The Seven Seals – Part 1

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The scales in the hand of the Holy Spirit indicates the time for judgment has come, this judgment is not a judgment of nations, but of individuals. “The court was seated and the book were opened.” (Daniel 7:9,10)

 

Perhaps Jesus began with Abel, the first man to die. For the past 164 years, Jesus has been reviewing and passing judgment on each dead person. Of course, Jesus does not need 164 years to judge the records of the dead, but the angels and the twenty-four elders need this lengthy period of time. The ongoing judgment scene in Heaven is for their studied benefit.

 

In effect, the angels and the 24 elders have been getting a “college education” on the dimensions of God’s government. They are studying, observing and learning about God’s constitution, His branches of government, His grace, wisdom, mercy and most of all, how love is the balance between mercy and justice. Their lectures include a real-time demonstration of God’s justice and mercy as they observe the judgment bar of Christ.

 

Every record presented before Jesus is a unique story. The angels and the 24 elders are beholding the close and careful scrutiny that Jesus applies to every record. They have never seen anything like this and the Father predetermined long ago that all of Heaven would benefit from observing this courtroom-classroom drama.  

 

This is why “thrones were arranged and the Ancient of Days took His seat…. And ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him….” As billions of heavenly beings silently observe our High Priest at work, Jesus decides who shall be saved and who must be destroyed. Because Jesus knows every person intimately, this is not very easy for Jesus to do. Because the angels understand the incalculable value of eternal life, they watch with greatest interest.

 

They also watch closely for another reason. Those granted eternal life will become their rulers. The redeemed from Earth will be elevated above the angels! (Revelation 1:6) Therefore, the angels are very curious to see who will rule over them. This is why they have to attend this special convocation.

 

Once they understand the full dimensions of God’s government and salvation, they know they have nothing to fear from the exaltation of victorious sinners from Earth.  Each judicial case reveals a unique expression of God’s justice and mercy.

 

Will Work For Food

 

The commission given to the Holy Spirit in 1844, at the breaking of the third seal, consists of a campaign to educate the world that the judgment bar of Jesus has begun. Because there are many Bibles (thanks to the second seal), this campaign is “mission impossible.”

 

As the Holy Spirit prepared to leave the throne room, Jesus spoke these words to Him, “A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!”

 

Wages! These words are a promise of wages. Wages, in the form of “good” food, oil and wine is promised to those who will enter God’s service to promote this special message and I can personally testify after 20 years of endeavor, that the Lord’s promise has proven faithful and true.

 

Rule Three encourages us to look for parallel passages in the Bible to determine the intended meaning of apocalyptic prophecy and there is a very good parallel in the Old Testament concerning the use of wheat, barley, oil and wine as wages!

 

King Solomon offered Hiram, king of Tyre, an enormous quantity of good food if Hiram’s servants would gather up materials for the construction of the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem.

 

“I will give your servants, the woodmen who cut the timber, twenty thousand cors of ground wheat [125,000 bushels], twenty thousand cors of barley [125,000 bushels], twenty thousand baths of wine [115,000 gallons] and twenty thousand baths of olive oil [115,000 gallons].” (2 Chronicles 2:10, italics mine) 

 

Solomon offered Hiram food because food was of greater value than silver or gold. The building of the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem would be an enormous undertaking and Solomon did not have the building materials, but he had much food. So, he was willing to pay Hiram’s workmen with something more desirable than gold if they would do his bidding. At various times in human history, food has been the currency of choice between nations.

 

The parallel here, is that since 1844, Jesus has been offering wages to those who are willing to put their shoulder to the wheel and build up the knowledge of His heavenly temple on Earth. The Bible is a very comprehensive book and God’s ways are vast. Teaching the Word of God, if done well, is not a simple or easy task. Again, I testify from personal experience, this is the most difficult assignment I have ever had. But, the food is good. : - )

 

An offer of wages goes with the breaking of the third seal to attract workers because Jesus wants the world to know that He is judging the dead and the judgment of the living is coming soon.  Jesus wants the news spread far and wide and Hw is willing to pay good wages “in food” to anyone willing to carry the news!

 

Thus far:

 

Seal 1:   Salvation through faith in Jesus

Seal 2:   The translation and distribution of the Bible

Seal 3:   Judgment has begun

 

End Text:

 

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