Second and Third Angel’s Message
Fifth Seal, Trumpet and Plague
The continuing saga of Heavenly workers sees the church in pitch darkness. Opening of four seals has shown after the zeal of the first seal waned, a declension in inspiration of a living philosophical presence deepened and deepened. Darkness, Death and Hell recited the atrocious predicament of the rejection of ever-being consciously present. The old sanctuary/temple service reflected this sacrificial being. Gospel inscription vivifies the Messianic Body continually fulfilling this achievement. If such a high ethical standing sparked, it would erase the despair of squandered time. Individuals could arise to the great heights if our ability would translate into application. John’s wonderful vision casts persistent indifference and apathy towards any remnant of elegant saintly enlightenment.
The impressive heralding of each trumpet-call, warning of catastrophy if the messages went unheeded, was to no avail. Consequently, John’s strong psyche penned the plagues that emasculate amidst total unawareness, unknowingly. What should be done to awaken the dormant, innate, hybernated God-given spiritual soul?
2nd Angel’s Message
John writes the second angel’s message:
“And I beheld and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe to the inhabiters of the earth by the reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound.” Rev. 8:13.
Here the second angel is saying that the three angel’s messages, each with a painful excruciating woe, are the voices of the trumpets which are yet to sound.
Rev. 14 portrays a three-fold message broken into three angel’s messages. This series of papers takes the messages one at a time, the first being the 3rd angel’s message and relates what was seen as the corresponding seal was opened, the trumpet sounded and the resultant plague. The 4th and 5th messages will be presented in subsequent papers.
3rd Angel’s Message
Note the third angel’s message that is to become the first woe.
“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven , and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Rev. 14:6,7. This message does not sound like a calamity or a great tribulation, does it? But is it?
Many times this message has been presented, unfolding, amplifying diffusing each with extant implications. John’s entire vision is directed at the grand finalé – a global fulfillment, the archetype, thus it is all encompassing.
A False God
Unfortunately it is the nature of mankind to cling, with firm grip, to tradition. When a message is heard or even revived it is viewed from a pre-conceived, prejudiced stance. Translations of the third angel’s message were built upon error, based on a false god! Yes a misconception! Hebraic writings are trenchantly symbolic. The word “god” is from tribal-god – ruler, magistrate, ELOHIYM. It is a design or something created by the mind. This is conceptual thought at work. It is self-knowledge evolving. Only in a poetic way can ideas be explained. Metaphors, representations, images can describe truth-justice and symbolism makes effigies.
The Great Creation – the coming of concept – light out of darkness
When our great God of nature lifted us from the rest of the animal kingdom, with concept, then we became our God-Creator’s or Active One’s greatest helper. We, with unique thought, free from egotistical outward encumbrances, could intellectually relate. Comprehend such transcendence. God now abides in us, we are the true Temple. John writes to tell us, the third angel cries, the hour for judicious verdict has come, the hour to judge this indwelling permanence, “God” is here now, “the hour of judgment is come.”
Adoptive consciousness constantly becomes, by natural preference, a wanting to be truthful. Maxim upon maxim, here a little and there a little, one step upon another, in-built by the all-powerful SHADDAI, Almighty.
With the coming of a phonetically articulated alphabet the human could write, formulate even metaphorically. Written articulation was a giant leap forward. This embrace was characteristically personified by the name Enoch meaning tutor, the tutor within. Tutor teaches, and we learn. Enoch, through gradual insight was translated from the oral through hieroglyphs and cuneiforms to the written word, leading to the world of visual. This gracious gift, an adornment, arose to such dignity that it survives with our God of nature, forever. Living from generation to generation it is everlasting life, surviving as part of the whole.
Some Early Missionaries Teachings
1. Missionary to the Romans
Very early in this dispensation the pattern of God, the creating power, was lost. “Who changed the truth of God?” Rom. 1:25, rings loud and clear. “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” Rom. 1:22.
“Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator who is blessed for ever Amen.” Rom. 1:25. The word “creature” in this text, is from Greek KTISIS meaning the thing (noun) = the created, not the action of creation. The word “Creator” is a doing word from KTIZO, akin to KTAOMIA, and is a primary verb. Is the God of the Scriptures likeable to a verb or a noun? The hour has come to judge the word “God”, verb or noun - a subtle distinction. Worship of the Creator-created, is reverence of the life-giving act through consentient ongoing presence.
This context is spelt out in many ways e.g., “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead, so they are without excuse.” Rom. 1:20.
“For this cause,” of worshipping the noun, the object, instituted Christendom has abominably failed, being tied down to dogmatic cliché. Just as ancient Israel collapsed through the veneration of idols, “God gave them up unto vile affections:” Rom. 1:26. Delineatingly written, consciousness, executed through inborn freedom, when not bonded to accomplishment, reverts to unfruitfulness. This is when it lapses into worshipping idols of all sorts, doctrine, stage performances and fails to translate to higher plains. Read Rom. 1:26-32.
2. Missionary Teachings to Galatians
Another example is from Galatians. A missionary wonders why the Galatians have so soon left the truth. “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another Gospel:” “Know ye therefore that they which are of faithfulness (PISTIS), the same are the children of Abraham. So then they which be of faithfulness are blessed with faithful Abraham.” Gal. 3:7, 9. Only the doing through a congruous spirit of love, is this application of good deeds possible. Faithfulness embraces deeds, action, knowledge and wisdom. It does not lie in the realm of this belief, or that belief, in this theory or that theory, or the institutions of yesterday. “Faithfulness is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” It does not comprise rites, ceremonials, objects, or works, but deeds which arise in the heart and mind.
3. Missionary Peter Chapter 2
Keeping in mind “God the Father” (symbolically speaking) “the Creator”, is a predication and not a creature, not an image made like to corruptible man, by “fools”. In 2 Pet. 2 is a vividly painted record of false teachers, “false prophets among the people…who bring damnable heresies…follow their pernicious ways…their damnation slumbereth not…which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray…wells without water.”
4. Missionary – See also the Book of Jude
There are several statements that can be quoted from the Book of Jude, “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the Grace of God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.” “But speak evil of things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.”
All these statements of warning pertained to the early days of Christendom. They are not some Johnny-come-lately, “last-day-only” application or dogma. Staunch fixated beliefs have always existed.
The above missionary teachings, when repeated in archetype, cause great fragmentation, creating two societal groups. As a coin has two sides likewise the trilogy of Rev. 14 has one side, rejecters, and the other side acceptors.
The threefold message is the “morning star” to the saints who continue their heavenly harvest around the throne. To those having sprung from the wayside, stoney places or thorns, the communication is confusion. Opposition to irradiation causes the third angel’s message to become a penetrating woe. This will be shown in the fifth trumpet, below.
Firstly, it is the rejecters. Distress befalls those who recoil from mind-shaking radiance, and will face an evil enemy. Secondly, and later, the fruitful workers, the acceptors, will be seen to have the final victory. They will sing a new song.
