Revelation Study

[Richard_1]

John looks about the throne of God and he sees four beasts

Revelation 4:6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts

After John is called to "come up hither" to see those things that are to come after (meta tauta) John sees a throne and he sees God on the throne and now he sees the living creatures before the throne. These are not beasts like wild or dumb animals, they are actually highly intelligent created beings of God. As they are described we can compare them with the beasts in Ezekiel chap 1 and 10, and we know that these in Ezekiel are cherubim about the throne of God.

Revelation 4:7-8 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

Some see these creatures as representing of the different characteristics of Christ in the Gospels. In the first Gospel, Matthew presents Jesus as the lion of the tribe of Judah. The lion is known as the king of the beasts. Then in Mark he presents Him as a calf, a beast of burden representing a suffering servant. Luke presents Him as the Son of man and man is known as the crowning achievement in the order of God's creation. And then John presents Him as the Son of God, with the eagle being the greatest of the flying fowl, here the eagles characteristic representing the majesty of Divinity.



Ezekiel had a vision of the throne of God, which parallels the vision of John here in the book of Revelation. One of the things you see here is the fact that the creatures cried Holy, Holy, Holy which some scholars believes is showing the triune nature of God in crying Holy three times one for each person of the trinity. Again a statement the eternal nature of God (which was, and is , and is to come).

Revelation 4:9-11 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

John has been taken up into heaven and has seen the throne and those that are worshipping God night and day. You see the reverence and Holiness that is taking place in front of John. This was not a mere dream but was a full manifestation of the quality of God in heaven and the worship of those around the throne. We have been created for God's good pleasure and here we see the Holy reverence that is due to God as John is taken up to the heavenly scene. We serve a mighty and Holy God.



In the next study we see God's plan for the tribulation begin to unfold

[Richard_1]

As John looked at the throne he saw in God's right hand a book. Book in the Greek was literally translated scroll, and it was on scrolls that all the writings and legal papers of that time were written. So John saw a scroll in God's right hand.

Revelation 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

One thing I will point out is that only official documents were sealed in those days. They sealed ownership documents, legal documents and official decrees. Here we have a scroll that is sealed like an official document in God's right hand. This document had seven seals and each seal has a different purpose.



What is the scroll? What are the seals? What is their significance? I believe that the scroll is the title deed to the earth When God created the earth He gave it to man, who was in the Garden of Eden. He placed man in Eden to dress the garden and to keep it. God gave man one commandment, don't eat of the tree in the midst of the garden, the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God said, "The day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Genesis 2:17). But one day Satan came, tempted Eve, and she ate. She gave to Adam and he ate. They forfeited their right to the earth to Satan who had deceived and tempted them.



The act of yielding themselves to the suggestion of Satan (eating of the forbidden fruit), was a disobedience to God which took them out of fellowship with God, but it was also an obedience to Satan which brought them into submission to Satan.

Romans 6;16 Know ye not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

At that point man forfeited the right to the earth. The title deed of the earth was passed over to Satan, and the world became Satan's. When Jesus came, Satan took Him up to a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the earth. Satan said

Matthew 4:9 All these things will I give you [for they are mine and I can give them to whomever I will], if you will fall down and worship me

Satan claimed as his own the kingdoms of the world and the power to give them over to Jesus Christ - if Jesus would only bow and worship him. Jesus did not dispute Satan's claim. It was a valid claim. The kingdoms of the world belonged to Satan.



Now the angel of God is asking who is worthy to open the seals. Now on official documents the owner or king or official has the right to break a seal. And here the angel is saying "Who is worthy". It is like the angel is asking who has the right to open the seals, who is the official legal owner of the scroll that can legally open the seals.

Revelation 5:2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

From this declaration the call has been made for someone to be able to open the seals. But as we see in this scripture that is not possible for any man to open the seals

Revelation 5:3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

Now this declaration that was made by the angel caused John to break down in tears. John started to weep

Revelation 5:4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

Now the question is why this affected John so much. It seems that John recognizes something about the scroll of great importance. I believe that John was looking at the title deed to the earth. John was looking at the fact that nobody could claim official ownership or capacity to claim this title deed and to read the decree of ownership contained within the scroll. I believe that John was grieved in his heart about the earth. He had already been told that he was being shown what would come "meta tauta" and that this was the beginning of who has ownership and dominion of the earth and final victory.



