I want to invite
you to take your Bibles
00:00:07.90\00:00:11.91
and just go right
to Revelation chapter 5
00:00:11.91\00:00:15.88
and I saw in the
right hand of him
00:00:15.88\00:00:19.88
who sat on the throne a scroll,
00:00:19.88\00:00:23.89
written inside and on
the back, sealed with (what?)
00:00:23.89\00:00:27.89
7 seals then i
saw a strong angel
00:00:27.89\00:00:31.89
proclaiming with a loud
voice who is worthy to open
00:00:31.89\00:00:35.86
the scroll and
to loose its seals
00:00:35.86\00:00:39.87
and no one in heaven or on earth
00:00:39.87\00:00:43.91
or under earth was able to open
00:00:43.91\00:00:47.91
the scroll or to
look at it. verse 4. So I
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wept much
because no one was found
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worthy to open and read
the scroll or look at it
00:00:55.95\00:00:59.95
but one of the elders said
to me do not weep for behold
00:00:59.95\00:01:03.96
the lion of the tribe of
Judah and the root of David
00:01:03.96\00:01:07.96
has prevailed to
open the scroll and loose
00:01:07.96\00:01:11.93
its seven seals. Now
Let's stop there for second
00:01:11.93\00:01:15.94
the vision opens up by
00:01:15.94\00:01:19.94
focusing on a
picture of God the father
00:01:19.94\00:01:23.98
sitting on his
throne and in the right hand
00:01:23.98\00:01:27.95
of God the father
is (what?) a scroll
00:01:27.95\00:01:31.95
sealed with 7 seals and
00:01:31.95\00:01:35.99
that seems to be the focus
and emphasis of this vision
00:01:35.99\00:01:40.00
this scroll sealed
and that cannot be opened
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it then says one of
the angels voices calls out
00:01:43.97\00:01:47.97
very loudly, who is
worthy to open this scroll
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to unloose the seals
and reveal the contents
00:01:51.97\00:01:55.98
and it says no one is
found in heaven or earth
00:01:55.98\00:01:59.95
or under the earth that can open
00:01:59.95\00:02:03.99
the seals. And it causes
great concernation in heaven
00:02:03.99\00:02:07.99
so much so that in verse
4 John does John actually do
00:02:07.99\00:02:11.99
in the vision?
Does what it says I
00:02:11.99\00:02:15.96
weep much it disturbed him
00:02:15.96\00:02:19.97
see this tells us that whatever
is written in those scrolls
00:02:19.97\00:02:24.01
must be something very important
for the church of Jesus
00:02:24.01\00:02:28.01
to know. but finally
00:02:28.01\00:02:32.01
some one says one of the Elders
says there is someone is found
00:02:32.01\00:02:36.02
worthy to open the scroll
it is the lion of the tribe
00:02:36.02\00:02:39.99
of Judah the root of
David who has prevailed
00:02:39.99\00:02:44.06
now who would that be you
think. That's Jesus Christ
00:02:44.06\00:02:48.03
those are Old Testament
terms that refer to the Mssiah.
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so what Revelation it is
telling us is Jesus is the one
00:02:52.03\00:02:56.04
who is worthy to
open the scroll because
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he prevailed over sin on
the cross of calvary can you say
00:02:59.87\00:03:03.88
amen and the next thing
John sees is a slain lamb
00:03:03.88\00:03:07.88
in the middle of the throne
room, an obvious reference to
00:03:07.88\00:03:11.89
Jesus death on the
cross. The rest of that chapter
00:03:11.89\00:03:15.96
goes on to say why
Jesus is worthy to open
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the seals. It is
because he is the one who shed
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his blood He is the
Lamb of God that came to this
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earh to save fallen
mankind and so because
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of that he is the the only
one He is the perfect saccrifice
00:03:32.44\00:03:36.44
that is worthy to
open the scrolls and so see
00:03:36.44\00:03:40.45
what this is telling
us is that whatever is in
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those scrolls must have
something to do with the church
00:03:44.09\00:03:47.89
of Jesus. because not only
has he died for the world he is
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the head of the church
so in those scrols, in those
00:03:51.86\00:03:55.86
seven seals, it is going
to reveal things that will
00:03:55.86\00:03:59.90
happen to the church of
Jesus all through out history
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in fact here is what we're
gonna discover as we read this
00:04:03.87\00:04:07.88
Jesus opens the
seals and these seals
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will begin to describe the
history of the church through
00:04:11.95\00:04:15.95
the christian age it is gonna
discover the past the present
00:04:15.95\00:04:19.95
and the future and this will
become very obvious as we go
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through it for example we are
gonna discover the first four
00:04:23.96\00:04:27.96
seals cover church history from
the first century to the middle
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ages the 5th seals gives
us imagery of the persecuation
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that came in the dark
ages and the 6th and 7th seals
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are signsof the
end and coming of Jesus
00:04:39.97\00:04:44.01
revelation chapter 6
and going to start in
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verse 1 through 2 Now I
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saw when the lamb
opened one of the seals
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and I heard one of the
four living creatures saying
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with a voice like
thunder come and see
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and I looked and
behold a white horse
00:05:04.13\00:05:08.14
(What Color?) white he who sat
00:05:08.14\00:05:11.84
on it had a bow and a
crown was given to him
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and he went out
conquering and to conquer
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so here is the
picture we are given thus far
00:05:19.88\00:05:23.95
a rider on (what color
of a horse?)a white horse
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he has a bow and arrow in
his hand and is wearing a crown
00:05:27.96\00:05:31.96
and in the Greek it is a
stephanos crown which is a
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victor crown and the
horse and rider are described
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as conquering
everything in their path.
00:05:39.97\00:05:44.01
that is rather impressive
dont you think? now our first
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question is ok is this
meant to be literal or symbolic
00:05:48.04\00:05:52.05
does this mean we are gonna see
a rider with a white horse in
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the sky obviously revelation
is trying to represent
00:05:56.08\00:06:00.19
something, so here is what
we need to do the first question
00:06:00.19\00:06:04.16
would be who is the rider on the
horse? now we cound go around
00:06:04.16\00:06:08.13
the romm and we could try to
guess I think it this or I think
00:06:08.13\00:06:12.17
that some theology perspective
say this is the antichrist
00:06:12.17\00:06:16.17
i can absolutely guarantee
you this is not antichrist
00:06:16.17\00:06:20.24
because no where in the Bible
is antichrist ever represented
00:06:20.24\00:06:24.25
by white. White always
rpresents what in the bible
00:06:24.25\00:06:28.25
truth, purity,
and righteousness.
00:06:28.25\00:06:32.25
in fact what we are gonna
discover is the rider on the
00:06:32.25\00:06:36.26
white horse is Jesus Christ.
You say how do we know that?
00:06:36.26\00:06:40.30
references from the old
testament let me take somewhere
00:06:40.30\00:06:44.27
in the book of Habakuk,
the propohet Habakuk actually
00:06:44.27\00:06:48.27
wrote and pictured
God as riding a horse
00:06:48.27\00:06:52.34
notice what it says.
00:06:52.34\00:06:56.34
So see here is a reference in
the Old Testament God riding on
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a horse being victorious
He has a bow and arrow see
00:07:20.37\00:07:24.41
the first seal is borrowing
this imagery from Habakuk
00:07:24.41\00:07:28.38
and it is giving us the
clue that clearly the rider
00:07:28.38\00:07:32.38
is Jesus Chrsit
more definitive than that
00:07:32.38\00:07:36.45
there is another picture of
a white horse in the book of
00:07:36.45\00:07:40.46
revelation now i wanna take you
there it isnt in the chapter
about 7 seals but in revelation
00:07:40.46\00:07:44.46
19, notice the clue
that this chaper give us
00:07:44.46\00:07:48.43
now let me ask you does
that osund like a description of
00:08:08.48\00:08:12.42
antichrist? who is the one that
is faithful and true. Christ?
