Prophecy 6

The Six Seals –
Revelation 4:1-6:17

___________________ page l 1 l 2 l 3 l 4 l 5 l 6 l 7 l 8 l -8-

 

The Rules of Interpretation

Consider how the Rules of Interpretation are observed in this prophecy:

Rule One says an apocalyptic prophecy has a beginning point and ending point in time and the events within the prophecy occur in the order given. This prophecy conforms to Rule One because chronological order is self-evident. Additionally, the ordinal numbers given to the seals one through six, affirm chronological order. It is relatively easy to determine that this prophecy ends with the Second Coming (comparing Revelation 6:14-16 with 16:17-21), but when does it begin? I believe the evidence points to 1798. Here is how:

1. Jesus completely abased Himself to provide salvation for sinners.
2. Revelation 5 and Daniel 7:13,14 describe the exaltation of Jesus in 1798.
3. Bible societies on different continents began to translate, print, and distribute the Bible just after 1798 (the second seal).
4. The 2,300 years in Daniel 8:14 ended in 1844. Jesus began cleansing Heaven’s temple (this is the third seal). Jesus opens the books and cleanses Heaven’s temple by assigning guilt and judging the dead. Christ’s pre-Advent judgment perfectly aligns with the rider sent to Earth carrying a pair of scales.

Rule Two says a fulfillment only occurs when all of the specifications are met, and this includes the order stated in the prophecy. I believe this prophecy began in 1798 and ends at the Second Coming. This prophecy is underway, but it has not been fulfilled. There are elements within this prophecy that have been fulfilled, but seals four, five and six are yet to be opened. The fourth seal is the next seal to be broken and when this occurs, the world will experience God’s wrath. Death and destruction on an apocalyptic scale will unfold. Twenty-five percent of the world’s population will die. Soon, everyone will see and feel the sovereign power of Jesus Christ, even though it will be grossly misunderstood for a while.

Rule Three says that apocalyptic language can be literal, analogous, or symbolic. To reach the intended meaning of a prophecy, the reader must consider (a) the context, (b) the use of parallel language in the Bible, and (c) if an element is thought to be symbolic, the Bible must interpret the symbol with a relevant text. The language used in this prophecy is not symbolic because there are no relevant texts defining symbols. On the other hand, we do find the extensive use of analogous, literal, and parallel language. For example, the four living creatures described in Ezekiel 1 and 10 are the same four living creatures described in Revelation 4. The four horses described in Zechariah 6 parallel the four horses in Revelation 4.

Rule Four is not used in this prophecy.

References:

