Unlocking the Seals
Psalm 96
1. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17
2. Ephesians 5:22-33
I want to start with a question. Why study the book of Revelation? There is a lot of buzz around that says that Revelation is too hard to understand, it’s a prophetic book, there are too many symbols and no one really understands the book of Revelation. But I want to give you three reasons why a series should be studied and preached from the book of Revelation.
1. It’s part of Scripture, and thus it is profitable. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
And in Revelation 1:3, there is a promised blessing to those who read and hear and those who keep the prophecy of this book.
2. The book of Revelation encourages us to live in purity, holiness and godliness. In 1 John 3:3,
3. It helps us to gain an eternal perspective. If there is anything we need today, in this wicked, materialistic, sensual world, it’s an eternal perspective. It is said of Abraham that he lived looking for “the city…whose builder and maker is God.” We need to have the same vision.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 (KJV)
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
WHAT DO WE GET THE WORD “RAPTURE”?
“Caught up” (Greek word) Harpaz; to seize, catch up, snatch away – carry of
LATIN WORD MEANS “ Rapturo”
RAPTURE: Rapture is not Jesus Christ 2nd coming. The 2nd coming is when Jesus comes back to the earth.
But rapture is Christ meeting the bride in the air.
Who is the bride? (John 14:1–3; Ephesians 5:25–27)
The church is the bride
Ephesians 5:22-33:
The Church is called the Bride of Christ and Christ is declared the Head of the Church, His Bride. As individual believers and as the Church we have an intimate relationship with Christ. This is a relationship that is closer than an earthly husband and wife relationship
When Paul write he speaks of the sleeping
Sleep just refers to the people who are dead in Christ “Refers to the Body”
Soul is not Resurrected!
The Soul and spirit goes back to the Lord in death. In the returning of Christ the bodies are got raptured and join to the soul and spirit in transformation (In correctable bodies)
“Paul say we will be transformed in the twinkling of the eyes”
1. Rev: 6:2
– The first seal: a white horse
2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; And a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
This first seal introduces the antichrist onto the scene as a rider of a white horse. This rider wears a crown and will deceive many with talks of peace, but he will wage war against the saints.
This white Horse does not refer to Christ
(Revelation 19:11-13)
11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He [e]had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God
2. Revlation 6:3
2ND SEAL (RED HORSE)
3. And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
Despite the promises of peace from the antichrist, warfare will break out after this seal breaks. During the second seal, the red rider on a horse slays a great number of people.
Jesus is the prince of peace and he brings peace (John: 14.27)
When Jesus meet his disciples after His resurrection His words started like Peace be with you.
3. REVELATUIB 6: 5 –
3rd SEAL (BLACK HORSE)
5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.
True indicates that time of famine will come and shortage of food will appear.
A rider on a black horse will spread famine throughout the earth when the third seal is broken. With whatever population is left on the earth from after the warfare, they will have to survive by bare means of food.
4. REVELATION 6:7 -8
4th SEAL (PALE GREEN HORSE)
7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, come and see. 8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
He was called Dead and the grave followed him.
Death, riding upon a pale horse, wipes out one-fourth of the earth. Many had attributed the events of the second through fourth seals to the great wars, famines, and bubonic plague.
(Antichrist comes to deceive the world)
Daniel 9:27 (one week refers to 7years)
Coming of the antichrist will also be a hard time to the Jews
Matthew 24:15-21
Specially refers to the people in Judea, a great hard time will come upon the Jews.
5. REVELATUIB 6:9 –
5th seal : souls crying from under the altar
9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Those martyred will ask God how long until He judges the earth. They are told a little while longer and given a white robe.
6. REVELATUIB 6:12 –
The 6th seal: earthquake, sun & moon and stars
12 And 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; 13 And 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. 14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 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; 16 And 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: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Catastrophic natural events will be ushered in with the 6th seal including a rattling earthquake, the sun turning black, moon turning blood-red, stars falling from the sky, and mountains and islands disappearing.
7. REVELATUIB 8:1 –
The 7th seal: silence in heaven
“When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour” (Revelation 8:1).
"When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour."
Silence fills heaven. Reminiscent of the Sabbath day of rest God took on the seventh day after creation, a brief pause occurs before the following judgments.
This is the end of the seven time periods in the history of redemption, the completion of God's plan for humanity in the Christian dispensation. It's the end of the story, when God puts a period to history. It is that “divine event, to which the whole creation moves.” It is the return of Jesus in power and great glory.
Heaven is emptied of all its angels. The songs of many angels around the throne are stilled, because the singers are not there. They are with Jesus on the happiest mission of all their blessed ministry for the heirs of salvation.
When our Lord returns in His glory He will have “all the holy angels with Him” (Matthew 25:31). Not one will be left behind. Heaven will be emptied of its angel throng; as they accompany Him to earth to gather together His elect.
Heaven is silent, but earth is not. When the righteous return with Christ and all the holy angels to the Father’s home above, heaven will be no longer silent. At the coro-nation of the King the whole universe will rejoice in glorious song!
And you and I may have a part in that song—the song of the redeemed as they praise the Lamb for the victory of the cross.
Conclusion
So, at last, when time shall have run its sevenfold course, and the last of the seven seals are broken, all the saved will unite in the anthem, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain” (Revelation 5:12) and who has redeemed us to God by His blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation.
Rev. NORMAN BERNAD
BANGALORE, INDIA
+919036696832
normanmab07@gmail.com
