REVELATION EXPLAINED: CHAPTERS 6-9
THE SCROLL WITH SEVEN SEALS
Chapter five ends with John's vision of heaven, and Jesus Christ preparing to open the scroll with seven seals. The information contained within the scroll describes the events that take place during Daniel's 70th week, chapter six details the opening of six seals, and each broken seal reveals a major event in the lead up to the return of the Jesus Christ. The Bible describes these events using highly symbolic language and at first may seem difficult to understand, however Jesus also spoke of these events in the book of Matthew, so if you cross reference (Revelation 6) with the description of events found in (Matthew 24), it is easy to understand what this symbolic language actually represents. This article will cross reference these scriptures, so you can better understand the events described in Revelation.
THE FIRST SEAL IS OPENED
The first four seals being opened describe the appearance of four colored horses and their sinister riders, the riders of these colored horses are famously known as the four horseman of the apocalypse. The opening of the first seal is described in (Revelation 6:1-2) 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. And I saw, and behold a white horse: This event signals the start of the final seven year period, known as Daniel's 70th week.
(Compare Revelation 6:1-2 with Matthew 24:3-5 for further details)
The exact meaning of this verse is found in (Matthew 24:3-5) what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 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.
Jesus tells us that the opening of the first seal will bring forth the appearance the Antichrist (compare Revelation 6:1-2 with Revelation 19:11). This event begins Daniel's 70th week, which is the seven year period before the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth. The opening of the first seal coincides with the beginning of animal sacrifices in Jerusalem, which is described in (Daniel 9:27). (FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE: THE CONFIRMED COVENANT).
THE SECOND SEAL IS OPENED
The opening of the second seal is described in (Revelation 6:3-4) 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.
(Compare Revelation 6:3-4 with Matthew 24:6 for further details).
(Matthew 24:6-) And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
The opening of the second seal beginnings of a global war on humanity, and a global conflict between world powers. The world war described in scripture, is the largely manufactured war between the United States, China Russia and Iran (Luke 11:18) . The Bible warns us that this conflict will escalate and lead to mass famine, and global pestilence.
THE THIRD SEAL IS OPENED
The opening of the third seal is described in (Revelation 6:5-6) 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.
(Compare Revelation 6:5-6 with Matthew 24:7 for further details).
(Matthew 24:7) For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Jesus is telling us that the third seal being opened will bring a huge escalation to the global war being waged on humanity by the world's superpowers. The Bible teaches us that as a result of this international conflict, there will be massive food shortages, and a worldwide famine.
The symbolic language used in (Revelation 6:5-6) explains that in this time of great famine, a small amount of food, such as a measure of wheat, or three measures of barley will be purchased for a whole days wages (a penny was a day wages). The scripture is also describing a small group of elite people who will still posses luxuries such as oil and wine, while the rest of humanity suffers from a global shortage of food. (FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE: BILL GATES IN THE BIBLE).
THE FOURTH SEAL IS OPENED
(Revelation 6:7-8) 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.
The opening of the fourth seal is describing a global pestilence, this world wide sickness foretold in Bible prophecy will likely be due to bio-warfare, and the result of international forced masking, alongside the global administration of the Covid-19 experimental injection. This verse also tells us that as a result of the war, famine and pestilence, over one fourth of the earth will die. The current population of earth is estimated to be around 7 billion people, this means that approximately 1.75 billion people will perish as a result of the opening of the first four seals.
THE FIFTH SEAL IS OPENED
The opening of the fifth seal is described in (Revelation 6:9-11) 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.
(Compare Revelation 6:9-11 with Matthew 24:9 for a deeper understanding of the symbolic language used in this prophecy).
(Matthew 24:9) Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name' sake.
The opening of the fifth seal signals the middle of Daniel’s 70th week, and the final three and a half years before the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth. The opening of the fifth seal will begin the worldwide persecution of Christians, and the opening of the fifth seal signals the start of the Great Tribulation. The Bible teaches us that at this time a New World Order will be established over humanity, and this new global order will include a one world religion, where every man women and child must bow down and worship Satan. (Revelation 13:7-8). The Bible teaches that this time of trouble will only go on for a very short time, and that God will shorten the time for the sake of His Christian elect.
(Matthew 24:21-22) For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
(For more information about this subject see: 75 DAYS BEFORE THE RAPTURE)
THE SIXTH SEAL IS OPENED
(Revelation 6:12-17) 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?
