The First Message

Structure of Revelation

The First Message, 1st Seal, 1st Trumpet and 1st Plague

The Book of Revelation commences with admonitions to the seven churches of Asia Minor. Some cautions were heeded, some were not. This vision is a miniature review of the rest of Revelation. The Apocalypse also contains 7 messages, 7 seals, 7 trumpets, and 7 plagues as well as other sevens. From the word of God, Old Testament temple-history-type and the testimony of Jesus Christ, the Gospels’ antitype, where the Messianic Body models the true Temple, Revelation writes a summation. The Acts of the Apostles and the Epistle writings commence the journey to fulfill archetype and the Apocalypse concludes this journey on a global scale.

The Christian era can be aligned with the early formation of the kingdom of Israel. A confederation of ideas, an admix of Egyptian rule by one, an acceptance of a new order by the settlement in Canaan..with an interest in human welfare.

As the story goes, Israel had escaped Egyptian bondage. Saul, meaning asked, as Israel asked for a king, was Israel’s first king, and as ruthless as Pharoah’s task-masters. There had been little progress in the days of early Israel. Then Saul was killed in battle and the kingdom was given to the young shepherd boy, David, the beloved.

King David is where this story begins. The Revelation writers, personified as John as they were one in spirit, mind, hope, objective, commenced by following the Bible temple-history as a pattern. They applied this picture to the circumstances they believed would prevail during the days of Christendom.

The First Message

This is the first angel’s message, “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. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?” Rev.5:1,2. The answer, “the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David…” Rev.5:5. In this dispensation the Lion of Juda is called “the Comforter” - John 16:7.

The little book had been closed for a long time. Isaiah reports in judgment upon Jerusalem for hypocrisy, “the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith I cannot; for it is sealed:” - symbolic statement of mental darkness, is here displayed.

What a tragedy. But was there hope ahead? O yes! A dark period had passed for ancient Israel. Now King David led Israel. Israel means ruling with God.

The First Seal

The four beasts from round about the throne open the first four seals. The throne embraced the four points of the compass. See Ezekiel’s vision in chapter one. To begin in Rev.6:1,2 John says “…And I saw and behold 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 spirit of investigation is here introduced.

White horse, white from Greek KEUKOS means light. Light shines and is illuminating, representing purity.

The white horses in Zech. 6:6 go forth from between two mountains of brass after “the black horses…go forth into the north country.” The white horses go to Jerusalem. Thus saith the Lord, “I am returned unto Zion.” Zech. 8:3.

Bow is from Greek TOXON/TIKTO and means to produce as a seed, bring forth as a mother delivers a child. Bow in Hebrew is QESHETH, in the sense of bending. The bow in the cloud was a token indicating a covenant between God the Maker, and the earth. Humanity would always be delivered in future from a flood of violent fighting warriors bent on destroying the earth. The bow of Revelation is the new covenant.

Crown from STEPHANDS a symbol of honour. The rider, is Faithful and True. Crowned, from Hebrew ATAR is to encircle, compass for attack and protection.
“What is man that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hath made him a little lower than the angels, and has crowned him with glory and honour.” Ps. 8:4,5.

First Trumpet

What did the first trumpet cryptically sound as the opening of the first seal was observed? Was it a burst of light amidst darkness, and what of the resultant consequences?

Rev. 8:7. “The first angel sounded, and there fell hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth, and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.”
- “Hail”, shall sweep, YAAH 3261 brush aside, “away,” SUWR5493 turn off, “a refuge of lies,” KAZAB 3576 deceive, be found a liar. The hail shall brush aside and turn off the deception taught to multitudes for centuries.
- And “fire mingled with blood”. “Fire”, well Jeremiah writing about God’s judgments upon the Jews for perverseness explains:- “And the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done unto them. Wherefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts, Because ye speak this word,behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and the people wood, and it shall devour them” Jer. 5:14.
- “mingled with blood”. In highly graphic language this means, the word “blood” from HAIMA =juice of grapes, atoning blood of lamb. “This is my blood of the new testament.” In reality this was the sacrificial life of study and proclaiming by great reformers. This is blood. The “fire” was “mingled with sacrifice”.

The first trumpet is sounding confirmation of restoration. Restoration is necessary for reformation. But what happened? Was it greeted with open arms? The hail and fire mingled with blood were cast upon the earth. The word “earth” is often used as ground where the “sower went forth to sow”. And a third part of the trees was burnt up. “The third part of” refers to Jerusalem in Eze. 5:1,2 under the type of hair. The judgment of Jerusalem (the church today) for their rebellion. “Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them.”

“And a third part of the trees was burnt up”. Because Jerusalem was full of idols and they worshipped the work of their own hands, these trees personify the “proud and lofty”. They are those who reject an affront towards tradition. “And the loftiness of man, shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.” Isa. 2:11-13,17.

These arrogant trees are not akin to the trees of righteousness, ANIL meaning strong, a chief (politically) with the strength of an oak. The gallant fighters of the Maccabees are the trees of righteousness. Conscientious souls who triumphed over Antiochus Epiphanes and regained self-determination.