00:08:12.42\00:08:16.62
who is the one who is the
righteous judge? Who is the
00:08:16.62\00:08:20.50
king who wears many crowns. I'm
even later on in that chapter
00:08:20.50\00:08:24.43
it describes the rider as
king of kings and lord of lords
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and that pretty much
settles that the rider is Jesus
00:08:28.47\00:08:32.47
Christ and so
what we have here is a
00:08:32.47\00:08:36.48
picture of Jesus and His early
00:08:36.48\00:08:40.48
new testament
church conquering the world
00:08:40.48\00:08:44.52
because that early new testament
church followed the pure
00:08:44.52\00:08:48.49
word of God they
followed the righteousness
00:08:48.49\00:08:52.53
of Jesus you see all
through the scripures
00:08:52.53\00:08:56.50
even in history tells us
the early new testament church
00:08:56.50\00:09:00.57
literally turned the world
upside down with the gospel
00:09:00.57\00:09:04.51
they took the gospel to
all the then known world
00:09:04.51\00:09:08.48
conquered everything
in their path just like
00:09:08.48\00:09:12.48
this horse and its rider
because Jesus Christ is the head
00:09:12.48\00:09:16.22
of the church and that
crown that stephanos crown
00:09:16.22\00:09:20.56
is the greek word that
would be used for the crown
00:09:20.56\00:09:24.56
given to the winner of the
ancient greek olympiads the
00:09:24.56\00:09:28.53
actual word
stephanos Jesus conquers all
00:09:28.53\00:09:32.53
so in that first
seal we see a beautiful
00:09:32.53\00:09:36.54
and a positive glorious picture
of the early first century
00:09:36.54\00:09:40.54
church a powerful and pure faith
00:09:40.54\00:09:44.58
that is conquering the world
witht he gospel can you say amen
00:09:44.58\00:09:48.55
however I have
bad news seal number 1
00:09:48.55\00:09:52.59
is about as good
as it gets because
00:09:52.59\00:09:56.59
after seal number
1, youre gonna see
00:09:56.59\00:10:00.60
depicted a steady decline
00:10:00.60\00:10:04.53
in the church.
Youre gonna see pictured
00:10:04.53\00:10:08.57
a slipperly slope where through
the centuries the church starts
00:10:08.57\00:10:12.54
to gradually fall away
from the pure word of God
00:10:12.54\00:10:16.58
and his truth I'm
glad for the first seal
00:10:16.58\00:10:20.55
but as you know from chistian
history it doesnt stay that way
00:10:20.55\00:10:24.62
so lets now go to the
second seal the second seal
00:10:24.62\00:10:28.59
the second seal is
depicted in revelation 6 verses
00:10:28.59\00:10:32.63
3 through 4 The Bible says
00:10:32.63\00:10:36.56
And when He had
opened the second seal
00:10:36.56\00:10:40.57
I heard the second
living creature say, Come
00:10:40.57\00:10:44.61
and see another
horse (What color?)
00:10:44.61\00:10:48.64
fiery red went out.
And was granted to the
00:10:48.64\00:10:52.65
one who sat on it to
take peace from the earth
00:10:52.65\00:10:56.65
that people should kill one
another and was given to him
00:10:56.65\00:11:00.72
a great sword. Now
let me ask you a question
00:11:00.72\00:11:04.66
just from reading the
literal description without
00:11:04.66\00:11:08.63
interpreting it yet does
that sound positive description
00:11:08.63\00:11:12.67
or negative one. negative
that doesn't good does it?
00:11:12.67\00:11:16.67
So here is a rider
coming out on a red horse the
00:11:16.67\00:11:20.44
rider has a sword in his hand
and he take peace from the earth
00:11:20.44\00:11:24.35
people slay on
another by the Greek word
00:11:24.35\00:11:28.48
slay or kill you find
this passage actually refers
00:11:28.48\00:11:32.55
to martyrdom it
refers sacrificial killing
00:11:32.55\00:11:36.56
see what we are going
discover is this is referring
00:11:36.56\00:11:40.56
to a time of when there would
be great violence against the
00:11:40.56\00:11:44.57
church on earth
because see the horse is red
00:11:44.57\00:11:48.60
and in the Bible red represents
what? it represents blood
00:11:48.60\00:11:52.64
and in other words the church of
Jesus is going to enter an era
00:11:52.64\00:11:56.68
of bloody persecution
a time when the sword
00:11:56.68\00:12:00.75
would be used peace
be taken from the earth
00:12:00.75\00:12:04.69
people slay one another there
will be many martyrs who give
00:12:04.69\00:12:08.69
there lives for Jesus
and the interesting things is
00:12:08.69\00:12:12.69
that is perfectly correlated
00:12:12.69\00:12:16.67
with the second phase of
christian history which is the
00:12:16.67\00:12:20.67
2nd and 3rd centuries that
was the era of persecuation
00:12:20.67\00:12:24.74
see in the 2nd and third
centuries remember who ruled the
00:12:24.74\00:12:28.74
world? Rome and see at that time
00:12:28.74\00:12:32.75
it was illegal to be a
christian to be a christian
00:12:32.75\00:12:36.75
meant you were an enemy of
the state you could lose house
00:12:36.75\00:12:40.76
you could lose home you
could lose everything you were
00:12:40.76\00:12:44.76
considered to be a criminal
and during the second and third
00:12:44.76\00:12:48.73
century the roman empire had
determined that they were going
00:12:48.73\00:12:52.73
to stamp out christianity
forever no matter what the cost
00:12:52.73\00:12:56.74
and it indeed entered a
time of bloody persecution
00:12:56.74\00:13:00.84
in fact let me read
to you some references
00:13:00.84\00:13:04.78
from history at that
time now you will probably
00:13:04.78\00:13:08.78
recognize this picture it is
very representative of events
00:13:08.78\00:13:12.75
in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Yo
know what that is thake a guess
00:13:12.75\00:13:16.79
that is the roman
colloseum now how many people
00:13:16.79\00:13:20.80
here have been to
Rome could I see your hands
00:13:20.80\00:13:24.80
anyone ever seen the colloseum?
