Seven Seals in Revelation

Transcription

1 Seven Seals in Revelation In Revelation 5, a book sealed with seven seals is brought to our attention. In chapter 6, the first four of those seals are opened, verses 1-8. Those four, in respective order, are accompanied by a beast which says, Come and see. These four beasts are the four attributes of God, and each of the first four seals opened manifests one of those attributes: 1 st - power, 2 nd - wisdom, 3 rd - justice, 4 th -love. The opening of these four seals occurred in the Gospel Age during the 1260 years that the Church spent in the wilderness. The fifth seal, verses 9-11, portrays the completed sacrifice of some of the Lord s saints. Here they are under the altar, which refers to their ashes. They were slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. Each of these saints had to die as part of their sacrifice unto God, but their death did not have to involve their life being wrongly taken from them. Thus, their ashes cry out for vengeance, even as the blood of Able cried out to God for the same. The account tells us that more time was necessary to the accomplishment of God s plan, thus, they should rest yet a little season. Their fellow servants refers to the last of the Body members, while brethren refers to those who stand before the throne, the Great Multitude. Verses give the account of the opening of the sixth seal. Herein we are told of the events that close the harvest with the day of vengeance, but with brief descriptions: There was a great earthquake, the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, the heaven departed as a scroll... every mountain and island were moved out of their place, and men tried to hide themselves from the wrath of the Lamb, for the reason that, the great day of his wrath is come, the Day of God s Vengeance. Therefore, when we get to the seventh seal, it does not come after the sixth seal, as regards more events, but rather, it is an elucidation of the sixth seal. Chapter seven is a portrayal of two major events, the sealing of the saints prior to the unleashing of the four winds of trouble, and the reward given to those of the little sister class who overcame and became the Great Multitude before the throne. These two events are a part of the sixth seal, and of necessity, also of the seventh. Chapter 8 opens with, And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was (past tense) silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. This clearly points to the silence after Pope John Paul II died in 2005, for he, as the harlot that went about, make(ing) sweet melody, sing(ing) many songs, (Isa. 23:15-18) was silenced by death, and since then none of his successors have taken up the tune. The space of half an hour, is 21 years, based upon 1000 years divided by 24, which equals 41.67, rounded to 42. This hour, from Rev. 18, will end in From 2026 counting 21 years backwards, we arrive at Is this by accident?

2 However, the silence was not half an hour, but about the space of half an hour. Therefore, the seventh seal does not wait until 2026 to be opened, whereas the counting backwards of the half hour was based upon that date. From the above we should understand that the seventh seal can not open until after 2005 A.D. and that it must open sometime before 2026 A.D. As our Lord said, so say we, Let these sayings sink down into your ears. Without understanding the time frame of verse one, a correct understanding of what follows is withheld. Chapter 8:2, reads, And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. These angels are not the seven who were sent to the seven stages of the church, Rev. 2,3, for those angels, messengers, are long off the scene having died. In the treatise entitled Rev. 19, the point was made that there are only seven individuals of the Body members of Christ remaining upon the earth prior to the launching of the Day of God s Vengeance. That Day begins with the destruction of Damascus on the day following the end of the Hebrew Feast of Weeks. Damascus will cease to exist on April 9, Please see the treatise entitled, Isaiah 17. The seven angels which stood before God, are the same seven Body members who remain here on earth at this time. Thus, the seventh seal is opened at this time. And to them were given seven trumpets. It does not say, to each was given a trumpet, meaning each has a message. What it says is, to them (collectively) were given seven trumpets (seven messages). In verse 3 another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer. The only ones, according to the Law of Moses, who stood before an altar with a censer were priests. Thus, we here see that this angel represents our Lord Jesus, and there was given unto him much incense. What is incense? Only a special incense that was compounded of sweet spices was to be used in the services of the Tabernacle, Exo. 30:9; Exo. 37:29. This incense was offered upon the golden incense altar that was made of shittim (acacia) wood, which stood in the first of the two compartments of the tabernacle structure proper. See Exo. 30:1-3; 40:1-5. When Aaron, the high priest, brought two hands full of sweet incense into the Holy (compartment #1) and offered it upon the incense altar, which was made of shittim wood, it represented the sum total (two hands) of a priest s (New Creature s) work (incense) while here in the flesh (altar made of shittim wood). Thus, incense means the work which one does while here before death. What work? We read in John 6:28,29, Then said they unto him (Jesus), What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him (Jesus) whom he (God) hath sent. In John 9:4 we read, I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night (time of death) cometh, when no man can work. Also in John 17:4, I have glorified thee on the earth: I have