Concluding the Third Angel’s Message
Some believe the message of Rev. 14:6,7 is informing us of a god-ship-entity, a being (noun), somewhere in a secret place, set apart, holy place, making an investigation of our lives, and will judge accordingly. Such a belief is denounced in Matt. 24:26. Luke 17:20 was not in favour of literalising the coming of the kingdom of God or proceeding circumstances. “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither say they, Lo here! or lo there! For behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” Our God of mercy dwells in the heart and mind. The third angel is announcing “Worship the Creator, the Maker (not the creature – the noun) for the hour of his (Maker personified) judgment is come.”
Heavenly workers, once dead in trespasses and sins, are quickened. Arising to lofty affirmation with compassion, one direction, optimism and fortitude. This is to revere a Creator – creating God, Maker, doer, God of action. This God gave us conceptual thought, then rested.
Now righteousness and peace enters the heart and mind – the true holy of holies of the soul-temple in Heaven, an ennobled tranquil elevation. This is our rest. It is the salvation rest to commemorate benign creativity.
The word “hour” from HORA means, instant or season. “Judgment” from KAISIS means decision. “Is” from ESTI means, third person, singular, present tense, and from EIMIA a defective verb (not perfect or complete). “Come” is from ERCHOMIA used only in the present and imperfect tenses. Imperfect tense is when a verb tense expresses action in the past that is not complete. It is progressive (no historical starting time). It is past continuous, eternal. It is the day star arising in the heart.
The Fifth Seal
“And when he (the Lamb) 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, doest thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto everyone of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” Rev. 6:9-11.
This seal reveals a time of great torment past, present, and future. Divine (creative), souls “through faithfulness…waxed valiant in fight…they were stoned…wandered about in sheepskins (of whom the world was not worthy)…And these all, having obtained a good report through faithfulness, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” Taken from Heb.11:33-40.
John writes, “I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God (Rectitude) and the testimony (witness) which they held.” The third angel’s message is a part of their evidence, having the power to cause great division. This seal is showing us the message, “Judge this day, God. Maker, or creature”, infuriates the three unclean spirits (Rev. 16:13).
The altar is referring to the brazen altar at the door of the tabernacle. It was at the foot of this altar that the blood of the sin-offering was poured – see Lev. 4:7. The lamb slain (then type) represented the blood of those who repented of a wrong course and having influenced others. “Just who do these people think they are?” What audacity! Persecution is the only measure to maintain tranquility, declare the “qualified”.
This token of a lamb pointed forward in the scriptural narrative, to the antitypical sacrifice of the Messianic Body recorded so strikingly in the Gospels. Great immolation was required, to oppose inflexible routines, ceremonial and outward show of piety. More enlightened ideas of a life of grace and goodwill, morally strengthening the soul, were ruthlessly trodden underfoot, crushed and silenced. This practice has recurred timelessly. Now John visualizes the great forward archetype.
Self explanatory, the saints cry, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, doest thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on earth?” A psalmist wrote, “How long wilt thou hide thy face from me? I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.” “White robes were given unto every one of them…” “Arrayed in fine linen, clean and white is the righteousness of saints.” Rev. 19:8. These souls are one side of the great divide. Conversely others are referred to as “the earth”. Rev. 6:10.
As we proceed through the Apocalypse, the cry, “How long?” shall be unveiled.
The Fifth Trumpet
Rev. 9:1 Star and bottomless pit.
“And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless it.”
John tells us the star is called Wormwood in the third trumpet, Rev. 8: 10, 11. Isaiah 14:12 refers to Babylon’s failed exploits and aspirations, and writes, “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!...” Wormwood is poisonous, bitterness, a curse, a calamity. The bottomless pit is a hole in the ground, for holding water. Bottomless pit from ABUSSOS and PHREAR = an abyss of mind or place or both.
Rev. 9:2 Smoke, the sun and air were darkened.
“And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
In explaining how the lights of the inner citadel were darkened (fourth trumpet, Rev. 8:12) the revelator observes the tragedy has spread to the air suggesting the smoke brought about a wider waxing cold of spiritual virtues.
Rev. 9:3 Out of smoke, locusts given power of scorpions.
“And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.”
Revelation is a multitude of indicators all converging in antitype only to diverge in archetype. Has there been previous mention of locusts, as a model, given power in ancient description. Yes. Isaiah with readiness of pen, publishes the following, “Lucifer… didst weaken the nations!” Isa. 14:12. Ask, “How?” With a flight of locusts.
“Weaken” from CHALASH means overthrow discomfit. The word “the” from KIY indicates there was, casual relations between those of rationality and the preposterous. The answer to the word “nations” from GOY being foreign nations, Gentiles, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts.
Already mentioned in the fifth seal, the third angel’s message has power to cause great division of opinion even amongst friends…e.g. the word “earth”, Rev. 6:10. “Earth” is a place, in the mind, where worldly acclaim is a passing aberration versus heaven, those given white robes. However, in this heaven and earth nook, there remains, in a societal manner, a “casual relations” with many members of congregations. If Wormwood can “weaken” hospitable respect within different groupings, his venom “as the scorpions of the earth” can concentrate on illogical unqualified, untutored subjects.
Joel’s typical contribution is as follows:- “Tell your children…that which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten.” Joel 1:4. “In those days shall I bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem” Joel 3:1. Not Babylonian captivity this time, but Grecian. At that time Judah’s enemies, apostates, sell their (Judah’s) children to the Grecians. Joel 3:3-6,
Rev. 9:4 Do not hurt the grass or any green thing only those which have not the seal of God.
“And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.”
The grass of the earth, the new green growth, is just what a flight of locusts love. The earth here, is representing those where, “the air was darkened by reason of the smoke out of the pit.” But the moment of resolution was penetrating many minds now. They had heard the third angel’s message. The tender new mindful growth-thought of innocent souls, unaware of eons of denuding deception, hearing, “the hour of his judgment is come,” God - noun or verb – distant, or here now? “Worship him that made heaven and earth”…must be allowed presence. “Do not hurt,” “for in whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth (of equity), the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.” Eph. 1:13.
Only hurt those pig-headedly resigned to ignorance or fraudulent make-belief. Ezekiel quite emphatically stated the imperative, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. (The word “mark” here is “seal” in Revelation.) And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city and smite: let not your life spare neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old and young…but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient man which were before the house.” Eze. 9:4-7.
Rev. 9:5 Should not kill, torment five months with scorpion sting.
“And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.”
Five Months
Understanding the symbols of scripture-writing is very important to exposition. One of the most outstanding recalled epics of the Old Testament is the story of the flood.
“There were giants in the earth in those days.” Giants of power. They were “mighty men which were of old, men of renown,” indicating men of Shem. Now they had intermixed. “When the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them the same became mighty men…” Gen. 6:1-4. The earth was also corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.” Gen. 6:11,12. And behold, I even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh…” Gen. 6:17.