If you have been in there
00:13:24.80\00:13:28.77
it is an impressive structure
00:13:28.77\00:13:32.77
it was said that it
could seat 60-70,000
00:13:32.77\00:13:36.78
people i mean it would
rival any modern stadium
00:13:36.78\00:13:40.78
today. I had the privilege
a few years ago Marquita
00:13:40.78\00:13:44.82
and I went on a study tour
of the reformation and got to go
00:13:44.82\00:13:48.79
in that roman colleseum
and see what would happen
00:13:48.79\00:13:52.83
is this is where Rome
threw all their criminals
00:13:52.83\00:13:56.77
all the enemies of State
they wanted to get rid of
00:13:56.77\00:14:00.90
they would be throne into the
middle of this colosseum where
00:14:00.90\00:14:04.84
they were forced to defend
themselves against armed
gladiators and wild
00:14:04.84\00:14:08.84
ravenous beasts
and since christians
00:14:08.84\00:14:12.85
were considered
enemies of the state
00:14:12.85\00:14:16.85
they were thrown into
this colosseum with 60000
00:14:16.85\00:14:20.86
sreaming fans wanting to see
00:14:20.86\00:14:24.86
the blood of a christian
shed applauding when thier vile
00:14:24.86\00:14:28.86
was taken from
them when they but yet
00:14:28.86\00:14:32.87
stood their ground
all these christians
00:14:32.87\00:14:36.87
and remained faithful to Jesus
Christ I want you to notice what
00:14:36.87\00:14:40.88
one church historian
description of this time period
00:14:40.88\00:14:44.85
this comes from the church
historian Eusebius He says an I
00:14:44.85\00:14:48.85
quote you see
00:15:28.96\00:15:32.96
church history describes for us
these second and third century
00:15:32.96\00:15:36.93
christians who would
look gladiators in the eye
00:15:36.93\00:15:40.94
look wild beasts in the face
00:15:40.94\00:15:44.94
they knew they were
going to die yet they chose to
00:15:44.94\00:15:48.98
stay faithful to
the pure word of God
00:15:48.98\00:15:52.98
they chose that they would
not deny Jesus nor his teachings
00:15:52.98\00:15:56.72
can you say amen that is why
00:15:56.72\00:16:00.79
that first century
church changed the world and now
00:16:00.79\00:16:04.73
in the 2nd and 3rd
centuries they are persecuted
00:16:04.73\00:16:08.70
oh that the 21st century church
could be like th early church
00:16:08.70\00:16:12.70
if we were we would
00:16:12.70\00:16:16.71
change this modern
world but you know so often
00:16:16.71\00:16:20.74
it happens that when we
face some persecution or
00:16:20.74\00:16:24.75
when we face
trials or difficulties
00:16:24.75\00:16:28.75
we whine and complain oh God why
did you let this happen to me
00:16:28.75\00:16:32.75
oh God why didn't you
stop this from accruing
00:16:32.75\00:16:36.76
sometimes it means being made
fun of because I'm a christian
00:16:36.76\00:16:40.76
or it means I'm not going to
being in the majority I think
00:16:40.76\00:16:44.73
twice about following Jesus
or someone might laugh at me
00:16:44.73\00:16:48.77
and all of sudden we
all sorts of excuses or
00:16:48.77\00:16:52.77
reason to straddle the
fence and to compromise
00:16:52.77\00:16:56.78
but these early century
christians in a sense are an
00:16:56.78\00:17:00.85
example to us that no matter
what the cost would be, they
00:17:00.85\00:17:04.79
stayed faithful to Jesus
my prayer is that you and I
00:17:04.79\00:17:08.79
and the church in the modern age
would be just a little like them
00:17:08.79\00:17:12.16
that we would not say Lord
ill follow You when its easy
00:17:12.16\00:17:16.13
Lord I'll obey you
when it is convenient
00:17:16.13\00:17:20.17
but Lord dont ask me to do
so when it costs me something
00:17:20.17\00:17:24.21
dont ask me to
follow you when it is going
00:17:24.21\00:17:28.21
to be inconvenient its one thing
to follow Jesus in good times
00:17:28.21\00:17:32.25
its another to stay
faithful in bad times
00:17:32.25\00:17:36.25
and see the second seal
causes me to have to ask
00:17:36.25\00:17:40.29
myself a very tuff question
00:17:40.29\00:17:44.33
am I a fair weather christian
00:17:44.33\00:17:48.30
who will only follow
Jesus when it is easy
00:17:48.30\00:17:52.30
or have I truly chosen to
love him with all my heart
00:17:52.30\00:17:56.34
with all soul and all mind
00:17:56.34\00:18:00.44
is there is a lot
of practical lessons
00:18:00.44\00:18:04.41
even among the seven seals
now lets move on in christian
00:18:04.41\00:18:08.42
history and lets
go to the third seal
00:18:08.42\00:18:12.42
revelation
chatper 6 and verse 5 The
00:18:12.42\00:18:16.46
bible says and
When He opened the third
00:18:16.46\00:18:20.50
seal I heard the third
living creature say, "Come
00:18:20.50\00:18:24.50
and see." So I
looked, and behold,
00:18:24.50\00:18:28.50
What color of house do
we have now? a black house
00:18:28.50\00:18:32.54
and he who sat on
it had a pair of scales
00:18:32.54\00:18:36.58
And I heard a voice in
the midst of the four living
00:18:36.58\00:18:40.62
creatures saying,"A
quart of wheat for a denarius,
00:18:40.62\00:18:44.02
and three quarts of
barley for a denarius; and
00:18:44.02\00:18:47.62
and do not harm
the oil and the wine."
00:18:47.62\00:18:51.39
well i suppose we ought to
pause there is some imagery
00:18:51.39\00:18:55.40
in that passage that maybe we
don't understand at first take
00:18:55.40\00:18:59.03
but let's take a look at
what we see from the third seal
00:18:59.03\00:19:03.04
comes a black horse.
The rider is carrying scales
00:19:03.04\00:19:07.04
which means he is
going to measure something in
00:19:07.04\00:19:11.08
some way now if
we think this through
00:19:11.08\00:19:15.12
the first seal had a white horse
which represented truth purity
00:19:15.12\00:19:19.15
and righteousness. If
that is white represents,
00:19:19.15\00:19:23.19
What does black
represent in the Bible?
00:19:23.19\00:19:27.20
the exact opposite.
Compromise and error
00:19:27.20\00:19:31.17
darkness. And so what we are
00:19:31.17\00:19:35.17
gonna discover is that in
the third seal time period
00:19:35.17\00:19:39.17
the church is going to enter an
age when it begins to compormise
00:19:39.17\00:19:43.18
God's word when it
begins follows the errors and
00:19:43.18\00:19:47.18
traditions of men and slowly but
the church begins to fall away
00:19:47.18\00:19:51.22
from the truth of scripture
00:19:51.22\00:19:55.22
you see the progression
that has happen thus far
00:19:55.22\00:19:59.23
the first seal a faithful
chruch, you have the second
00:19:59.23\00:20:03.20
seal a persecuted
church, now you have the third
00:20:03.20\00:20:07.20
seal a compromised church
00:20:07.20\00:20:11.21
following error, walking
away from the Word of God.
00:20:11.21\00:20:15.24
now before we see if that
actually happened in history
00:20:15.24\00:20:19.21
there is a couple other symbols
of imagery we have to look at
00:20:19.21\00:20:26.55
because notice there is a voice
from heaven saying something
00:20:26.55\00:20:30.59
we dont
understand the voice says
00:20:30.59\00:20:34.56
in the 21st century we would
look at that and say great what
00:20:38.57\00:20:42.60
does that mean a denarius
was the currency of that day
00:20:42.60\00:20:46.61
that is how much you
would earn for one days
00:20:46.61\00:20:50.65
worth of work it is
one days wages a quart of
00:20:50.65\00:20:54.62
wheat was a days worth of
bread. That is what you'd need
00:20:54.62\00:20:58.65
just to make enough food
for yourself. This is famine
00:20:58.65\00:21:02.66
conditions that means you make
barely enough money in one day
00:21:02.66\00:21:06.70
just to be able feed
yourself. Not to mention
00:21:06.70\00:21:10.67
the rest of your family
and all your other bills it is
00:21:10.67\00:21:14.67
describing famine conditions but
it is not describing it literaly
00:21:14.67\00:21:18.71
it is being
symbolic. You say well where
00:21:18.71\00:21:22.71
does that imagery where
do those phrases come from?
00:21:22.71\00:21:26.75
Revelation is drawing
from another part of the old
00:21:26.75\00:21:30.79
testamnet did you know that all
the way back in the book of Amos
00:21:30.79\00:21:34.79
Amos used some
of the same phrases
00:21:34.79\00:21:38.79
that give us a
clue into what God
00:21:38.79\00:21:42.80
is talking about here
lets go back to Amos 8.