(Compare Revelation 6:12-17 with Matthew 24:29-31)
(Matthew 24:29-31) 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: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
THE RAPTURE
These two parallel passages are describing the same event, Jesus tells us that shortly after the beginning of great tribulation, the sixth seal will be opened. The opening of the sixth seal will be marked by the signs in heaven as described in both (Revelation 6:12-17) and (Matthew 24:29-31). This event is the beginning of what the Bible describes as the day of the Lord, further descriptions of this event can be found in (Isaiah 13:9-10) and (Joel 2:1-11). At the opening of the sixth seal, Jesus will send out angels to gather His elect from all over the world. At the opening of the sixth seal Christians will be taken up to heaven and saved from the great tribulation, this event is commonly known as the rapture, but is referred to in scripture as the harvest (Matthew 13:39).
(A further description of the rapture is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).
The rapture is the hope of every end time Christian, it is our physical salvation from the great tribulation and the end of our suffering, however for the unsaved this event will be a time of trouble, and great fear. The next chapter of Revelation describes two groups of God's people; one group is from every nation who are before the throne of God in heaven, and another group of 144,000 people who will be resurrected, and sent to earth after the rapture.
THE 144,000 OF ISRAEL
Chapter seven begins with John detailing his vision of four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, the scripture further describes the angels holding back the four winds of the earth. (Revelation 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. The four winds of the earth symbolizes God’s wrath, which is poured out on the earth at the opening of the seventh seal.
John then describes another angel which holds in his hand the seal of the living God, this angel tells the other angel holding the four winds in (Revelation 7:3) Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. The Bible often describes the seal of God as a person receiving the Holy Spirit, and a mark of ownership upon His people, for example (2nd Corinthians 1:21-22) Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
THE 144,000 IDENTIFIED
John's vision continues in (Revelation 7:2-4) 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.
John hears that 144,000 people, 12,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel are to be sealed by the angel of the living God. These 144,000 people are further described in (Revelation 14:3-4) And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
There are many different doctrines and beliefs about who the 144,000 are, but rather than list for you popular false doctrines, I would like to offer you the truth of exactly who these 144,000 really are. But first it is important to know that the 144,000 are separate from the great multitude mentioned in (Revelation 7:9). The 144,000 men detailed in (Revelation 7:4-8), will be Old Testament saints from the original 12 tribes who will be resurrected during the time of God’s wrath. The 144,000 are the first fruits of the first resurrection described in (Revelation 20:5-6) But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
THE GREAT MULTITUDE FROM EVERY NATION
(Revelation 7:9-10) 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.
Chapter seven continues with John being shown a great multitude of people standing before the throne of God, this great multitude are described as being clothed in white robes, holding palm branches and worshiping God. While John is witnessing this event, an angel approaches him, the angel speaks to John, and their conversation is recorded in (Revelation 7:13-17) 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.
This conversation tells us that the great multitude of people standing before the throne of God are Christians who will endure the great tribulation, and who will be gathered together at the time of the opening of the sixth seal. This description is the culmination of the rapture, showing that at this time Christians will dwell safely in the presence of God.
THE OPENING OF THE SEVENTH SEAL
Chapter eight begins with a continuation of John’s vision, where he sees the Lamb of God (Jesus Christ) opening the final seal on the scroll. The opening of the seventh seal is described in (Revelation 8:1-5) 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. And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
The opening of the seventh seal begins with half an hour of silence in heaven, this silence is in contrast to the description found in (Revelation 7:9-12) in which the great multitude is described as rejoicing before God. However at this time the great multitude are completely silent in anticipation of the seventh seal being opened. The seven angels standing before God described in (Revelation 8:2), are then given seven trumpets and are preparing to blow the trumpets, these trumpets will bring forth God’s punishment on the unbelievers that remain on earth. But before the seven angels blow the seven trumpets, John sees another angel standing before a golden altar with a golden censer.
GOD'S WRATH IS POURED OUT ON THE EARTH
This angel is given incense to offer God along with the prayers of the saints, the angel then fills the censer with fire from the altar, and casts it onto the earth. What John is seeing is symbolic for the end of God’s patience with the unsaved of that time. The filling of the censer with fire, and it being poured out onto the earth represents the end of God’s patience with the nations (gentiles). This event is the beginning of God’s wrath, and it is followed by unprecedented weather conditions, and one of many great earthquakes. This and the following trumpet judgments, are God’s vengeance against the people who rejected Jesus Christ, and persecuted His chosen people.