Waters are symbolic of people, fighting people: e.g. Isaiah, writing in the days when Hezekiah was a child, and his father Ahaz had plunged Judah into idolatry, tells that the Lord will bring judgment upon them. “For as much as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah (a quiet refreshing fountain in Jerusalem), and rejoice in Rezin, King of Assyria and Remaliah’s son (Pekah king of Israel). Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks: And he shall pass through Judah; and he shall overflow…” Isa. 8:6-8. Jeremiah is telling of Egypt about to fight Nebuchadrezzar at Carchemish. “Who is this that cometh up as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers. Egypt rises up like a flood, and his waters are moved like the rivers; and he saith, I will go up, and I will cover the earth;…” Jer. 46:7,8. And the Revelator’s vision of “the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon the waters.” “The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” Rev. 17:1, 15.
The Genesis flood was a flood of violent fighting warriors. “And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged. The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped and the rain from heaven was restrained;…and after the end of a hundred and fifty days the waters were abated.” This is the O.T. type of five months before the warring factions ceased. Gen.8:1-3. This was a scene of demoralized fighting. A perfect illustration.
The Apocalyptic battle with the torment of the locusts against those which have not the seal of God was similarly to last five months. This is John’s way of drawing from form to impress upon the concept the essence of the archetype.
Rev. 9:6 Men seek death – do not find it.
“And in those days shall men seek death and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.”
The power of the locust’s torment to sting as scorpions, becomes violent. Men question, why? Could there not be a permanent cessation to this pestilence. The answer deludes them. Then they desire to die, in other words they solicit, they beg, a lasting peace. This request is denied them. The depraved locust armies avert any proposition, on behalf of those who have not the seal of God, to cease inflicting mental anguish upon them.
Rev. 9:7 Locusts like horses – crowns of gold – faces of men.
“And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.”
Joel 2:4 referring to locusts who represented Grecian forces writes, “The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses…” - a little bit here, a little bit there. John’s vision also noted a parallel in 1 Macc. 1:7-10 regarding “crowns like gold.” “So Alexander reigned twelve years, and then died. And his servants bare rule everyone in his place. And after his death they all put crowns upon themselves; so did their sons after them many years: and evils were multiplied in the earth. And there came out of them a wicked root, Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king, who had been an hostage at Rome…” “Their faces were the faces of men.” The locusts were pretentious kings with the intelligence of men. Rev. 9:8 Hair of women – teeth as the teeth of lions.
“And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth as the teeth of lions.”
Here the word “hair” most likely from KOME , indicates locks as ornamental…”and their teeth as the teeth of lions.” This too refers to many O.T. tokens.
Rev. 9:9 Breast of iron, horses running to battle.
“And they had breastplates; as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.”
Breastplates or THORAX of iron – quite a formidable natural armour for locusts…”and the sound of their wings (which we all know so well) was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.” Again the Revelator likens this horror-picture to Joel’s story of the Syrian/Greek attack on Judah. The locusts, “Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap…” Joel 2:5.
Rev. 9:10 Tails like scorpions, stings in tails, power to hurt men 5 months.
“And they had tails like unto scorpions, And there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.”
This verse recalls important issues already mentioned.
Rev. 9:11
“And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath the name Apollyon.”
“They had a king over them.” We are about to be told his name. He is the angel of the bottomless pit, the abyss. Angel from ANGGELOS means messenger. Not always with good tidings.
In the Hebrew tongue his name is Abaddon, a destroying angel. Babylon was the Hebrew vandal in pre-exilic days. This is Jeremiah’s warning to the kings of Judah. “Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoil out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place. But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith, he Lord, that this house shall become a desolation.” Jer. 22:3&5. “And I will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life…even into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and into the hand of the Chaldeans.” Eze. 22:25.
But who do the Scriptures record, is Apollyon, from APOLLYUON, the Greek destroyer (i.e. Satan)? The Revelator, recalling by-gone figures, and understanding their oneness in nature, gathers this answer from Dan.8, 1 Macc.1 and Eze. 38.39.
Daniel 8:5-11 commencing with a he goat, when recording details of a little horn (Dan. 8:9) which arose from one of the four divisions of Greece, continues his interpretation of these verses from Dan. 8:20-27. “The ram (Dan. 8:3-7) which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. And the rough goat is the king of Greecia: And the great horn that is between his eyes is the first-king. Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation but not in his power. And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.” Dan. 8:20-23. See 1 Macc. 1:7-10 for confirmation – “…he shall destroy wonderfully” “but not by his own power.” Dan. 8:24. The latter phase here explains the word “they” in Rev. 9:11. Those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads, unable to stop the Selucid/Grecian attack, have joined them.
Contemplate Ezekiel’s report. Ezekiel states, the people of Israel will finally be delivered from the hand of the destroyer – see Eze. 38:14-23. Apollyon, the Greek destroyer, gathered his armies from the Japhetic nations of the north, and the Hamitic from the south. Gog, from GOWG means northern nations, mainly consisting of Magog, Meshech, Tubal, Gomer and Togarmah. From the Hamites came Ethiopia, Libya (Phut) and a small tribe from northern Persia. Eze. 38:2-6.
Foremost, instruction, “son of man, set thy face against Gog (a northern nation), the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him. And say, Thus saith he Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:…” Eze. 38:2-4. The chief prince of Meshech and Tubal was Antiochus Epiphanes. Already confimed in Dan. 8:23 and 1 Macc. 1:7-10. These nations John sees as locusts. They certainly devoured everything in their path, “It was in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem.” See Joel 3:1.
The Apocalypse reveals such a similar terror arises between rejectors of intellectual light and a violent power seeking dominance in a world hungering after control of the minds of confused souls. The scripture writers juxtaposed them.
The Fifth Plague
Rev. 16:10,11 “And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.”
The beast is the beast of Rev. 13:1-3. Shown in earlier papers to be a replica of Daniel’s vision in chapter seven. Daniel’s dream in figurative language can be biblically interpreted as:- Leopard – Solomon, Bear – David, and the Lion - Saul, the kings of Israel. The ten horns Dan. 7:7 with ten crowns Rev. 13:1 are the ten tribes of Israel after the division of the twelve tribes. These ten tribes were taken captive by Assyria never to rise again. The seven heads Rev. 13:1, were the last seven kings of Judah that followed after Hezekiah’s great reforms. These seven were unable to turn Judah from idolatry.
It is Hezekiah, Daniel sees as a “little horn,” Dan. 7:8. This horn arose as Israel fell. Hezekiah was king of Judah at the time. Hezekiah’s reforms caused three of the northern tribes to return (“plucked up”) to Jerusalem to celebrate the revival of the Levitical services. These tribes were Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulum – see 2 Chron. 30:1,2,5,10-11. The seven heads progressive regression and downright rebellion, according to the story, brought God’s judgment upon them. Their last king Zedekiah, was blindly led into Babylonian captivity.