3 finished the work (not only in me [Heb. 5:8,9], but also for my disciples) which thou gavest me to do. Thus the work done is that of bringing oneself (obedience) into conformity to the Divine standard of love, which is the likeness of God, for God is love. The incense then, becomes a testimony of the work of the one offering it. However, here in Rev. 8:3, and there was given unto him much incense, relates not to our Lord s personal testimony, but that of those of His body members who had already entered into death. Verse 3 concludes by saying, that he should offer (the incense) with the prayers of all saints upon the altar which was before the throne. The prayers of the saints have been many in number, and for much: grace to sustain, enlightenment of His Word, wisdom, for others in accordance with the will of God, for humility and all the graces (fruits) of the Spirit, and especially for the promised Kingdom wherein God s promise to Abraham would be fulfilled. Verse 4 tells us that the smoke of the incense along with the prayers ascended up to God. Verse 5- And the angel (Lord Jesus) took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar (coals of fire), and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake. These four represent as follows: voices- social thunderings- financial lightnings- religious earthquake- political These four are also symbolic of the four attributes of God: voices- love thunderings- power lightnings- wisdom earthquake- power, and are so represented in Rev. 4:5 and 11:19. And these four attributes of God are represented by the beasts of Rev. 4 verse 7: first beast like a lion (power, strength), second beast- like a calf (justice, bullock= perfection), third beast- had face like a man (love, kiss his face), fourth beast- like a flying eagle (wisdom, far seeing). Therefore, when the coals are cast into the earth, the result is the same as portrayed in Rev. 7:1-3, except that the four winds are no longer held back, but loosed. Therefore, the last remaining saints have been sealed in their foreheads when the coals are cast into the earth.

4 Speaking of coals, Solomon wrote about them in Son. 8:5,6. The following four groups are the same two Scriptures that have undergone interpretation incrementally. The basis of interpretation was derived from Strong s Concordance. Group 1 Son. 8:5- Who is this that comes up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bore thee. Son. 8:6- Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Group 2 "Who this that ascends from the wilderness, reclining upon her beloved? to wake under the apple tree? There mother binds, there binds that begat. Put signature ring upon heart, seal upon the arm: for love strong as death, zeal severe as the grave, the live coals, coals of fire, a flare of fire Group 3 Who ascends from the wilderness (desert), reclining upon the Lord? to wake (open) under (the guidance of) the apple tree (our Lord Jesus, Son. 2:3)? There (under guidance of Jesus) mother (our Covenant) binds (winds tightly), there binds that begat. Put seal (of approval) upon heart (where faith is seated), seal upon the arm (where action is precipitated): for love (of Truth) strong as death, zeal (for God) severe as death, the live coals (glowing and hot), coals of fire (destruction), a flare of fire (Divine vengeance enacted, according to His methods). Group 4 Who ascends out of obscurity, resting upon the Lord? to open understanding under His guidance? Under His guidance our covenant binds tightly, under Him binds tightly those begotten. Place the seal upon their faith, seal their activity: for love of Truth even unto death, zeal until the grave, readiness to revenge (2 Cor. 10:6), evidences of destruction, Divine vengeance enacted. Rev. 8:6- And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. Verse 7- The first angel sounded (message went forth), and there followed (G1096- cause to be) hail (hard truths) and fire mingled with blood (destruction