“And all green grass was burnt up.” Green from Greek CHIORES= verdant, inexperienced, naïve. “Grass”from CHORTOS = vegetation, those of an unthinking existence, all burnt up. Even today if a person be immature in judgment it is common practice to say “he is green.”

Re Jerusalem (the church today)

Jerusalem of old, claiming caretakers of the oracles of God, constantly regressed into idolatry. The true prophets condemned this. It is written, Israel a rebellious nation, “For they are impudent children and stiffhearted...” Eze. 2:4. Jerusalem, “their land is full of idols: they worship the work of their own hands...” Isa. 2:8. “And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces…and all idols thereof will I lay desolate …” Micah 1:7.

With the fall of Jerusalem when Messiah was silenced, Jerusalem,the heart of Judaism collapsed. Jerusalem of the new covenant, which is above, Gal. .4:26, is a symbol of elevated consciousness, a spiritual city. The Jew, those claiming allegiance to their Maker, is one with a circumcised heart. Rom. 2:29. The church (EKKLESIA) are those called out by their conscience – the still small voice. They are the true church. “Now ye are the body of Christ” 1 Cor. 12:27,“one body” Eph. 4:4. “And Christ,(righteousness and peace) is the head.” Eph. 5:23 the spiritual Rock - 1 Cor. 10:4.

Idolatry in the Christian age is false doctrine. “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Mark 7:7. “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God.” 2 Cor. 6:16. “Little children, keep yourselves from idols”1 John 5:21.

Reformation commenced with much earnest work and sacrifice but eventually faded. The seed sown, fell by the wayside, upon stony ground and amongst thorns. But in the residue of good ground the seed germinated and produced many fold. A resurgence of reform would come another day. The faithful were promised, “there would be a light always in Jerusalem.” 1 Kings 11:36.

First Plague

Now plagues follow as an inevitable result of shutting out light. As the messages, seals, trumpets continued their work, likewise the 1st plague is poured out. “And the first (angel) went and poured out his vial upon the earth (or ground); and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.” Rev. 16:1,2. The beast, mark and image was briefly dealt with in a former article.

The noisome and grievous sore of the Old Testament was leprosy. See Strong’s Concordance for the word “leprosy” in O.T. Anyone with leprosy was considered unclean. In the spiritual age leprosy is intellectual decay. A scaly, ulcerated mind, figuratively speaking, a corrupting influence. Passion for rectification dwindled.

Structure of Revelation

The First Message (Part 2)

2nd Seal, 2nd Trumpet and 2nd Plague

Second Seal

“And when he had opened the second seal, I heard a 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.” Rev. 6:3,4.

In referring to a “red horse” the biblical type in O.T. is found in the Book of Zechariah. Here we see a man riding on a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees…and behind him were there red horses, speckled (strong bay), and white. Incidently, the myrtle trees had a part in the feast of tabernacles, Nehemiah 8:14,15.

The angel that talked to Zechariah said, “I will shew thee what these (horses) be.” The man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, “These are they whom the Lord hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth. And they answered the angel of the Lord that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and behold, all the earth stoodeth still, and is at rest.”

Now it is in the time of the rule of Darius the Mede, and the Jews are returning from Babylonian captivity to rebuild Jerusalem and their culture. There are details of interference and delays in rebuilding Jerusalem, and recorded in Ezra and Nehemiah. The Jews are promised a leader, Zerubbabel and Jerusalem is finally restored.

Zechariah in chapter six reiterates the vision of the horses presenting more narrative. This is very important to John the Revelator as he looks forward towards archetype in the days of Christendom. Zechariah provides a token for us today.

There were red, black, white and, grisled and bay horses. They came out from between two mountains of brass, Media and Persia. (mountains of brass not dealt with here.) The angel told Zechariah, “These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.” “The black horses go forth into the north country.” Zech. 6:6. This was despite being warned, “flee from the land of the north.” Zech. 2:6. Then cried he (the angel) and said, “Behold these that go to the north country have quieted my spirit…” Zech. 6:8. This was because there was no change of an obstrusive rebellious pre-captivity heart.

In symbolic scripture the north country illustrates an opposition to the south, the Negeb, southern Judah including Jerusalem. Thus far north represented Babylon. The hearts and minds of those who went to the north country were Babylonian predisposed.

Returning to the four chariots with horses coming out from Media and Persia; the white horses go forth after the black go forth into the north. But, where do the white horses go?

The Book of Zechariah opened with an early mould of post-exilic Jerusalem. The Book soon omits several centuries, as prophetic books do. Long since desolated Jerusalem, is restored and reasonably peaceful. Disaster strikes. These are the days of the Greek rule and many Jews have apostasised. They have joined the ranks of Antiochus Epiphanes to plunder the temple and exterminate the faithful steadfast citizens of Jerusalem.

