The Seven Seals – Part 1

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If they are honest in heart and pierced in their hearts with Holy Spirit driven conviction, they will confess their sins, repent and rejoice in the Lord. Those who love truth are happy to submit to truth.

 

Or, when pricked in their conscience, they become defiant, angry and hostile and when circumstances permit, they will literally pick up a sword of persecution. God’s truth is called a double-edged sword in Hebrews 4:12 for a reason:

 

Hebrews 4:12   “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even the dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

 

Hebrews 4:13   Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

 

The Bible is very clear. It says that during the Great Tribulation, God’s saints will be persecuted and put to death because of their loyalty to the Word of God. (Revelation 6:9-11; 13:5-7) Therefore, the campaign of the second seal has something to do with the death of many saints after 1798.

 

Revelation 6:4   “….Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.”

 

Speaking of the Great Tribulation, John wrote, “I saw that the woman [the great whore] was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.”

 

“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the alter the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.” (Revelation 6:9) Notice the relationship between the second and fifth seals:

 

    Bible                           Slain because of the Bible

         I------------------------- I

--1—2—3----------------4—5---6—

 

These and other texts in Daniel and Revelation indicate that a time will come when the Bible will become a matter of deadly conflict. Lucifer and his wicked followers will kill those who obey God’s law and the wicked will think they are doing God’s will by killing the saints! Before we continue to examine the second seal, I need to discuss a very important topic:

Our true Position and Condition Before God

 

The gift of salvation is the best news a person can hear after he understands his true position and condition before God. Our true position and condition before God is revealed through the teachings of Jesus, there is no other source of truth on this subject.

 

Jesus said, “… I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

 

Our position before God is that of a condemned sinner. (Romans 3:23)

Our condition before God is one of natural hostility. (Romans 8:7,8)

 

The verdict declared in God’s Word is clear. We are under the curse of sin and we cannot save ourselves from it. The good news is that through the atonement of Jesus, there is a way of escape from the penalty of sin. We have to be born again and through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, we can be victorious over our hostility toward God and man!

 

Thoughtfully process the contents of the following sentence because it is a hard sentence to swallow: When salvation through faith in Jesus is separated from the teachings of Jesus, the gift of salvation becomes “an opiate,” a sweet nothing,” “a theological fantasy” which may be wonderful to believe, but practically worthless for overcoming the temptations and trails of the human experience.”

 

On the other hand, when the doctrine of salvation through faith in Jesus is aligned with the other four essential doctrines taught by Jesus, our receipt of the gift of salvation reflects the transforming power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us. 

 

When we surrender our will to God’s will, we submit to wearing the armor of God. Paul wrote,

 

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, and against the powers of the dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

 

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your guard, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:12,13)

 

John wrote, “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4)

 

When the doctrine of salvation through faith in Christ is separated from the four essential teaching of Jesus, discipleship suffers and Christianity disintegrates. If you don’t believe me, look at Christianity today.

 

Many Christians have been led into idolatry without realizing it. They worship an icon of Jesus without actually knowing Jesus! The often asked question, “What would Jesus do?” is not a search for truth, it is a smear tactic created by the devil to rob Jesus of His sovereign authority For what it’s worth, the bible not only tells what Jesus did through out the ages of the Old Testament, it tells us what Jesus is going to do to this Earth during the Great Tribulation!  

 

Consider this sinister process: when the assurance of salvation is separated from or exalted above the importance of being submissive disciple to the teachings of Christ, human nature will quickly diminish the consequences of sin. When sinful behavior is excused, Christians – people who claim to be followers of Christ – soon begin doing the very things that offend God.

 

Sexual immorality and idolatry are twin sisters. When you see one, you know the other identical twin is close by. They are never far apart. When Christians separate the salvation of Jesus from the teachings of Jesus, Jesus becomes a religious icon instead of the Lord and Master of our lives.

 

Jesus said that we cannot receive salvation without giving ourselves over to His dominion as an obedient disciple. “If anyone would come after me [for salvation], we must deny himself and take up his cross [of responsibilities which I will assign] and follow me[my teachings].For whoever wants to save his life [for eternity] will lose it [that is, will lose control of his life], but whoever loses [gives up control of] his life for me for the gospel will save it [for all eternity].” (Mark 8:34,35, insertions mine)

 

Notice how the apostle Paul summed up the relationship between faith and works,

 

“During the days of Jesus’ life on Earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although He was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.” (Hebrews 5:7-9)

 

When salvation through faith in Christ costs nothing, it produces nothing. The problem is that salvation and discipleship are inseparable. Here is a true paradox:

 

Salvation is totally free through faith in Christ, but discipleship will cost you everythingyou possess. Therefore, true discipleship keeps faith alive.

 

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