THE TRIBULATION SAINTS REV. 6:9-11 NOW WE COME TO THE FIFTH SEAL--- YOU MIGHT BE READING AHEAD AND BE THINKING TO YOURSELF--- How do the SEALS fit with the BOWLS and the BOWLS with the TRUMPETS, which we shall see later? IN ESSENCE ONCE THE TRIBULATION UNFOLDS---within the seven years that it will last, many of these horrible things will run concurrently and simultaneously. THE FIRST SIX SEALS ARE THEN a summary of the judgments distributed over a large portion of the book of Revelation; a brief summary, if you will, of what will occur in THE DAY OF THE LORD THE SEVENTH SEAL ACTUALLY CONTAINS, AS PART OF IT, ALL OF THE OTHER JUDGMENTS- 1
2. MAN S VIOLENT HISTORY ON STEROIDS Do the seals represent conditions immediately before the end, or more general conditions prevailing over a more extended period, up until the return of Jesus? Actually we can say that the they represent BOTH - dictators, war, famine, death and persecution have been familiar throughout all history. But not to the IMMENSE MAGNITUDE and SEVERITY with which they will be present in the Great Tribulation---God will finally give mankind completely over to its fallen wickedness THE SIXTH SEAL CONCLUDES WITH A VALID QUESTION: WHO IS ABLE TO STAND? Only the believer: ROMANS 5:1-2, 1 CORINTHIANS 15:1 1 PETER 5:12 AS BELIEVERS WE CAN STAND BECAUSE JESUS BORE THE WRATH WE DESERVED. 2
3. FROM HADES TO HEAVEN THE FIFTH SEAL-----the Tribulation Saints are martyred The opening of the fifth seal switches attention from the death of unbelievers to the death of believers; Christians will go from the hell on the earth to under the altar in heaven. Those professing Christ during the tribulation will be nearly instantaneously killed upon conversion in a world flying apart at the seams, that is finally as evil as evil can be GET SAVED, BE KILLED WILL BE THE NORM. 3
4. UNDER THE ALTAR? In the Old Testament an animals sacrificial blood was poured out at the base of the brazen altar -LEV. 4:7, 18, 25, 30 In Old Testament imagery, blood represents life LEV. 17:11 THE PHRASE UNDER THE ALTAR REFERS TO THE BLOOD THE MARTYRS SHED FOR THEIR TESTIMONY FOR CHRIST. These martyrs died for their stand on the Word of God and for their testimony to the person and work of Christ for them on the cross. The Apostle Paul had the same idea in mind when he wrote PHILIPPIANS 2:17 The Greek word martus, gives us our English word martyr, which simply means a witness 4
5. GOD FINALLY SETTLES EVERY WRONG Rev. 6:10 The answer to the question in Psalm 94:3 The martyrs cry to God with loud voices and ask HOW LONG this persecution will last---we often cry out this prayer today, don t we? THE ANSWER IS UNTIL THE FINAL DAYS OF THE TRIBULATION HAVE PASSED. God made clear to these martyrs that their sacrifice was an appointment, not an accident; and that others would join them but He is very much in control. Even in the death of His people, God is in control so there is nothing to fear---psalm 116:15 5
6. WHITE ROBES AND REST- Rev 6:11 WHITE indicates that they possess imputed righteousness IT S ON THEM NOT FROM THEM THEY ARE VICTORY ROBES! This is not their own righteousness but the righteousness that God gives them. WE CAN LEAVE GOD S JUSTICE IN GOD S HANDS. God has a time for everything so we can relax and leave it in His care. There is no point in getting angry, upset and bitter. No hatred or vindictiveness, implacability, or fear will help us. We need to rest fully in the sovereign plans of God. THERE IS AN EXACT, RIGHT TIME FOR GOD S WRATH AND VENGEANCE. 6
7. THE ONES LEFT BEHIND FOLLOWING THE RAPTURE, multitudes will accept Jesus--- they will be Tribulation Saints. world leaders will say these Christians are a threat to world government, world peace, world religion, and the environment----therefore they must be dealt with. Today Followers of the New Age Movement teach that the earth must go through a cleansing in order to proceed to perfection. This cleansing they envision will include the death of all who turn to Jesus as described in MATT 24:9-14 YOU DON T WANT TO BE HERE WHEN GOD ANSWERS HOW LONG? SO DON T BE LEFT BEHIND GIVE YOUR LIFE TO JESUS! 7