0501 The Seven Seals

Rev 6:{1} Then I saw the Lamb open one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures call out, as with a voice of thunder, "Come!" {2} I looked, and there was a white horse! Its rider had a bow; a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering and to conquer.

Chapter 4 took us into heavenly glory. Now we are back, and the Lamb, Jesus Christ, has received a scroll of judgment from the One who sits on the divine throne. It is sealed with seven seals. (A document was rolled then sealed with a lump of clay stamped with a signet, identifying the maker.) The Lamb that was slain is worthy to open the seven seals of the scroll owing to his being chief of martyrs.

The Lamb breaks the seals of the scroll one by one, with dire consequences for the ungodly and unrepentant. The breaking of the first four seals loose "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse." Zechariah's visions in Zech 1:7-12 and 6:1-8 set the precedence for horsemen; the Lord has sent them out to patrol the earth. The horsemen return with news that the earth is at peace. But now the horsemen go forth from Heaven as agents of judgment, and on earth peace cannot be found.

The first of the "living creatures" (zo�n, "beasts"), having the face of a lion and the thunderous voice of God's authority (4:5), commands Erchou! -- Go! (Erchou is the imperative of erchomai meaning either "come" or "go." "Go" makes more sense. We might say, "Take off!")

THE WHITE HORSE � CONQUEROR! The white horse represents Parthia, the long-term enemy and sometime ally of Rome. Parthia was ruled by a king (Parthian kings were known for their huge, unwearably heavy crowns); its symbol was the Parthian bow. In John's day, Parthia was a competing empire composed roughly of modern-day Syria, Iraq, Iran, Eastern Turkey and Armenia � the Moslem states. These countries have been the enemy of Europe from the time of Julius Caesar through the 19th century, and they currently constitute a threat to both Europe and the United States. We remember that God used the Chaldeans (Parthians / Babylonians) to chastise Israel in the time of Habakkuk. Joel spoke of Babylon / Chaldea / Parthia as "Yahweh�s army," comparing their armies to a plague of locusts devastating Israel. Moreover Yahweh allows Babylon / Chaldea / Parthia to raise havoc again in these modern times, with their stockpiles of nerve gas, biological weapons, terrorists and rogue plutonium. These nations are a perpetual plague to the entire world.

If this prophecy is for the future, then it speaks of another war between Europe and the Middle East. We remember that the One World Government (Europe / United Nations) did go to war against Babylon / Chaldea / Parthia / Iraq in 1990-91. At this writing (February 1998) we are narrowly averting a war that may lead a world war, if the threat of Rus(sia)'s president is to be taken seriously. At this writing (June 1999), Russia is coming together with Serbia (now at war with NATO) and these Middle East countries for more global mischief. War has begun; who will be dragged in?

Rev 6:{3} When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature call out, "Come!" {4} And out came another horse, bright red; its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another; and he was given a great sword.

"Take off!" cries the "beast" with the face of an ox. The red horse stands for bloodshed as a result of the snatching away of the peace. As usual, "conqueror" (the White Horse) and "peacetaker" (the Red Horse) ride tandem, and the result is slaughter by the "sword" (violence). Just as the bow was a symbol of the Parthian Empire, the sword was a symbol of the Roman.

The "earth" does not necessarily mean "the whole earth." The Greek word for "earth," ge, can just as well mean "land." Peace is taken from the particular land that is destined for judgment. This war may be localized. Nevertheless, like the war between Iran and Iraq in the seventies and eighties, this war may claim millions. Add to that the genocide perpetrated against the ethnic varieties within Iraq, Iran, Armenia, Yugoslavia and Turkey (specifically, Kurds and ethnic Albanians), and you have more people dead in the last twenty years than were even living in John's day in the whole world.

Remember, this judgment deals primarily with Europe and the Middle East. America may be in John's Revelation, but not specifically in the opening of the scroll. You will be surprised where America turns up. The war prophesied may have little effect on America (or much less effect). But what has affected us and will affect us is the taking away of peace -- "people will slaughter one another." "Slaughter" may be the best way to describe the lawlessness of our country -- a wilderness of terror amid a facade of peaceful affluence. (America is a spiritual wilderness.)

Rev 6:{5} When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature call out, "Come!" I looked, and there was a black horse! Its rider held a pair of scales in his hand, {6} and I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's pay, and three quarts of barley for a day's pay, but do not damage the olive oil and the wine!"

