible person can see that the world has entered into a time of unprecedented persecution of Christians; further proving that we are now living in the days of the Fifth Seal.
We come now to examine the meaning (and timing) of the Sixth Seal ~ which has not yet been opened. When might that be opened? If we consider that the First Seal was opened about 160-170 years or so ago; and, that the Fifth Seal must have been opened no later than about 1980 (based upon end-of-century statistics involving Christian martyrs): therefore, the seals have been opened in order, on average (though not in fact), about 33 years apart:
SEAL AVG ACTUAL (approx.)
- First Seal (33 yrs.) 1850
- Second Seal 1883 1914
- Third Seal 1916 1920
- Fourth Seal 1949 1965
- Fifth Seal 1982 1975
- Sixth Seal ~ 2015 (not meant as a forecast)
The meaning of the Sixth Seal is incomparably important ~ as indicated, first of all, by the fact that all of chapter 7 (and more), in the Revelation, is given to discuss events pertaining to the Sixth Seal. All of which, that lengthy portion of Scripture (in the Revelation) pertaining to events of the Sixth Seal, appears as follows (beginning at Rev. 6:12):
(Rev. 6:12) And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 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. 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 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 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. 7:1) 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. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. 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 cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. 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. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. (Revelation 6:12 - 7:17)
(Rev. 8:1) And when he had opened the seventh seal . . . .
Note, first, that all of chapter 7 pertains to events belonging to the Sixth Seal. Chapter 7 is not out of sequence; as some wrongly suppose. The blue-colored text, above, which states, "after these things," and "After this," clearly shows that the order of events which John saw in his vision, was continuous and sequential.
Above, I used three different colors of highlighting to facilitate discussion of those several portions. The text in yellow highlight describes what I called, in my book, the "Cosmic Sign." That unique set of circumstances, which appears in both Testaments in Scripture, is tremendously significant; for reasons which I will later discuss. But do notice, if you will, just what those circumstances are, and, that they are associated with the Sixth Seal.
All of the text in pink highlight pertains to a number (144,000) of Jewish persons, who are the natural descendants of the Jewish patriarchs (as signified by the explicit naming of various tribes of Israel), who shall thus (as described) be "sealed" ~ to protect them during the day of the LORD (the Tribulation) which they are then about to enter (when the Seventh Seal is opened). (For more in-depth discussion of which, see my book, here.)
The text in black highlight reveals the Rapture of the Church. But how do we know that? There are numerous proofs, as follow.
- In Revelation chapters 4 and 5, John observed no human persons then in heaven; but, specifically, John did see a "sea of glass" ~ "before the throne" of God (Rev. 4:6). Whereas, when the Sixth Seal was opened, John then saw "a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne". In chapter 4 John saw a "sea of glass" "before the throne"; in chapter 7, John saw "a great multitude" of human beings, which stood "before the throne" ~ where earlier he had seen nothing but that sea of glass.
- That "great multitude" agrees, in every respect, with a description of the saved of all the earth: they are from every "nation...kindred...people...and tongue"; they are clothed in "white robes"; they are holding "palms" (a symbol of victory) in their hands"; they loudly praise God for "Salvation"; they "have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb".
- "All the angels" are then present in heaven. Whereas, during the Church Age, the angels are "...all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation" (Hebrews 1:14).
- They appear in heaven at the Rapture (meaning, they are then glorified), in conjunction with the "Cosmic Sign" (associated with the Sixth Seal); where, in other parts of Scripture (later discussed) we also see the then glorified saints in connection with the occurrence of the "Cosmic Sign".
Importantly, NO ONE disagrees that that "great multitude," in fact, represents the saints in heaven. However, a very great deal of confusion exists due to three wrong ideas ~ ideas which have been wildly 'popularized' and disseminated throughout the whole world by mainstream Bible prophecy teachers. Those three wrong ideas are as follows:
- The Rapture is indicated to have occurred, in Rev. 4:1, where John is told to "come up hither."
- The then-Raptured saints are "represented" as then being in heaven (in Rev. chapter 4), by the presence of the twenty-four (24) elders.
- The "great multitude," seen in Rev. 6, are said to have "come out of great tribulation" (Rev. 7:14) ~ which the mainstream teachers mistakenly, but adamantly insist to, call "The Great Tribulation": thus, seeming to make that "great multitude" to represent a vast number of Christians who are, first, saved, then, killed, then, Raptured ~ all DURING the Tribulation.