1. For further discussion on this topic, please see pages 58-65 in my book, A Study on the Seven Seals and The 144,000. You can freely download the article at: http://www.wake-up.org/Revelation/RevSeg3.htm. Return
2. Like Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:2, John was taken in the spirit to Heaven to see certain things. Return
3. Compare Psalm 68:17,18 and Matthew 27:52,53 with Ephesians 4:8. When Jesus ascended, He led, as firstfruits of the dead, a small group of people who had been resurrected with Him. Evidently, two human witnesses were taken from each of the twelve tribes to witness Christ’s future actions, specifically, His judgment of mankind and termination of sin’s drama. These twenty-four elders will be able to answer any question which the saints may have about the judgment of any individual. They were present during the judgment and their observation (as human beings) of Jesus makes them reliable witnesses. Return
4. 2 Corinthians 5:10; Daniel 7:9,10; Revelation 22:12 Return
5. Revelation 1:20; 8:2; 15:1 Return
6. See descriptions in Ezekiel 1 and 10. Return
7. Matthew 28:19 Return
8. Compare with Ezekiel 1:4-26. Return
9. See also Ezekiel 10:12. Return
10. Compare Ezekiel 1 and 10 with Revelation 4 and 5. Return
11. Ezekiel 1:10 Return
12. John 16:13-15 Return
13. Acts 5:3 Return
14. John 16:13-15 Return
15. John 6:38 Return
16. Matthew 12:31,32 Return
17. Romans 8:26 Return
18. John 16:14,15 Return
19. Daniel 7:9 Return
20. Daniel 7:10 Return
21. Revelation 13:8; 21:27 (Note: After the Lamb receives the book from the Father, John calls the book the Lamb’s Book of Life.) Return
22. Exodus 32:32; Psalm 139:16-19; Luke 10:20 Return
23. See Matthew 24:36 (NIV) for evidence that Jesus does not know everything the Father knows. Return
24. Daniel 7:9,10 Return
25. 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 Return
26. 2 Corinthians 9:7 Return
27. For a discussion on why Jesus is Michael the archangel, please see Chapter 2 in my book, Jesus: The Alpha and The Omega. or download the article at: http://www.wake-up.org/Alpha/Chapter2.htm. Return
28. Jude 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:16 Return
29. Colossians 1:16 Return
30. Genesis 2:17 Return
31. Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:14-19; Revelation 12:3,4 Return
32. Genesis 2:16,17 Return
33. Revelation 20:12 Return
34. Romans 14:10-12 Return
35. Hebrews 8:10 Return
36. Revelation 5:2 Return
37. Daniel 7:13,14; Luke 1:32; Hebrews 2:8; Ephesians 1:9,10 Return
38. Zechariah 4:10; Psalm 34:15; Proverbs 15:3 Return
39. Philippians 2:9-11; Isaiah 45:23,24 Return
40. John 14:9-11; Hebrews 1:3 Return
41. Revelation 1:7 Return
42. Hebrews 8:1; 9:12 Return
43. See Zechariah 1:8-11; 4:6; 6:1-8. Special horses were bred for long distance endurance in ancient times so that they might quickly carry a king’s edict throughout his kingdom. The four horses in Revelation 6 reflect this imagery. John saw the Holy Spirit sent out into the world on four horses in the same way that King Xerxes sent horses and riders throughout his empire in Esther’s day. See also Esther 8:8-10. Return
44. Zechariah 6:5, insertion mine Return
45. Revelation 14:14-16 Return
46. See my book, A Study on The Seven Seals and The 144,000, pages 58-65 or go here to download: http://www.wake-up.org/Revelation/RevSeg3.htm. Return
47. John 14:15; Matthew 7:21,22; 1 John 2:4-6; James 2:24 Return
48. Hebrews 4:12; Ephesians 6:17 Return
49. Revelation 12:11; 20:4 Return
50. John 5:22; 2 Corinthians 5:10 Return
51. 2 Chronicles 2:8-10 Return
52. Ezekiel 14:12-21 Return
53. See Esther 8:8-10 for a parallel. In Bible times, it was customary for riders to be sent from the king’s throne on especially bred horses so that the king’s bulletins might be quickly proclaimed and implemented. Return
54. Acts 5:3-10 Return
55. Galatians 1:1; 1 Peter 3:18 Return
56. John 5:22,23; Philippians 2:6 Return
57. John 5:30 Return
58. Ecclesiastes 12:13,14; 2 Corinthians 5:10 Return
59. Acts 7:54-8:5 Return
60. Exodus 29:12 Return
61. Revelation 12:11; 20:4 Return
62. Genesis 4:10 Return
63. Revelation 6:11 Return
64. Revelation 16:6; 18:24 Return
65. 1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:16 Return
66. John 11:11-14; Revelation 20:14,15 Return
67. Revelation 14:13 Return
68. Revelation 16:21 Return
69. Mark 14:62; Revelation 6:16 Return
70. Revelation 20:3-15 Return
71. John 6:40 Return
72. Revelation 14:6,7 Return
73. Psalm 2:7, insertions mine Return
74. John 6:38 Return
75. Hebrews 5:7-10, italics mine Return
76. Hebrews 7:16,17 Return
77. Daniel 7:13,14 Return
78. Matthew 28:18 Return
79. Ephesians 1:9,10 Return
80. Revelation 5:11,12 Return
81. Daniel 8:14 Return
82. 2 Corinthians 5:10 Return
83. Daniel 5:26,27, insertion mine Return

___________________ page l 1 l 2 l 3 l 4 l 5 l 6 l 7 l 8 l -8-

[TOP]