"Take off!" cries the "beast" with a man's face, then off flies the black horse to deliver its judgment upon the land -- "poverty"! A voice in the midst, perhaps that of the lamb (5:6), quotes inflationary prices for staple items like wheat and barley. Luxury items, such as oil (makes the face shine) and wine (makes the heart glad, Ps 104:14-15) are nonexistent for the common people. Only the rich (like us) can afford such luxuries, we are willing to pay for them, and we are. Some California olive oils are now being sold for $80 or more per pint! (CNN, 9/94)

The word "damage" should be translated "loose" or "let loose of." What is described is a gross inequity in the distribution of foodstuffs. The haves have; the have-nots have not. Fat European clones hold the wealth of the world; Third Worlders starve. Not because there isn't enough, but because the haves will not divest.

It is a common but overlooked fact that 35,000 children under the age of fifteen worldwide die every day of malnutrition correlated diseases. 35,000 every day! And this while Americans pay billions to lose weight. This is a mortal, venal sin. It is gluttony. You and I are guilty. And we are just as trapped in our indulgence as tightly as those in the grip of poverty. Study Isaiah 58, then feel all that spirituality you've claimed disappear.

As for oil and wine and Bible typology: they were used as offerings to God (Neh 13:12) and as tithe due the priest (Deu 14:23). Such luxuries and blessings are given by God to be enjoyed by all (Ps 104:14-15), not just some. They are prescription drugs (Luke 10:34). To withdraw them means mockery among the nations (Joel 2:19). These are biblical conclusions about oil, wine and gluttony. How shall we break free?

HISTORICAL NOTE: Emperor Domitian, the eighth horn, decreed that 1/2 the vineyards in the Roman provinces were to be burned and replanted with grain to avert a world-wide famine in 92 AD. If John were living at this time (as many historians have us believe), this would have certainly been a "black" time for him and his group -- no oil nor wine to be had anywhere but on the tables of affluent Romans.

Rev 6:{7} When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature call out, "Come!" {8} I looked and there was a pale green horse! Its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed with him; they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, famine, and pestilence, and by the wild animals of the earth.

The fourth seal on the scroll of judgment is broken and a beast with the face of the Eagle cries, "Take off!" The pale green (or "pale horse") signifies the color of a corpse in rigor. I have seen many corpses; some do indeed appear �green around the gills.�

HADES: The rider of the pale horse has a name: Death and Hades. Hades (also translated Hell) is the abode of the dead and synonymous with the Sheol of the Hebrew Bible. The dead remain so until the resurrection. (The dead neither go to Heaven or Hell. They are just dead.) In the resurrection of the dead, Death and Hades are swallowed up in victory.

TARTARUS, THE BOTTOMLESS PIT: Hades is not to be confused with Tartarus, the place where Peter tells us Jesus went to proclaim his victory to captive spirits. Tartarus is the pit in which the Titans of Greek mythology were held captive. It is the same place 1 Enoch calls "the abyss," the temporary residence of the spirits of the "giants" described in Genesis 6 and 1 Enoch 6. Tartarus is also mentioned in Revelation as the abyss or bottomless pit. According to Jewish lore, both Hades and Tartarus are located deep inside the earth.

THE EARTH / LAND: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are given authority over a quarter of the land (or "earth," same thing). Translating ge as "land" instead of �earth� localizes the judgment to Israel. As J. E. Leonard points out in her unique and insightful commentary (Come Out of Her, My People), ge is the Greek translation of the Hebrew eretz, which even today means the area of the earth that God has given over to the children of Israel. (As for eretz Israel, See Ezekiel 7:2.)

Rev 6:{9} When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered for the word of God and for the testimony they had given; {10} they cried out with a loud voice, "Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long will it be before you judge and avenge our blood on the inhabitants of the earth?" {11} They were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number would be complete both of their fellow servants and of their brothers and sisters, who were soon to be killed as they themselves had been killed.

TIME, CHRONOS V KAIROS: The first six seals are broken by the Lamb in rapid succession. The resulting judgments may or may not be quick to follow. One cannot use chronological time to form an opinion about anything in Revelation, for it is not a chronological vision; it is a kairotic vision. It is set not in linear time, but in pregnant time. Anything may burst forth at any time. It is untimely � ripe time. "This" does not necessarily happen before or after "that." Only the person with divine prophetic wisdom may chronologize the events of the vision. Never trust an interpretation that is right down to the year, for the chronological year is not set in the first place. The prophetic events that are to occur are not scheduled, but burst forth when the world is ripe.

