September 29, 2008
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Revelation 6:3-4
Revelation 6:3-4 KJV And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. (4) And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
The second seal
Each time a seal is opened, the scroll is rolled open a little more, and events occur on the earth, until the scroll stops at another seal.
I thought the Antichrist was a man of peace, why all these wars? Listen to what John MacArthur said regarding something that took place that seems to parallel what the Antichrist is going to do. He wrote:
It may seem incredible that the world, hovering on the brink of final disaster, could be so totally deceived. Yet that is precisely what happened on a smaller scale before the outbreak of the most devastating war to date, World War II. Adolf Hitler spelled out in detail his plans for conquest in his book Mein Kampf, published more than a decade before World War II began. Yet, incredibly, the Western allies (particularly Britain and France) persisted in believing Hitler’s false claim to be a man of peace. They stood idly by as he re-occupied the Rhineland (demilitarized after World War I), thus abrogating the Versailles Treaty, then annexed Austria, the Sudentenland, and Czechoslovakia. Desperate to appease Hitler and avoid war, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain met with the Nazi dictator at Munich in 1938. Upon his return to England, Chamberlain triumphantly waved a piece of paper (containing a worthless pledge of peace from Hitler) which he claimed guaranteed “peace with honor . . . peace for our time.” When Winston Churchill (one of the few never taken in by Hitler) rose in the House of Commons to declare that England had suffered a total, unmitigated defeat he was shouted down by angry members of Parliament. The deception was nearly universal; almost everyone misread Hitler’s intentions. Only after he invaded Poland in September 1939 did the allies finally acknowledge the truth. By then it was too late to avoid the catastrophe of the Second World War.
- John MacArthur, Revelation 1-11, p. 179
You see, the deception promoted by Hitler, his false peace plan, seems to parallel what the Antichrist is going to do as he now exercises his strength upon the nations and by the time we get to the midpoint of the Tribulation Period, he is a man out of control, his true colors are seen. We see nations fighting against themselves and he will try to stop it, but there will come a point when he will crush them into subjection. This passive man is not passive any longer! And again, please understand that at this point his fury is not fully unleashed, that is coming! This too is a judgment of God, this rider on a red horse representing these wars – the second seal!
Comments (14)
Another point is that all the Christians will be raptured and gone. The only Christians here will be the ones saved during the tribulation. I stop sometimes and imagine the world today with few or nor Christians in it. It would be a vastly different place. Just stop and think about the upcoming election as an example. Obama would win BIG.
It is easier for me to see how so many will be deceived when those of us who know the truth will be gone.
I’m getting more and more to where I can see how easily man is deceived. Because our nature is to WANT sin… not holiness.
Very interesting, indeed.
@Hecalmsthestorm - I not sure how many come to the conclusion of that, I’ve read the book of revelation more than once and it seems clear to me that we must endure all of the seals, then we’re collected, and then the trumpets start blowing. Please, correct me if I’m wrong. And no offence is implied.
@YehwehPaladin - No offense taken in any way. I believe, based on the scriptures I have read, that all Christians will be taken away before the tribulation begins. I would have to look up those scriptures laters as I do not have them in front of me though. Certainly there will be Christians enduring the tribulation too though as the ones that are saved after the tribulation begins will have to endure it.
I can’t definitively say I am right or you are right. It is just a matter of interpreting scripture differently.
@YehwehPaladin - The church disappears after Revelation chapter 3 until chapter 22.
Revelation 4:1-3 KJV After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. (2) And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. (3) And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
I believe in verse 1 of Chapter 4 is the rapture of the church. Now you might say “now come on, you hear come up hither and you think it’s the rapture.” Well the church is not mentioned again until the whole thing is over.
The word “church” (eklessia) is found 18 times prior to chapter four (during the times that “are”), and only once after chapter four (during the times “after these things”), at the end, when Jesus says:
Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
Once John is in heaven, his focus is directed primarily to the things on earth.
Because there is no church on the earth, there is no mention of it.
The tribulation is a time of wrath, and that’s not what God intends for the faithful church:
Revelation 6:17 KJV For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
1 Thess 5:1-11 KJV But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. {2} For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. {3} For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. {4} But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. {5} Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. {6} Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. {7} For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. {8} But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. {9} For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, {10} Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. {11} Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
When the rapture of the church happens the Christians will be caught up together with the Lord in the heavenlies.
1 Corinthians 15:51-54 KJV (51) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (54) So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Philippians 3:21 KJV Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 KJV (16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
The Tribulation is recognized at the “70th” week of Daniel, a period of 70 x 7 years, of which 69 were accomplished by the time Jesus came the first time.
The Tribulation period is the last unfulfilled week of Daniel’s prophecy.
Look who the tribulation is for:
Daniel 9:24 KJV Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
Who is Daniel’s “people”? Israel.
It’s important that we understand the distinction between Israel and the church.
Those who think that God is finished with Israel, and that the church is “spiritual Israel”, inheriting all Israel’s promises, will point to things like this:
Zep 2:3 KJV Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.
They will say that this refers to the scenario in Rev.12, with the woman running from the dragon.
The woman is “Israel”.
But God isn’t finished with Israel!
Romans 11:1 KJV I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
Romans 11:25-29 KJV For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. {26} And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: {27} For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. {28} As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. {29} For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
When the “fullness of the Gentiles” comes, at the end of the “church age”, then the blindness will be removed from Israel, and their time of purifying through the Tribulation will begin.
They’ve also said this about Castro, Saddam, Rasputin, and any other nutjob tyrant.
@eclipse_the_dawn - said what about them?
@Kristenmomof3 - ah i see. no disputes here then. guess my memory isn’t as good as i thought
@Kristenmomof3 - That they were the Antichrist. Hitler evidently wasn’t the only one.
@eclipse_the_dawn - I wasn’t saying Hitler was the antichrist. I am saying that what Hitler did with deception and the like, will be the same thing the antichrist will do.
Hitler wasn’t the antichrist. The antichrist is for the tribulation.
@Kristenmomof3 - Ohh, I completely misread your post then. Sorry, I’m retarded today.
@eclipse_the_dawn - It’s ok
Have a wonderful rest of the day
@Kristenmomof3 - Same to ya.
“…but if ye are prepared ye shall not fear.”