00:21:42.80\00:21:46.90
The Bible says,
00:21:46.90\00:21:50.91
Now notice Old Testament Israel
00:22:11.03\00:22:15.03
is not listening to the God
says they are listening to the
00:22:15.03\00:22:19.07
prophets so he says them there
going be a famine from the Word
00:22:19.07\00:22:23.07
of the lord you have turned away
from the Word of the Lord I'm
not going to speak to you
00:22:23.07\00:22:27.11
through the prophets and so when
you realize that Amos is talking
00:22:27.11\00:22:31.15
about a famine of
God's Word when you take
00:22:31.15\00:22:35.18
when you take that imagery and
put it back into revelation it
makes lot more sense
00:22:35.18\00:22:39.19
because what revelation is
telling us is now the church
00:22:39.19\00:22:43.22
is gonna enter a period where it
is not going to follow the Word
00:22:43.22\00:22:47.23
of God anymore there is gonna
be a famine for the truth of
00:22:47.23\00:22:51.23
scripture because they have
started following the errors and
the traditions of men
00:22:51.23\00:22:55.27
and that perfectly correlates
00:22:55.27\00:22:59.31
with the third part
of christian history
00:22:59.31\00:23:03.35
from about about AD
313-538 it is decribing
00:23:03.35\00:23:07.38
the compromised faith and
00:23:07.38\00:23:11.39
a compromised church
that fell from the word of God
00:23:11.39\00:23:15.42
now i want to share a few
things that happened during that
00:23:15.42\00:23:19.43
time period that will help
illustrate why God uses this
00:23:19.43\00:23:23.40
imagery in the
third seal. around 313
00:23:23.40\00:23:27.40
the catalyst that caused
great compromise was this
00:23:27.40\00:23:31.41
the Roman emperor Constantine
00:23:31.41\00:23:35.44
became a christian. Now
at first you think thats
00:23:35.44\00:23:39.15
a good thing right?
because Constantine was a pagan
00:23:39.15\00:23:43.42
He participated in the pagan
ceremony pagan religion pagan
00:23:43.42\00:23:47.46
teaching but when
he became a christian,
00:23:47.46\00:23:51.46
Christianity went
from being illegal religion
00:23:51.46\00:23:55.43
to being an accepted
regligion.actually it became the
00:23:55.43\00:23:59.43
official state
religion and as a result
00:23:59.43\00:24:03.44
Constantine began to
take many of pagan teachings
00:24:03.44\00:24:07.44
and ceremonies he was
familiar and started bring them
00:24:07.44\00:24:11.48
into the Christinanity
and mixing them with the truth
00:24:11.48\00:24:15.48
of Gods Word and it
began this slippery slope of
00:24:15.48\00:24:19.49
error and compromise.
00:24:19.49\00:24:23.49
To illustrate let me share with
you some things that happened
00:24:23.49\00:24:27.50
during that time during
this third seal time period, the
00:24:27.50\00:24:31.50
teachings of men are substituted
for the teaching of God
00:24:31.50\00:24:35.50
salvation
through Jesus is replaced
00:24:35.50\00:24:39.51
be the requirements of the
church do what the church says
00:24:39.51\00:24:43.51
pay indulgence do penance
look to you hierarchical leaders
00:24:43.51\00:24:47.55
you don't need to worry about
the Cros of Christ those were
00:24:47.55\00:24:51.55
the some of the themes that came
into christianity during that
00:24:51.55\00:24:55.56
time period now here are things
that practically took place
00:24:55.56\00:24:59.56
in the book development of
christian doctrine, history
00:24:59.56\00:25:03.57
records this.
It says in page 372
00:25:03.57\00:25:07.57
we are told by Eusebius
00:25:07.57\00:25:11.57
so what was his new
religion? Christianity
00:25:15.58\00:25:19.58
so in order to recommend
christianity to the heathens
00:25:19.58\00:25:23.32
he transferred
into it, that is into it
00:25:23.32\00:25:27.32
that is into christianity the
outward ornaments to which they
00:25:27.32\00:25:31.33
had been accustomed in their
own. In other words, he brought
00:25:31.33\00:25:35.30
into christianity many
pagan ideas that the pagans
00:25:35.30\00:25:39.30
were familiar with because
he wanted to unite his empire
00:25:39.30\00:25:43.30
and bring pagans into the
christian church and so slowly
00:25:43.30\00:25:47.31
but surely the
teachings and traditions of men
00:25:47.31\00:25:51.35
became mixed
with the word of God
00:25:51.35\00:25:55.35
and conmpromise and
error set in. That is why
00:25:55.35\00:25:59.35
God symbolizes the
third seal as a black horse
00:25:59.35\00:26:03.36
here are things
that happened. In exodus
00:26:03.36\00:26:07.40
20 we studied
the ten commandments
00:26:07.40\00:26:11.37
and the second
commenadment said this
00:26:11.37\00:26:15.37
so here is God
Holly Law and He clearly
00:26:27.88\00:26:31.09
forbids the use of
images and statues and such
00:26:31.09\00:26:35.72
because God is saying why do you
want something made with human
00:26:35.72\00:26:39.73
hands when you can have a real
relationship with a real God who
00:26:39.73\00:26:43.70
loves you and wants to be
involved in your life can you
say amen well that makes sense
00:26:43.70\00:26:47.74
but it was during this
balck horse period that
00:26:47.74\00:26:51.74
statues and images
came into the church
00:26:51.74\00:26:55.74
let me show you some examples
now this may be a sensitive
00:26:55.74\00:26:59.75
subjuct im not doing this to
be negative towards a particular
00:26:59.75\00:27:03.79
group but only to show how
the prophecies of the Bible have
00:27:03.79\00:27:07.79
been fulfilled and how this
error and compromise came in
00:27:07.79\00:27:11.79
if you've been to Rome perhaps
you have been in St. Peter's
00:27:11.79\00:27:15.76
cathredral or bascilica tha
is in Rome. There is a popular
00:27:15.76\00:27:19.80
image that is depicted on the
screen, said to be Saint Peter
00:27:19.80\00:27:23.81
now I've been there and I have
seen it myself in fact Saint
00:27:23.81\00:27:27.84
Peter his right toe is pretty
much rubbed off because everyone
00:27:27.84\00:27:31.81
come in there wants to kiss it
and receive grace of some sorts.
00:27:31.81\00:27:35.85
but you know when you do
the research? That that not St.
00:27:35.85\00:27:39.85
Peter. that is Jupiter.
00:27:39.85\00:27:43.86
That is the pagan god Jupiter
00:27:43.86\00:27:47.86
because what happened is this
is the example of taking some of
00:27:47.86\00:27:51.87
the pagan
intuition of the god Jupiter
00:27:51.87\00:27:55.87
and literally
bring into St. Peter's
00:27:55.87\00:27:59.87
Catheddral and
renaming it as Saint
00:27:59.87\00:28:03.91
Peter it is an
illustration of paganism
00:28:03.91\00:28:07.92
creeping into the
pure word of God and
00:28:07.92\00:28:11.95
the christianity
coming from scripture
00:28:11.95\00:28:15.96
now the question may be well
if the ten commandments clearly
00:28:15.96\00:28:19.96
forbid the use of images
how did the church explain
00:28:19.96\00:28:23.97
that to people? its
hard to explain that when ten
00:28:23.97\00:28:27.97
commandments said you shall not
use any graven images I want to
share something with you
00:28:27.97\00:28:31.97
that is a little sensitive
but something that happened in
00:28:31.97\00:28:36.01
history do you know that Rome's
version of the Ten commandments
00:28:36.01\00:28:40.02
is differnt from
the Bible version
00:28:40.02\00:28:44.02
written Exodus 20
You say what do you mean
00:28:44.02\00:28:48.06
if you look at Rome's
version in a catacism,
00:28:48.06\00:28:52.06
the second commandment about
graven images is totally blotted
00:28:52.06\00:28:56.06
out it doesn't
existent so what was done is
00:28:56.06\00:29:00.14
the ninth commandment that talks
about coveting was split in two
00:29:00.14\00:29:04.07
so there could still be 10
commandments and so the way you
00:29:04.07\00:29:08.11
explain to people why you're
bringing images into the church
00:29:08.11\00:29:12.15
is you simply use your
power and blot out one of those
00:29:12.15\00:29:16.15
commandments
that is what was done
00:29:16.15\00:29:20.16
pagan institutions coming into
the church error and compromise
00:29:20.16\00:29:24.19
see God was trying
to warning His people
00:29:24.19\00:29:28.16
what was coming down the
pipe through these seven seals
00:29:28.16\00:29:32.20
there are other
examples. In an early apostolic
00:29:32.20\00:29:36.20
creed discovered, it said
00:29:36.20\00:29:40.24
that is biblically correct.