The Lamb opens fifth seal; John sees a vision of the psychas ("spirits," not "souls") of those martyred for "the word of God and the testimony of Jesus." They reside "under the altar" (i.e. "under the blood of the sacrificed Messiah"). Whereas those who are subject to judgment die, these spirits cannot die. Only those "born from above" are spiritually alive and therefore survive physical death (Eccl 3:12). The unregenerate simply die. Their spirits go nowhere because they do not have living spirits. (The unregenerate are spiritually dead.)

But the spirits of the faithful martyrs go, in a symbolic sense, under the altar (as do all the spirits of the regenerate) and cry out for vengeance. (Doesn't it seem uncharacteristic of saints to clamor for retribution?) Yet the saints know the identity of their blood avenger: it is Yahweh; the LORD will repay. The cry for revenge harkens back to Job's lamentation: "I know that my redeemer (go�el, �blood avenger�) liveth." To the saints the Lamb replies, "Give me just a little more time..."

Martyrdom has been discussed in depth in the section titled "The History of Persecution." Suffice it here to say that according to David Barrett, the statistician for the Southern Baptist Convention, by the year 2,000 expect to see 300,000 martyrs for Jesus per year (D. Barrett, "Annual Statistical Table on Global Mission: 1990," International Bulletin of Missionary Research, January, 1990, p. 26.)

In 1995, conservative estimates put the number of Christians killed for their faith at 150,000. I noted one example of persecution in my journal that has escalated exponentially since. On December 27, 1994, three Catholic priests (two French, one Belgian) were murdered by Moslem fundamentalists in Algeria. By the end of 1997, thousands of Christians had been murdered in that country with absolutely no intervention by western Christians.

Each martyr is given the white robe of purity (as were the conquerors from Sardis, Rev 3:4; Pergamum, 3:18; elders 4:4). Chapter 7 reveals specifically who will be robed in white. The saints are told to "rest a little while longer" until the completion of their number, at which time they will be mustered forth as the cloud of witnesses accompanying the Lamb in his vengeful advent to Mt. Zion.

One sure sign of the imminent public return of the Messiah is the cup of martyr�s blood being filled. (�Rest until the number is complete.�) Christians are dying at the hands of the enemies of Yahweh in fantastic numbers. There must be literally millions of "souls under the altar" awaiting a restored earth. Are you willing to be a martyr? Are you willing to help those who are even now "being killed all day long" for their faith in Jesus?

Rev 6:{12} When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and there came a great earthquake; the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, {13} and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree drops its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. {14} The sky vanished like a scroll rolling itself up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.

GEOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION: The seven signs of the sixth seal are indicative of a collision with an asteroid or a mammoth volcanic eruption. Of course you know that an asteroid has been blamed for the "extinction" of the dinosaurs as evidenced by the worldwide radioactive rhodium layer in the geostratae. The dust layer scattered by the radioactive asteroid darkened the sun and moon, killing the fauna, then the herbivores, and then the carnivores, including the dinosaurs.

Most of us witnessed the Shoemaker-Levy comet collide with Jupiter in July 16, 1994. Despite the heavy gas layer of the Jupiter giant, the result of the event could be seen, even with binoculars, for years afterward. (Jupiter, by the way, is the father of the Roman pantheon.)

In 79 AD, just two months into the reign of the "seventh horn" Titus, the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum were wiped out by the eruption of Vesuvius. The great volcano blackened the sky with ash and poured hot lava out in such a gush that the inhabitants of these towns were taken quite by surprise. The solidified lava preserved these places for restoration in our time. The prophetic import of this (besides the fact that John may have predicted or witnessed the eruption) is that the city of Pompeii was famous for her chief citizen, Poppaea (Nero's wife), and was named after her. Uncovered in Pompeii is her villa, with its slave quarters, lavish accommodations, and brothel (complete with pornographic art and couches).

To the present: In the early years of this century (June 30, 1908) a comet or asteroid exploded above Siberia, creating a large, atomically-charged, area of destruction that is intensively studied today. Now we learn from USA Today (March 8, 1998) that a huge, deadly asteroid is predicted to hit or miss earth in 2028, thirty years from now. Astronomers predict that if this monster hits, earth is finished. Do you expect to be here in 2028? If you are born from above, you will be here.

