Good Morning, or Good Afternoon, or Good Evening dearest friends. I thank you for joining us this day at the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries located here in Spring Hill, Florida, not far from Weeki Wachee Springs! I’m your humble servant, Leonard V. Johnson. I am so very glad to be here with you once again.
Turn in your Bible to the Book of Revelation, chapter 6 –
“Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, ‘Come and see.’”
Here, the apostle John is writing, perhaps around the year 95 AD, some 62 years beyond the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And John, who is possibly on into his 90s, is describing what he saw in this remarkable vision – which he was instructed to record and to eventually distribute to the seven churches which were there in Asia Minor, and the churches of which he could have been overseer.
The apostle John was a young man when Jesus called him – probably in his 20s. In fact, probably all of the disciples were much younger than Jesus Christ. Jesus was 30 years old when He began His ministry. John and his brother James were fishermen that Jesus selected, along with the apostle Peter. They were sort of the inner circle of disciples that were allowed some of the more intimate moments with Jesus and many of His miracles. There were many that He only allowed these three disciples to witness.
One was Jairus’s daughter, who was the ruler of the synagogue, in which some came from his house to him and said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” You recall that Jesus had looked around at who had touched Him, and He had healed a woman, He was actually on His way to this twelve-year-old girl. He got there, and she was dead. And they were weeping and wailing and He said to them, “’ Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.’” And, “they ridiculed Him.” Yet, He took Peter, James, and John into that room along with the parents and He raised the little girl from the dead! And then He commanded them “that no one should know it,” and said that “something should be given her to eat.” Friends, what kind of impression did that make on that father of a twelve-year-old girl!? Well, I can certainly tell you what it did to my heart – December 13th, 1990 – when my daughter was born, and every time I think of her it melts my heart. And it still does today – at twenty-nine-years old. I can imagine that it truly changed this man’s life – don’t you!?
Another occasion when Jesus took these disciples with Him was the transfiguration – Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36. Where Jesus was transfigured – in their mind’s eye; allowing them to see directly into the kingdom of God – and He actually expressed His glory to those disciples and they were allowed to see Moses and Elijah there in the kingdom of God. and they looked and then all of a sudden everything was gone and only Jesus was standing there. They immediately wanted to build “three tabernacles” – because it so inspired them.
Another occasion was at the Last Supper when the apostle John was there “leaning on Jesus’ bosom.” For Jesus had said, “’ Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me. … It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.’” And, of course, he leaned out, dipped the piece of bread and handed it to Judas Iscariot. The apostle John was there, close, and he heard that whole message. John, being one of the very few disciples – after the betrayal and crucifixion of Jesus – that dared to go there with Mary and stand before the cross of Jesus Christ. What a terrible event for a mother – let alone a woman – to have to witness. Her own Son there hanging on a cruel Roman cross. Now, friends, we believe that Jesus Christ actually died on a cross. Unlike the teachings of many – that He died on a “stake.” Yet, it’s really not that important. The important thing is knowing that Jesus Christ became our living sacrifice for all mankind.
And, of course, Jesus looking down at His mother and the disciple whom He loved – John – He said to His mother, “’ Woman, behold your son!’” Meaning, ‘Woman, there’s your son, John!’ “Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’” Saying, ‘John, take care of My mother.’ A lot of Bible commentaries agree that Joseph must have died by this time (he is no longer mentioned throughout Scripture), and Mary in her mid-50s. For the apostle John writes, “And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home” and certainly cared for her. And I’m sure he fulfilled that obligation until her death.
Now, the Ante-Nicene Fathers proclaim that the apostle John became the Bishop of Ephesus. Now, if this be true – that John was bishop of Ephesus – do you believe he was just one bishop over that one church in Ephesus!? Given his credentials, and who he knew personally – he was most likely overseer over a number of the churches throughout Asia Minor. Very possibly – Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea – may have been under his guardianship!?
The Book of Revelation, chapter 1 –
So, here we find this elderly John preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and the testimony of Jesus Christ for which the first chapter of the Book of Revelation tells us that he was exiled to the Isle of Patmos – for that cause. And there on that island he saw and wrote of this great vision.
While he was there on the Isle of Patmos he heard behind him a great voice, saying, “’ I AM the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, … I AM He who lives, and was dead.’” – cf. Revelation 1:8, 18 NKJV. Now, most of this world do not believe that Jesus died. Many – including a friend of mine who was a minister of the Assemblies of God – believe that He went down into the “pit” – into prison – to preach to spirits, and that He had an immortal “soul” and that He could not die. But, friends, in His own words, Jesus said, “’ I AM He who lives, and was dead.’” I believe Jesus’ own words when He said that! So many have this misunderstanding about the immortality of the soul – and that’s not the purpose of this writing here.