This is an early apostolic
00:29:48.88\00:29:52.89
creed where early christians
realized that the sabbath
00:29:52.89\00:29:56.89
was eternal institution
and pointed back as memorial
00:29:56.89\00:30:00.90
to creation and realy
it just basically quoting
00:30:00.90\00:30:04.93
Genesis 2. now we studied that
a couple of nights ago Genesis 2
00:30:04.93\00:30:08.94
says
00:30:08.94\00:30:12.94
Now that is what the Bible says
but it was during this black
00:30:19.41\00:30:23.39
horse period when the sabbath
lost sight of and the pagan
00:30:23.39\00:30:27.79
institution of sunday
was came in in fact you
00:30:27.79\00:30:31.79
can read about this in
history this age of compromise
00:30:31.79\00:30:35.83
the pagan day of the sun
now i want to quote a historical
00:30:35.83\00:30:39.83
source it's a book called the
histroy of the eastern chruch
00:30:39.83\00:30:43.87
it says
00:30:43.87\00:30:47.88
so you see here
is another example
00:31:07.10\00:31:09.86
of pagan teaching,
the day of the sun,
00:31:09.86\00:31:14.44
coming into christianity
replacing one of God's
commandments error and
00:31:14.44\00:31:18.51
compromise set in see
that is why the sabbath is
00:31:18.51\00:31:22.54
important it is not
because I like to harp on it
00:31:22.54\00:31:25.88
but see when you realize it
has to do with pagan teachings
00:31:25.88\00:31:29.98
coming into christianity
now im realizing this isnt
00:31:29.98\00:31:33.89
about to day its about
following the tradition of men
00:31:33.89\00:31:37.96
or the truth of the Word of God
00:31:37.96\00:31:41.96
it is either about
being faithful to scripture
00:31:41.96\00:31:45.97
or going with
error and compromise
00:31:45.97\00:31:49.94
these are only two examples of
many things that happened in
that black horse period
00:31:49.94\00:31:53.98
but the seals go on
00:31:53.98\00:31:57.95
now we come to
seal number 4. thus far
00:31:57.95\00:32:02.02
We have seal number 2 a
conquering church and pure
00:32:02.02\00:32:05.99
faith, seal number 3 a
persecuted church and
bloodstained faith,
00:32:05.99\00:32:10.03
seal number brings in
ab an age of compromise
00:32:10.03\00:32:14.00
but now notice seal number 4
00:32:14.00\00:32:17.97
it begins in
verse 7. Revelation 6
00:32:17.97\00:32:21.97
versee 7 and 8 The Bible says,
00:32:21.97\00:32:26.04
When He opened the fourth
00:32:26.04\00:32:30.05
seal, I heard the
voice of the fourth
00:32:30.05\00:32:34.05
living creature saying,"Come
and see." So I looked,
00:32:34.05\00:32:38.05
and behold, (What color hourse?)
00:32:38.05\00:32:42.06
pale horse. And
the name of him who sat
00:32:42.06\00:32:46.06
was Death, and
Hades (or other verison
00:32:46.06\00:32:50.03
say hell) followed
with him and power was given
00:32:50.03\00:32:54.04
to them over a fourth of
the earth to kill with the sword
00:32:54.04\00:32:58.07
with hunger with death
and by the beasts of the earth
00:32:58.07\00:33:02.08
by the way do you see all four
curses of the covenant mentioned
00:33:02.08\00:33:06.08
there sword, hunger,
death, beasts of the earth.
00:33:06.08\00:33:10.05
speaking symbolically now
before we go in to figure out
00:33:10.05\00:33:14.12
what this means just looking
at the description let me
00:33:14.12\00:33:18.09
ask you once again. Does that
sound like something good that
00:33:18.09\00:33:22.06
is happening or sound like
something bad. what od you
think? This doesnt sound good
00:33:22.06\00:33:26.07
you have a pale
horse. Pale is the color
00:33:26.07\00:33:30.11
of death. In fact the greek word
behind pale here in revelation
00:33:30.11\00:33:34.08
is chloris. That's
the word used to describe
00:33:34.08\00:33:38.08
someone who has already
got one foot in the grave
00:33:38.08\00:33:42.12
so the theme here in the
fourth seal is about death!
00:33:42.12\00:33:46.12
The riders death
hades or hell is behind him
00:33:46.12\00:33:50.16
he is given power over the
earth and now it brings back
00:33:50.16\00:33:54.13
an
intensification of violence that
00:33:54.13\00:33:58.13
does not sound good you
say well what does it mean
00:33:58.13\00:34:02.14
here is what you
are going to discover it
00:34:02.14\00:34:06.14
is describing a
time in church histroy
00:34:06.14\00:34:10.18
when the church
would be spiritually dead
00:34:10.18\00:34:14.18
see the theme is
death in this seal
00:34:14.18\00:34:18.15
it describes an age of history
when there was physical death
for the true believer
00:34:18.15\00:34:22.19
and spiritual
death for the church
00:34:22.19\00:34:26.16
it is really describing
the apostacy of the middle ages
00:34:26.16\00:34:30.13
because if you've ever read the
history of the middle ages what
happened is this and we're gonna
00:34:30.13\00:34:34.14
talk about it in detail
one night what happened is
00:34:34.14\00:34:38.17
if you chose to follow
the Bible and the Bible alone
00:34:38.17\00:34:42.18
if you that he
Bible was above the church
00:34:42.18\00:34:46.18
or religious leaders you
were a heretic. Just to own
00:34:46.18\00:34:50.19
a Bible to
translate it, to share any
00:34:50.19\00:34:54.22
portion of scripture with
someone, the Bible was forbidden
00:34:54.22\00:34:58.19
book if you chose to believe it
you were a heretic. You coul dbe
burned at the stake
00:34:58.19\00:35:02.20
you coul dbe tortured at the
rack you could lose everything
00:35:02.20\00:35:06.23
thats shy this pale
horse period is described
00:35:06.23\00:35:10.24
not only as an
intensification of violence,
00:35:10.24\00:35:14.24
but the church is spiritually
dead. When you leave the truth
00:35:14.24\00:35:18.25
of the word of God, when the
gospel of Jesus Christ and the
00:35:18.25\00:35:22.25
Cross of Calvary behind and you
start focusing on human leaders
00:35:22.25\00:35:26.29
and human doctrines you
are going to spiritually
00:35:26.29\00:35:30.79
die and that is what happened
to the church in the pale horse
00:35:30.79\00:35:34.83
period. That is
a period from about
00:35:34.83\00:35:38.83
538 to 1798. The
Middle age persecution
00:35:38.83\00:35:42.84
now to kind of illustrate
why God symbolizes it that way
00:35:42.84\00:35:46.88
let me share with you
some things that happened
00:35:46.88\00:35:50.88
during that time period. There
have been dissertations written
00:35:50.88\00:35:54.95
about this we're just gonna
scratch the surface. the steps
00:35:54.95\00:35:58.99
to compromise that happened in
the pale horse period was this
00:35:58.99\00:36:02.99
traditions of men continued to
come in. Then came the invention
00:36:02.99\00:36:07.03
of penances. Now are you
familiar with what penances are?
00:36:07.03\00:36:11.03
Penances is things that
you had to do acts you had to
00:36:11.03\00:36:15.07
preform in order to recieve
forgivens for whatever sins that
00:36:15.07\00:36:19.07
you've committed instead of
going to Jesus Christ on your
00:36:19.07\00:36:23.14
knees who is the only mediator.
What does the bible say? If we
00:36:23.14\00:36:27.18
confess our sins He is faithful
and just to (do what?) forgive
00:36:27.18\00:36:31.19
us our sins and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness.
00:36:31.19\00:36:35.19
. Who is the one that
does the cleansing Jesus or me?
