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More Commentary on the 7 Seals of Revelation:
The Cryptic 7 Seals of the Apocalypse and Matthew 24
Part 1 / Part 2 Preview: What do these seven mysterious seals of Revelation mean? When do they happen? What is there connection to the end of days? How can the prophecies of the seven seals be compared to Matthew 24? Continue reading this study to unlock the puzzle of these seals, so you can understand what is happening when these prophetic events become fulfilled. What do these seven mysterious seals mean? When do they happen? What is there connection to the final years of this age? Matthew 24 and its counter parts in Mark 13 and Luke 21 are the most condensed and to the point prophecies of the concluding years of this age. In the study of prophecy they are the best places to start because they present a sequential outline of prophetic events. The timing of key developments in more detailed prophecies, such as the book of Revelation in this specific case can be better understood in view of these three foundational prophecies.
The fifth seal is the Tribulation. The sixth seal begins the year long Day of Yehovah (the Lord).
The Sixth Seal of the Apocalypse:
Revelation 6:12-17 I watched as He broke open the sixth seal, and there was a huge earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of hair, and the full moon turned blood red. [3] 13 Stars from the heavens fell to the ground [See footnote on Isaiah 34:4] like unripe figs falling from a fig tree when it is shaken by a strong wind. 14 The sky recoiled like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was 'shaken' out of place. 15 The kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders of thousands, the rich men, the men of valor and all the servants and free men hid themselves in caves and among rocks in the mountains, 16 and they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of the One sitting on the throne AND from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 because The Great Day of Their anger has come, and who is able to 'survive' that?” [Isaiah 34:4,8]—The Gabriel Bible
[3] The sun will darken “immediately after the time of Tribulation”: Matthew 24:29-31; Mark 13:24-27; Luke 21:25-27, Acts 2:19-20, Isaiah 13:9-13, Joel 2:31.The timing is very specific. Immediately after the Tribulation the sky is going to go pitch black. The sun goes dark and the moon loses its reflection at the removal of the sixth seal. The Kings and the mighty men will be terrified at the coming of the Day of Yehovah’, and they'll hide in the mountains.
Now Revelation chapter 7 describes a very interesting happening. A messenger from heaven tells four other messengers, who have the first four trumpet plagues, to hold off until the 144,000 are sealed. When the specifically chosen and sealed children of Israel (12,000 from each tribe, baring the tribe of Dan, making 144,000) are sealed the seventh seal is removed from the scroll. To come up with twelve tribes, the tribe of Joseph is counted twice. Once as Manasseh the other time as Joseph. Anciently , the tribe of Joseph was divided into two tribes Ephraim and Manasseh.
Continuing with Revelation:
The 144,000
Revelation 7:1-8 After all of this I saw four messengers standing on the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind could blow on the land or the sea or on the trees. 2 Then I saw another messenger coming up from the direction of the rising sun. He had the seal of the living Aloha, and he called out loudly to the four messengers who were allowed to harm the land the sea, 3 He said, “Don’t harm the land or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the foreheads of the servants of Yehovah.” [1] 4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000, sealed from every tribe of Israel:
5 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed, 12,000 from the tribe of Reuben, 12,000 from the tribe of Gad, 6 12,000 from the tribe of Asher, 12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali, 12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh, 7 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon, 12,000 from the tribe of Levi, 12,000 from the tribe of Issachar, 8 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun, 12,000 from the tribe of Joseph, and 12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.
[1] Who are the 144,000? Are they Catholics? Jehovah’s Witnesses? Jews? (OK 12,000 are), Mormons? Adventists: (“only symbolic”), or maybe these other guys? Fortunately, Isaiah 54 provides context on these servants. They overcome “the shame of [their] youth” during the Great Tribulation. It’s like the time of Noah (v.9). , but “nothing frightening will come near you”. They are the slumbering but wise virgins (Matthew 25) and the sealed virgins of Revelation 14. While none will be a “pillar in the Temple” of New Jerusalem (Revelation 3:12), they will be “beautiful stones” in its walls!