Regarding Hezekiah, the little horn, it had “eyes like the eyes of a man,” Dan. 7:8,20. Eyes from AYIN, the outward appearance and knowledge of man. “And a mouth speaking great things,” RAB, very great things, mighty, plenteous, princely things. In Chaldeans RAB indicates he (Hezekiah) was a captain, a chief, a great man, lord, master, prince. Isa. 9:6 describes Hezekiah as a “Prince of Peace.” Such a statement would make Hezekiah, an impeccable prefiguration of messianic deliverance.
As for Rev. 13:3, “And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast:” - this refers to Jehoiachin, previously taken captive to Babylon before the complete captivity – study carefully Jer. 52:31-34.
Daniel’s dream is type. The beast Rev. 13:1-3 is antitype in Gospels along with many other illustrations. The Apocalyspe, however, is archetype.
“The seat of the beast” (Rev. 16:10) in form was Jerusalem, the capital of Judea. Note, “the kingdom”, inscribes John, “was full of darkness.” Revelation’s Jerusalem, Christendom, is true to form, already having said, “We will not hearken to the sound of the trumpet,” are bitter now. They, in descriptive language, corrode the great illumination offered them. Realising their day is drawing to a close they vilify the great God of an uplifting plateau. Their powers of resolution are seriously weakened, mental palsy has set in. Determinately they refuse to re-consider their waywardness.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
The First Message, 4th Seal, 4th Trumpet and 4th Plagu
The First Message, 4th Seal, 4th Trumpet and 4th Plague
The Fourth Seal
“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 (or to him) over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with the sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.” Rev. 6:8.
These four-fold calamities were promised to ancient Jerusalem. “The elders of Israel had set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face.” “So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; I will bring a sword upon thee.” See Eze. 5:5-17 and 14:1-23.
The pale horse comes with four curses. This is a very grim picture. To begin, the word “pale” is from CHLORIS and means greenish. The same as “green” grass is in the first trumpet. The rider is bringing malediction to those who are verdant, inexperienced, naive, people who make no effort to understand anything. The word CHLORIS is derived from CHOLE, a female Christian name. So the seal is clearly directed at the churches of our dispensation. A female name is used as woman is symbolic in scripture of the life-giver. Such a symbol is taken from actuality. The pale horse is used to bring punishment to those who have blindly and without question or effort accepted maxims. His rider’s name is “Death and Hell followed
with him.”
The writers of the seals proceed to relate the four torments. Sword, hunger, death and beasts. Why four? Four illustrates the four points of the compass, meaning global, e.g. “the four winds of the earth.” This seal reveals a world-wide judgment
within ecclesiasticism.
Sword. This sword is a counterfeit. It is not the word of the Spirit of God, the God of true wise determinations. Coming from the word RHOMPHAIA meaning sabre/cutlass, it is a very malicious ravaging weapon, spitefully triumphing over torpidity or those who have ignored the Spirit of progress.
Hunger. From LIMOS is a scarcity of sustenance for the soul. The previously mentioned famine (3rd seal) has intensified. There is a longing for the food of mercy. Is it genuine? Isaiah vividly assigns the following. “Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for a time to come forever and ever: That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophecy deceits.” Is this the food the “green” grass will accept? “…Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in the high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.” Isa. 30:8-13.
Death. Literal death means permanent cessation. Intellectual death is loss of spiritual life. John is writing in the spiritual sense. It is interesting to consider Old Testament quotes regarding life and death in the flesh. The ancient writers are exemplifying and imperishable life. They uplift the food of the Spirit that the faithful hand to others. As they ingest their gift and develop, they in turn offer honourable sustenance. This is everlasting life. But death – how is death presented in O.T.? Many quotes could be given, but a few shall suffice.
“In death there is no rememberance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?” Ps. 6:5. “Consider and hear me. O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I should sleep the sleep of death.” Ps. 13:3. See Ps. 115:17, Eccl. 9:5,6,10.
Ezekiel has much to say concerning death. This Book mainly uses the word “pestilence”, in a vision of the four-fold punishment brought upon Jerusalem. Ponder the reason why this calamnity befell Jerusalem for this is our exampler. Today those professing godliness are the corresponding part of ancient Jerusalem, being the entire conformity in essence.
Cogitate in more detail Ezekiel’s words of warning, for they are important. About “the elders of Israel, Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and have put a stumbling block of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?...Every man of the house of Israel that setteth his idols in his heart, and putteth before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the Lord will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols. Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Repent and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.”
“For thus saith the Lord God; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast? Yet behold therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it. And they shall comfort you, when you shall see their ways and there doings, and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord God.”
Beasts The beasts of the earth are the beasts of Rev. 13. A typical vision of these beasts was taken from Old Testament Bible-history and from prophetically written Dan. 7-9 as well as other foretellingly written books. The prophetic books thrust the temple-history forward to show the Bible’s continual correlation of moral purity versus resultant iniquity.
Both beasts of Rev. 13 show powers that arose quite unpretentiously, but declined into treacherous corruption and tyranny. The symbolic beasts in Dan. 7 meet antitype in the Gospels and archetype in Revelation.
Reiteration. With careful O.T. study it can be shown that the kingdoms of Israel and Judah (pre-captivity) and the Kingdom of the Jews (post captivity) are replayed in the New Testament, bolstering the principle of type and antitype leading to archetype.
John writes, these two beasts worship the dragon which gave power unto the first beast. The second beast with two horns, said, they should make an image to the first beast.
Egypt was the dragon in O.T. according to Eze. 29:3. As the story goes, the Hebrews left repressive Egypt (probably in little groups) and journeyed to Canaan where they settled as a boisterous, rebellious, brutalized mob.
Early Christendom, a Jewish-Gentile mix, in an immature state emerged from rigid Judaism to establish small communal groups.
Israel of old was unrefined even to the time of king Saul. Then the kingdom of Israel was given to David and progress began. Israel divided into two kingdoms, ten tribes to the north and Judah two tribes to the south.
In modern time, societal fragmentation has encompassed the Christian church.
Israel apostasised and was assimulated into Assyria never to rise again. Judah followed the Davidian line with many ups and downs. Some continually backsliding into idolatry and repenting, only to be forgiven and restored. Others passed off the spectrum and into oblivion. Will the imprint of moral history on the modern-day exposé indelibly glaze the foot-prints of time?
Thus the two pre-exilic kingdoms:
1. Israel - destroyed
2. Judah - two captivities to Babyon - in Jehoiachim’s reign 606 B.C. and secondly in Zedekiah’s reign 588 B.C.
There is more - the second beast of Rev. 13. The example of this beast with the two horns is the Kingdom of the Jews. Post-captivity saw the kingdom rise to power, prepared to start anew. All was quiet for some time. Gradually Jews took an interest in idolatrous Hellenism – see 1 Macc. 1:11-15. Their own culture began to wane. The renegrade Jews hardened their hearts, and blinded with literalism joined Antiochus Epiphanes (the Greek-Syrian leader) to plunder the temple and exterminate faithful souls. Daniel termed the idolworshipping Jews as, “an host that was given him (Antiohcus Epiphanes) against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced and prospered.” Dan. 8:12. Daniel confirms this conspiracy in Dan. 8.24.