00:36:35.19\00:36:39.19
Jesus Who is the one that
does the cleansing Jesus or the
00:36:39.19\00:36:43.23
earthly religious
leader? Jesus is! so men
00:36:43.23\00:36:47.24
were taught by their
acts they received forgiveness
00:36:47.24\00:36:51.27
Indulgences came in, if you have
read about the reformation
period on Martin Luther
00:36:51.27\00:36:55.51
He was highly against
indulgences because indulgences
00:36:55.51\00:36:59.51
indulgences taught that you
could pay money to pull a loved
one out of purgatory
00:36:59.51\00:37:03.52
or perhaps buy your
way to haven now I know
00:37:03.52\00:37:07.56
you and I would think how could
anybody believe that but you
00:37:07.56\00:37:11.56
have to understand this was a
time period when the Bible was
00:37:11.56\00:37:15.53
hidden form people they didn't
have the privilege you and I
00:37:15.53\00:37:19.53
have just getting our bible
out of the shelf and read it for
00:37:19.53\00:37:23.57
them selves they had to
trust in religious leader
00:37:23.57\00:37:27.54
they had to trust human teaching
00:37:27.54\00:37:31.61
and the Word of God was lost
sight of and with that Jesus was
00:37:31.61\00:37:35.62
lost sight of in that period
images continued to come in
00:37:35.62\00:37:40.06
focus was on the
church hierarchy human dogma
00:37:40.06\00:37:44.46
the scripture were totally
00:37:44.46\00:37:48.43
completely lost sight of I hope
we realize the privilege we have
00:37:48.43\00:37:52.77
to be able to read the Word
of God in freedom and in peace
00:37:52.77\00:37:56.97
Can you say Amen? So here is
what the first foru seals tell
00:37:56.97\00:38:01.04
us. seal number 1 is a
white horse a pure conquering
00:38:01.04\00:38:05.05
christian faith, first century.
Seal Number 2 is a red horse
00:38:05.05\00:38:09.08
a persecuted a bloodstained
church, second and third
00:38:09.08\00:38:13.05
century seal number 3
is a black horse period
00:38:13.05\00:38:17.09
bringing in a time of
compromise that is about 313
00:38:17.09\00:38:21.13
to 538 and then
seal 4 number is a pale
00:38:21.13\00:38:25.17
horse representing a dead
that is going into the time of
00:38:25.17\00:38:29.17
persecution through out all
of the middle ages for over a
00:38:29.17\00:38:33.17
thousand years but it goes on
00:38:33.17\00:38:37.25
now comes the fifth seal
00:38:37.25\00:38:41.32
now in the fifth you
will stop seeing horses and
00:38:41.32\00:38:45.35
horsemen. The fifth
00:38:45.35\00:38:49.36
pauses and focuses ont he
persecution of the middle ages
00:38:49.36\00:38:53.43
you'll see that. So
lets go to revelation 6
00:38:53.43\00:38:57.37
and we read verses 9 through 11.
00:38:57.37\00:39:01.37
When He opened the
fifth seal, I saw under the
00:39:01.37\00:39:05.37
altar the souls of
those who had been slain for
00:39:05.37\00:39:09.44
the word of God and for
the testimony which they held.
00:39:09.44\00:39:13.45
And they cried with
a (What?) loud voice,
00:39:13.45\00:39:17.45
"How long, O
Lord, holy and true,
00:39:17.45\00:39:21.46
until You judge
and avenge our blood
00:39:21.46\00:39:25.46
on those who dwell
on the earth?" Verse 11
00:39:25.46\00:39:29.43
Then a white robe
was given to each of them
00:39:29.43\00:39:33.47
and it was said to them
that they should a little
00:39:33.47\00:39:37.44
while longer, until both
the number of their fellow
00:39:37.44\00:39:41.48
servants and their brethren, who
would be killed as they were,
00:39:41.48\00:39:45.48
were completed. Now
that's a fascination
00:39:45.48\00:39:49.48
description is in it ? it is
describing souls who are under
00:39:49.48\00:39:53.49
the altar they are crying for
God to do justice and avenge
their blood they are given
00:39:53.49\00:39:57.49
white robes and told to hold
on for a little longer because
00:39:57.49\00:40:01.46
more martyrs are
coming. Now let's pause there
00:40:01.46\00:40:05.43
you have to understand this
is not to be taken literally
00:40:05.43\00:40:09.47
it does not mean there are
literally people under some
00:40:09.47\00:40:13.48
altar in haeven who are crying
for God to do the right thing
00:40:13.48\00:40:17.48
this is symbolic it is
using imagery coming from
00:40:17.48\00:40:21.48
the old testamnet sanctuary.
Now hear what I say because
00:40:21.48\00:40:25.49
it is key to understanding the
fifth seal. In the old testament
00:40:25.49\00:40:29.49
sanctuary in the
courtyard there was something
00:40:29.49\00:40:33.50
called the bronze altar you
see picture on the screen here
00:40:33.50\00:40:37.67
when the lamb would be slain
on the bronze altar the blood
00:40:37.67\00:40:41.74
would flow to the
bottom and be caught in a pan,
00:40:41.74\00:40:45.74
and of course the blood
of that lamb represented the
00:40:45.74\00:40:49.74
sacrificial death of
Jesus Christ so when it talks
00:40:49.74\00:40:53.78
about souls being under the
altar here in Revelation it is
00:40:53.78\00:40:57.75
referring to their
sacrificial killing
00:40:57.75\00:41:01.82
it is referring to marytrs whos
blood would be shed during the
00:41:01.82\00:41:05.83
middle ages because
that is where seal 4 left off
00:41:05.83\00:41:09.80
And these souls are crying
out Lord when are you going to
00:41:09.80\00:41:13.87
avenge our blood. In
fact the imagery that's here
00:41:13.87\00:41:17.91
actually comes all the way from
the book of Genesis did you know
00:41:17.91\00:41:21.91
that? I want to read you
something in the book of
Genesis. You know what
00:41:21.91\00:41:25.98
happened between Cain and Abel.
When Cain shed Abel's blood,
00:41:25.98\00:41:29.98
God said this to him now
notice the phrase God uses.
00:41:29.98\00:41:34.02
Genesis 4:10 the Bible says
00:41:34.02\00:41:37.99
now did God literally mean that
Abel's blood had actually formed
00:41:45.97\00:41:49.97
a mouth and was crying
out to him it is symbolic.
00:41:49.97\00:41:54.04
What God was saying is
I know what has happened
00:41:54.04\00:41:57.88
I know the in the
justice that was done to Abel
00:41:57.88\00:42:01.92
and I am going to make
that wrong right and Cain was
00:42:01.92\00:42:05.92
punished. And so what God is
revealing in the fifth seal He
00:42:05.92\00:42:09.92
is saying he knows about those
who have given their life for
00:42:09.92\00:42:13.93
the gospel he knows about those
who have sacrificed for Jesus
00:42:13.93\00:42:17.90
CHrist who have stayed true no
matter what the cost is he knows
00:42:17.90\00:42:21.90
about the martyrs in the middle
ages when millions of people
00:42:21.90\00:42:25.91
died and were
burned at the stake
00:42:25.91\00:42:29.61
but it is not just limited
to the persecution of the middle
00:42:29.61\00:42:33.68
ages God is speaking of all
those who would give their life
for Christ all throughout
00:42:33.68\00:42:37.65
the ages He is
talking about all those
00:42:37.65\00:42:41.66
who would have to sacrifice
family or friends or jobs or
00:42:41.66\00:42:45.69
money or something else because
they wanted to remain true to
00:42:45.69\00:42:49.66
Jesus and faithful to His
word he is talking about all
00:42:49.66\00:42:52.97
those believers who have
had in justices done to them
00:42:52.97\00:42:57.01
because they chose to
follow Jesus God is telling them
00:42:57.01\00:43:00.98
I haven't forgetten I remember
00:43:00.98\00:43:05.01
and one day when I come
one day in the judgement
00:43:05.01\00:43:08.98
all wrongs will be made right
00:43:08.98\00:43:12.99
can you imagine how
comforting that would be
00:43:12.99\00:43:16.99
to those martyrs and there
families not just in the middle
00:43:16.99\00:43:21.00
ages but all through out
time bother and siste if you are
00:43:21.00\00:43:25.00
suffering because you follow
Jesus, I want you to know that
00:43:25.00\00:43:29.00
God knows if you have lost
something important because you
want to be faithful to God
00:43:29.00\00:43:33.01
he knows and he
has made record of it
00:43:33.01\00:43:36.31
and though there may be
injustice in this world and
00:43:36.31\00:43:40.32
though I may never be able
to fight against my persecutors
00:43:40.32\00:43:44.32
here God says the day is coming.
