The Seven Seals are
Open-(ing) Now
By
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
OPENING: - Questions – What if what we have been taught about the End times, the Rapture, and the Tribulation was incorrect? Not the events but the timing of them. What if I told you that what we have thought was going to happen after the Rapture is already taking place? What if I said that we are literally standing at the prophetic crossroads right now and the demand of major decisions is crucial and eternal.
When we see the perfect alignment of global and natural events, technological advancements, political chaos, and spiritual deception is creating a perfect storm that is fulfilling prophecy in such a way that it should cause people to move into action making sure they are properly aligned with the unadulterated Word of God and His perfect Will.
Yeshua HaMasiach (Jesus) said in Matthew 24:42 “Watch therefore for ye know not what hour the lord doth come”. He also says we will see the signs, and we must understand the meaning of the signs. Matthew 16:2-3 says, “When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather; for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather today; for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times”. Therefore, don’t be deceived.
It has always been my desire and I have attempted not to just give a message that will cause you to shout but I attempt to challenge your theology not to prove that I am right about something, but to cause you to search the scriptures for yourself so that your relationship with Yeshua HaMasiach is strong, that you are able to rightly divide the Word of truth, and enabling you to make the proper decisions based upon a deep understanding and not just what someone has said as we stand at the crossroads of a prophetic countdown.
PRAYER
SCRIPTURE: - Revelation 6 & 8:1
I am a Pre-Tribulist meaning I believe the Rapture happens before the Tribulation begins 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. However, my theology about certain aspects of the End Times and the Timing of certain events has shifted.
As Pre-Tribulation believers we have been taught and believe that the Tribulation will start after the church is Raptured and I still hold that belief sincerely. What has shifted in my theological stance is the timing of events known as “The Seven Seals” - Revelation 6 & 8:1. I have been teaching how we are currently living Revelation 13 right now and I believe that the Seals of Revelation are open(ing) now and will continue to open as time is rapidly approaching its climax therefore we must be able to understand the signs.
Now before you decide to leave and think Bishop Maughmer is going off course and trying to teach some new theology I assure you, I am not but I am presenting a perspective that many may not be use too.
Let me state it like this: - I don’t believe the opening of all of the Seven Seals are a Tribulation event but are the Signs Jesus told us to watch for in Matthew 24. I also believe although the Seals are numbered 1-7 it does not mean they are opened in sequential order as we have been taught. EXAMPLE: - I remember “Let’s Make A Deal” with Monte Hall and he would tell the contestant to pick door #1, #2, or #3 and say they picked #2 they would open that door then #1 & #3 not in sequential order but to reveal what was behind that door. A more modern show for example is “Deal or No Deal” there are 25 brief cases each case has a dollar amount in it, the contestant would pick a numbered case, and they would open it to reveal what was inside, but the cases were not opened in sequential order. Thus, I believe it is the same with the Seven Seals when opened they reveal what is inside but are not opened in sequential order, but when opened are the events/signs leading up to the Tribulation Period and the Great Tribulation.
Matthew 24:8 says, “All these are the beginning of birth pains”. Birth Pains: - refer to the contractions and labor a woman experiences before delivering a child. The Birth Pains or contractions increase in frequency and severity the closer she gets to delivering. The Seven Seals when understood as the Birth Pains increase in frequency and severity before the Tribulation begins.
Let’s Look at the Seven Seals and the order I believe they are opened to reveal what is behind the seal.
TEXT: - Revelation 6:9-11 says, “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: 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? 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 fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled”. Although this is numbered as the 5th Seal it is the 1st to be opened and as a matter of fact has been open ever since the cross of Calvary.
WATCH THIS: - John says in vs#9 “were slain for the word of God” that is past tense John sees those that were slain, not necessarily going to be slain, but were slain for their testimony of Christ. Christians have been persecuted & killed for more than 2000 years with the Roman Empire performing systematic killings dating back to 64A.D. Revelation was written in 95 A.D. So, when John says “were slain” he is talking about all those that were already killed before he had the Revelation such as the prophets and righteous figures known as the martyrs such as Abel, Zechariah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, the Maccabean Martyrs, and John the Baptist. Then Vs#10 & #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 fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled”.
NOTICE the ones that were already slain were given White Robes indicating their Righteousness and told to rest until their fellow servants and brethren should be killed as they were (Past Tense) should be fulfilled (future)”. This should be fulfilled is future from the time of John’s Revelation until the Divine Heavenly Number has been reached. Understand Heaven has a Divine Heavenly number of those slain for the testimony of Christ and we are the generation that shall not perish but will fulfill the Divine Number, the generation that will make up the prophecy their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled”.