Here in Greek days the first era of the Jewish Kingdom originating in all sincerity, but because of the rebellion, ended in turmoil and hostility.
The second era commenced with victory over Antiochus Epiphanes. The temple repaired and re-dedicated 2 Macc. 10:1-8. So peaceful a nation Zechariah records, “There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man and his staff in his hand for every age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.” Zech. 8:4,5.
The Hasmonean Kingdom of the Jews in time introduced the Pharisees and Sadducees. Pharisees claiming keepers of the oracles of God, and unwaivering retainers of Levitical law. The Sadducees held the civic power. Both tyrannical and oppressive. Both responsible for silencing the Messianic Body. The two-horned beast of gospel-days “spake as a dragon.” Judaism came to a permanent end then as there was not one valid stone upon another, of her teachings, left standing.
The Kingdom of the Jews had two eras. Both commenced in all innocence but owing to rebellion, unfaithfulness and idolatry failed hopelessly. John was shown a fitting example of the two-horned beast which persecuted its own people as a retributive punishment for willful ignorance and intolerance. Enough said about the beasts of the earth.
Fourth Trumpet
And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.” Rev. 8:12.
Total darkness, total blindness, total ignorance, what better way to set forth the meaning of a terrible plight. Death and Hell, hail and darkness.
Was this moral blindness a configuration borrowed from the Old Testament model, to show us similarity of circumstances in a by-gone age? Turn to the Book of Joel.
Joel, a nom-de-plume, uses an invasion of locusts to relate aggressive Greek/Syrian forces who attacked Judah. (The locusts will be dwelt with in the fifth trumpet.) Implemented by Antiochus Epiphanes this assault upon Judah was seen as a punishment to God’s people for transgressing the law of love, the law of liberty.
Judah had become a kingdom of drunkards. Joel 1:5. Not literal drunkards. The scriptural world is a world of symbolic writing. “Drunkards” from SHIKKOR is derived from SHAKAR meaning influence. Simple people were conditioned, or trained to a certain response. “Influenced” was a requirement convincingly imposed on others by “authority.” Drunkeness defied the understanding that all are intrinsically a free spirit.
Conditioning is also an affront to concept, the great achievement of our God. Conceptual thought, this amazing advance, must forever be reverenced. This is when our God rested. As we faithfully apply this wonderful gift to betterment we also rest. Will we, through the Spirit of love, contribute to creativity and partake of spiritual tranquility?
As with antitypes and archetypes more than one type embraces a predicament or elevation. Certainly the plagues of Egypt, e.g hail and darkness played a big part in understanding the fourth trumpet. This paper will concentrate on Joel’s report as to why “the sun and moon shall be dark and the stars” withdraw their shining. The writers, in retrospect, observed Judah, a very small kingdom surrounded by the Grecian army and turbulent races. This is a picture of gloom and darkness, if ever there were. All the one-time lights of heaven now devoid of moral dignity departed to the depths of despondency. Not an atom of equity or rightful discernment left amongst the “supposedly avowed.” This no doubt explains darkness, total darkness.
The time of drunkenness, reported by Joel, is the time when apostate Jews joined with Antiochus Epiphanes to plunder the temple, and exterminate loyal Jews. Drunkeness had influenced Jews and they were depicted as “an host”…that by reason of transgression …cast down the truth to the ground;” and together with Antiochus Epiphanes “practiced and prospered.” Dan. 8:12, and confirmed in 1 Macc. 1:11-15.
The book of Daniel, prophetically noting powers that ruled in the days of post-exilic Judah tells of the rough goat; king of Grecia (Dan. 8:21). Then the kingdom divided and later a king of fierce countenance stood up – Dan. 8:2,3. This was Antiochus Epiphanes. 1 Macc. 1:7-10.
Daniel emphasizes, Antiochus Ephiphane’s exploits triumphed only with the help of drunken Jews. “And his power shall be mighty but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.” Dan. 8:24.
Is this the portrait the Revelator recalled in the fourth trumpet. Maybe the following statements also coloured his vision.
“In those days went there out of Israel wicked men, who persuaded many, saying, Let us go and make a covenant with the heathen that are round about us: for since we departed from them we have had much sorrow. So this device pleased them well. Then certain of the people were so forward herein, that they went to the king, who gave them licence to do after the ordinances of the heathen: Whereupon they built a place of exercise at Jerusalem according to the customs of the heathen.” See a Macc. 1:11-15. There is a repetition of Bible texts (re Daniel and 1 Maccabees) in the 4th seal section “beasts of the earth” and drunkenness (Joel) or darkness (Rev. 7 in the 4th trumpet). These were sourced from the same type showing the similarity of thought in the two visions.
Enough said about the typical darkness that came to Judah of old. The parallel with Revelation appears to be clearly drawn.
4th Plague
“And the fourth angel poured out his vail upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.'
The sun did not scorch men with fire, as many have taught. The trumpet rhythmically sounded – “the sun was smitten, and was darkened, and the dayshone not.” No scorching power here. It was the fourth angel with the vial, “and the power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.” The angel was/is a servant of our God, “Our God is a consuming fire.” Men scorched with great heat, blasphemed the name of God.” The name of God from ONOMA meaning, they reviled the name of God. Reviled his authority, his character and they repented not to give him glory. Repented not? Is this darkness? Oh! Thyatira, what have you done?
The Fourth Seal
“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 (or to him) over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with the sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.” Rev. 6:8.
These four-fold calamities were promised to ancient Jerusalem. “The elders of Israel had set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face.” “So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; I will bring a sword upon thee.” See Eze. 5:5-17 and 14:1-23.
The pale horse comes with four curses. This is a very grim picture. To begin, the word “pale” is from CHLORIS and means greenish. The same as “green” grass is in the first trumpet. The rider is bringing malediction to those who are verdant, inexperienced, naive, people who make no effort to understand anything. The word CHLORIS is derived from CHOLE, a female Christian name. So the seal is clearly directed at the churches of our dispensation. A female name is used as woman is symbolic in scripture of the life-giver. Such a symbol is taken from actuality. The pale horse is used to bring punishment to those who have blindly and without question or effort accepted maxims. His rider’s name is “Death and Hell followed
with him.”
The writers of the seals proceed to relate the four torments. Sword, hunger, death and beasts. Why four? Four illustrates the four points of the compass, meaning global, e.g. “the four winds of the earth.” This seal reveals a world-wide judgment
within ecclesiasticism.
Sword. This sword is a counterfeit. It is not the word of the Spirit of God, the God of true wise determinations. Coming from the word RHOMPHAIA meaning sabre/cutlass, it is a very malicious ravaging weapon, spitefully triumphing over torpidity or those who have ignored the Spirit of progress.
Hunger. From LIMOS is a scarcity of sustenance for the soul. The previously mentioned famine (3rd seal) has intensified. There is a longing for the food of mercy. Is it genuine? Isaiah vividly assigns the following. “Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for a time to come forever and ever: That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophecy deceits.” Is this the food the “green” grass will accept? “…Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in the high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.” Isa. 30:8-13.
