The Scroll.

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The Scroll Overview. (Rev. 6)

When Christ takes the scroll, only He is able to open & read what is written. This is symbolic of Him receiving the authority over the earth & bringing the judgments that
have been sealed up by God.


` Is this not laid up in store with Me, sealed up....?
Vengeance is Mine, & recompense;`
(Deut. 34 & 35)


This `sealing up,` is represented by the 7 seals, showing that it will be a complete
judgment upon the nations. (7 in Heb. means to be complete)


This judgment is upon the rebellious nations of the earth who operate under the control & power of Satan. They consider that they control their own affairs & that they are the sole arbiter of their destiny. But Satan & the nations however, do not have the final say. There is a higher authority controlling the world systems & shaping the nations according to His Divine Will.


As the Lord Jesus Christ opens the scroll, as it were, we are shown how He is bringing
mankind to judgment. He gathers the nations into large confederacies, exposes their motives, and then corrals them into one area for judgement.

`Into the valley of Josaphat I will herd the heathen folk,.....` (Joel 3: 2 Knox)

 

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The 4 Horsemen.

`Now.... when the Lamb opened ...the seals...
Behold, a white horse,....a red horse,....a black horse,.... & a pale horse...`
(Rev. 6: 1 – 8)


These are the 4 spirits of heaven that are sent forth to bring judgement on the nations.
Zechariah saw a similar vision –

`red....black.....white....dappled horses, ` (Zech. 6: 1 – 3)

He asked God what he saw. God says –


`These are the four spirits of heaven,
who go out from their station before the Lord of all the earth.`
(Zech. 6: 5)


God explains that these are the 4 spirits of the heavens, which go forth from the Lord, & operate in the realm of the predominant ruling powers of the world. These ruling powers, great confederacies seek to control & dominate others. Because they do not receive the truth of God, He sends them a `strong delusion.`

`..they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
And for this reason God will send them strong delusion,
that they should believe the lie.`
(2 Thess. 2: 10 & 11)

 

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The Scroll Details.


As the Lord removes the seals on the scroll we see the four different confederacies that
are vying for world domination. Each are under a `strong delusion,` because they would
not receive the truth.

1. The White Horse – A False Peace.
   
   
   `Come & see. ...behold a white horse.
   He who sat on it had a bow; & a crown was given to him,
   & he went out conquering & to conquer.`
   (Rev. 6 :1 & 2)
   
   
   The symbol of the `bow without the arrow,` meaning unarmed, shows that this confederacy speaks of `Peace & Safety,` (Security & Disarmament). This however is a false peace as
   man cannot bring peace, but can only control others through deception & military force.
   
   
   
2. The Red Horse – War.
   
   `Come & see, another horse, fiery red, went out.
   And it was granted .... to take peace from the earth...
   & that people should kill one another; & there was given to him a great sword.`
   (Rev. 6: 3 & 4)
   
   
   This confederacy has `a great sword,` `that people should kill one another.` This confederacy tries to control others through war, but it is a delusion. God will judge. (Ez. 38: 21)
   
   
   
3. The Black Horse – Market Economy.
   
   
   `Come & see, ...behold, a black horse,
   & he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.
   ...A quart of wheat for a denarius, & three quarts of barley for a denarius;`
   (Rev. 6: 5 & 6)
   
   
   
   The symbol of the scales refers to a market economy. This indicates a measurement of
   goods & produce. The `denarius` is equivalent to a day`s pay, revealing the great hardship
   of that time. You would not receive much for working all day, barely enough to live on.
   The delusion here is that man can share the wealth of the world fairly.
   
   
   
4. The Pale Horse – Terror.
   
   
   `Come & see, ...behold, a pale horse,
   & the name of him who sat on it was Death,....
   And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth,
   to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, & by the beasts of the earth.`
   (Rev. 6: 7 & 8)
   
   
   This fourth confederacy will be the most terrifying force the world has ever seen. It will
   use the sword, cause famine, bring plagues & the beasts of the earth to kill a quarter of
   the world`s population - billions of people. The delusion here is siding with Death, not life.
   
   

 

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When the Lord releases these powerful spirits (the 4 horsemen) it is the time of judgement upon mankind that has not received the truth of God but believe the lie. We see the predominant confederacies come together to form a global government. People who do not want to belong to this evil beastly system, but are trusting God, will be martyred.


5. Martyrs – Under the Altar.

`He opened the fifth seal,
I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God
& for the testimony which they held.`
(Rev. 6: 9)



These martyrs are `under the altar,` referring to the ultimate protection of God. Man may kill the body but God protects the soul. They are given a `white robe,` which is righteousness in Christ Jesus, & then they have to wait for all those who would still be martyred.


