The Seven Seals

Seals 4,5,6,7

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During the sixth trumpet, the final call for salvation will be given:

 

Revelation 18:4   Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her (the harlot], my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive her plagues;

Revelation 18:5   for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.

 

Revelation 18:6   Give back to her (the torture) as she has given; pay her back double (200%) for what she has done. Mix her a double portion from her own cup.”

 

At this time, John heard another voice from heaven say:

 

Revelation 14:13   “Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “They will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”

 

Seals:   Today          4                         5  Many  Martyrs    6

 

------------X----------I--------------------I-----------------------I --1,000 Years >

 

Trumpets:                  1234------5------6-----------7

Bowls:                           7 First Plagues                 1234567

                                                                                 7 Last Plagues

 

Martyrdom will bring rest to the weary saints from the suffering and travail of the Great Tribulation and those who die a martyr’s death under the fifth seal will be specifically blessed. These martyrs will sleep through the seven last plagues and they will be resurrected shortly before Jesus appears in a special resurrection to see Jesus appear!

 

Every martyr will be resurrected shortly before the Second Coming to behold the victory of Jesus over His enemies.

 

Look at these two texts:

Daniel 12:12   “Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.”

 

Revelation 14:13 says, “….blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on.”

 

So what is this promised blessing?

 

Revelation 20:4   “… And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”

 

One of the greatest blessings human beings can receive is to behold the victorious appearing of Jesus in the clouds of glory. This display of Jesus’ victory and glory will never happen again for never again will God have a planet in rebellion. Those who are resurrected at the Second Coming will see a revelation of Jesus Christ that has never occurred! (Sixth seal)

 

The martyrs will be resurrected just before the Second Coming to see “the Paul Harvey” – the rest of the story and they will behold with their own eyes the destruction of God’s enemies! What a reward for remaining faithful!

 

Let’s review the fifth seal:

 

Revelation 6:9   When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony [of Jesus] they had maintained.

 

Revelation 6:10   They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the [wicked actions of the] inhabitants of the earth and avenge our [innocent] blood?”

 

Revelation 6:11   Then each one was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.

 

Did you notice: “…. Until the number to be killed… was completed.”

 

This phrase tells us that God has already determined the number of saints that he will allow to be sacrificed. If the Father was willing to sacrifice Jesus for the salvation of one person [and we but faintly appreciate all that Jesus really is], how many human beings do you think God would be willing to sacrifice for the salvation of one more person? In God’s economy, the martyrdom of 10,000 people for the salvation of one person is a reasonable exchange – because God has the power of life.

 

God doesn’t have control over our will. The power of choice is ours! So, He is prepared to make a great sacrifice so that, if possible, we will make the right choice. This is one reason why He sacrificed a large number of saints.

 

Also, did you notice that both prophets and saints will be killed during the fifth seal?    

 

“…they were told to wait a little longer until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.”

 

The servants’ mentions here are the 144,000.

 

Revelation 7:3   “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”

 

Revelation 7:4   then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes Israel.”

 

Revelation 10:7   But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.”

 

The apostle John keeps a careful distinction between servants and non-servants throughout the book of Revelation. Notice this text:

 

Revelation 16:4   The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood.

 

Revelation 16:5   Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: “You are just in these judgments, you who are and who were, the Holy One, because you have so judged;

 

Revelation 16:6   for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.”

 

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