But, I am reminded of the funeral of my friend’s sister – which I preached here recently. And, because it was a Protestant brother and a Protestant audience – I felt it would be best not to speak of the resurrection and how Jesus, on four occasions in the Book of John, said, “’ I will raise him up at the last day.’” What do they do with passages like that, when one believes that they have an immortal soul and they will go immediately to heaven or hell when they die!? Do they take a marker and cross that passage out!? I did finish the funeral with a prayer to Father God and our Lord Jesus Christ, saying, “We ask that You, mighty GOD, grant comfort and strength for the bereaved – for all her family and friends – gathered here today – and those that couldn’t be with us, may our dear sister soon hear Your mighty call and answer!” Friends, sadly, no one bothered asking why I stated this!
But here, in the Book of Revelation, Jesus says, “’ I AM He who lives, and was dead.’”
So, John, on the Isle of Patmos heard a great voice, and as he turned around, he saw this brilliant Being standing there –
Verse 13 - “… clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14) His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15) His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters.” – His voice sounded like what you would hear standing at the foot of Niagara Falls.
And – verse 16 – “His countenance,” he describes in this chapter “was like the sun shining in its strength. 17) And when I,” recorded the apostle John “saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.” – this happened to many of the apostles and prophets of old when they saw this great Being in His blazing glory!
In the 4th chapter of the Book of Revelation –
“ … a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I [the apostle John] heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, ‘Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.’”
Through his writings – we’re allowed to peer into the very throne room of God! A remarkable description here of John looking – as it were – in heaven at this great throne and upon this throne a great Being.
Verse 3 – “And He who sat there was like a jasper [reddish brown] and a sardius stone [a brownish-red stone] in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald [greenish in color]. 4) Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. 5) And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices.” – in this incredible vision, he was allowed to see!
Verse 6 – “Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.”
Verse 8 – “The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!’” – over and over again continually worshiping and praising Almighty God!
Over in the 5th chapter of the Book of Revelation –
“And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2) Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?’ 3) And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look at it.”
So, this scroll was so holy, so sealed and private, that no one was allowed to look upon the scroll – much less open it.
And, the apostle John continued – verse 4 – “So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.”
Friends, there’s another description back in the Book of Ezekiel – when the prophet Ezekiel was called to go out and to preach to the nation of Israel, and he saw in vision a scroll also. And there was also “writing on the inside and on the outside, and written on it were lamentations and mourning and woe.” – cf. Ezekiel 2:9-10 NKJV. And he was to take this message and – as it were – to “eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” And, of course, we know why – because of the message of men like Moses, who just before his death spoke to the nation of Israel and said, “for I know your rebellion and your stiff neck. If today, while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the LORD, then how much more after my death? … 29) For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt, and turn aside from the Way which I have commanded you. And evil will befall you in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands.” – cf. Deuteronomy 31:27, 29 NKJV.
And so Moses, for that reason, wanted to give testimony before all the witnesses of what is going to happen if you turn away from Almighty God, and he actually begins a song – called the Song of Moses! Saying, ‘because you reject God and you turn away from Him as your sole provider, and you forget that He brought you out of the land of Egypt, He rescued you – He is going to turn His back on you!’ And it goes on to describe the litany of curses which would befall the people. And, that it would happen ‘in the latter days’ – in the end-time.
So here we find the apostle John in vision, weeping and wondering who is going to be able to open this scroll with its seven seals –
Verse 5 – “But one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.’”
So, this elder calls Him ‘the Lion of the tribe of Judah.’ Recall back in the Book of Genesis when the elderly Jacob is blessing his sons, and he says to his son Judah – “’ Judah is a lion’s whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him?’” – cf. Genesis 49:9 NKJV. Also, recall in that same passage, “’ The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; …” – referring here to Jesus Christ! “ … And to Him shall be the [gathering] of the people.’” – a reference here to the second coming of Jesus Christ and the gathering of His saints at that time!
Also, of course, this elder calls Him ‘ … of the tribe of Judah.’ And I have had many people write me with negative words with this very statement from the very living word of God claiming that Jesus Christ was of ‘the tribe of Judah’ and the fact that Jesus was a Jew. I actually had a Jewish man from Israel send me a message which wrote, “please desist from sending out your sick messages about the false Messiah Jesus who has brought genocide upon the world.” Well, dear brother, I will continue to proclaim and witness the only begotten Son of our God – the living Jesus Christ! I’m only quoting the living word of the Eternal God! Many get very upset at the very fact that Jesus Christ was a Jew and that it is written in the Holy Bible.