6. The Great Earthquake – Shaking Heaven & Earth.

`there was a great earthquake;
& the sun became black...the moon like blood....stars ... fell... sky receded..
Kings,..great men...rich men..commanders,..mighty men, every slave,...free man hid...`
(Rev. 6: 12 – 15)


The final cataclysmic judgements shake the heavens & earth to such an extent that even
great leaders & mighty men are hiding, fearful of God`s wrath being poured out.


`Fall on us & hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne
& from the wrath of the Lamb!
For the great day of His wrath has come & who is able to stand?`
(Rev. 6: 16 & 17)



7. The Seventh Seal – Silence in Heaven.


Judgement is completed, Satan is dealt with & Christ is King over all the nations of earth.


`The kingdoms of this world have become
the kingdoms of our Lord & of His Christ,
& He shall reign forever & ever!`
(Rev. 11: 15)



SUMMARY

The 7 Seals of the Scroll mark three key points in the tribulation period

Beginning, (1-4) Middle (5) & End. (6 & 7)

This helps us to place all the other details that are to come in chronological order.

 

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ISRAEL & THE NATIONS. (Rev. 7)

We have just looked at the overview of the tribulation, but before any judgments begin,
the Lord Jesus has some important tasks. He sends four angels to hold back the winds of the
earth. This would make for a very eerie stillness, a calm before the storm of judgments.


`I saw 4 angels .... holding the 4 winds of the earth.... `(Rev. 7: 1)


144,000 Priests of Israel.

Then another angel is given the task of `sealing,` the priests of God in Israel.

`Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees
till we have sealed the servants of our God....`
(Rev. 7: 3)


These are 12,000 from each of the tribes of Israel, the priests that God said would rule.
This was part of God`s covenant with Israel.

`you shall be to Me a kingdom (rule) of priests
a holy nation.` (Ex. 19: 6)


The `sealing,` represents the anointing of the Holy Spirit enabling these people to go forth
& tell others of the coming millennium kingdom. This kingdom was promised to Israel, as part of God`s Covenant & what they looked forward to.


Jesus said, `this gospel (good news) of the kingdom (promised to Israel)
will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations,
& then the end (of the age) will come.`
(Matt. 24: 14)


God has not forgotten His people Israel or cast them aside, but held them in discipline till
the time for God`s Covenant purpose for them to be outworked.

`has God cast away His people? Certainly not!.....` (Rom. 11: 1)


God still has His purpose for the Nation of Israel but it has been held in check until God`s appointed time. As we study further in Revelation we will see this great Covenant purpose
of God unfold.

`blindness in part has happened to Israel
until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
& so all Israel will be saved.`
(Rom. 11: 25 & 26)

 

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The Meaning of the Names of the Tribes. (Rev. 7: 4 – 8)

The order of the tribes is very significant in relationship to Christ. Each tribe bears the name of a son of Jacob & in Genesis we are told the meaning of their names. These names point to Christ, His character & His work. (Gen. 29: 32 – 35 30: 1 - 24 35: 16 -18)

Note that Dan lost his inheritance & Joseph`s firstborn son, Manasseh, takes his place.


Judah – Ruler. Reuben – Firstborn, Heir.

Gad – Righteousness & Justice. Naphtali – Conquer.

Asher – Blessed with sons. Manasseh – Forgiveness.

Simeon – Voice of God. Levi – Judge.

Issachar – Wisdom. Zebulon – Dwelling & Abundance. Joseph (Ephraim) – Doubly Fruitful. Benjamin – Beloved of the Father, at His Right Hand.

(Gen: 29: 32 - 30: 24, 35: 18)


Thus we see that Christ is the Pre-eminent Ruler over all. He is the Firstborn, the Heir of all creation. He rules with Righteousness & Justice, the Conqueror of evil. He is Blessed with many Sons, that he has redeemed by His own blood giving Forgiveness of sins.


Christ is the Voice of God who Judges with Wisdom & understanding. Where He Dwells (in Him) there is an Abundance of blessings, for He is `anointed above His fellows.` He is Doubly Fruitful.


The Lord Jesus Christ is the Beloved, the One who is crowned with glory & honour at the Right hand of the Father.

 

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The Great Multitude. (Rev. 7: 9 – 17)


`Behold, a great multitude which no man could number...
standing before the throne & before the Lamb,
clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,`
(Rev. 7: 9)



Finally we are told by the angel that these are people who have turned to God in the tribulation. They have gone through terrible judgments but have cried out to God & repented. So, although they died of hunger, thirst, or heat, God in His great mercy heard their cry & saved them. They are given `white robes,` of righteousness in Christ.

The Palm branches in their hands refers to the time when they will come on to the new earth. The palm branches symbolize the time of the Tabernacle coming down, God dwelling with His people, by His Holy Spirit.