When these 144,000 are sealed, they are completely protected. No plague from heaven will harm them. No weapon whether man made or demon made will hurt them. These are the only “saints” on earth that are invulnerable. I surmise that the 144,000 will be sent to the four corners of the earth to gather the children of Israel. They will teach the masses they find to repent on their journey to the promised land. Some won’t amend their ways but many others will. The mass multitude wearing white robes and coming out of the Tribulation described in Revelation 7, which we will soon read about, will be the saints that listen to the 144,000 fishers and hunters of men. Jeremiah 16:14-18 Yet the time is coming,” Yehovah says, “when people will no longer say, ‘As surely as Yehovah lives, who liberated the people of Israel from the land of Egypt,’
15 but, ‘As surely as Yehovah lives, who brought the people of Israel from the Land of the North, and from all the countries where He had exiled them!’ I’ll bring them back into the land that I gave their ancestors.
16 “But now I’ll send out many fishermen,” Yehovah says, “and they’ll catch them, and after that I’ll send out many hunters, and they’ll hunt for them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of fissures in the rocks!
17 I’ll watch everything they do, they won’t hide from Me. Their wickedness won’t avoid My notice.
18 First I’ll doubly compensate their wickedness and their sins, because they’ve polluted My land with the carcasses of their detestable things, and filled My heritage with their highly detestable things.. The fishers and hunters of men, being the sealed 144,000 by Yehovah are invulnerable. However the saints that comprise the mass multitude are not bullet proof. Some will die during the time frame of the last seven plagues and before they enter the throne room of Yehovah. Revelation 14 records why I think that some of the Mass Multitude will die before they arrive at the crystal sea before the Throne room. Revelation 14:1-14 Then I looked, and the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him were 144,000 people who had His name [1] and His Father’s name written on their foreheads.
2 Then I heard a sound from the sky like massive waves of the sea, like the 'loud' 'rumble' of thunder. The sound I heard was like harpists striking their harps!
3 They were singing a new song in front of the throne and the four living Beings and Elders. No one was able to learn that song except for the 144,000 who were purchased [redeemed] from the earth.
4 They are the ones who haven’t defiled themselves with women, they are spiritual virgins. They are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. Yeshua (Jesus) has purchased them from humanity as the firstfruits of Yehovah and the Lamb.
5 They never 'tell' lies because they are as morally unblemished as Passover lambs.
6 Then I saw another messenger [angel] flying thru the sky, who with blood [2] had the everlasting Good News to proclaim to everyone living on earth—every nation, tribe, language and people [3].
7 He said with a loud voice, “Worship Yehovah and praise Him, because His Day of Judgment has arrived. Worship the One who made the sky [singular] and the land, the sea and springs of water.”
8 Then another messenger, a second one, followed him and said, “Fallen, Babylon the Great has fallen! [4]. She has made every nation drink the wine of her passionate prostitution.”
9 Another messenger, a third one, followed them and said in a loud voice, “Anyone who worships the predatory beast and his icon and accepts his mark on their forehead or on their hand
10 will also drink the wine of Yehovah’s anger that is poured out undiluted into the cup of His anger and will be tormented with fire and sulfur [search word “hell”] in the presence of the messengers and the throne [5].
11 The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever. There is no rest day or night [6] for those who worship the predatory beast and his icon.”
12 'This calls for' patient endurance by the 'chosen ones', who preserve [obey, guard] the Commandments of Yehovah AND the faith of Yeshua.
13 I heard a voice from the sky say, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Sovereign from now on!” “Yes”, says the spirit. “They’ll rest from their hard work, and the record of their deeds will accompany them.”
14 Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was Someone who looked like the Human Son with a gold crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand! [2] The Greek omits “Who with blood.”Everyone Hears the Good News!
Babylon Has Fallen
Chapter 14 begins with Yeshua on Mount Zion and he is with the 144,000. They sing a special song. In the same context we have a messenger flying through the sky teaching the Good News to the whole world and announcing that it is Judgment Day. Babylon the Great has been officially defeated and those who worshiped this beast will experience undiluted rage from their Creator. Next, we have the patient endurance of the Saints. During this Judgment period Saints will die in the Master but will be blessed. They are blessed so when it says “there deeds accompany them” it is a good thing. It stands to reason that the events of Revelation 14 happen before the mass multitude arrive before the throne room. If you qualify to enter the throne room of Yehovah, that is the safest place to be. By this time they are protected and are comforted, having the tears wiped from their eyes.
An Enormous Crowd (the Great Multitude):
Revelation 7:9-17 After this I saw an enormous crowd of people that no one could count, from every people, nation, tribe and language. They were standing in front of the throne and the Lamb, wearing white robes, and they were holding palms in their hands. 10 They were shouting, “eternal life to Yehovah, to the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb!” 11 All the messengers stood around the throne with the Elders and the four living beings, and they bowed facedown in front of His throne and worshiped Yehovah, 12 and said, “Aw-main'. Blessing and praise and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to Yehovah forever and ever, Aw-main'.’”