Then an elder around the throne comforts John's heart

Revelation 5:5-7 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

Jesus came to redeem the world back to God. He paid the price of redemption when He died for us upon the cross. We are redeemed not with corruptible things such as silver and gold from the former life but with the precious blood of Jesus Christ (I Peter 1:18-19). Jesus bought the world, but He has not yet taken possession of it. Now Jesus is identified as the one who can open the scroll. He says that Jesus had prevailed. Now in the Greek the word for prevailed is the word nikaō and the literal meaning is

nikaō ---

to conquer

a) to carry off the victory, come off victorious

1) of Christ, victorious over all His foes

2) of Christians, that hold fast their faith even unto death against the power of their foes, and temptations and persecutions

3) when one is arraigned or goes to law, to win the case, maintain one's cause

Jesus was victorious and conquered death and hell, He legally won the case for possession of the earth and man. He overcame temptations, persecutions, and death to be worthy to claim the title deed of the earth. John sees the victorious Jesus come over and take the scroll in His hand as the action of the official owner of the scroll. John sees Jesus in the full glory of His victory in prevailing for man. The book of Revelation is the book of the revealing of the victorious and rightful king of Heaven and Earth and here Jesus claims His possession of the title deed to the earth.

[Richard_1]

In the last study we saw that Jesus was the Lamb of God that could claim possession of the scroll (title deed of earth). And that He took it in His hand. But let us ask the question of why Jesus was claiming possession and rightful ownership of the earth. As we can read in Genesis if Jesus wanted He could just speak a new earth into existence. He has no reason to own the earth, except for one little thing in a parable

Matthew 13:44 The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goes and sells all that he hath, and buys that field.

The kingdom of heaven has been brought and lives in the heart of every believer in the Church. This treasure is hidden in the field (the earth). Jesus has given everything to purchase that treasure hidden in the field by purchasing the field itself. You the Church are that treasure, this is why the title deed of the earth is of such importance.



Now lets look at what takes place after Jesus takes the scroll.

Revelation 5:8 When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints

How many times have you prayed, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven"? We're still waiting for that prayer to be fulfilled. How many times have we prayed for the victory of the Lord to come. How many times have we prayed come Lord Jesus. The first of all our petitions should be that desire for God's coming Kingdom. That should be the paramount desire of our hearts and lives. Well here in this time in heaven our prayers are brought before Jesus. Not that He hasn't heard them but the time for them to be fulfilled has arrived and Jesus is going to begin the time of the tribulation that comes to try the whole world.



Isn't it amazing that along with the vials are instruments of music. Notice that there is music involved in the presentation of the prayers of the saints. How many times have you missed the music in heart as you presented your prayers to the Lord.

Revelation 5:9-10 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and has redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and has made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth

Here the twentyfour elders and the four living creatures bow before the throne and a song is being sung as the prayers are brought before the Lord. I believe that the song being sung has a special importance. The question is to ask who it is that has the right to sing this song. The only group that has a right to sing this song or to say is the one who is singing this song is the Church. The Church is the one who has been redeemed out of every kindred, culture, and nationality. It is the Church that the Lamb has purchased with His blood.



So here we have a song of the Church being sung, we have the prayers of the Church being given to Jesus. Here we have the last reference to anything of the Church from chapter 6 on until the mention of the Bride in chapter 19-22. All that takes place from chapter 6 on has no mention of the Church.



Look at the words of that song. It says "and has made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth". In chapter 1 we saw who were made the kings and priest by God and who will reign with Him. These kings and priests are the Church (Revelation 1:6) So who is singing it? Who can sing this to Jesus Christ? Only the church can sing that song. It isn't the song of Israel. They are not redeemed from all the kindred, cultures, nations. The church is the one taken out of all the nations. The church is the one that was redeemed and purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ. But notice where the church is in these scriptures. It is in heaven singing this song when Jesus takes the scroll out of the right hand of God. When our prayers are offered as incense we break out in glorious song to Jesus. "Worthy is the Lamb".

Revelation 5:11-13 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever

The angels, the living creatures, the Church are singing and the number is in the tens of millions. This is the glorious heavenly scene when Jesus takes the scroll, the title deed of the earth, and begins the culmination of the work of redemption, laying claim to that which He has redeemed. This is what all creation is waiting for.

Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now

[Richard_1]

Revelation 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

After Jesus has called the Church to heaven (rapture) and calls John up to heaven to see "meta tauta" (after these things) he saw the Lamb take the scroll (title deed of earth) and on it were seven seals. Now John sees the Lamb open the first seal. We also have a living creature of God calling John to see what is taking place when the seal is opened. This is the beginning of the Great Tribulation.