Death. Literal death means permanent cessation. Intellectual death is loss of spiritual life. John is writing in the spiritual sense. It is interesting to consider Old Testament quotes regarding life and death in the flesh. The ancient writers are exemplifying and imperishable life. They uplift the food of the Spirit that the faithful hand to others. As they ingest their gift and develop, they in turn offer honourable sustenance. This is everlasting life. But death – how is death presented in O.T.? Many quotes could be given, but a few shall suffice.
“In death there is no rememberance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?” Ps. 6:5. “Consider and hear me. O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I should sleep the sleep of death.” Ps. 13:3. See Ps. 115:17, Eccl. 9:5,6,10.
Ezekiel has much to say concerning death. This Book mainly uses the word “pestilence”, in a vision of the four-fold punishment brought upon Jerusalem. Ponder the reason why this calamnity befell Jerusalem for this is our exampler. Today those professing godliness are the corresponding part of ancient Jerusalem, being the entire conformity in essence.
Cogitate in more detail Ezekiel’s words of warning, for they are important. About “the elders of Israel, Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and have put a stumbling block of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?...Every man of the house of Israel that setteth his idols in his heart, and putteth before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the Lord will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols. Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Repent and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.”
“For thus saith the Lord God; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast? Yet behold therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it. And they shall comfort you, when you shall see their ways and there doings, and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord God.”
Beasts The beasts of the earth are the beasts of Rev. 13. A typical vision of these beasts was taken from Old Testament Bible-history and from prophetically written Dan. 7-9 as well as other foretellingly written books. The prophetic books thrust the temple-history forward to show the Bible’s continual correlation of moral purity versus resultant iniquity.
Both beasts of Rev. 13 show powers that arose quite unpretentiously, but declined into treacherous corruption and tyranny. The symbolic beasts in Dan. 7 meet antitype in the Gospels and archetype in Revelation.
Reiteration. With careful O.T. study it can be shown that the kingdoms of Israel and Judah (pre-captivity) and the Kingdom of the Jews (post captivity) are replayed in the New Testament, bolstering the principle of type and antitype leading to archetype.
John writes, these two beasts worship the dragon which gave power unto the first beast. The second beast with two horns, said, they should make an image to the first beast.
Egypt was the dragon in O.T. according to Eze. 29:3. As the story goes, the Hebrews left repressive Egypt (probably in little groups) and journeyed to Canaan where they settled as a boisterous, rebellious, brutalized mob.
Early Christendom, a Jewish-Gentile mix, in an immature state emerged from rigid Judaism to establish small communal groups.
Israel of old was unrefined even to the time of king Saul. Then the kingdom of Israel was given to David and progress began. Israel divided into two kingdoms, ten tribes to the north and Judah two tribes to the south.
In modern time, societal fragmentation has encompassed the Christian church.
Israel apostasised and was assimulated into Assyria never to rise again. Judah followed the Davidian line with many ups and downs. Some continually backsliding into idolatry and repenting, only to be forgiven and restored. Others passed off the spectrum and into oblivion. Will the imprint of moral history on the modern-day exposé indelibly glaze the foot-prints of time?
Thus the two pre-exilic kingdoms:
1. Israel - destroyed
2. Judah - two captivities to Babyon - in Jehoiachim’s reign 606 B.C. and secondly in Zedekiah’s reign 588 B.C.
There is more - the second beast of Rev. 13. The example of this beast with the two horns is the Kingdom of the Jews. Post-captivity saw the kingdom rise to power, prepared to start anew. All was quiet for some time. Gradually Jews took an interest in idolatrous Hellenism – see 1 Macc. 1:11-15. Their own culture began to wane. The renegrade Jews hardened their hearts, and blinded with literalism joined Antiochus Epiphanes (the Greek-Syrian leader) to plunder the temple and exterminate faithful souls. Daniel termed the idolworshipping Jews as, “an host that was given him (Antiohcus Epiphanes) against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced and prospered.” Dan. 8:12. Daniel confirms this conspiracy in Dan. 8.24.
Here in Greek days the first era of the Jewish Kingdom originating in all sincerity, but because of the rebellion, ended in turmoil and hostility.
The second era commenced with victory over Antiochus Epiphanes. The temple repaired and re-dedicated 2 Macc. 10:1-8. So peaceful a nation Zechariah records, “There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man and his staff in his hand for every age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.” Zech. 8:4,5.
The Hasmonean Kingdom of the Jews in time introduced the Pharisees and Sadducees. Pharisees claiming keepers of the oracles of God, and unwaivering retainers of Levitical law. The Sadducees held the civic power. Both tyrannical and oppressive. Both responsible for silencing the Messianic Body. The two-horned beast of gospel-days “spake as a dragon.” Judaism came to a permanent end then as there was not one valid stone upon another, of her teachings, left standing.
The Kingdom of the Jews had two eras. Both commenced in all innocence but owing to rebellion, unfaithfulness and idolatry failed hopelessly. John was shown a fitting example of the two-horned beast which persecuted its own people as a retributive punishment for willful ignorance and intolerance. Enough said about the beasts of the earth.
Fourth Trumpet
And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.” Rev. 8:12.
Total darkness, total blindness, total ignorance, what better way to set forth the meaning of a terrible plight. Death and Hell, hail and darkness.
Was this moral blindness a configuration borrowed from the Old Testament model, to show us similarity of circumstances in a by-gone age? Turn to the Book of Joel.
Joel, a nom-de-plume, uses an invasion of locusts to relate aggressive Greek/Syrian forces who attacked Judah. (The locusts will be dwelt with in the fifth trumpet.) Implemented by Antiochus Epiphanes this assault upon Judah was seen as a punishment to God’s people for transgressing the law of love, the law of liberty.
Judah had become a kingdom of drunkards. Joel 1:5. Not literal drunkards. The scriptural world is a world of symbolic writing. “Drunkards” from SHIKKOR is derived from SHAKAR meaning influence. Simple people were conditioned, or trained to a certain response. “Influenced” was a requirement convincingly imposed on others by “authority.” Drunkeness defied the understanding that all are intrinsically a free spirit.
Conditioning is also an affront to concept, the great achievement of our God. Conceptual thought, this amazing advance, must forever be reverenced. This is when our God rested. As we faithfully apply this wonderful gift to betterment we also rest. Will we, through the Spirit of love, contribute to creativity and partake of spiritual tranquility?
As with antitypes and archetypes more than one type embraces a predicament or elevation. Certainly the plagues of Egypt, e.g hail and darkness played a big part in understanding the fourth trumpet. This paper will concentrate on Joel’s report as to why “the sun and moon shall be dark and the stars” withdraw their shining. The writers, in retrospect, observed Judah, a very small kingdom surrounded by the Grecian army and turbulent races. This is a picture of gloom and darkness, if ever there were. All the one-time lights of heaven now devoid of moral dignity departed to the depths of despondency. Not an atom of equity or rightful discernment left amongst the “supposedly avowed.” This no doubt explains darkness, total darkness.
