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THE SEVEN SEALSRevelation 6 The Four Horsemen, the Mahdi & the AntichristRevelation 6:1 ¶ And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, andI heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying,Come and see.2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had abow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering,and to conquer.FIRST SEAL Vision shifts from the church in Heaven to the tribulation on earth. John is invited to look down and see the judgement of God on all those leftbehind after the rapture. Starts with the four creatures saying, “come and see.” Seems to be the same thing seen by the prophet Zechariah. (Zech 6:1-7) As Christ opens each seal, an action takes place on earth. The first four seals trigger the famous “four horsemen” of the Apocalypseknown as conquest, war, famine, and death. The seven seals probably cover the first 21 months of the Tribulation. The figure on the white horse is the “anti-christ.” Crown indicates authority, bow without arrows suggests diplomacy. So, He conquers the earth through diplomacy.THE “ANTI-CHRIST” Actually, known by several names throughout the bible, none of them “Antichrist” “a beast” Rev. 13:1 “man of sin” 2 Thess. 2:3 “lawless one” 2 Thess. 2:8 “abomination” Matt. 24:15 “[little] horn” Dan. 7:8 “prince who is to come” Dan. 9:26 “vile person” Dan. 11:21 Will be the most incredible human leader the world has even known.
Promises peace, pushes the world into war.Personification of human genius and power.Master of deception.Empowered by the “father of lies” Dan. 11:2110 FACTORS THAT IDENTIFY THE “ANTICHRIST1. He will rise to power in the last days. (Dan. 8:19-23)2. He will come on the world scene after the rapture. (2 Thess. 2:3-6)3. He will rule the entire world. (Rev 13:7)4. He will rule by international consent. (Rev 17:12-13)5. He will rule by deception. (Dan. 8:24-25)6. He will be intelligent and persuasive. (Dan 7:20)7. He will control the global economy. (Rev. 13:16-17)8. He will be assisted by the “False Prophet” (Rev. 13:11-18)9. He will make and break a peace treaty with Israel. (Dan 9:26-27)10.He will claim to be God. (2 Thess. 2:4)THE “MAHDI” THE “ANTI-CHRIST”? Muslims teach this is their last, end-time leader. The Mahdi will appear at the end of days riding on a white horse Will behead any Jews and Christians who don’t convert Will rule for 7 or 10 years.“ANTICHRIST” SIGNS AGREEMENTS He confirms (makes a firm covenant) for one week. This is a 7-year treatywith Israel involving the land. (Dan. 9:27) By peace he shall “destroy many” (Dan. 8:25) Men cry peace and sudden destruction will come (1 Thess. 5:3) Islam’s Mahdi will make 4 agreements with the “Romans” (Christians andJews)
Revelation 6:3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard thesecond beast say, Come and see.4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power wasgiven to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and thatthey should kill one another: and there was given unto him a greatsword.THE SECOND SEAL Introduces the “Red Horse” and “Rider” The sword throughout the bible means war or severe fighting. Peace promised by the Antichrist fails as the world erupts into war. About 90% of all wars and civil uprisings involve Muslims or Islamic countries. We see that most terrorism involves Muslim radical extremists.Revelation 6:5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beastsay, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him hada pair of balances in his hand.6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure ofwheat for a penny, And three measures of barley for a penny; and seethou hurt not the oil and the wine.THE THIRD SEAL Introduces the “Black Horse” Worldwide famine. One measure of wheat is about 1 ½ pints, one day’s ration of food in Romantimes. A denarius was a coin, equal to about one day’s work. Normal purchase was 24 measures for 1 denarius. Oil and wine not affected, possibly class warfare, the rich will not be affected.REASONS FOR THE FAMINE: Numerous wars in the tribulation (Rev. 6:4) Lack of rain for 42 months (Rev. 11:6) Natural disasters (Rev. 16:12)
Revelation 6:7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard thevoice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him wasDeath, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over thefourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, andwith the beasts of the earthTHE FOURTH SEAL Introduces the Pale Horse Results in the death of a quarter of the earth’s population. Evidently, there will be a rampage of wild animal attacks on humans. Possiblydue to the famine. Violence will erupt, possibly as people struggle for food. Since hell is following death, we know these are the followers of the antichrist and not believers.Revelation 6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altarthe souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimonywhich they held: 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord,holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwellon the earth? 11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and itwas said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until theirfellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were,should be fulfilled.FIFTH SEAL: THE CRY OF THE MARTYRS These are souls who were martyred for their faith during the first part of theTribulation. The resurrection has already take place, so they must wait until the return ofChrist at end of the Tribulation More will be martyred after them Half of the world’s population will be dead by the middle of the tribulation.
Revelation 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, therewas a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, andthe moon became as blood; 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth,even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mightywind. 14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; andevery mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 And the kingsof the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, andthe mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves inthe dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains androcks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne,and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come;and who shall be able to stand?SIXTH SEAL: COSMIC/ PHYSICAL DISTURBANCES This will be the most devastating earthquake since the flood. Even kings of the earth will call on the rocks to hide them. Could bedescribing underground bunkers and chambers. The lost will know that these judgments are from the Christ whom they haverejected. Could be caused by an asteroid, volcanic eruptions, and / or a tsunami (a starcould not actually fall upon the earth)
8 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 over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth THE FOURTH SEAL Introduces the Pale Horse