And, Jesus Christ was of the lineage of King David. And let’s not forget about the Davidic Covenant, in which God says, “’ I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’” – cf. 1 Kings 9:5 NKJV. Until, of course, Jesus Christ comes back and inherits that throne – just as the angel told Mary, “’ He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob [a united kingdom of Israel as well as all other kingdoms of the world] forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.’” – cf. Luke 1:32-33 NKJV.
And, continuing – He “ … ‘has prevailed [overcame; having put down the current world ruler, Satan the devil – having qualified to be our KING of kings and LORD of lords] to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.’”
And, let us understand, this Book of Revelation – if you look in most Bibles will read “The Revelation of St. John.” In fact, St. Joseph New Catholic Bible (NCB) edition I have in my library, reads, “The Apocalypse of St. John the Apostle.” The book should actually be called “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” – which it correctly does in the New King James Version (NKJV) – which is the very first verse! Because it’s actually an unveiling – which is what the word “apocalypse” means. Jesus is revealing to His saints the things that are, and the “things which must shortly take place.”
Recall in the Book of Daniel, at the very end of the book, the prophet Daniel asks, “My lord, what shall be the end of these things?” And the archangel Gabriel (Daniel 9:21) said to him, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.”
And we believe, and teach in the Church of God, that Jesus Christ is the Revelator – He is the very One that unveils these prophecies that have been literally locked up for centuries. And since He is the Revelator, we go to Him for the understanding of the Book of Revelation.
So, we are blessed with a look into the future of the events which will unfold before and during the second coming of Jesus Christ! Events for which we should be aware and should be watching!
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| The “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse |
Let’s turn back to the chapter I opened with, the 6th chapter of the Book of Revelation –
Verse 1 - “How I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, ‘Come and see.’”
Now, of course, this is the beginning of the chapter which so many books have been written about – the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse” – in which these beings which ride these four horses depict something which is occurring in the world.
Verse 2 – “And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.” – sort-of a religious aura.
Now, I think this has a DOUBLE MEANING. I think it may be partially referring to Jesus Christ in unleashing the end-time ‘great tribulation’ upon the people of the world. But, it’s also talking about FALSE RELIGION.
We have to look – as we indeed do – at what Jesus Christ described as these events. And, it’s located in the Book of Matthew, chapter 24. This is actually the interpretation that Jesus gave of these very Scriptures – unlocking their very meaning.
So, turn with me in your Bible to the Book of Matthew, chapter 24 –
Verse 1 – “Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2) And Jesus said to them, ‘Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.’” – so, His disciples were saying to Him, ‘Look at all these marvelous buildings – look at all the beautiful marble!’
Verse 3 – “Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things be? …’” – when will the temple there in Jerusalem be destroyed!? And we know that this destruction came roughly 37 years after the resurrection of Jesus Christ – in 70 AD. “ … ‘And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’”
Verse 4 – “And Jesus answered and said to them: ‘Take heed that no one [no man or woman] deceives you. 5) For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ …” - and sure enough, there are! How many hundreds and hundreds of different versions of “Christianity” do we have in the world today which proclaim that Jesus is the Christ – yet are deceiving their people!? And how many times they are so very far apart! Almost inconceivable! This is not about someone saying, ‘I am Christ,’ trying to make everyone believe that they are Christ – like, here recently, Vernon Howell, who changed his name to David Koresh, professing himself to be the spiritual descendant of King David – hence Jesus Christ. This is actually talking about people which will represent Jesus Christ. They will say, ‘Jesus is Christ! Jesus is Lord!’ And they will use that to deceive many.