13 Then One of the Elders turned and asked me, “Who are these people wearing white robes, and where do they come from?” 14 I said, “Friend, you know.” He replied, “These are the ones who are coming out [2] of the Great Tribulation. They’ve washed their clothes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 That’s why they are in front of the throne of Yehovah, serving Him day and night in His Temple. [3] And the One seated on the throne will 'protect them under His shadow' [Aramaic nageen alihun, ‘shadow over them’]. 16 They won’t hunger or thirst any more [4], nor will they be 'overcome' by the sun or burning heat, 17 because the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will feed them and lead them to springs of living water, and Yehovah will wipe every tear from their eyes.
[2] “The verb form in the Greek for ‘come’ is present participle.” This is an ongoing process! They survive the Great Tribulation! See any “Literal” translation. [3] Ezekiel Chapters 40-48 are all about the Temple services during the Everlasting Kingdom, tho people don’t want to hear that. Ezekiel 47 is clearly the same time period as Revelation 21-22. The Levites, other than descendants of Zadok, are disqualified from serving in the future Temple (:10-16.) Perhaps the 144,000 will take their place. [4] Isaiah 49 (noting verse 10) further describes these exact same conditions: the end of “hunger”, “thirst”, “heat” and “sun”, along with “springs of water” in the context of survivors of the Great Tribulation, from all twelve tribes of Israel returning to the land of Israel during the Second Exodus, at the beginning of the Everlasting Kingdom!
This does not all happen at once. It will take several months for a mass number of repentant people to exodus to the promised land. Some of these people will come from the other side of the globe. It will take a while to make the journey, and then on the appointed day be judged worthy to enter the throne room of Yehovah’ and have their tears wiped from their eyes.
The Seventh Seal of the Apocalypse is broken:
Revelation 8:1 When 'the Lamb' broke open the seventh seal, there was silence in Heaven for about half an hour.
(The silence is the transition between the events of the sixth seal and the events of the seventh seal. So immediately after the seventh seal in removed all the noisy events of the sixth seal are put to a stop. After 30 minutes or so the scary and noisy events of the seventh seal begin.)
Revelation 8:2 I saw the seven messengers who stand before Yehovah, and they were given seven shofars.
(The seventh seal is a very unique seal. The source of power of the seventh seal is the prayers of the saints. When that seal is removed from the scroll the saints prayers begin to be answered.)
Revelation 8:3-5 Then another messenger came and stood by the altar. He held a gold censer, and he was given plenty of incense so that he could offer it with the prayers of all the 'chosen ones' on the gold altar in front of the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense along with the prayers of the 'chosen ones' rose up to Yehovah from the messenger’s hand. 5 The messenger took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it to the ground. There was thunder, lightning, loud voices, and the earthquake.
(Now with the sixth seal removed, the 144,000 sealed and the seventh seal removed Yehovah’s battle plan of the seven trumpets is ready to be put into action.)
Revelation 8:6 The seven messengers who had the seven shofars made preparations for blowing them.
The seven shofars and the seven vials are the same events emphasizing different details. They are addressed in Part 2 of this study entitled: Woe Woe Woe.
Revelation 14:6-14 Then I saw another messenger [angel] flying thru the sky, who with blood had the everlasting Good News to proclaim to everyone living on earth—every nation, tribe, language and people. 7 He said with a loud voice, “Worship Yehovah and praise Him, because His Day of Judgment has arrived. Worship the One who made the sky [singular] and the land, the sea and springs of water.”
8 Then another messenger, a second one, followed him and said, “Fallen, Babylon the Great has fallen!. She has made every nation drink the wine of her passionate prostitution.” 9 Another messenger, a third one, followed them and said in a loud voice, “Anyone who worships the predatory beast and his icon and accepts his mark on their forehead or on their hand 10 will also drink the wine of Yehovah’s anger that is poured out undiluted into the cup of His anger and will be tormented with fire and sulfur [search word “hell”] in the presence of the messengers and the throne. 11 The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the predatory beast and his icon.” 12 'This calls for' patient endurance by the 'chosen ones', who preserve [obey, guard] the Commandments of Yehovah AND the faith of Yeshua. 13 I heard a voice from the sky say, “Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Sovereign from now on!” “Yes”, says the spirit. “They’ll rest from their hard work, and the record of their deeds will accompany them.” 14 Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was Someone who looked like the Human Son with a gold crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand!