THE SEVEN TRUMPETS
The rest of chapter eight (verses 6-13) describe the events that follow the angels blowing the first four trumpets, the results of the four trumpets being blown are self explanatory, and are described in the the following scriptures. (Revelation 8:6-7) And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. The blowing of first trumpet will cause one third of the earth to be burned, along with one third of the trees and the grass on earth.
(Revelation 8:8-9) And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire 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 blowing of the second trumpet will result in one third of the ocean becoming blood, the Bible teaches us that this will destroy one third of all sea creatures, and ships in the ocean.
(Revelation 8:10-11) 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 blowing of the third trumpet will destroy a third of the rivers and fresh water sources, the star that falls from heaven is an angel (Revelation 1:20), and this angel will cause many people to die from drinking poisoned water.
(Revelation 8:12) 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. The blowing of the fourth trumpet will destroy one third of the sun, moon and stars, causing the world to be in a state of significant darkness.
The first four trumpet judgments result in the destruction of one third of the earths trees, grass, oceans, rivers and fresh water, and also destroying one third of the sun, moon and stars. Chapter eight ends with John seeing an angel flying above him, announcing that the three last trumpets are about to be blown. these three last trumpets are described in scripture as the three woes. The difference between the first four trumpet judgments, and the final three are this; the first four trumpets have a direct and physical effect on the earth, whereas the last three trumpets judgments, will be directly carried out against the human beings that remain on earth.
(Revelation 8:13) 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 THREE WOES
(The word woe is described as: A great sorrow or suffering, a time of grief or distress). Chapter nine describes the first and second woe, which is the blowing of the fifth, and sixth trumpets). The blowing of the fifth trumpet is described in (Revelation 9:1) 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.
The star falling from heaven who is given a key is an angel, the Bible teaches us this in (Revelation 1:20) and (Job 48:7). This particular star (angel) is being described as descending from heaven, and being given a key to open the bottomless pit, the bottomless pit is described in the Bible as a place of imprisonment for unsaved souls, and the angels who rebel against God. The Bible mentions this place of imprisonment in (2 Peter 2:4) and also in (Jude 1:6).
THE FIRST WOE
The blowing of the fifth trumpet begins the first of the three woes described in scripture, verses 2 to 12 describe the events that will transpire as a result of the blowing of the fifth trumpet, and the opening of the bottomless pit. John gives a vivid account of what he sees coming out the bottomless pit, and the torment that this judgment will bring to the earth’s unsaved masses.
(Revelation 9:2-12) And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.
These verses describe the continuation of God's wrath on the earth, John sees a vision of demonic locust that will sting the unsaved like scorpions for five months. The scripture explains that these locust are controlled by an angel called Apollyon, the Destroyer. Over the years people have confused and conflated Apollyon with Satan or the Antichrist, however I believe Apollyon is a completely different entity. This angel and his army of locust, are right now contained in the bottomless pit, awaiting their release at the sounding of the fifth trumpet.
THE SECOND WOE
(Revelation 9:13-15) 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. 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 sixth trumpet begins the second woe, at the sounding of this trumpet John hears a voice that calls for the release of four angels who are imprisoned in the Euphrates River. The Bible says that upon their release, they will kill one third of the earth's already devastated population. The continuing verses go on to describe that the four angels are in command of an army of 200,000,000 demonic entities. This demonic army, and how they kill is described in detail by John in verses 16 to 19.
(Revelation 9:16-19) And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.
Unlike the scorpion stings of the locust that will are released at the 5th trumpet , the bites of these demonic creatures will cause fatal wounds. Many people teach falsely the 200,000,000 serpent tailed horses in verses 16-19 is a human coalition of nations such as China and Russia. However John’s description of these demonic entities are literal, and should be interpreted literally.
Chapter nine ends with verses 20 and 21 (Revelation 9:20-21) 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, 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.
Chapter nine ends with reemphasizing the wickedness of the unsaved world, it explains that even after knowing that Jesus Christ is the truth, they will still hate God and be unrepentant of their evil ways.
TO BE CONTINUED