The time of drunkenness, reported by Joel, is the time when apostate Jews joined with Antiochus Epiphanes to plunder the temple, and exterminate loyal Jews. Drunkeness had influenced Jews and they were depicted as “an host”…that by reason of transgression …cast down the truth to the ground;” and together with Antiochus Epiphanes “practiced and prospered.” Dan. 8:12, and confirmed in 1 Macc. 1:11-15.
The book of Daniel, prophetically noting powers that ruled in the days of post-exilic Judah tells of the rough goat; king of Grecia (Dan. 8:21). Then the kingdom divided and later a king of fierce countenance stood up – Dan. 8:2,3. This was Antiochus Epiphanes. 1 Macc. 1:7-10.
Daniel emphasizes, Antiochus Ephiphane’s exploits triumphed only with the help of drunken Jews. “And his power shall be mighty but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.” Dan. 8:24.
Is this the portrait the Revelator recalled in the fourth trumpet. Maybe the following statements also coloured his vision.
“In those days went there out of Israel wicked men, who persuaded many, saying, Let us go and make a covenant with the heathen that are round about us: for since we departed from them we have had much sorrow. So this device pleased them well. Then certain of the people were so forward herein, that they went to the king, who gave them licence to do after the ordinances of the heathen: Whereupon they built a place of exercise at Jerusalem according to the customs of the heathen.” See a Macc. 1:11-15. There is a repetition of Bible texts (re Daniel and 1 Maccabees) in the 4th seal section “beasts of the earth” and drunkenness (Joel) or darkness (Rev. 7 in the 4th trumpet). These were sourced from the same type showing the similarity of thought in the two visions.
Enough said about the typical darkness that came to Judah of old. The parallel with Revelation appears to be clearly drawn.
4th Plague
“And the fourth angel poured out his vail upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.'
The sun did not scorch men with fire, as many have taught. The trumpet rhythmically sounded – “the sun was smitten, and was darkened, and the dayshone not.” No scorching power here. It was the fourth angel with the vial, “and the power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.” The angel was/is a servant of our God, “Our God is a consuming fire.” Men scorched with great heat, blasphemed the name of God.” The name of God from ONOMA meaning, they reviled the name of God. Reviled his authority, his character and they repented not to give him glory. Repented not? Is this darkness? Oh! Thyatira, what have you done?
The First Message, 3rd Seal, 3rd Trumpet and 3rd Plague
Structure of Revelation
The First Message, 3rd Seal, 3rd Trumpet and 3rd Plague
Third Seal
“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.” Rev. 6:5,6.
Throughout the Old Testament the overwhelming message to ancient Israel and Judah was the condemnation of the worship of idols -“Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods.” Continually they regressed to the veneration of lifeless and transient objects, visible images or invisible doctrines of false gods. Faithfulness towards humanity was/is a high ethical standard above the adoration of pre-conceived ideas, established orthodoxy and dogma. Such wasteful good for nothings, together with homage paid to neighbouring gods brought stern judgments to God’s people, in the characteristic writings of old.
Ezekiel described such idolatry as playing the harlot. Time and time again, only to be delivered by uprightness, God’s peculiar people habitually degraded into aridic idolatry, be it abominations, whoremongering, divinations, sorceries, lies or soothsaying. Uprightness was usually personified by a merciful forgiving leader. The judges were an example. They were personifying types, real life learning. Led by compassion and loyalty ever showing mercy, the sons and daughters of our Maker endeavour to lead us to the path of light and call us from entrenchments and hindrances known as “that curse of the flesh.”
Zechariah 6:6 reports “the black horse went forth into the north country” - north from TSAPHON = hidden, unknown, darkness. North symbolizes a dark power, regressiveness, opposed to the south, the Negeb, Judah. According to Zech. 6:8 “those that go toward the north country (darkness) have quieted my spirit.” No missionary spirit, arises in the third seal - it is all very black. In a country where men loved darkness rather than light, there is no food for thought. Hence a pair of balances in the hand of the black horse-rider. This confirms a great famine of a kind in the land.
The man with the balances in his hand is cunning and deceitful. Israel and Judah are represented as Ephraim in Hosea 12:7,8 where the balances are found “in the hand” – the phraseology relied upon in John’s recollection. In Hosea it is said, “He is a merchant (Canaan), the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.” And Ephraim admittingly said, “Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find no iniquity in me that were sin.” Intellectual stimulus was charmed by self-importance, self-sufficiency and the shadows of darkness stretched wayward.
John, in vision, saw this arrogant condition recur. “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing” boasted the Laodiceans. Rev. 3:14-18.
In these words the cry is heard “Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.” Joel 1:5. Be ye ashamed, O ye husband men; howl O ye wine dressers, for the wheat and barley; because the harvest of the field is perished.” Joel 1:11. In the language of a portrait, their judgment is given. “Behold the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst of water, but of hearing the word of the Lord:” Amos 8:11,12.
However, we leave the third seal with the eternal flicker of light - “See thou hurt not the oil and the wine.” The servants of God are not yet sealed.
Oil was for lighting of the lamp as well as the anointing of the light-bearers. The wine was to be kept for the celebration of the victory of the saints who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb and his wife.
Third Trumpet
“And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.” Rev. 8:10,11.
John, constantly referring to the old pattern for authenticity is quoting the likes of Isa.14:12. “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifier, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!”
Son of the morning - SHACHAR = light. How art thou cutdown - GADA = fallen. This personate unveils a conviction that once understood honesty, purity. Now long forgotten as rigidity had taken hold in formalisms. John was highlighting the recurrence of serving prescribed customs in the age of Christendom.
In Revelation, burning “as it were” a lamp this great one-time star was only a counterfeit, a ploy of total distraction. Yes, Wormwood came with lies, and did weaken the nations. These peoples and nations are ecclesiastical or pastoral in the kernel of the Patmos fugitive’s dissertation – the so-called insiders, proclaiming a false gospel message. “Weaken” from CHALASH means overthrow cause decay. “Nations” from GOWY means GEVAH (in the sense of massing). Figuratively speaking means, a troop of animals (symbolically human), or a flight of locusts. Hence the word GOWY is referring to how the nations were weakened. Later both types will be applied
Yes, the fallen angel, Wormwood, made many souls bitter, even the “fountains of water” – the source of “life”, the preachers and they became bitter. And many men died of the bitter waters. “Many men died.” Died from APO, APOTHNESKO meaning separated or departed from the Church.
Oh my people! Wrote Jeremiah, God will arise, “they be all adulterers an assembly of treacherous men.” “They proceed from evil to evil.” “They will deceive everyone…and not speak the truth.” “Shall I not visit them for these things?” Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “ Behold I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink,” Jer. 9:2-15. Every sprouting idea becomes an idol, according to their understanding.” Abandoning virtue, “ they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver” Hos. 13:2. These idols are nought, good for nothing, worthless born of conceit and a judgmental show-piece. This is the trumpet’s version of “a famine in the land.”