Matthew chapter 24 ends with two parables one about a fig tree and the other about the wise and wicked servants.
The Parable of the fig tree:
Matthew 24:32-44 Now, learn the parable from the fig tree. As soon as its branches become tender and it produces leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 Similarly, when you actually see all of these things, you will realize that He is near, approaching the door!
The Olivet Conversation [7]
34 It is certain that the Israelite nation [Aramaic Sharebtha: tribe, people or nation] will not cease to exist before all these things have taken place.
35 [The New] Heaven and earth will pass away arrive [8], and My words will never disappear.
36 But no one knows the exact day or hour [9], not even the messengers in Heaven, but the Father alone.
37 At the advent [Gr. parousia] of the Human Son, it will be just like it was in the time of Noah.
38 Just like before the flood, people were eating and drinking, taking wives and giving them to husbands right up until the day when Noah entered the ark,
39 and they were clueless until the flood came and swept them all away. That’s how it will be at the advent of the Human Son.
40 Then two men will be in the field. One will be taken and one will be left behind.
41 Two women will be grinding grain at the mill, one will be taken and one will be left behind.
42 So watch [for the new moon] [10], since you don’t know the exact time when your Sovereign is coming.
43 But be assured that if the head of the house knew in which watch the thief was coming, he would stay alert and not allow his house to be broken into.
44 So remain prepared, because the Human Son will arrive at a time when He’s 'least expected' [11].
[7] This link is a remarkable timetable that Ernest Martin calculated in 1989. He made many of the same asumptions as I had. Still a lot of good info. The passage of time necessitated the start of my countdown 2,000 years from Yeshua’s crucifixion rather than start from the beginning of His ministry. (otherwise the Great Tribulation would be well underway by now.) [8] Parerchomai can mean pass away, come near, come forward and arrive in Greek! Aramaic too, so far as I can tell. I would much rather see the New Heaven and the New Earth arrive (rather than pass away), with the eternal nature of His words never “disappearing.” See Isaiah 65 & 66 for the complete end-time context. [9] A thinly disguised reference to the Feast of Trumpets that begins each year immediately after the thin crescent of the New Moon is seen in Jerusalem, with the exact “day and hour” annually in question. A select few still anticipate it annually! [10] This is a clue about the Feast of Trumpets that arrives the moment that the crescent New Moon is sighted on a day and hour often somewhat of a surprise. [11] The Human Son’s arrival shouldn’t surprise “You”! (1 Thessalonians 5:2-6)
I believe that the fig tree in Revelation 6 is used to help pin point the time of when the Parable of the fig tree in Matthew 24 takes place.
Revelation 6:12-17huge earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of hair, and the full moon turned blood red. [3] 13 Stars from the heavens fell to the ground [See footnote on Isaiah 34:4] like unripe figs falling from a fig tree when it is shaken by a strong wind. 14 The sky recoiled like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was 'shaken' out of place. 15 The kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders of thousands, the rich men, the men of valor and all the servants and free men hid themselves in caves and among rocks in the mountains, 16 and they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of the One sitting on the throne AND from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 because The Great Day of Their anger has come, and who is able to 'survive' that?” [Isaiah 34:4,8]
[3] The sun will darken “immediately after the time of Tribulation”: Matthew 24:29-31; Mark 13:24-27; Luke 21:25-27, Acts 2:19-20, Isaiah 13:9-13, Joel 2:31.
Someone who is alert during the Great Tribulation could read Matthew 24 and determine that they are in the Tribulation. That same chapter tells us that the Day of Yehovah begins immediately after the Tribulation. Just from this chapter alone the watchful can closely pin point the timing of Yeshua’s return. Add the timing of the fig tree to the sixth seal ,and the watchful can know that the Return of Yeshua is very close. Now concerning the phrase “No one knows the day or the hour.” I think 1st Thessalonians 5 puts it best:
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 But friends, concerning the time periods and the specified times of crisis, it is unnecessary for me write to you, 2 because you know for certain that the Day of Yehovah will come like a thieving false “minister” in the time of moral stupidity and darkness [1]. 3 When people are saying, “Peace and security” [2], then suddenly destruction will overtake them like the labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they won’t escape.