Here God sends a “valiant man” to deliver Israel. The saviour was Judas Maccabees, son of Mattath of Modin, an Ephramite. And he went forth conquering and to conquer. Here is the typical white horse and his rider, Messiah, Faithful and True. The white horse, in the days of the kingdom of the Jews, was in Juda hence his mention in Zech. 1. The grisled horses also go forth towards the south country. Zech. 6:6. The bay sought to walk to and fro through the earth. So they did. Zech. 6:7.

In this article the red horse with his rider is the subject. The Book of Zechariah commences with the red horse already in Jerusalem, standing among the myrtle trees. That is where he stayed, to help the conqueror and is not mentioned as going anywhere in Zech. 6.

The black horse does not appear in Zech. 1. His rider, in going to Jerusalem’s enemy, could offer nothing but famine to the people of creativity. (That story comes later).

This short summary of Zechariah’s horses should hopefully, unsure a clearer understanding of the first four seals of Revelation 6.

However, before returning to Revelation an important question must be answered. Why was the rider of the red horse standing among the myrtle trees in the post-exilic Jerusalem? Answer: He was waiting for his bride.

Post captive Jerusalem was the capital of the Kingdom of the Jews. A new era was dawning. The man under the myrtle trees represented the new kingdom. His older brother was a personification of the pre-captive kingdom of Judah, or the last seven kings of Judah. The older brother had died of apostasy. But his wife, the people of Judah, (the woman, the life-giver) was taken captive to Babylon. Now the Jews were returning to Jerusalem. These people figuratively speaking, were to be the red horse-rider’s bride, according to the ancient descriptive law.

“If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall go unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband’s brother unto her. And it shall be, that the first born which she beareth, shall succeed in the name of his father which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel.” Deut. 25:5,6.

Soon there would be a wedding, a great atonement or reconciliation, followed by the feast of tabernacles. As a new Jerusalem, the city of peace, would be reborn. This celebration initiates the new rule, the Davidian prodigy redeemed. Presented here is Revelation’s type of “the marriage supper of the lamb.”

The vivid portrait of the four-horse-men in Revelation is set in the church of today. Though not judgmental the four seals are introspective. A great spiritual battle is predicted. The battle takes peace from the earth as the conflict intensifies. Where can the type be found? “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth. I am not come to send peace but a sword.” Matt. 10:3,4. And it is written, “they should kill one another.” Again the gospel narrative is inscribed. “I am come to set man at variance against his father.” Matt. 10: 35.36.

Different types and antitypes converge. Not to be taken literally these verses should be searched from the original Greek to find the original meaning. A greater intellectual controversy could not be expected.

There was given to the rider on the red horse, a great sword. With this powerful weapon he could help the trustworthy in their struggle. The sword from MACHAIRA is an instrument of war, or judicial punishment used against the defiant rejectors of enlightenment. The sword of the Spirit is the word of God, the word of probity, compassion, justice, mercy. Would this weapon contain the turmoil?

The second seal reveals storm clouds forming on the horizon. Do you think the populace will accept the God of Creativity – action, or remain attached to a conjured idol?

Second Trumpet

“And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and a third part of the sea became blood;” Rev. 8:8.

The symbolism here is “a great mountain”. The Jews were returning from Babylonian captivity. The “great mountain” is ancient Babylon, a refuse of confusion, error and simplisitic dogma. Babylon had oppressed Israel and Judah. “All that took them captive held them fast, they refused to let them go.” Jer. 50:33. “And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the Lord, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain. And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, not a stone for foundations; but thou shall be desolate for ever, saith the Lord.” This type is from Jer. 51:24-26.

“The third part of the sea became blood.” “Sea” a large body of water (YAM), floods, rivers, springs are symbols of people, see quotes such as Isa. 8:6-8, Jer. 46:7,8, Rev. 17:15 “The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, the multitudes, and nations and tongues.” So in revelation, where the red horse stands in the centre of the Church, we have a great babel of concoctions blighting the gift of life. Cast amongst the inhabitants of spiritual Jerusalem (the third part) they become blood in this prophetic vision. The word “blood” is from the Hebrew word DAM, meaning guilty. DAM taken originally from Exd. 7:17 when Pharoah refused to allow Israel to go into the wilderness to serve their God.

And why should such a calamity fall upon “the third part”, the professing followers of Christendom? The token will answer “I set a watchman over you, saying Hearken to the sound of the trumpet, But they said we will not hearken.” Jer. 6:17.

Continuing the 2nd trumpet. “And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed.” Rev. 8:9. “Died” from APO, means departed or ceased to be. “Ships” PIOION alludes to those who embarked upon an enormous enterprise of misplaced doctrines, wants of misconceptions. Hoping to escape coming judgment they were destroyed, DIAPHTHORN = perverted, corrupted, perished, left to thoroughly rot. “Watch therefore for ye know not what hour your Lord come.” This is the second trumpet’s interpretation of the second seal.

The Second Plague

The second plague requires no explanation as it is a very concise reiteration of the second trumpet. “And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea.”