All wrongs will be made right
00:43:44.32\00:43:48.32
God knows what has
happen to His people He knows
00:43:48.32\00:43:52.33
has been done to his church
he will avenge their blood
00:43:52.33\00:43:56.30
on top of that something that
00:43:56.30\00:44:00.37
should thrill us is
in in a symbolic way.
00:44:00.37\00:44:04.31
these martyrs in the fifth seal
what are they martyrs? White
00:44:04.31\00:44:08.34
robes it signifies that
they are going to be saved Jesus
00:44:08.34\00:44:12.35
assured them of salvation
because see in the Bible
00:44:12.35\00:44:16.35
only those who are
saved wear white robes
00:44:16.35\00:44:20.12
it represents
righteousness of Jesus Christ
00:44:20.12\00:44:24.13
but there is one more part
to this seal right at every end
00:44:24.13\00:44:28.10
in verse 11
something fascinating is said
00:44:28.10\00:44:32.10
These marytrs are told to rest
00:44:32.10\00:44:36.10
a little while because
00:44:36.10\00:44:40.14
what the number of
their fellow servants
00:44:40.14\00:44:44.15
who would be killed
had not yet been completed.
00:44:44.15\00:44:48.15
In other words God is daying
that the martyrs will not be
limited to the middle
00:44:48.15\00:44:52.15
ages there will be
others who are called
00:44:52.15\00:44:56.16
to give their
lives for Jesus Christ
00:44:56.16\00:45:00.23
and folks as you
and I stand here tonight
00:45:00.23\00:45:04.17
there are people who live in
countries who have no religious
00:45:04.17\00:45:08.14
liberty places in a sense
where church and state are not
00:45:08.14\00:45:12.17
separated christians today
00:45:12.17\00:45:16.18
who are giving thier
lives and still being martyred
00:45:16.18\00:45:20.18
for Jesus you read
it in the news paper
00:45:20.18\00:45:24.19
you read it in CNN
persecution is still
00:45:24.19\00:45:28.19
going on today and
00:45:28.19\00:45:32.19
it should cause me to ask the
question that even though right
00:45:32.19\00:45:36.20
now we live in a
place of religious liberty
00:45:36.20\00:45:40.20
am I willing to die for Christ?
00:45:40.20\00:45:44.21
amI willing to give my live for
00:45:44.21\00:45:48.21
truths of Gods word It make ask
00:45:48.21\00:45:52.21
myself just how serious am I
00:45:52.21\00:45:56.22
about being christian?
00:45:56.22\00:46:00.29
or am I fairweather christians?
00:46:00.29\00:46:04.26
who will only follow
Jesus when it's convenient
00:46:04.26\00:46:08.20
for me that's tough a
question to have to answer
00:46:08.20\00:46:12.23
we can only answer in
the privacy of our own hearts
00:46:12.23\00:46:16.24
but that is one of the
lesson that comes for the fifth
00:46:16.24\00:46:20.24
seal. But now we
make are way to he sixth
00:46:20.24\00:46:24.25
seal this is the longest of
all as far as description in
00:46:24.25\00:46:28.25
Revelation 6
verse 12 now the sixth
00:46:28.25\00:46:32.29
seal time period ushers in
00:46:32.29\00:46:36.29
I looked when He
opened the sixth seal,
00:46:36.29\00:46:40.30
and behold, there was a
(What?) great earthquake;
00:46:40.30\00:46:44.27
and the sun became
black as sackcloth of hair,
00:46:44.27\00:46:48.27
and the moon became like
blood. And the stars of heaven
00:46:48.27\00:46:52.27
fell to the earth, as a
fig tree drops its late figs
00:46:52.27\00:46:56.28
when it is shaken by
a mighty wind. Then the
00:46:56.28\00:47:00.38
Then the sky receded as a
scroll when it is rolled up,
00:47:00.38\00:47:04.32
and every mountain and island
was moved out of its place.
00:47:04.32\00:47:08.32
And the kings of the earth,
the great men, the rich men,
00:47:08.32\00:47:12.33
the commanders, the mighty
men, every slave and every
00:47:12.33\00:47:16.33
free man, hid themselves
in the caves and in the rocks
00:47:16.33\00:47:20.34
of the mountains, and they
said to the mountains and rocks
00:47:20.34\00:47:24.34
(what?) "Fall on us and
hide us from the face of
00:47:24.34\00:47:28.34
Him who sits on the throne
and from the wrath of the Lamb!
00:47:28.34\00:47:32.35
For the great day of
His wrath has come, and who
00:47:32.35\00:47:36.35
is able to stand?"
00:47:36.35\00:47:40.36
There is a lot in
that one, clearly the sixth
00:47:40.36\00:47:44.39
seal time period ushers
in the second coming of Jesus
00:47:44.39\00:47:48.36
because that is what is being
described here the sky receding
00:47:48.36\00:47:52.37
like a scroll but before
that the sixthe seal opens up
00:47:52.37\00:47:56.37
with 4 interesting
signs did you catch in verses
00:47:56.37\00:48:00.44
12 and 13 can you name them well
I guess now because I have it on
00:48:00.44\00:48:04.41
the screen a great earthquake,
the sun becomes black
00:48:04.41\00:48:08.42
moon beomes like blood, stars
00:48:08.42\00:48:12.42
are falling. Now I
guess the first question
00:48:12.42\00:48:16.42
is, are we supposed
to take that ltierally
00:48:16.42\00:48:20.46
or are they symbolic of
something now almost all
00:48:20.46\00:48:24.40
of Revelation is symbolic but
you know how gives us the answer
00:48:24.40\00:48:28.44
to this question? Jesus does
00:48:28.44\00:48:32.44
becasue when Jesus described
the signs of the end do you know
00:48:32.44\00:48:36.44
he used those
exact same four signs
00:48:36.44\00:48:40.45
but he described them literally
way notice what Jesus said in
00:48:40.45\00:48:44.49
Matthew 24 I want to read this
to you because I want Jesus to
be our enterpreter. Can you say
00:48:44.49\00:48:48.49
amen? Now follow this. This
is cooming after the persecution
00:49:08.54\00:49:12.55
of the fourth and fifth
seals in the latter middle ages
00:49:12.55\00:49:16.58
if these signs occur after
the great of the middle ages
00:49:16.58\00:49:20.59
that means these signs should
have already have been fulfilled
00:49:20.59\00:49:24.59
because the tribulation of the
middle ages ended around 1798
00:49:24.59\00:49:28.56
because in 1798 is when
00:49:28.56\00:49:32.60
Papal Rome lost its power
an its government for a period
00:49:32.60\00:49:36.60
of time there was no longer a
combination of church and state
00:49:36.60\00:49:40.61
it was separtaed so
the persecution stopped
00:49:40.61\00:49:44.65
if these signs come after
the great tribulation that means
00:49:44.65\00:49:48.65
some were around 1798 a little
before or a little after we
00:49:48.65\00:49:52.65
should have seen these signs
occur you say wow did they?