Third Plague
“And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of water, and they became blood…” Rev. 16:4-7. The message of the third trumpet becomes an overwhelming plague. The blood, of course, was as the blood in Pharoah’s day. Because of his obstinacy in recognizing the true God, the Nile, an object of worship was turned to putridity. Now there was only stinking rottenness to be consumed. The plate was empty, the cupboard was bare.
The intolerant of the religious world have shed so much blood (literally and figuratively), the blood of faithful innocent souls. John writes, “I heard the angel of the waters (people) say, “Thou are righteous, O Lord which art, and wast, and shall be, because thou hast judged thus. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.” Rev. 16:5,6. John, when writing, was bringing to vision a great future age where questioning begins from within Jerusalem the south country. Doctrine after doctrine, endlessly doctrines are closely investigated.
The angel of the waters, representing upright fervor, examining the folly and deception of Christendom’s never ending opinions see the cause of bewilderment and turmoil, stifling consciousness. Literalism! It has brought only universal disorder.
“And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.” Rev. 16:7. Whilst the angel is at the golden altar, the day of atonement is not completed. The angel is saying, there is still time to make a stand, “which way forward.”
The shadows are lengthening, and the darkness is deepening, the hour is late.
The First Message, 3rd Seal, 3rd Trumpet and 3rd Plague
Third Seal
“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.” Rev. 6:5,6.
Throughout the Old Testament the overwhelming message to ancient Israel and Judah was the condemnation of the worship of idols -“Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods.” Continually they regressed to the veneration of lifeless and transient objects, visible images or invisible doctrines of false gods. Faithfulness towards humanity was/is a high ethical standard above the adoration of pre-conceived ideas, established orthodoxy and dogma. Such wasteful good for nothings, together with homage paid to neighbouring gods brought stern judgments to God’s people, in the characteristic writings of old.
Ezekiel described such idolatry as playing the harlot. Time and time again, only to be delivered by uprightness, God’s peculiar people habitually degraded into aridic idolatry, be it abominations, whoremongering, divinations, sorceries, lies or soothsaying. Uprightness was usually personified by a merciful forgiving leader. The judges were an example. They were personifying types, real life learning. Led by compassion and loyalty ever showing mercy, the sons and daughters of our Maker endeavour to lead us to the path of light and call us from entrenchments and hindrances known as “that curse of the flesh.”
Zechariah 6:6 reports “the black horse went forth into the north country” - north from TSAPHON = hidden, unknown, darkness. North symbolizes a dark power, regressiveness, opposed to the south, the Negeb, Judah. According to Zech. 6:8 “those that go toward the north country (darkness) have quieted my spirit.” No missionary spirit, arises in the third seal - it is all very black. In a country where men loved darkness rather than light, there is no food for thought. Hence a pair of balances in the hand of the black horse-rider. This confirms a great famine of a kind in the land.
The man with the balances in his hand is cunning and deceitful. Israel and Judah are represented as Ephraim in Hosea 12:7,8 where the balances are found “in the hand” – the phraseology relied upon in John’s recollection. In Hosea it is said, “He is a merchant (Canaan), the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.” And Ephraim admittingly said, “Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find no iniquity in me that were sin.” Intellectual stimulus was charmed by self-importance, self-sufficiency and the shadows of darkness stretched wayward.
John, in vision, saw this arrogant condition recur. “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing” boasted the Laodiceans. Rev. 3:14-18.
In these words the cry is heard “Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.” Joel 1:5. Be ye ashamed, O ye husband men; howl O ye wine dressers, for the wheat and barley; because the harvest of the field is perished.” Joel 1:11. In the language of a portrait, their judgment is given. “Behold the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst of water, but of hearing the word of the Lord:” Amos 8:11,12.
However, we leave the third seal with the eternal flicker of light - “See thou hurt not the oil and the wine.” The servants of God are not yet sealed.
Oil was for lighting of the lamp as well as the anointing of the light-bearers. The wine was to be kept for the celebration of the victory of the saints who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb and his wife.
Third Trumpet
“And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter.” Rev. 8:10,11.
John, constantly referring to the old pattern for authenticity is quoting the likes of Isa.14:12. “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifier, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!”
Son of the morning - SHACHAR = light. How art thou cutdown - GADA = fallen. This personate unveils a conviction that once understood honesty, purity. Now long forgotten as rigidity had taken hold in formalisms. John was highlighting the recurrence of serving prescribed customs in the age of Christendom.
In Revelation, burning “as it were” a lamp this great one-time star was only a counterfeit, a ploy of total distraction. Yes, Wormwood came with lies, and did weaken the nations. These peoples and nations are ecclesiastical or pastoral in the kernel of the Patmos fugitive’s dissertation – the so-called insiders, proclaiming a false gospel message. “Weaken” from CHALASH means overthrow cause decay. “Nations” from GOWY means GEVAH (in the sense of massing). Figuratively speaking means, a troop of animals (symbolically human), or a flight of locusts. Hence the word GOWY is referring to how the nations were weakened. Later both types will be applied
Yes, the fallen angel, Wormwood, made many souls bitter, even the “fountains of water” – the source of “life”, the preachers and they became bitter. And many men died of the bitter waters. “Many men died.” Died from APO, APOTHNESKO meaning separated or departed from the Church.
Oh my people! Wrote Jeremiah, God will arise, “they be all adulterers an assembly of treacherous men.” “They proceed from evil to evil.” “They will deceive everyone…and not speak the truth.” “Shall I not visit them for these things?” Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “ Behold I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink,” Jer. 9:2-15. Every sprouting idea becomes an idol, according to their understanding.” Abandoning virtue, “ they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver” Hos. 13:2. These idols are nought, good for nothing, worthless born of conceit and a judgmental show-piece. This is the trumpet’s version of “a famine in the land.”
Third Plague
“And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of water, and they became blood…” Rev. 16:4-7. The message of the third trumpet becomes an overwhelming plague. The blood, of course, was as the blood in Pharoah’s day. Because of his obstinacy in recognizing the true God, the Nile, an object of worship was turned to putridity. Now there was only stinking rottenness to be consumed. The plate was empty, the cupboard was bare.
The intolerant of the religious world have shed so much blood (literally and figuratively), the blood of faithful innocent souls. John writes, “I heard the angel of the waters (people) say, “Thou are righteous, O Lord which art, and wast, and shall be, because thou hast judged thus. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.” Rev. 16:5,6. John, when writing, was bringing to vision a great future age where questioning begins from within Jerusalem the south country. Doctrine after doctrine, endlessly doctrines are closely investigated.
The angel of the waters, representing upright fervor, examining the folly and deception of Christendom’s never ending opinions see the cause of bewilderment and turmoil, stifling consciousness. Literalism! It has brought only universal disorder.
“And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.” Rev. 16:7. Whilst the angel is at the golden altar, the day of atonement is not completed. The angel is saying, there is still time to make a stand, “which way forward.”
The shadows are lengthening, and the darkness is deepening, the hour is late.
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