As for the "great earthquake," why not understand it literally, since "the great city" is to be split into 3 parts? In our times we have experienced monster earthquakes, like the one that hit Guam, August 8, 1993: 8.1 on the Richter scale. Now that's a monster! Mexico City, Kobe and Los Angeles also come to mind. My brother was in an elevator in Kunming, China when that city's biggy hit a few years ago. His is a frightening story. The author experienced a mild earthquake in Indiana many years ago. It was like falling, falling, falling -- and consternation.

HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION: Discussion of earthquakes allow us to segue into a historical perspective, recalling historical events that fit the general description of these seven geological / stratospherical signs. Nobody is yet alive who has experienced

� the Leonid Star Shower November 12, 1833 witnessed throughout the hemisphere unlike any other, although two rival showers have occurred in my lifetime (I am a witness to both): in 1968 and in 1993 (not to mention the incredible lunar eclipse and the convergence of planets in 1997).

� Popular on TV �Discovery shows� feature inquiries into lost Atlantis, with theories as to its location under the seas of Greece, and in the oceans around Antarctica, destroyed and submerged by great earthquakes, volcanos or tectonic shifting.

SYMBOLIC INTERPRETATION: Using Revelation 12 as a guide, the sun might represent the Testimony of Jesus, the moon represents the Commandments of God, stars represent angels falling, the sky, mountains and islands referring back to ancient interpretations of their source in Isaiah. Loosely, this interpretation says that the Commandments of God and the Testimony of Jesus will be darkened; rebellious angels and principalities will be falling with great frequency (and ascending up from the pit, as per the fifth and sixth trumpet), and the Day of the Lord will be upon the earth, with its "sky rolling up as a scroll: the trumpet will sound and the Lord will descend... ." Nevertheless, as the hymn continues, it shall be "well with my soul."

MYTHOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION: In Jewish lore (biblical and otherwise), the falling of heavenly bodies is symbolic of the "falling from power" of political, economical and religious powers (see for instance Isaiah 13:10-11 and many other references). Such is the result of anarchy, nationalism or conquest. All three of these dire circumstances are described in the Revelation. In fact we see the number of the nations of the earth increasing with great rapidity due to the spirit of nationalism so prevalent in every culture today, including our own. Kings, elected officials and self-styled dictators are falling at a rapid pace, indicative of a great move in the realms of heaven and heaven's angels. Political upheavals, so prevalent today, are a perfect example of the mythological meaning of falling stars and uprooted mountains.

Rev 6:{15} Then the kings of the earth and the magnates and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, {16} calling to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb; {17} for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"

People, irrespective of social position, will be hiding underground, in shelters, calling out to the mountains to hide them from "the face of the one on the throne" and "the wrath of the Lamb" (Eze 38:12) All will be certain that the something like the "Day of the Lord," as described many places in scripture, has come (see Hos 10:8, Luke 23:30).

Specifically, people will be seeking shelter from the violence of regional war. The idea of rocks and caves as protection may come from 1 Samuel 13:6 in which the Philistines are encamped around Gilgal. The Israelites gathered there under King Saul who see these advanced armaments of war, including chariots and swords, are terrorized and hide in �caves, thickets, rocks, holes and pits� while others escape out of the country.

The author recalls the scurry to build bomb shelters in America's backyards of the 50's and 60's. The grade school and junior high school that I attended were both designated as fallout shelters. Nuclear war was imminent in 1960! Little did we know then that those homemade shelters were totally inadequate against nuclear fallout or any other by-products of war. Rocks, caves and bomb shelters will be equally useless against the armies of God�s wrath.

Today only certain political elites have access to safe bunkers in case of the "Day of the Lord." Consider who has them: heads of state, like President Clinton and his Cabinet, and military types. (Ay yi yi.) VIP bunkers are built inside of mountains at great cost of dollars and time. Yes, people like President Clinton and his cabinet, military geniuses and their staff members (slaves), along with the Ted Turners, Malcolm Forbes', and other "magnates" expect to find safety in the depth of the mountains. Yet safety is only to be found in a biological sense -- those that will be safe in the day of the Lord will be those who have been born from above, under the spiritual protection that even death cannot overcome.

The seventh seal on the book of judgment is finally cracked and there is a short but awesome silence, for the book is now completely unsealed and now must be opened. We are reminded that wars and famines and pestilence are the normal plight of earthlings. But now the time for divine judgment has come. (Compare with Is 41:1.)