THE STORY OF THE
SEVEN SEALS
Revelation 6:1-8:1
| TABLE OF CONTENTS |
Part
I
First Four Seals
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Part
II
Who Opens the Seals?
The
First Seal
The
Second Seal
The
Third Seal
The
Fourth Seal
The
Fifth Seal
The
Sixth Seal
The Seventh
Seal
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The Seventh Seal
"And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in
heaven about the space of half an hour."
Revelation 8:1
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"He" |
Our Lord. |
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"Seventh
seal" |
The period is approximately from CE 1874-78 to the end of the harvest.
The "angel" is Charles Taze Russell. |
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"Silence" |
When "the Lord our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to
drink" (Jeremiah 8:14). |
|
"Heaven" |
The nominal heavens of earth or the religious ruling powers. |
|
"Half an
hour" |
An undetermined yet short period of time, less than the full "hour" of the
harvest or the "hour of temptation."
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The "seventh seal" is the last of the series,
and covers the period from 1874-1878 to the end of the harvest. Bro. Russell is believed
to be the "seventh angel" to the Laodicean Church.
It is rather unique that while the harvest message was going forth far
and wide and reaching millions by tracts, books, magazine circulation as well as a
syndicated religious column published in hundreds of papers world wide, the churches were
silent.
The Laodicean messenger was spreading the newly recovered truths of the
Bible worldwide. The nominal system had neither new truth to give nor were they willing to
rescind the old errors. In all other fields of science, knowledge has poured in a
whirlwind pace. Everywhere the world was flooded with knowledge along all lines.
The time we are living in is known for its "information
explosion." This is true everywhere but in the churches. They are preaching old Dark
Age theology—hell-fire, immortal soul, the kingdom now, heaven is an escape from hell,
and the trinity.
Dante's Inferno—
Frozen Section |
Creedal Theology—
Hell Fire |
None of these have a true biblical basis. Many are so ashamed to be
preaching such dark theology that they prefer preaching on movie reviews or book reviews
for their Sunday sermons.
Just as some old-guard scientists tried to defend their old teaching
that the world is flat, so modern theologians try in vain to make sense out of flat
theology that had roots in the Dark Ages and not in the Bible. They preach a failed
theology which cannot reach the vast majority of people. They simply cannot get
themselves to own up to their failure rate in saving souls.
Then they try to make God share in their failed concepts of salvation
that simply do not save the vast and overwhelming majority of the world. Nothing is so
glaring as the colossal failure rate for billions of people because the church cannot
reach them.
Thank God, He will succeed where they have failed.
Because the message they preach is such a failure, it stands to reason God cannot be
represented in their dark theology. God will have a 100 per cent salvation visited upon
all men in the kingdom when He lifts the Adamic judgment of death and condemnation from
off all of mankind. Then the blessings of restitution will prevail.
Under the "seventh seal," the harvest message
will culminate the work of the Gospel age. What a glorious time it is! The Church of God,
the 144,000, will be sealed and glorified.
The "harvest is the end of the age." While the
"saints" carried the "harvest message" in the early days of harvest,
oddly, the nominal systems were rather silent and more observers than actors.
However, this silence does not last. They seem bent on organizing for
power and making a grand stand before being destroyed.
|
Jesus before Caiaphas |
Just as Jesus experienced the wrath of the religious leaders of his time, so the last
members of the "elect" shall face the organized opposition of the leaders of
Christendom. |
While the "seventh seal" is characterized by
an impressive "silence," yet it is interesting to contrast this with the blowing
of the "seventh trumpet"—covering the same time frame.
"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices
in heaven [the spiritual realm of earth], saying, The kingdom of this
world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever
and ever. …
"And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come."
Revelation 11:15,18
The "voices" in "heaven" are the
voices of the saints, the representatives of Christ on earth. Their message is clear and
concise. The "kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord." Only the
saints of this harvest time have been preaching such a message.
The nominal systems are a part of the "kingdom of this world"
so this message is most unwelcome. They see themselves threatened. Yet, the message is
true. It cannot fail of fulfillment.
As the "kingdom" of this world disintegrates, so their place
in it will also end. Their efforts to circumvent the demise of their power and station
will be as effective as were the religious leaders in our Lord’s time. They were all
swept away. So it shall be with the great nominal systems.
Click to go to the following:
TOPICAL STUDY ON THE SEVEN SEALS:
Seven Seals Part I - Part 2
1st Seal - 2nd Seal - 3rd Seal - 4th Seal - 5th Seal - 6th Seal - 7th Seal
CHAPTER/VERSE BY VERSE STUDY
ON THE SEVEN SEALS:
1st to 6th Seal [Revelation 6] - 7th Seal [Revelation 8:1]
TOPICAL STUDY ON THE SEVEN
TRUMPETS:
Prelude to the Trumpets - 1st Trumpet - 2nd Trumpet - 3rd Trumpet
4th Trumpet - 5th Trumpet
- 6th Trumpet - 7th Trumpet
CHAPTER/VERSE BY VERSE STUDY
ON THE SEVEN TRUMPETS:
1st through 6th Trumpet [Revelation 8,9] - 7th Trumpet [ Revelation 11:15-19]
TOPICAL STUDY ON THE SEVEN
CHURCHES:
7 Churches Topical Study Home Page
Ephesus - Smyrna - Pergamos - Thyatira - Sardis - Philadelphia - Laodicea
CHAPTER/VERSE BY VERSE STUDY
ON THE SEVEN CHURCHES:
7 Churches Verse by Verse Home Page
Ephesus - Smyrna - Pergamos - Thyatira - Sardis - Philadelphia - Laodicea
Topical Study Home Page - Chapter Study Home Page
- Sinaitic Manuscript - Questions - Glossary.
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Copyright 2001 John Class
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