4 But you, friends, aren’t in darkness. That Day won’t catch you off guard like a thieving false “minister”, 5 because you are all sons of the light, and sons of the day. You aren’t sons of the night or sons of darkness. 6 So let’s not sleep like everyone else does, but let’s stay awake and be sober. 7 Because those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But those of us who are sons of the day should be rational, and put on the mail-coat of faith and love, and for a helmet the expectation of eternal life, 9 because Yehovah hasn’t destined us to wrath, but to obtaining eternal life by our Sovereign Yeshua Messiah, 10 who died for us, so that whether we’re awake or asleep, we can live together with Him. 11 So continue to comfort each other and help to strengthen each other as you’ve been doing.
[1] or “like a thief in the night” [2] This would be due to the Antimessiah’s peace deal.
If you stay alert, awake, and watchful you will not be surprised at the timing of Yeshua’s return!
Wise and Wicked Servants of Matthew 24:
Matthew 24:45-51 So who is the faithful and wise servant who was put in charge of the household by the master, to give them their food at the appointed time? 46 Blessed is the servant who will actually be prepared for work when his master appears. 47 I am certain that He’ll place him over everything He has. 48 But IF that servant is evil and thinks to himself, “My master has delayed his return”, 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and begins eating and drinking with drunkards, 50 THEN His master will arrive on a day when he isn’t expecting him and at an hour that he isn’t considering, 51 and will cut him in pieces and assign him his destiny with the pretenders. There will be wailing and grinding of teeth.
The second commandment, when all Ten Commandments are reduced to Two is to: “Love your neighbor” that includes even your neighbors that are powerless to fight back against you or help you in any way. This wicked servant is not nearly alert enough to notice the fig leaves. At Yeshua’s return the wicked servant is caught by surprise. He is in so much trouble it costs him his eternal life. The wise servant will be greatly awarded.
There are some who say that the entire book of Revelation is strictly about the Day of the Lord. Their proof text is Revelation 1:9-11.
Revelation 1:9-11 I John, your friend and your partner in the tribulation and suffering [5] that are ours in Yeshua Messiah, was on the island called Patmos, because of the Word of Aloha and the Testimony of Yeshua Messiah. 10 I found myself transitioning into the spirit realm on the Day of Yehovah [6], and I heard a loud voice behind me like a shofar that said, 11 “Write what you are seeing in a document and send it to the seven assemblies: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”
[5] Yehovah’s Day, aka “the Lord’s Day”, translates exactly as “the Day of the ‘Lord’” in Hebrew—one of the most prophesied events in the Scriptures. [6] Literally, “like” or “resembling” or “corresponding to”, just as in Daniel 7:13. John was not positive of His identity at first (Revelation 1:17-18).
However, this view does not make since when comparing Matthew 24 to the seven seals of Revelation. This study shows that the first five seals occur before the Lord’s Day arrives and that the sixth and seventh seal begin the Day of Yehovah. True, John was brought to the Day of the Lord (Yehovah) when Yeshua showed him this vision. However, that does not mean that every aspect of the vision was about the Lord’s Day. In fact John himself records the explanation and timing of these very events.
Revelation 1:19-20 So record what you have already seen, the things that presently are, and the things that are going to happen after this. 20 As for the mystery about the seven stars that you saw in My right hand, and the seven gold menorahs: The seven stars are the spirit messengers of the seven assemblies, and the seven menorahs are the seven assemblies.”
Therefore, the book of Revelation was written from John’s perspective, not as some primitive from the first century, but as being a faithful witness during Yehovah’s Day which happens in the near future. Some skeptics think he was on some sort of acid trip. That is not the case. The reality is that John time traveled! He begins his witnessing of Yeshua’s true testimony during the Day of Yehovah’. He is in the throne room and it is time to remove the seven seals from the scroll. The removal of the sixth seal begins the Day of Yehovah. When the 144,000 are sealed receiving divine protection on earth, and the seventh seal is removed, Yehovah’s battle plan can begin, which are the seven trumpets and vials.
John was also instructed to record the things that he had seen, such as, the four horseman and the Great Tribulation, which from the perspective of Yehovah’s day is the past. In the case of the four horseman, he hitched a ride with the four faced beasts when they said “come and see” and they went to the past and saw. Next, he traveled to the events of the fifth seal and suffered during the Tribulation as our partner in distress, if you choose to believe him literally as I do. Then He would have to travel to the future to record the events that end Yehovah’s day in victory. When the prophecy is all spelled out like this, it reads like science fiction. Yet it will happen and the Apostle John has an important role in end time prophecy. John is our faithful and true witness of Yeshua’s testimony.
Part 1 / After the Seven Seals of the Apocalypse are opened, what happens next? Read Woe Woe Woe.