#1: Judge for yourself whether the large amount of Scriptural evidences I have carefully explained throughout this series, is sufficient to prove that the Rapture is not indicated in Rev. 4:1, where John was told to "come up hither." The mainstream system of interpretation is so impoverished, as to build its whole case upon mere speculation involving that single verse of Scripture ~ a verse which, not incidentally, truly has a far more simple and straightforward explanation, namely, that at Christ's word, the Apostle John did "come up hither," that is to say, his consciousness was exalted to a higher realm where he then received (perceived) his heavenly vision.
#2: I did at length discuss the true identity and heavenly service of the twenty-four (24) elders, earlier in this series. In the lengthy passage of Scripture, above, note that the text in blue highlight shows that the then Raptured saints are in heaven together with the twenty-four elders! How, then, can the twenty-four elders be supposed to "represent" the supposedly Raptured saints, in Rev. 4 ~ where there is no such "great multitude" then in heaven? Nonsense. Worse than nonsense, though, is the utter foolishness of many who, having been shown those discrepancies, nevertheless cling to their wrongheaded ideas.
#3: The phrase, "the great tribulation" appears exactly ZERO times in Scripture. Tragically, it does appear in a number of Bible-substitutes (so-called "versions" which are not the King James Bible ~ which is the true Word of God in the English language). The Bible reveals that throughout the Church Age, every true child of God shall suffer "much," or "great" "tribulation" (Acts 14:22; John 16:33; Romans 5:3, 12:12; 1 Thess. 3:4 ~ and in numerous other instances in Scripture). In the time of Jesus and later, multitudes of Christians were crucified, burned alive at the stake, fed alive to wild beasts, sawn in pieces, flayed alive, etc. During the Inquisition, in the Dark Ages, the same kinds of tortures were experienced by millions of Christians. And yet today, the very same kinds of torments are being inflicted upon untold millions of Christians. And what about the countless millions of Christian families that are being torn apart by such horrors? Should none of that hellish suffering be called "great tribulation"? The phrase, "great tribulation" means nothing more nor less than "great suffering," or "great troubles."
But teachers of the mainstream system ~ because they utterly misunderstand and misconstrue the meaning of the Seven Seals, have so twisted and perverted the meaning of Scripture to try and make the Bible to fit their own scheme, that no one is then capable to make any real sense out of Bible prophecy. I do not say that any of those teachers has consciously tried to confuse the meaning of Scripture. I believe it is possible that at least some of those individuals may have good intentions. Nevertheless, when I consider ~ as I have long and deeply considered ~ how extensive is the tangled web of wrong interpretations of Scripture, surrounding the study of Bible prophecy, and, how fearfully dangerous are the real consequences of those wrong teachings, to the spiritual life of multitudes of unlearned Christians; I cannot help but conclude that the working of Satan must not only have originated, but also disseminated and perpetuated, that wicked scheme of "mainstream" teaching.
Near the beginning of this series, I wrote that the Seven Seals are the only thing in Scripture which is given to the Church, in order that we ~ the generation living at the time of the Rapture ~ may KNOW the approaching time of the Rapture. I will firmly stand my ground on that claim.
Jesus said that if I will continue in his word, then, I shall know the truth. I have continued in his word for well more than four decades; and I'm continuing still in his word. Jesus further said that if I would receive the Holy Ghost, he will then lead me into all truth. The Bible says that I am not a child of darkness, but of light ~ that is, of truth, of understanding, of knowing.
Are you a child of God; a child of light? Or, do you let the naysayers, and the skeptics, and the so-called "experts" buffalo you, kowtow you, to accept their ridiculous wrangling of Scripture? Do they not profess to "know" and, thus, to teach the "truth"? At least, they do not reject the idea that one may "know" the "truth." But who is teaching the truth according to Scripture?
You must decide. Mercifully for us, God has a vested interest in our making the right decision. He is thus willing to guide you ~ if your heart is right with him.
The Sixth Seal is the very next thing on God's calendar, so to speak. That means that the Rapture is now about to happen. "Any day now," the Holy Ghost keeps speaking in my spirit. "Any day now...."
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