The Seals Seal the Deal

          In our video series we’ve been restoring the end-time terms and concepts based on what Jesus taught in the Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21).  We’ve learned that the Great Tribulation, the beginning of sorrows, and the tribulation of those Days are all synonyms for the events that unfold during the Church Age. That is, Days 5 and 6 in God’s prophetic great Week when counting from Adam.
            In short, Jesus told us what would happen throughout this age. He gave us the specific signs leading up to the end of this age (the end of Day 6) and therefore His coming at the dawn of the 7th Day or last Day. It is called the Day of the Lord.
            The idea that Jesus would be crucified and ascend back to Heaven to bring salvation to those who would receive the free gift was mind blowing as it was. To add the fact that He would remain at Father’s throne for an extended period before returning at the appointed time would have been information overload beyond compare. Jesus knew that the Holy Spirit would need to guide His disciples into these truths.
            When Jesus appeared to John in a vision, as recorded in the book of Revelation, Jesus made sure to offer a quick review before elaborating on what would happen after His return at the rapture. Revelation is basically the rest of the story.
            Our focus here is what Jesus showed John in the quick review. It parallels what He taught in the Olivet Discourse. In Revelation 6, He shows us six seals. The first four are what we call the four horsemen of the apocalypse. They are four evil spirits under Satan’s dominion who unleash four seals on the earth.

1. The conqueror on a white horse is the counterfeit to Jesus, the King of kings. In Matthew 24, Jesus described this work as many who will come in His name deceiving people with false religions and religious wars.
2. The war-monger on a red horse brings conflict to the earth. In Matthew 24, Jesus said there would be warfare and conflict, including ethnic cleansing and racial hatred.
3. The thief on the black horse brings poverty and scarcity. In Matthew 24, Jesus said there would be famine and lack.
4. The destroyer on the pale horse brings widespread death through pestilence, plagues, and natural disasters. In Matthew 24, Jesus described pestilence and earthquakes.

            The fifth seal in Revelation reveals those who are martyred during the Church Age. They’re calling for righteous judgment against evil leaders. In Matthew 24, Jesus warned us that persecution and lawlessness would come, for His disciples would be hated by all nations for His sake.
            John records the sixth seal this way. “I 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. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.”
            Jesus described this final sign this way. “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”
            The descriptions are the same. In effect, Revelation 6 gives us a fourth “gospel” account of the signs of this age. It doesn’t get any clearer than this. The Church has always existed in the tribulation of those Days.
            The beginning of sorrows and the tribulation culminate in what are called birth pains. When a pregnant woman moves into the latter stage of her pregnancy, the birth pains increase. They signal that a birth is about to happen. In this case, the rapture of the Church, seated as the heavenly court—with glorified immortal bodies, fully perfected and conformed to Christ. For only in Christ are we able to stand before the throne of God and execute the shaking of the heavens and earth in righteous judgment.