00:49:52.65\00:49:56.66
the answer is yes actually
00:49:56.66\00:50:00.70
you won't here it talk much
about it in the secular world
00:50:00.70\00:50:04.70
but when you look up
historically reference it is
00:50:04.70\00:50:08.70
amazing let me show you some
things quick I wish we had more
00:50:08.70\00:50:12.74
time on it 1755 the history
tells us about the Lisbon
00:50:12.74\00:50:16.75
earthquake how many people have
ever heard of the Lisbon
earthquake it was the worst
00:50:16.75\00:50:20.75
earthquake as far as I know
in modern times up to that point
00:50:20.75\00:50:24.79
it recorded 8.5 to 9 magnitude
00:50:24.79\00:50:28.79
on the rictor
scale. 18000 buildings were
00:50:28.79\00:50:32.79
destroyed in Lisbon
Portugal that's 85% of the city,
00:50:32.79\00:50:36.80
the death toll was
estimated at 90,000 the
00:50:36.80\00:50:40.80
shockwaves were felt
for 1.3 million square miles
00:50:40.80\00:50:44.84
and even 400 miles
south Algiors and other cities
00:50:44.84\00:50:48.84
were adestroyed
and the records say a
00:50:48.84\00:50:52.85
Tsunami followed did as
much damage as the earthquake
00:50:52.85\00:50:56.89
isn't it interesting that
the 6th seal opens with an great
00:50:56.89\00:51:00.96
earthquake and right around
that time the Lisbon earthquake
00:51:00.96\00:51:04.93
occured we could go on
00:51:04.93\00:51:08.90
ever hear of the dark day in New
England you probably never about
00:51:08.90\00:51:12.93
it on CNN but that was a day
when things when completely dark
00:51:12.93\00:51:16.97
in the middle of the day and it
wasn't an eclipse this how the
00:51:16.97\00:51:20.98
Conneticut historical society
records this now I'm just
00:51:20.98\00:51:25.01
quoting ok? see what happened
during that time settled in
00:52:05.22\00:52:09.22
from about 8am to noon
it began it lasted about
00:52:09.22\00:52:13.26
14 to 15 hours in the middle
fo the day, day can you imagine?
00:52:13.26\00:52:17.27
it was so bad that the
Conneticut state legislature had
00:52:17.27\00:52:21.27
to adjourn and it was recorded
that the darkness went from New
00:52:21.27\00:52:25.31
jersey up to Portland,
Maine, parts of Canada, and
00:52:25.31\00:52:29.34
shockingly enough in the evening
the moon had the appearance of
00:52:29.34\00:52:33.35
(What?) blood
just like is described
00:52:33.35\00:52:37.42
in the sixth seal.
But there is yet one more
00:52:37.42\00:52:41.46
the sixth seal said the
stars from heaven would fall
00:52:41.46\00:52:45.49
in 1833 notice what was recored
00:52:45.49\00:52:49.50
history says,
00:52:49.50\00:52:53.54
1833. Millions of stars fell
00:53:33.68\00:53:37.68
from the heavens you couldn't
miss it people at that time
00:53:37.68\00:53:41.72
thought this it an omen this
must be the end of the world
maybe Jesus was be coming
00:53:41.72\00:53:45.72
but it was simply one
of those signs that ushered
00:53:45.72\00:53:49.72
in the beginning of
the sixth seal time period
00:53:49.72\00:53:53.73
here you see them summarized.
great earthquake Lisbon 1755,
00:53:53.73\00:53:57.80
Darking of the sun,
Moon is like blood 1780
00:53:57.80\00:54:01.87
Stars falling 1833 and the
00:54:01.87\00:54:05.87
next event that would
come in the sisth seal
00:54:05.87\00:54:09.88
is the coming of Jesus Christ
00:54:09.88\00:54:13.92
see Revelation tells us
we are living in the sixth
00:54:13.92\00:54:17.92
seal time period Jesus is
00:54:17.92\00:54:21.92
soon to come
00:54:21.92\00:54:25.96
but the part that is really
something that ought to make us
00:54:25.96\00:54:29.93
think is how His coming is
describe here now we already
00:54:29.93\00:54:33.97
verse 14 to 17 it
describes people running
00:54:33.97\00:54:37.97
to the mountains and the
hills saying fall on us hide
00:54:37.97\00:54:41.98
us from the wrath from
the lamb. People running away
00:54:41.98\00:54:46.01
from Jesus
because they are not ready
00:54:46.01\00:54:50.02
to me I can only imagine
00:54:50.02\00:54:54.02
what that would be
like. But to me the worst
00:54:54.02\00:54:58.06
thing in the world would
be to look up into the sky
00:54:58.06\00:55:02.06
and to see Jesus coming
00:55:02.06\00:55:06.07
and knowing in my
heart that I'm not ready
00:55:06.07\00:55:10.07
and instead of embracing Him
00:55:10.07\00:55:14.08
I'm running away
00:55:14.08\00:55:18.11
see the sixth seal ought
to cause me to ask myself this
00:55:18.11\00:55:22.12
question today am I living
00:55:22.12\00:55:26.12
for christ becasue if
I am not living for him
00:55:26.12\00:55:30.16
today chances are
strong I may not be living
00:55:30.16\00:55:34.13
for him tomorrow am I ready
00:55:34.13\00:55:38.17
for Jesus to come
00:55:38.17\00:55:42.17
becasue the 6th seal
ends with the coming of Jesus
00:55:42.17\00:55:46.21
then lastly is the seventh seal
00:55:46.21\00:55:50.21
now the seventh seal won't take
ever long becasue it is only one
00:55:50.21\00:55:54.25
sentence long.
But before I read it
00:55:54.25\00:55:58.29
you will notice the seventh seal
doesn't come until chapter 8
there is awhole chapter
00:55:58.29\00:56:02.29
in between the sixth seal and
the seventh sealyou say why is
00:56:02.29\00:56:06.33
that chapter 7 is
like an interlude.
00:56:06.33\00:56:10.30
at end of chapter 6 there is
question that asked in the sixth
00:56:10.30\00:56:14.34
seal the question is, For the
great day of His wrath has come,
00:56:14.34\00:56:18.37
and who is able to stand?"
asking who can stand before
00:56:18.37\00:56:22.41
Jesus who can be saved? chapter
7 is answering that question
00:56:22.41\00:56:26.45
because it is
describing the 144 thousand
00:56:26.45\00:56:30.45
now we don't have time to get on
that tonight but is very clearly
00:56:30.45\00:56:34.46
a symbolic number the
144,000 are describing
00:56:34.46\00:56:38.49
those who would be saved at
the end of time bcasue after
00:56:38.49\00:56:42.50
it talks about 144,000
the second part of chapter 7
00:56:42.50\00:56:46.53
says there is a multitude
standing around the sea of glass
00:56:46.53\00:56:50.57
numberless as the sand of
the sea and then it goes on
00:56:50.57\00:56:54.61
to descrbes the
character of the 144,000
00:56:54.61\00:56:58.65
they had the character
of Jesus Christ, so after
00:56:58.65\00:57:02.68
that little interlude then comes
the seventh seal in chapter 8
00:57:02.68\00:57:06.72
Revelation 8
verse 1 the Bible says
00:57:06.72\00:57:10.76
and When He
opened the seventh seal,
00:57:10.76\00:57:14.76
there was silence in
heaven for (how long?)
00:57:14.76\00:57:18.80
about half an hour. Well
00:57:18.80\00:57:22.87
doesn't give us very many
clues for that does it. It says
00:57:22.87\00:57:26.91
there is silence in heaven
for space of an half an hour
00:57:26.91\00:57:30.91
what does that mean?
Apparently the seventh seal
00:57:30.91\00:57:34.95
happens during the
coming of Jesus christ
00:57:34.95\00:57:38.95
now I have heard different ideas
to what in the world is this
00:57:38.95\00:57:42.96
silence in heaven but you
know the one that make the most
00:57:42.96\00:57:46.96
biblical sense is this one
00:57:46.96\00:57:50.93
the silence of Heaven
becasue Jesus and the heavenly
00:57:50.93\00:57:54.97
host have left heaven
to come to earth to rescue
00:57:54.97\00:57:58.94
his people. Can you say
amen? see when the bible
00:57:58.94\00:58:02.98
describes the return of Jesus it
says the Lord himself is coming
00:58:02.98\00:58:06.98
he is coming with all the angels
He is coming with the angelic
host and the armies
00:58:06.98\00:58:10.99
of heaven all the resource
of heaven are being emptied
00:58:10.99\00:58:14.99
to come save his people.
00:58:14.99\00:58:29.97