Revelation 6:2 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.

The first seal is opened and a white horse with some one sitting on it that had a bow. A bow was a symbol; of war and conquering. The figure on the white horse had a crown which was the symbol of power and rulership. Now some say that the figure on the horse is Jesus but I believe that the figure is the anti-christ. Now for those who believe that the figure on the white horse is Jesus and His second coming then you need to see that what follows this figure on the white horse is wars, famines, and death. The coming of Jesus Christ will usher in the glorious era of peace, God's millennial age upon the earth. In addition, this white horse rider appears at the very beginning of the Tribulation period not at the end when Jesus second coming takes place. The opening of the first seal is after Jesus has taken the Church into heaven (rapture) and the only force on earth that resisted the coming of the anti-christ is removed (the Holy Spirit dwelling in the Church). In 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 speaks of this removing of the one who restrains the coming of the anti-christ

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth (restrains, withholds) will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

The power of God's Spirit working in the church is what is restrains the Antichrist from taking over the world today. Once the church is taken out of the way (raptured), there'll be no restraining force whatsoever on earth and the anti-christ will move in. The anti-christ will take over the earth and establish his kingdom. The anti-christ will receive the authority, throne, and kingdoms from Satan, which Satan once offered to Jesus if Jesus would bow to him and his rule on earth. Satan, who rules over the earth at the present time, will give the anti-christ his throne. Satan will turn it over to this madman until the world is brought under his dominion, power, and control


We see the first seal opened and the anti-christ come forth and the beginning of the Great Tribulation begin. The anti-christ will conquer all the nations of earth through bringing peace and prosperity to the earth. This is shown in Daniel 8:25

And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

Next the second seal

[Richard_1]

Revelation 6:3-4 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.

The white horse that had the Anti-christ ridding went out at the beginning of the tribulation time. Upon His arrival there is a time of great peace and prosperity that takes place. For the first three and a half years people will rejoice in the economic prosperity and peace that the Anti-christ brings. How much does the world look for peace and prosperity. People pray for it, they chant for it they write about it and they most certainly long for it. So when the Anti-christ comes bringing this prosperity and peace it will be easy for the people to say, "Peace and safety! Let's eat, drink, and be merry! He's a genius! He's a god!" The world will begin to worship him. But his peace will be short-lived. Just as the people begin to say, "Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them"

1 Thessalonians 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

Then after the first horse and the Anti-christ has come and brought peace and prosperity and the world is in love with Him to the point of worshipping him then comes the red horse. The red horse represents war and after 3 ½ yrs the Anit-christ rises up and breaks His covenant of peace and plunges the earth in war which finally ends with the battle of Armageddon. In this final war the Anti-christ gathers the kingdoms of earth and wages war against the people of God (Israel) and against God Himself.



The second seal is the beginning of this time of war and the true purpose of the Anti-christ.

Revelation 6:5-6 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.

Now we have the third seal and a black horse goes out. The rider has a set of balances or scales. In the matter of food it is measured in balances or scales. The amount, weight and value of the food is measured by these scales. The black horse is coming to weight the measure of food. "A measure of wheat for a penny" is the indication of the fact of food becoming scarce and of greater value. In the parable when Jesus talked about the wages of the worker he used the term a penny as the amount of a days wage (Matthew 20:1-2). Today a days wages has increased and is about forty or fifty dollars to us now in this country, but it is no different any where else a days wage is a days wage.



Here you see that a "measure of wheat" (a measure is about 1 quart of wheat) has now taken on the cost of one days wages. Food will become very scare and the price will become astronomical. This speaks of great famine. One of the things that can cause great famine is war another is the changing of the climate. We live in an age where nuclear war is quite possible. If in the time of these wars that the Anti-christ brings there is the use of nuclear weapons there could be such a cloud of dust raised that the climate is affected, The rays of the sun could be affected and that this affect ruins food crops. So we have the fact of just the devastation of the land in war that can destroy food crops. We have the possible weather changes form the dust in the air from nuclear explosions and these explosions could also trigger earthquakes and volcanic activity which could also create great clouds of dust further affecting weather patterns. Then we need to think of the affects of massive radiation that could poison the food supplies of the world..



At this time we have 2/3 of the world already suffering from famine. When the Anti-christ starts to make war we will have famine as the world has never seen. It will take all of a mans wages and efforts just to get a small amount of food. Many will starve and die from famine during this time. Jesus spoke of famines, pestilences, and earthquakes being upon the earth in the last days (Matthew 24:7). This famine follows in the wake of war. Should we have an atomic war right now, the whole balance of food supply would be in a precarious position. There are very few nations which have a surplus of food. Imagine what would happen if a full-scale atomic war was fought and all the food supplies became contaminated and inedible. We can easily see the possibility of a terrible famine coming upon the earth.