5 with bloodshed), and they were cast upon the earth (society): and the third part (not one third, 33.34%) of trees (nations, Jdg. 9:8) was burnt up (destroyed), and all green grass (inhabitants of fenced cities, 2 Kgs. 19:25,26) was burnt up (destroyed). The destruction of Damascus is the beginning. Verses 8-9- And the second angel sounded, and as it were (G5613- in that manner) a great mountain (Papacy, Babylon) burning (G2545- kindled) with fire (Jer. 51:25,26; Rev. 18:8,9,19) was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood, and the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. The phrase of the sea, refers to the political establishment, as is manifested by Eze. 26:16 wherein we read, Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones... The context in Eze. 26:15-21 is that of the destruction of Tyrus, which represents Babylon. Note the extreme similarity given in Eze. 26 with that of Rev. 18:9-20. Because of that association, we have the information necessary to define the rest of verse 9 in our study. Therefore, the third part of the sea became blood, refers to the governments of earth collapsing, blood, dying, death. The third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, refers to the merchants, and especially to the corporations which get their life from the government. And because our study text has the phrase, and the third part of the ships were destroyed, we know that we have the correct interpretation because of the similarity of this with that of Rev. 18, wherein the third group mentioned was the shipping industry, and so it is here. The expression the third part does not mean one third of the particular item referenced, but a third of the whole context. In Rev. 18 only three parts are mentioned: kings- governments; merchants- those who sell; and sailors, (etc.)- transportation industry. When those three collapse, so does the economy, and when the economy collapses, so do jobs, shopping for necessities, etc. Thus, society as we know it grinds to a screeching halt. When that occurs, anarchy follows. Verses And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; and the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. The star that fell from heaven was Babylon, Papacy, the Holy Roman Catholic Church. It fell from the religious heaven here on earth. Did not our Lord say, Babylon is fallen, is fallen? Rev. 18:2. The phrase, burning as it were, a lamp denotes that it shed forth light like a lamp, or rather, it claimed to. At one time Babylon s lamp burned for the instruction of God s people, the wheat, as they

6 grew together with the tares from Mat. 13. Once the harvest time came, our present and returned Lord, as chief reaper, Rev. 14:14; John 4:38, not only began the reaping of the tares from the wheat, Mat. 13:30, but He also declared Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, Rev. 18:2, and by that declaration declared her unfit to continue to be a lamp of truth (though dim it was!) for God s people. How can a system that is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird, Rev. 18:2, be a fit lamp for any truth to shine forth from? It can not. The star s name was called Wormwood. In Deu. 29:18 any of the people who departed from serving the true God to serve another were referred to as a root that bears gall and wormwood. In Pro. 5:3, For the lips of a strange woman (Papacy, a whore, is certainly a strange woman unto Christ Jesus) drop as a honeycomb (oh, it sounds sweet!), and her mouth smoother than oil: but her end is bitter as wormwood. See also Jer. 9: This star fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters. Rivers represent truth, there is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy of the tabernacles of the Most High, Psa. 46:4. These waters are not for ourselves alone, Let thy fountains be dispensed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets, Pro. 5:16. There is one river of truth, though composed of many streams, and it is this river that is handled, spoken forth, by those who ultimately become three in distinction, The Church, the Great Multitude, and those who perish in Second Death. This star, Babylon, Papacy, will fall upon the third part, the faithful who are the Body members, and this fall upon them causes their death, even as we read in 2 Sam. 1:15, And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. The second phrase is a further aspect of the first. In Papacy s eyes, those who started this are the fountains of it. However, God is the originator, Creator of all truth, and that truth, as represented by water, flows through various conduits. A fountain is only a conduit that conveys water. The fountain of itself did not create water, truth. This we know, yet all that Babylon can see are the fountains, the ones to them responsible for the flow of truth, and not Who sent it forth, nor why. And the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. The waters of truth are never bitter of themselves, but if they are not understood, if they are not appreciated, if they do not enter into an honest and sincere heart, if the truths have not transformed the individual into a likeness of Christ, then the results of proclaiming such hard truths become bitter, unpalatable because such proclamation brings intense persecution. Men here are not those of the earth, but of those who have covenanted their lives, even unto death. These men (and women) will die the Second Death on account of the waters, because these have found the water of truth then due to be proclaimed bitter and will neither partake of them nor

