REV.#23~6:12-17~ THE 6TH SEAL~ GOD’S UNIVERSAL DISRUPTION ~ 9-19-09
Under this 6 th seal we have a Minnie picture of the Great Tribulation.
The 1st 5 seals that we’ve read and talked about in this chapter were brought about at the hand of man; we saw the Antichrist bringing a false peace for 3 ½ years, and then Russia and her coalition in Ezk. 38-39 causes this false peace to end, we believe will be about the middle of the Tribulation, this war brought, famine, and death and hell, all brought about because of rebellious man.
But this seal, the 6th seal that we’ll read about shortly is sent on the earth dwellers from God and the Lamb from above.
But first let me say Chapters 6-19 cover the Tribulation events with chapters 6 (the seals), chapters 8-9 we’re told of the trumpet judgments, and chapter 16 the bowl judgments.
Listen; The others chapters give us important information about the key players in these end time events from the standpoint of heaven and earth.
“The other chapters reveal vital information about the period but are not arranged in chronological order. They either cover the entire period, or spotlight an event within the period, or survey the first or last half of the period.
The chapters we’re talking about now are arranged like a conversation on the telephone between two persons.
They start telling the story in order (chap. 6) but soon there is an interruption to fill in some information (chap. 7). Then the order of events is resumed (chaps. 8-9), then some more fill-in information in (chaps. 10-15).
There is a return to the progressive order of events (chap. 16) and finally more detail (chaps. 17-19). Sometimes the fill-in runs ahead of the story and at other times it backs up to add or emphasize pertinent information.” –that’s a good way to remember how the book is laid out.
In other words chapter 7-& chapters 10-15- is as though they are in parentheses as chapter 7 is explaining the 144000 Jews missionaries that receive the seal of God in their foreheads, and then the people all over the world that are saved because of their preaching.
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Ø Listen as I read our text verses found in Chapter 6:12-17.
12And I beheld when he** had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;* [red looking]
Here we have an awesome scene; it is awesome in its effects upon the universe as judgment, and in its effects upon mankind.
Nothing like this has ever been seen, it disturbs the normal order of the universe which man has taken for granted almost from the beginning of time.
12 b- and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair
This will undoubtedly cause volcanic eruptions, when there is a large volcanic eruption; the sun becomes darkened by the substances in the air.
Became black as sackcloth” is literally “as sackcloth of hair.” This was a very rough cloth made of the hair of a black goat and worn in times of mourning and despair.
The blackening or darkening of the sun as a sign, speaks of God’s judgment and the withdrawal of His longsuffering. It shows this will truly be a horrific time for the earth dwellers.
It’s most likely caused by the ash, dust and debris, which will fill the sky when the earth begins to quake.
12-c and the moon became as blood;* not blood but as blood
Became as blood” means the moon will take on a blood red color. How eerie this all will be to look up at night and see a blood red moon. Evidently through the atmospheric changes brought about by the shaking of the earth and the heavens, particles or substances will be in the air, which will cause the moon to take on a red cast.
God designed the sun and moon to be sources of light in the sky to give light and direction to men on earth, so God’s special acts with the sun and moon here are designed to reveal God to man with these actions also.
This will be the most severe, intense, shaking that the world or universe has ever known—a shaking reaching out in all directions so that the whole universe is shaken like a rag doll.
This is not just a great earthquake, but a shaking of the universe, in which even the powers (stars) of the heavens will be shaken.—
13And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
And the stars of the sky fell to earth- The word “star” the Greek word (asthr) is used of any heavenly body seen at night, i.e., stars, planets, asteroids, meteors, etc.
These are not stars as we might think of stars, because stars are huge and often dwarf the earth in size.
These are meteorites, from what I have read, “meteorites” are made when these hugh asteroids some time collide and they are small by comparison to the earth.
John compares them to unripe figs falling to earth from a fig tree when shaken by a great wind.
Most of the time when a meteorite inters earth’s atmosphere is burns up unless it’s very large.
What John sees is classed in the category of stars, which have much the same meaning and significance, though to a much lesser degree.
Here, because of their size, likened to unripe figs, these are apparently meteorites.
In chapter 8:8 we read about what most likely refers to an asteroid, 8:8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: which is much bigger, but here we believe this to be meteorites.
The famous Arizona meteorite crater is 4,200 feet across and 600 feet deep, but is estimated to have been caused by a meteorite of only two million tons, or about 300 feet across.