The one thing is that the horseman wasn't to hurt the oil and the wine. These were always the symbols of excessive life styles and revelry. There will still be that people desire to live in excess and in constant partying. There will be that mind set of eating and drinking and reveling until the day of the Lord (the return of Jesus Luke 17:26-28).



Next seal the result of famine.

[Gamin]

Awesome study. You teach a lot like our Pastor, as he also allows scripture to interpret scripture.
Make it easy to understand, and gives a clear picture of our future hope.
Bless you as you continue your study.

[marcelle19]

At that point man forfeited the right to the earth. The title deed of the earth was passed over to Satan, and the world became Satan's. When Jesus came, Satan took Him up to a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the earth. Satan said At that point man forfeited the right to the earth. The title deed of the earth was passed over to Satan, and the world became Satan's. When Jesus came, Satan took Him up to a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the earth. Satan said

Quote:
Matthew 4:9 All these things will I give you [for they are mine and I can give them to whomever I will], if you will fall down and worship me.





Satan claimed as his own the kingdoms of the world and the power to give them over to Jesus Christ - if Jesus would only bow and worship him. Jesus did not dispute Satan's claim. It was a valid claim. The kingdoms of the world belonged to Satan.
_______________________________________________

Excuse me, brother, but I must say this:

God never stopped "owning" the earth - man was given dominion over it, and all things on it, but it always was, has been, remains, and will be His - it never belonged to man, and Satan only is "the ruler of this world" - John 14:30 - in the sense that God uses him to test us, as he tested Christ. He no more owns the world than man ever did.

Satan had to ask God for permission to afflict Job, and Jesus told Pilate he would have no power at all, if it were not given him from above.

Consider the following Scripture quotes:

Exodus 19:5:
5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.

Joshua 3:11:
11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over before you into the Jordan.

1 Chronicles 29:11:
11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness,
The power and the glory,
The victory and the majesty;
For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours;
Yours is the kingdom, O LORD,
And You are exalted as head over all.

Psalms 24:1-2:
1The earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
2 For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the waters.

Acts 7:49-50:
49 'Heaven is My throne,
And earth is My footstool.
What house will you build for Me? says the LORD,
Or what is the place of My rest?
50 Has My hand not made all these things?'

1 Corinthians 10:26-29:
26 for "the earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness." 27 If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience' sake. 28 But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience' sake; for "the earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness."

Colossians 1:14-18:
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

God never gave up ownership of the earth to either man or Satan - man gave up being a steward over the earth, yet it remained the Lord's, being made by Him, for Him, and through Him - as well as all other things that were made, including you, me, and yes, the evil one. All serve the purpose of the Lord - He is, has always been, and remains, from the beginning to the end, the Sovereign of all that He has made, in complete control, and despite our lack of eternal vision, which would see these temporal things as stating that the contrary is true in some circumstances and situations, it is not - He is God over all, invincible, who owns the cattle of the entire Earth, and all that is upon it, as well as all other created things.

If you have to speak of a title deed being bought back by the atonement of Christ, it would be the one to the souls of those whom He foreknew and predestined before even Adam and Eve walked the earth - Ephesians 1:3-7
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.

Even in this, we were His before we ever knew we were His, so it is a questionable statement to even speak in terms of His ever not owning those He foreknew and elected before any of the events we read about in His most holy Word took place.

This is a gentle correction - please do not take it in any other than the Spirit of the love of Christ.

In His love and grace, which I pray that He multiply abundantly to you and all who are His,

Bill

[Richard_1]

I appreciate your correction but believe that scripturally it is in correct. You say that God never gave the ownership of the earth to man yet here it shows that God most certainly did give the earth to man

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

Notice the word dominion in its literal meaning from the original Hebrew it means
radah--- to rule, have dominion, dominate, tread down
you don’t rule, have dominion, dominate, tread down something that you don’t have ownership to because in a court of law you would have no claim without the title deed of ownership and remember that God is a God of Law and that the heavens were created within the framework of unchanging unalterable laws.

You seem to miss the fact that even the scriptures and Jesus referred to Satan as prince and god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4, John 12:31,14.30, 16;11). You are not a prince or god of this world without some claim of ownership of the world.