7 proclaim them. Note, it does not say they died from the water, but of, or on account of, the waters Verse 12- And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. Since our Lord gave this vision to John and since our Lord knew the Old Testament, we see here a reference to Ecclesiastes 12:1-5. A contrast is given in these verses of a young person to that of an old one. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not (referring to death), nor the years draw nigh (old age), when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them (life in old age is difficult to live and the pleasures once enjoyed are gone); while the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened. Living people see out of their eyes, dead folks do not. Therefore, in death, those things once seen are now dark. Therefore, the third part of those who are smitten so as to die, are those who see and embrace in life the sun as the Gospel message, the moon as the Law and the stars as those who led the Church after our Lord s ascension, the twelve apostles, Rev. 12:1. These individuals remain after the last of the Body members of Christ have died. These remain after their fellow little sister companions have entered into Second Death because of disobedience. These are those who embrace life by overcoming, and are eventually honored as the Great Multitude who stand before the throne, Rev. 7:9. And the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. A day does not shine of itself, nor does the night. It is the light in either that makes it shine, and when that light is extinguished neither the day, nor the night shines. Thus we see here. Jesus said unto his disciples in Mat. 5:14, Ye are the light of the world. When the last individual dies who will constitute the last one of the Great Multitude, then the light of the world is gone in its fullest sense. And the day shone not for (because of) a third part of it (was gone into death), and the night likewise. Verse 13- And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying, with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound. The last of the John class here upon earth will behold, see, and hear a messenger flying. In Rev. 4:7 the fourth beast is mentioned as a flying eagle, which represents God s wisdom because the flying eagle has keen and far vision. The flying angel therefore, also has wisdom to impart, not from self, but from the Divine storehouse of truth. That is why he is a messenger, and angel.

8 This messenger has wisdom to impart through the midst of heaven, which is between heaven and earth. Those who are leaders of religious thought, belief, and life represent heaven, while those who are not associated with anything religious are those of the earth. Through the midst of heaven then refers to those in between, those who have heavenly interests, but whose feet are firmly tied to earth. This angel also speaks with a loud voice which is characteristic of a trumpet or message. What the angel said was, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound! The phrase inhabiters of the earth is an exact equivalent of the phrase, dwell upon (on) the earth found in Rev. 3:10; 6:10; 11:10; 13:8,12,14; 14:6; and 17:8. Every text cited above refers to the religious leaders of the false church when it uses the phrase dwell upon the earth. Whereas in contrast, we read in Rev. 13:6 about the beast, Papacy, And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven, the true Church, while yet here in the flesh. Therefore, the angel is addressing the leaders of the false church, system, and says three times woe, and each woe is the result of each of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound! Chapter 9: Verses 1,2- And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit. This star is the same one that was mentioned in verse 10, referring to Babylon, the Great, which is The Holy Roman Catholic Church. When this star falls, it refers to her utter destruction. We read in Jer. 51:26, which in context speaks about the destruction of literal Babylon, which destruction forecasts that of Papacy, the Holy Roman Catholic Church. It says, And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith the LORD. Therefore, when Mystic Babylon falls, it is to utter and everlasting destruction, her descent into the bottomless pit, the abyss. Having said that, it must be that the door is open, but the text above speaks first of her fall then of the key being given to the angel. How is that reconciled? Does she fall and rest somehow before she enters the abyss? In verses 2-5 the locusts come out and to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they (the men) should be tormented five months, which is 150 days. Because of the length of the torment, and because it is accomplished by the locusts, it becomes apparent that the door to the abyss was opened on the first day of the flood of trouble, which is also the first day of the five month period. Therefore, as part of concealing the understanding of the prophecy, the