Now, anyone with access to a computer can go onto the Wikipedia site - List of megachurches in the United States – and see for themselves this enormous list! Frankly, I don’t know how they keep up with it!? There are an estimated 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide. 1 And, according to that Wikipedia list, the Life Church out of Edmond, Oklahoma has, on average, 53,000 weekly attendees – evolving to become the largest Protestant church in the United States of America! And, Joel Osteen’s non-denominational group with 52,800 weekly! Another – Christ’s Church of the Valley out of Peoria, Arizona (affiliated with the Restoration Movement) claims 35,000 average weekly attendees. Christ Fellowship, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida – 27,000. The Central Christian Church, Henderson, Nevada – 21,100. The Calvary Chapel, Fort Lauderdale, Florida – 18,500. Abundant Living Faith Center, El Paso, Texas – 12,400. Bayside Community Church, Bradenton, Florida – 12,000. It’s like a small town that my wife and I were in a few weeks ago – Bryson City, North Carolina – there seemed to be a church building on every corner! In fact, there are 100 Baptist Churches in or near this small town of a population of 1,450! 2 There is so much religious confusion and deception out there that it truly staggers your mind! And they all think that they’re right and they’re doing the work of God! And, how do you deal with that!? Jesus Christ WARNED that there would be religious deception in His name. Indeed, this is what is meant – a ‘white horse and he who sits upon it, having a bow and a crown, going out conquering and to conquer.’ And friends, it certainly has been successful – hasn’t it!?
Turn again back to the Book of Revelation, chapter 6 –
Verse 3 – “When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, ‘Come and see.’ 4) Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.”
Let’s turn again back to the Book of Matthew, chapter 24 –
Verse 6 – “’And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7) For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. …’”
According to the Global Conflict Tracker – criminal violence in Mexico is increasing exponentially! – with more than 200 drug trafficking cells and over 150,000 deaths since 2006 due to organized criminal violence. In Venezuela there is grave instability! – with an estimated 3.4 million refugees coming out of Venezuela and with 25% of her population in dire need of assistance! There is a civil war in Libya! – with over 50,605 refugees seeking asylum! There’s conflict in Ukraine. Political instability in Lebanon. A civil war in Syria. A continuing war in Afghanistan. Islamic terrorists in Pakistan. An ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan, Tensions in the East China Sea. An increasing likelihood of a conflict between a nuclear powered Iran and the US and even Israel – and the list goes on! I’ll give you a little time to think about that! Given the fact that the terrorist group ISIS is embedding itself within Pakistan – did you know that they are a nuclear power!? Their current stockpile is 160 warheads! 3 This is quite concerning – wouldn’t you say!? This alone could set off the fuse which would ignite another world war. And this is the case with a number of places around the world – when you look at the unstable Rocket Man in North Korea, how that could erupt. How long will it be before a rogue nation smuggles a nuclear suitcase device into the United States of America!? Or, have they already!? Sadly, in this 21st century, we’re able to talk about the fact that this world has in its arsenal more than 10,000 nuclear warheads 4 which could concievably obliterate every man, woman, and child on this planet!
It is certainly a scary time in which we live – and I’m willing to accept the possibility that this is Jesus Christ suggesting about the prophecy of Daniel 11. A direct reference to the final holy-war between the end-time ‘king of the South’ and the ‘king of the North’ (cf. Daniel 11:40; Revelation 9:13-16).
Continuing in the Book of Revelation, chapter 6 –
Verse 5 – “When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, ‘Come and see.’ So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6) And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, ‘A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.’” – of course these a major food items. Items which we need to live.
And, turning again to the Book of Matthew, chapter 24 –
The very next thing which Jesus mentions is –
Verse 7 – “ … ‘And there will be famines, …’”
Now, even in our modern society famine occurs – the Vietnamese famine of 1945, a famine that occurred in northern Vietnam in French Indochina during World War II from October 1944 to late 1945 – with official Vietnamese numbers of people dying at 100,000 to 2 million. 5 The Great Chinese Famine of 1959 and 1961 - widely regarded as the deadliest famine and one of the greatest man-made disasters in human history, with an estimated death toll due to starvation that ranges in the tens of millions. 6 Now, so often is the case, famine is a result of war. The refugees that seem to stream out of those war torn countries often times are a result of war. When the US dropped the atomic bombs on Japan – beforehand, it has been estimated that B-29s dropped 10 million leaflets in May 20 million in June and 30 million in July, warning the cities, including Hiroshima and Nagasaki – “We are in possession of the most destructive explosive ever devised by man. … EVACUATE YOUR CITIES. ATTENTION JAPANESE PEOPLE. EVACUATE YOUR CITIES.” This information is hardly known out there in history – and much of our American history which we did learn in elementary and high school, is no longer being recorded in the textbooks today, or is being rapidly changed. In schools today they won’t even mention great men like General Dwight D. Eisenhower or General Douglas MacArthur, or even the invasion of Normandy. Major events which took place within the United States of America! But, what nation distributes leaflets before you bomb them!? We tried to do our best to try and eliminate so many civilian casualties. And not only did those leaflets mention ‘the most destructive explosive ever,’ but it listed the thirty-five cities we were targeting. Did this place Americans at risk!? Yes, of course. But we did this for the people who think that the United States of America was nothing more than a big white man whose doing nothing more than pushing a button trying to kill all the people around the world. We actually WARNED the cities of Japan and told them to evacuate because we wanted to save as many civilian casualties as possible. We, truly, were after only military targets. But, as I was saying - so often is the case, famine is a result of war.