Now technically you can say because God created the world that it is His but you miss that God gave that creation to man to have dominion and that man in his fall gave that claim of dominion over to Satan. That claim of dominion is the practical idea of a title deed of the earth (claim of ownership through dominion or as is said in many legal settings possession is nine tenths of the law). What Jesus did was to buy back or redeem the right to claim ownership by dominion again. That eternally after this there would be no dispute of who is king and prince of this world.

[marcelle19]

Thank you, brother.

As you mention the original language, you might look at the occurrence of that word as it applies to Israel totally dominating their enemies - yet they never truly "owned" their enemies, except in the sense that power was given to them, by God, to be victorious, and that is the only way that dominion is established in the entire context of the bible, concerning believers and non-believers.

If you will look up each of the verses I quoted you will see that, in the original languages, God never has ceased being owner of, and having the ultimate rule over, this earth, and the rest of His creation.

As I said, look these verses up in the original languages, if you wish. Their meaning and intent is clear, in any language, and since Scripture interprets Scripture, you must take the passages that speak of Satan as the ruler of this world, and man as having dominion, in the context of the entire Scriptures.

If man ever had complete "ownership" of the world - that is, God gave up all rights to do as He wills in all that He wills - and if Satan ever attained a complete rule of this world, as God rules all things, meaning He gave up His right to do as He wills in all things - if He doesn't work all things according to the purpose of His will (Ephesians 1:11), then He not only makes Himself a liar, but He is not the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the One and only God, Lord above all, who will not share His glory with another (and certainly giving up His sovereign will over any portion of His creation would be to give another glory like unto His own in that instant).

The question we must ask if this:

Does God, at any point in this time which we exist within (for He exists both within and outside, seeing all, having created time), cease to be the Sovereign God of all He has created?

Again, I urge you, look up the passages - in the original languages if you would like - and see if He ever does this, for if He does, a whole series of other questions come into play.

For Instance: If God is not always sovereign, how then can He exercise His will to give us the grace and faith in His love for us, none of which can be negated, that keeps us in Him eternally (John 6:44, 65; John 10:26-30; Romans 8:28-39)?

If we say that He wills to give up His will over all things, then there is a point at which He is not Almighty God, therefore not Sovereign, and we believe in a God whose hold on us is questionable.

Consider the verses you gave to me in light of the verses I gave to you, for they are inclusive of one another, according to God's will, grace and Spirit. He never contradicts Himself.

He is either always Lord over all, or He isn't (Isaiah 45:18); however, I think He makes it abundantly clear that He is.

The love and peace of our God, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, be with you,

Bill

[Richard_1]

Revelation 6:7-8

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.

With the opening of the fourth seal you see the result of war that was unleashed in the unsealing of the second seal. The fact of much death and destruction are accomplished in the unsealing of this seal. You also see that not only is the sword or instrument of war causing death but the great famine that is a result of these wars.



Now even thought the Church is gone there is a great number of people left. In unsealing this seal ¼ of the population of the earth will die. That is an astronomical number considering that the world has about 5 billion people. The fourth horse and rider comes forth, the pale horse of death. Through the red horse of war, through the black horse of famines, and finally through this pale horse of death, one-quarter of the earth's population will be wiped out. That is over one billion people that will be destroyed by these horsemen. It's hard for us to imagine that amount of death taking place in such a short time.



Revelation 6:9-11

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 fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled

Now we see the souls under the alter. There are some who say this is the Church as it goes through tribulation. But who are these "souls" under the altar? They are those believers who were slain for the Word of God and for the testimony which they held. During the tribulation there is a price for coming to know the Lord. There is a great persuction of all who do not worship the image of the beast which we will see in a later chapter. These are the souls who have been martyred during the Tribulation period. These are those who would not take the number of the beast nor worship his image. And as you can see they are calling for vengeance upon those who killed them. These souls under the altar are not the church or church martyrs. The church has already taken its place in the heavenly scene before the tribulation begins, singing glory to the Lamb for the redemption by His blood as we saw in Revelation 5. This group of souls spoken of in these scriptures are martyred during the tribulation period between the sixth and seventh seals.



Just because the church has been raptured, it doesn't mean that salvation has ceased. It will be possible for people to be saved during this Great Tribulation period. After the church has been taken out, there will probably be many who remember the testimony of the Church and many who have rejected Jesus Christ will know that our witness to them was true. I believe many of them will turn unto the Lord and seek salvation. God is gracious and merciful, and salvation will be given to those who will believe and trust in Him in that day.