9 key and door opening were mentioned second in the text, when in fact they were the first in occurrence. Babylon falls directly into the abyss In verse 3, locusts came out of the smoke upon the earth. Locusts are God s agents, at times, to perform His bidding of punishment upon individuals. This is manifested in Exo. 10:4 and in 2 Chr. 7: Verse 4- And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass (peoples in fenced cities, same as above) of the earth, neither any green thing (general peoples anywhere in society), neither any tree (nations, as before mentioned); but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. Chapter 8:10 spoke about the true Church dying; verse 11 dealt with those who would go into Second Death, those who had also covenanted to run for the prize of being the Bride; and verse 12 dealt with the class who would become the Great Multitude. Who is left? Only what remains of the false church, Protestantism, is left. These men thought they would have the seal of God, of going to heaven because they believed in Jesus, even as they had been told by their leaders. But alas, such is not the case. They never were recognized by our Lord Jesus as having even entered the race, though they thought they had, Mat. 7: It is these that will be tormented five months, the equivalent of one hundred fifty days. Verse 12- One woe is past; behold, there come two woes more hereafter. Verses 13,14- And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. The river Euphrates has special significance when we look at three sets of Scripture, all of which are in the Book of Jeremiah. Chapter 13:1-11 speaks about a girdle that was marred. In reference to that girdle is the river Euphrates, and it was there, by the river, where the girdle was ruined. After Jeremiah recovered the marred girdle, God said, Thus saith the LORD, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem. This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle. Note the conduct of the people herein described, and then note the condition of society around us. They are the same. In 46:6 the river Euphrates is again mentioned. In context, verse 10 states, For this is the day of the LORD God of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood. Is not our day at hand also the Day of God s Vengeance? In 51:59-64, Jeremiah was told to write done all the evil that would come upon Babylon. After reading it in Babylon the book was to have a stone tied to it and then cast it into the midst of Euphrates: and thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise. This also corresponds to Rev. 18.

10 From these texts we see idol worship, self will, the day of Vengeance, and the destruction of Babylon, and all are associated with the river Euphrates, which represents peoples and nations at large. These four angels are spoken of as bound in the great river Euphrates. The word bound (G1210) means to bind. When we look at the only other text which speaks of four angels in Revelation in relationship to holding, binding, being bound, we are at Rev. 7:1-3. Here the angels are holding back the four winds, or putting restraint upon them or binding them from moving. We are at the right place for what follows. In Rev. 9:13, our current text, the sixth angel was spoken to by a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God. The golden altar is the piece of furniture in the first compartment that is used exclusively for the offering of incense upon live coals of fire that are placed upon the top of the altar. As before stated, incense represents a man s work, and the greatest work that any can do while in the flesh is to bring themselves into harmony with God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, all of which is made possible by the ransom work of Jesus, our Lord. The incense then, becomes a testimony of the work of the one offering it. Incense must be offered upon coals of fire to release its fragrance. That release becomes a testimony, a voice. Incense offered correctly testifies of the proper work done in oneself such that the fragrance ascends up, out and covers the mercy seat in the Most Holy, the smaller compartment behind the first one, which represents heaven itself, where God abides. This fragrance testifies of the acceptance of the offerer. If not, when the High Priest went into the Most Holy, he would die. This altar had four horns, which represent power. A bull without horns has no power over one who does. These four also represent the attributes of God, justice, wisdom, love and power, which in their combination form the basis for the offerer to have power with God. God s plan of salvation is the outcome of these four attributes working together, and because of this plan, there is the opportunity to run the race for the High calling. Those of the body of Christ have acceptance with God, as represented in the fragrance of the incense. It is this witness, this voice from the incense altar that speaks to the sixth angel to loose the four angels that are holding back the four winds. Verse 15- And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month and a year, for to slay the third part of men. The time elements given are not successive, meaning accumulative, but form a specific date and time. That date for the loosing of the angels is regulated by the sealing of the saints in their foreheads, and that date falls on the 14 th of Nisan, the date of Passover, 2018 and at the end of that day is the time, the hour, when it is finished, the Church is complete. Hallelujah! for them, but all trouble breaks out for everybody else shortly thereafter. Verses 20,21- 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,