Realize more Christians are being killed now than any time in history. According to Open Doors an organization that monitors Christian persecution worldwide reports more than 360 million live in places where they face persecution & death. Every day 13 Christians are killed for their testimony of Christ, 12 churches are burned and vandalized, believers are paying the ultimate price for failing to deny Yeshua HaMasiach. In China house churches are raided, pastors are imprisoned, and Bibles are confiscated. In North Korea if you are found with a Bible you face death and in Nigeria extremist groups are killing entire villages for believing in Christ (remember this is the excuse Trump used to invade Nigeria). India has anti-conversion laws that allow arrest of believers to be done for converting to Christianity and in the Middle East those that convert from Islam to Christianity face execution by their own families which fulfills Matthew 10:21 “And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death”.
The voices of the slain is crying out from under the altar RIGHT NOW and believe it HEAVEN IS LISTENING just waiting for the Divine Number to be fulfilled. Their prayers are not being dismissed but are rising like incense before the throne of God. Revelation 8:3-5 says, “And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake”. It is the prayers of the Saints and those that are slain for the testimony of Christ that ignite the cosmic judgments, their blood-cries activate the coming judgments. God is involved with His people and when the Divine number is fulfilled, He releases judgment.
So, the 5th Seal is and has been opened 1st the killing of the Saints and Christians is the trigger that sets the events in motion. Understand we are part of this Seal although yet not facing killing like other of our fellow servants we are called to the same testimony, we must hold fast to sound doctrine and the testimony of Yeshu HaMasiach. When society tries to silence you, when the government tries to persecute you, when family turn against you, when truth cost you everything we must decide for God I live and for God I die because the 5th seal is not just about those who die but those who will not bend.
The 2nd Seal to be opened is the 4th Seal. Although this seal has been taught to happen later in the Tribulation, we must understand that the Pale Horse which represents Death rides now. Revelation 6:7-8 says, “And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 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”. WATCH THIS: - Death, and Hell followed with him. Death takes the body Hell takes the soul that is eternal consequences. Death is given authority over ¼ of the earth, but what is truly amazing is the methods. This is not something that will happen in the future, but it is happening now.
Sword: - this represents Violence, war, murder we see violence intensifying around the world wars and rumors of war, bombings in the Caribbean. There are things happening in America that’s not supposed to happen here, increased mass shootings, terrorist attacks by our own government upon citizen of America, ICE and Border Patrol killing people at will, violently pulling people out of their cars, schools, houses just running amuck the sword is being wielded furiously and without discretion but with pure hatred and prejudice not to mention what is happening around the world.
Hunger: - this is more than just the famine of food, but the lack of Love, compassion, empathy, and morales. There is economic hunger and the devastation of systems that support different aspects of life are collapsing USAID dismantled, Black Farmers are being denied governmental assistance while special programs are set up to help white farmers. Inflation is devastating people and being mocked by the rich as some made up thing called affordability. Compassion, empathy, and understanding is gone morality has become whatever is pleasing to ones own mind and desires.
Plagues: - all we have to do is look at COVID which was a prelude to what is happening now. We have measles, mumps, flu, and other viruses once thought to be under control being unleashed on society. We have a worm eating brain deteriorating incompetent man in Kennedy leading the Health and Human Services of the government who without understanding is being used to unleash part of the 4th seal.
Beast of the Earth: - this points to nature itself the destruction of the dominion God gave mankind. It’s more than man moving into the territory of the beast this is judgment, this beast of the earth encompasses more than animals it is also representing natural disasters/beast hurricanes, storms, floods, earthquakes.
You need to understand patterns – those slain for their testimony their voices cry out and Heaven responds by releasing death to show what happens when you mess with God’s people. The Pale Horse of the 4th Seal is already riding power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth. That is past tense it has already been given and is not something futuristic. The 4th Seal has been open and has and is continuing to establish dominion over those who chose death over eternal life, lies over truth, darkness over light. Spiritual darkness grips the earth, yet humanity continues to rebel believing they can survive without God.
THIS IS IT:- I Believe that this is where we are right now on the prophetic timeline, we are looking and expecting the Rapture to happen at any moment for no man knows the day nor the hour, but understanding the signs, the birth pains increasing and intensifying things are just about ready to break loose. Once the Rapture happens the Tribulation Period begins then without warning and much more waiting the invisible is going to break through to the visible and God is about to show He is sovereign over all creation. Look at the 3 stages of a Woman in Labor 1st there are the initial contractions that increase in frequency and intensity Seals 5 & 4 leading to, the 6th Seal which is the 2nd phase of labor where cervix dilation happens often followed by water breaking which causes 3rd pushing and delivery – the final phases happen rapidly.
The 6th Seal is the next to be open which is the 3rd opened. I believe it doesn’t happen when the 4th seal is complete but during this seal once God cracks the sky (cervix dilation) and Raptures us.
Revelation 6:12-17 says, “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; 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. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 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; 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: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand”? Every mountain and island is moved this is the very geography of earth is being changed, the stability that the entire civilization of humankind has been built upon is being destroyed. This is creation moaning and groaning and convulsing under the weight of human sin and degradation and God’s Divine Judgment.
WATCH THIS: - The ones that are in control will realize this isn’t climate change or just some disaster but will recognize the One True and Living God who sits on the throne, they know this is God himself. When Heaven invades earth, everyone realizes God is real, they still refuse to repent but ask for death and death will laugh at their calamity.