Back to the Book of Revelation, chapter 6 –
Verse 7 – “When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, ‘Come and see.’ 8) So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. …” – emblematic of disease, death. “ … And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades [the grave] followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.”
So, this fourth horsemen’s ride begins just prior to the Day of the LORD – what Jesus Christ called ‘great tribulation’ (Matt. 24:21) and what the prophet Jeremiah has called ‘Jacob’s trouble’ (Jer. 30:7). The majority of the Anglo-Saxon dominated nations will be effected – which are the end-time descendants of Israel, also prophetically referred to as Israel (cf. Genesis 48).
Over in the Book of Matthew, chapter 24 –
The very next thing which Jesus mentions is –
Verse 7 – “ … ‘pestilences, …’”
Now there is a 2016 University of Washington study which claims that the reintroduction of mountain lions could have a significant impact on overpopulated deer populations!? Daniel Xu of Outdoor Hub writes, “Experts say that overpopulation is a very real threat in some parts of the East Coast, and could lead to die-offs from mass starvation—not to mention property damage and presenting a road hazard for motorists. According to the study, deer are responsible for 1.2 million crashes in the US annually, resulting in more than 200 deaths and $1.66 billion in damages. Researchers predict that if cougars manage to recolonize eastern states, the deer population could be cut by nearly 22 percent over the next three decades.” 7 Their solution is to reintroduce mountain lions!? Can you believe this!? Now they destroyed the mountain lion population long ago! What kind of an idiot came up with this idea!? Well, “the average cougar can consume up to 260 deer over the course of its lifetime.” Really!? How many human being will be included in that!? Indeed, animal attacks on humans are increasing – for differing reasons. 1) not enough to eat – low population of the animal's usual prey. 2) over breeding - success stories with wolves, bears, cougars and other predators have resulted in human-animal encounters that don't always end well for the human. 3) taste for human blood - some people claim that predators can develop a taste for human flesh after trying it once, since human blood has more salt than animal blood. 8 Friends, when I read God’s living word here, and in light of these news reports, it’s truly as if His word jumps off the page!
Again, turning to chapter 6 of the Book of Revelation –
“ … And power was given over a fourth of the earth, …” You take 7.8 billion people – we’re talking about 1 ¾ billion people are going to die as a result of these events here! And I know this is horrible news! Again, when the prophet Ezekiel saw what was written on that scroll, it was lamentations and mourning and woe.” – cf. Ezekiel 2:9-10 NKJV. This is not a pretty message to have to preach. And it’s not one that I get a lot of alacrity out of having to write up and proclaim to you. It’s actually a message which brings me great sorrow. I ask Father God and our Lord Jesus always, “Why this Message!? Why not a message which is positive, uplifting and immediately relevant to everyday life!?” It’s certainly not because I want to preach this message. But if we’re honest with the living word of God – we must report what it says! The Word of God, the Truth of God, and the Plan of God – no matter what befalls, and let Almighty God guide this Word of the Eternal. I am fulfilling what is commanded of me – cf. Ezekiel 33:3-9.
Verse 9 – “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10) And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’” – this is allegorical language.
And, very near the future, we’re told in verse 11 – “Then a white robe [will be] given to each of them; …” – meaning signs of immortality and eternal life. “ … and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, …” – to wait, be quiet, be easy for a little season. “ … until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.” – speaking of the end-time prophets.
The end-time prophets appear on the scene.
In the Book of Matthew, chapter 24 –
Verse 9 – “’ Then they will deliver you [pertaining mostly to the end-time prophets] up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10) And then many will be offended, will betray one another. 11) Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12) And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13) But he who endures to the end shall be saved.’” – and this I believe is the hope of every man. And they – possibly twelve end-time prophets – will be given power from God Almighty and Jesus Christ to begin prophesying – testifying - to kings, to world rulers, to the captured elect of God, to a great religious leader and political leader – standing before the god of the earth (Satan the devil) – WARNING for 3 ½ years!