The meteorite (or comet) which fell in Siberia in 1908 devastated over 1,000 square miles. The shock was felt as far away as Europe, while trees up to twenty miles from the site were blown over. Yet this body was estimated to be only 200 feet across.
Jesus said in
Luke 21:26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Matt:24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
With these objects whether meteorites or asteroids, are falling like unripe figs on earth, the damage and effects on the minds and hearts of the earth dwellers will be a time of untold horror. I’m glad that the body of Christ will not be here!
14And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
Like a scroll when it is rolled up.” “Scroll” is the Greek word biblion and means a scroll, book, or roll.
The figure is that of a papyrus roll which, when it is first unrolled for reading, splits apart or separates the two roles to reveal the contents on the inside.
Apparently this lasts for at least one full revolution of the earth so all the world sees it.
14-b and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
“Were moved” is the Greek word kinew means “to move, set in motion.”
The whole earth is set in motion. The earth today has many geological faults, cracks below and in the crust of the earth.
Because of this worldwide earthquake, these faults will be undoubtedly set in motion causing the mountains and islands to be moved out of their present places.
Verses 15- And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
Notice who is affected: Every class of society. No one is exempt. From the highest office in the land to the poorest, their money or status cannot protect them from these judgments.
Notice: Now men not only know that the end is near, but they act like it. There is no buying, selling, or planning for the future while this seal is being poured out.
Instead, people hide themselves among the caves and rocks of the earth that will be near to all because of the great earthly catastrophes.
NOTICE Their attitude;
16And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
In every age there have been those who have predicted the end of the world. There have been the dooms dayers (as they are sometimes called) but previously even those who believed it have by in large lived as though they didn’t believe it.
Ø But not now.---- Three things characterize their attitude:
(a) They want to die. Speaking to the mountains and rocks they cry, “fall on us.”
(b) They are struck with terror, perhaps not so much from the physical CATASTROPHES ON THE EARTH, but from the sight of God on the throne.
They cry “Hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne …”
(c) They are, in spite of this, unrepentant even though they know they are facing the day of God’s wrath poured out against sin.
Notice their words,
17For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
“who is able to stand?” The idea here is not who can make it through alive, because they want to die. They sense God’s perfect righteousness and know they cannot stand before Him.
They must be judged, yet not any one repents and calls out for mercy. This shows just how hard the soul of man can become!
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In no other period of history (past or future) of the world will there be so much suffering and universal destruction as during the seven years called the Great Tribulation.
Joel 2:2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations
Amos 5:8 Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.
Isaiah 24:20-21 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again. 21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.
God will pour out His wrath on mankind and will judge all of creation, just before the peace of the Millennium is ushered in.
Ø Listen sinner friend, how many warnings must you have?
Listen to this true account of a man named - Harry Truman—not the President.
Harry Truman was the caretaker of a recreation lodge on Spirit Lake, five miles north of Mt. St. Helens’ smoke-enshrouded peak, in Oregon. Harry had been warned by rangers and neighbors that the mountain was going to blow up.
Geologists had been watching their seismographs for some time, and the evidence predicted that the volcano would soon explode with such a fury that it would flatten the surrounding forest.
Warnings blared from loudspeakers on patrol cars and helicopters, and blinked from battery-powered signs at every major crossroad. Radio and television announcers pled with their audiences to flee to safety.
Harry Truman ignored them all. He grinned on national television and said, “Nobody knows more about this mountain than Harry, and it don’t dare blow up on him.”
On May 18, 1980, at 8:31 A. M., the mountain exploded. I just wonder if Harry regretted his decision, in the millisecond he had before the concussive waves, traveling faster than the speed of sound, flattened him and everything else for 150 square miles.
Did he have time to mourn his stubbornness as millions of tons of rock disintegrated and disappeared into a cloud reaching ten miles into the sky?
Did he have second thoughts as the wall of mud and ash 50 feet high buried his cabin, his cats, and his freshly mowed lawn, or had he been vaporized when the mountain erupted with a force 500 times greater than the nuclear bomb that had leveled Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945?
Harry Truman is now a legend in Oregon. In gift shops he smiles down on customers from posters, T-shirts, and beer mugs. There is even a song about Harry, the stubborn man who put his ear to the mountain but would not heed the warnings.
Dear listener, how do you stand in relation to the Lamb who breaks the seals? Are you a Christian? If you are you don’t have to worry about the tribulation.
Be thankful that judgment for you is passed. No divine wrath remains for you.
But if you’re not a Christian you can be, as the rapture has not yet occurred, but realize, that it could happen now at any time. Call on Him now