Understand the 6th Seal happens after the Rapture and before the White Horse which is the 1st Seal. War, Famine, Pestilence, and Natural Disaster are the announcements that serve a specific divine purpose, it is the final warning, the pushing, before dismantling of human civilization. When the sun goes dark & the moon turns to blood and the stars fall from heaven and the mountains move it is God saying, “I AM HERE, I AM REAL, & I AM IN CONTROL”. Joel 3 God says, “I will show wonders upon the earth”. This is the pushing God shaking creation to get humanities attention for the final time removing every excuse and doubt so no one can claim ignorance.
Heaven has manifested, the pushing has commenced, the next events happen in rapid succession. The church has been Raptured, He that letteth has been removed. The 4th event, which is the 1st Seal will now be opened.
WATCH THIS: - Governments are dismantled, terror grips the minds and hearts of the people. What was thought to be stable has crumbled, chaos runs rampant, people are looking for answers and hope and someone who can make sense of what is going on. It is at this moment when the 1st Seal is opened and manifested upon earth – the White Horse Rides.
As stated, we have been taught that the 1st Seal is opened 1st but it is not sequential. The 1st Seal with the White Horse is manifested when the world is ready to receive its rider the Antichrist, after they are terrified into accepting anything that looks like hope - the Rapture was the breaking of the water and the pushing is happening.
Revelation 6:2 says, “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”. There are 3 details that need to be understood about this rider.
1. Bow without arrows – he is bent on conquest without war. He dominates through deception and false promises, illusions, lies, and delusions of Peace.
2. He is Given a Crown – authority is granted, he doesn’t have that yet, however when the 1st Seal is opened the world willfully gives him power out of desperation.
3. He rides as a conqueror bent on conquest not to save but to dominate. The Antichrist comes when people are terrified, hiding in caves, looking for death. Although the spirit of the antichrist already exist and certain ones seem to fit the description, they are currently a foreshadow of what is to come setting the framework for the system.
The earth turns to the Antichrist because they want someone that offers hope to lead them on their terms instead of repenting and accepting God. The Antichrist doesn’t come has a conqueror or god but as a unifier, a problem solver that can make order out of chaos. He is smart, eloquent, and has ideas of economic stability. This is why Jared Kushner is so interesting because he has answers for political turmoil, speaks of unity, is able to establish order out of centuries long chaos he is at least the blueprint for what the Antichrist will be able to do for now. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 describe the forces behind him.
The stage is being set right before our eyes and all that needs to happen to propel these events in rapid succession is the Rapture – Check yourself ARE YOU RAPTURE READY!
Counterfeit Peace collapses under the weight of its own deception and when that happens it is violent. The 2nd & 3rd Seals are opened in rapid succession if not simultaneously these being the 5th & 6th events. Revelation 6:3-6 says, “And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 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. 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. 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”. The Red Horse rider is given power to take the false peace away what they felt was and international alliance of safety and security is destroyed and brings war and causes people to kill each other. He is given a great sword - remember the sword represents extreme violence, murder, war. The things ICE & Border Patrol is doing fails in comparison to the power given the rider of the Red Horse.
The Black Horse and its rider have a pair of balances this represents economic collapse and ultimate economic control by a central banking system, possibly a crypto currency, the Mark of the Beast. Yet the luxury items are not hurt, the oil and wine, this indicates that the Elite of society, the great Gatsby clan, will be able to maintain their lifestyle while the lower class will suffer not even having enough to pay a day worth of food because the prices of it are astronomical a day’s wages for a meal. Affordability will be totally destroyed, poverty unlike anything before, utter chaos.
Then something happens that has stunned Bible scholars, prophecy prognosticators, theology students, pastors, and people of God for centuries Revelation 8:1 says, “And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour”. This is the opening of the 7th Seal unleashing the Great Tribulation. Matthew 24:21 Yeshua says, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be”. This is why there is silence in Heaven for a short period of time, possibly a literal 30 minutes, but for a short time silence in Heaven because of what is about to happen, what is about to be unleashed. The Full Wrath of GOD is unleashed upon earth. The 7th Seal contains the 7 trumpets and the 7 bowl judgments, this is the Great Tribulation which is unlike anything that ever happened before.
You see the Seals are OPEN (ING) make sure you are Rapture Ready.
CLOSING: - Biblical timing manifest that God has a sovereign, perfect, and divine schedule for all of life events Ecclesiastes 3:1 “a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens”. Understanding that He has a divine time for everything we can lean on trusting Him and recognizing that in His Divine time He will make everything according to His Will. The events of the world are NOT random happenings that are taking place but are moving the way God has ordained.
God has set things in motion the opening of the Seals represent the increase in frequency and intensity of His judgments. Although many believe the opening of the seals is a futuristic event, we must understand that they are OPEN-ING NOW and we are rapidly approaching judgment.
Decern the Signs of the Times.
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