Verse 14 – “‘ And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.’” – and this ‘gospel’ is the announcement of the coming Kingdom of God! The Kingdom of God is the GOVERNMENT OF GOD – of which Christ was born to be the KING (Luke 1:30-33; Isaiah 9:6-7; Revelation 11:15). The end-time prophets will have the power from GOD to heal, to ‘shut up the atmosphere from rain, to turn waters to blood, and to strike the earth will all plagues as often as they desire (see: Revelation 8:7-12).
Notice again, the Book of Revelation, chapter 6 –
Verse 12 – “I [the apostle John] looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.” – logically, the moon appears ‘like blood’ or reddish – when it appears in an atmosphere full of dust, smoke, or smog! Recent events in the news is also causing this 'like blood' appearance – California, Oregon and Washington have been enveloped with thick unhealthy smoke from the raging wildfires! The atmosphere will be thick with volcanic ash towers from a great number of volcanoes erupting around the globe, possibly caused by the massive ‘great earthquake.’ The prophet Joel speaks of this same event – cf. Joel 2:31.
The six seals – they are roughly equivalent to the EARLY part of what Jesus Christ calls ‘great tribulation,’ the end-time ‘troubles,’ Ezekiel 30 refers to it as ‘Jacob’s trouble.’
And in the Book of Matthew, chapter 24 –
Verse 29 – “’ Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars [Satan the devil and his demons] will fall from heaven [the atmosphere], and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’”
Revelation, chapter 6 –
Verse 13 – “And the stars [Satan and his demons] of heaven [the atmosphere] fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.”
Conclusion
Turn with me into the Old Testament, to the Book of Isaiah, where God says through the prophet Isaiah, the 2nd chapter, the second coming of Jesus Christ. His actual judgment upon the wickedness of mankind – and, surely, you know what the 1st and 2nd chapters of the Book of Isaiah is about!? How they have turned their back on Him and have spit in His face and have done everything contrary to Him. Their ‘whole head is sick, And their whole heart faints.’ Everything is wrong with the nations of Israel – the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob! And, at the end of the 2nd chapter of Isaiah –
Verse 17 – “’ The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, And the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; The LORD alone will be exalted in that day, 18) But the idols He shall utterly abolish.’”
Verse 19 – “’ They shall go into the holes of the rocks, And into caves of the earth, From the TERROR of the LORD And the glory of His majesty, When He arises to shake the earth mightily.’”
There is going to be a massive earthquake, but it’s not going to be like any earthquake before in history! This earthquake will literally shake the entirety of the whole earth – the Book of Revelation says, “every mountain and island was moved out of its place” – Revelation 6:14b. The whole topography of the earth is going to be changed!
Do you think Almighty God will get mankind’s attention then!?
Verse 20 – “’ In that day a man will cast away his idols of silver And his idols of gold, Which they made, each for himself to worship, To the moles and bats, 21) To go into the clefts of the rocks, And into the crags of the rugged rocks, From the TERROR of the LORD And the glory of His majesty, When He arises to shake the earth mightily.’”
Verse 22 – “’ Sever yourselves from such a man, Whose breath is in his nostrils; For of what account is he?’”
Here – turning back to the Book of Revelation, chapter 6 –
Verse 15 – “And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every [bond man], and every free man, his themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16) and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17) For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?’”
So, where you gonna be – in that day!? What is going to be your excuse – in that day!? What is going to be your doctrine – in that day!? What is going to be your defiance against God – in that day!?
God’s living word says “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.” And, every knee which doesn’t – that person will be destroyed.
It’s as simple as that! □
Bibliography:
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2 Baptist Churches Near Me. https://baptist-churches.find-near-me.info/in/bryson-city-nc. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
4 Roser, M. and Nagdy, M. Nuclear Weapons. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/nuclear-weapons. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
5 Gunn, G. The Great Vietnamese Famine of 1944-45 Revisited 1944−45. The Asia Pacific Journal. https://apjjf.org/2011/9/5/Geoffrey-Gunn/3483/article.html. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
6 Smil, Vaclav. China’s Great Famine: 40 years later. US National Library of Medicine – National Institute of Health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1127087/. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
7 Xu, D. University Study Suggests Reintroducing Mountain Lions to Maintain Deer Populations, Outdoor Hub, https://www.outdoorhub.com/news/2016/07/20/university-study-suggests-reintroducing-mountain-lions-maintain-deer-populations/. 20 July 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
8 Lallanilla, M., Hungry for Humans: What’s Behind Deadly Animal Attacks? Live Science. https://www.livescience.com/43339-tigers-animals-attack-eat-kill-human-prey.html. 12 February 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
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