11 and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood; which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. Wow, what a crusty bunch they were! Notice the description of their idol worship: idols of gold, silver, brass, stone and of wood. Not only do these elements descend in order of value, they also speak of a time when literal elements of these were used. Thus, these men do not live in our day, but they lived a long, long time ago. Notice also that there is no death penalty pronounced upon them in the account, which describes events here on earth. These men represent the personages of those spirit beings in the days of Noah who disobeyed Divine orders, materialized as men upon earth, married daughters of men (Adam) and propagated an unauthorized race of people. These spirit beings were kept, reserved in everlasting (age lasting) chains (restraints) under darkness unto the judgment of the great day, God s Day of Vengeance, Jude 6. These that are described in verses 20,21 have not repented, never will repent and therefore, will be destroyed in Second Death, the Lake of Fire, Mat. 25:41, because now is the Day of Judgment. Chapter 10 is another aspect of the overall revelation given unto John. Therein reference is made to, and we quote, But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets, verse 7. Verse 7 speaks of the seventh angel. Was it in reference to the seventh messenger to the last stage of the church, or was it in reference to another? The balance of that text tells us the answer. The seventh messenger to the seventh stage of the church sounded, but the Church was not complete in his day. Therefore, the reference to the seventh does not refer to him. Who does it refer to? Notice the text again, when he shall begin to sound not days, months, years after, but immediately, the mystery of God should be finished. What is that mystery? It is the call, development and glorification of the Church from among men to joint-heirship with Christ Jesus. Although the false church attempted to steal the show, and although they held the limelight, they were not the Church. God s called ones were obscure as regards notoriety, humble as regards attitude, often considered as weak, detestable, etc., yet God chose the foolish ones, the disesteemed ones from men that no flesh should glory in His presence, 1 Cor. 1: Therefore, the seventh angel in this verse refers to the one who sounds forth a message in conjunction with the ending of the selection of the Church members by the sealing in the foreheads of the last members. Chapter 11 speaks about a time during the Gospel Age relative to the days of Babylon s growth and power. These days are referred to as forty two months, which equates to 1260 years, or time, times and half a time, or 3 and one half

12 years. During this time, the Scriptures were killed, verse 7. The Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, are the two dead bodies that come to life during the period immediately following the point of time referred to as the time of the end, Dan. 11:40. That date was 1799 A.D. The earthquake mentioned in verse 13 was the French Revolution, which is the same as the tenth part of the city fell in Rev. 11:13, when that earthquake occurred. Both earthquakes point to the exact same event. After 1799, Bible Societies sprang forth and brought to life the Scriptures because then the public at large could have them in their own language, and not just the clergy. We point out here verse 10, And they that dwell upon the earth (the religious leaders) shall rejoice over them (the dead bodies of the Old and New Testaments), and shall make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because that these two prophets (Old & New) tormented them that dwell on the earth. Truth always gets in the way of ambitious men. Truth always denounces their schemes to gain power over others as represented in Clergy and Laity. Jesus said, One is your Master, Christ, and all ye are brethren, Mat. 23:8. Truth always points out error of doctrine and practice. Therefore, when the Old and New Testaments were dead by reason of keeping them out of the hands of the masses of people, they, the leaders could make merry, because others knew of the Scriptures only from what the leaders told them what it said, and thus they could hide their schemes. Did not Paul say to the elders of Ephesus, For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. And also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them? Acts 20:29,30. Thus, this text also gives us the answer to who are the locusts in 9:3-6. Those locusts had power to torment those men which had not the seal of God in their foreheads. In the above text, we read again, because that these two prophets tormented them that dwell on the earth. As the Scriptures tormented the ones in Rev. 11, who made merry, so also the Scriptures, represented by the locusts, will torment men for five months in Rev. 9. Let us not stop here. In Rev. 9:16-19, the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand. Out of the mouth of these horses issued fire, smoke and brimstone. Where in Scripture does fire, smoke and brimstone come from? The answer is God. Where did these three come forth from in symbol? Out of the mouth of the horses. Did not Jesus say, Man can not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God? Mat. 4:4. And did He not quote that from Deu. 8:3? Thus we see, that the two prophets of Rev. 11 (Old and New Testaments) are not only the locusts that torment men, 9:3-6; but these two prophets are also represented by the 200,000,000 horsemen in 9:16-19, which is every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

13 Verse 15 of chapter 11 says, And the seventh angel sounded: and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become of our Lord, and his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. Verse 16 speaks of the four and twenty elders of chapter four, some of the elders of Heb. 11. Verse 19 reads, And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. voices- social thunderings- financial lightnings- religious earthquake- political This angel refers to the seventh messenger of the last stage of the Gospel Age Church. We retire to Chapter 8:13 where we read, And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound. Notice that the declaration is made, by reason of the other voices of the trumpet (singular) of the three angels, which are yet to sound. This tells us that the other three voices, as well as the four preceding, are all one trumpet, and in point of fact, all the soundings of the seven are accomplished by one angel with one message that contains all the points, truths, declared or endorsed by the seven. If one blows his trumpet for seven, then seven have each (representatively) blown a trumpet through one. Copyright G. Kuehmichel, March 31, 2018