Blessings, Grace and peace to you! In our previous post we discussed what will likely occur at the beginning of the period known to most people as the seven year Tribulation. This period of time will likely begin with a loud Trumpet Blast, and the dead in Christ will rise (anistēmi/Resurrect) first. None of us really know what this Trumpet blast will sound like. The Bible describes God’s voice as sounding like a Trumpet blast.
Revelation 1:10: I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; 13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash.
In Revelation 3, we discover that God has put before the “church of Philadelphia” an OPEN DOOR FULL of PROMISES for this FAITHFUL CHURCH (bride of Christ). Because the Bride of Christ has persevered and kept God’s Word, God has promised them that He will keep them FROM the time of the Tribulation. They will NOT have to endure the Tribulation. This group is the dead in Christ who rise first, and they are also described as those who are “alive and remain” (1 Thess. 4). They have OVERCOME through the blood of the Lamb and the word of their Testimony. Because they have overcome, they will be the first ones who are living on the earth to RECEIVE their OVERCOMER’S CROWNS (STEPHANOS, named after the Martyr Stephen….the same crowns seen on the rider on the White horse in Revelation 6). In Revelation 3:12, Jesus tells us that He is writing His New Name on them. What’s in a name? Today, in our modern culture, a name is simply what we call someone. But in Jesus’ day, and Biblically speaking, a name refers to a person’s CHARACTER. Jesus is imparting to the “Church of Philadelphia” a NEW NAME. this represents their Transformation, when God’s Spirit transforms their human flesh into sinless and immortal (God’s Character). This is going to be a NEW THING, something that mankind has never seen before. The closest we have ever come to this was after Jesus was resurrected. After Jesus’ death and burial, He went into the belly of the earth and opened the graves of the Old Testament saints and they rose up out of their tombs WITH HIM at His RESURRECTION and were seen by many people. Jesus overcame DEATH and the GRAVE! Hallelujah! At Pentecost, Jesus gave us the GIFT of the INDWELLING of HIS HOLY SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE DEPOSIT OF OUR inheritance. Jesus redeemed our Spirits at Pentecost, but we are still waiting for the REDEMPTION of our FLESH, which is what happens when the DEAD IN CHRIST RISE first.
Matthew 27:52-53: The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.
Ephesians 1:13: In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.
Romans 8:23: And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
Revelation 3:8-12: ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
10 Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.
Once the dead in Christ are raised (RESURRECTED/TRANSFORMED), we BELIEVE that they will REMAIN on the earth for a short period of time for the purpose of bringing in the Harvest. This is definitely a NEW WAY to interpret these Scriptures! Like John the Baptist, the primary purpose of the rider on the White horse in Revelation 6, the “Elijah who is to come” before the Great and Terrible day of the Lord, is to call God’s people to REPENTANCE. The Church of Philadelphia, wearing their Stephanos (overcomer’s crowns), will be calling the lukewarm Church (Laodicea) to repent (OVERCOME) and be ready for the catching away. We believe that the Church of Philadelphia will not be the only ones Raptured, or caught away in the Great Rescue of God. Those in the Church of Laodicea, who REPENT from their lukewarm state, will be CAUGHT UP (harpazo/rapture) TOGETHER with the Church of Philadelphia. 1 Thessalonians 4 alludes to this in very cryptic language, not meant to be unveiled or discovered until these last days.
1 Thessalonians 4:17: Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
Revelation 3:19-21: “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: 15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.
Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 21 He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
At the time of Lazarus’ PHYSICAL resurrection, Mary told Jesus that she KNEW Lazarus would be RESURRECTED at the LAST DAY. Jesus, about to raise up Lazarus in a physical resurrection, told Mary that HE WAS the RESURRECTION and the LIFE and that whoever believed in Him would never really die, even if they died. When a Believer dies in the Lord Jesus Christ, they leave their physical body and are IMMEDIATELY in the presence of God. Now many Christians believe that the resurrection of the body hasn’t happened yet, both for those alive on earth and for those who have passed to glory. We believe that yes, they are right, those on earth are still waiting for GLORIFICATION. However, we also believe that SINCE the time of Jesus’ resurrection, the Saints who have gone to be with the Lord are already in their GLORIFIED state in HEAVEN. We do not believe that they are floating around…without bodies. After Jesus’ resurrection, He went to great lengths to show His Disciples that He was not a “floaty spirit”, He had a RESURRECTED BODY. He allowed Thomas to touch His sides and His wrists. He ate with His Disciples. He wanted to make it very clear that He had a TANGIBLE BODY. We do not understand the power of God. Even in the days when Jesus walked the earth, Three Disciples experienced what is known as “THE TRANSFIGURATION”, in which they saw JESUS, MOSES, and ELIJAH all in their GLORIFIED STATE. We know that Elijah never died, but Moses definitely died the earthly death. How is it possible that Glorified Moses could APPEAR before the disciples if he were dead and buried in the tombs? Heaven is outside of our earthly time and space. Anything is possible with God.
Matthew 17: Six days later Jesus *took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and *led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2 And He was transfigured (TRansformed) before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
John 11:23: Jesus *said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha *said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Mark 12:26: But regarding the fact that the dead rise again, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken.”
Once the dead in Christ (those who have “died to self” ) have risen (resurrected/transformed), and the first seal is broken, the remaining seals will be broken very quickly. This all occurs during the first half of the seven year Tribulation. Some Christians may not like this interpretation because they desire to be raptured or caught away to Heaven before the first seal is broken; however, we are explaining that the TRANSFORMATION will happen before the first seal is broken, but the catching away will not happen for a short period of time after the dead in Christ rise..long enough for God to “discipline” the Church of Laodicea (who will be here during the opening of the first few seals, but not yet transformed)…and prepare them also for the RAPTURE. I don’t know about you, but I would prefer for more people to be Raptured and removed before the Trumpets begin to blow!
FIRST SEAL: The White Horse – God’s Joel 2 End time Army/”Elijah who comes first”
Benefits of this interpretation of end-time events…
- We can easily incorporate God’s end time “prophet” Elijah (transformed Saints.) into End-times events. The “prophet” Elijah is prophesied in the book of Malachi to come BEFORE the Great and Terrible day of the Lord (Tribulation). Jesus made it clear that John the Baptist was the example of this Prophet in His Day, thus showing us that we are NOT looking for the RESURRECTION of ELIJAH (or the appearance of LITERAL ELIJAH)…but we are looking for someone(s) who operate in the “spirit and power of Elijah”, which is really those persons operating in God’s Holy Spirit, the same Spirit that empowered the prophet Elijah. Jesus also showed us that like John the Baptist, the end-time Prophet Elijah’s PRIMARY PURPOSE will be to call God’s people/Church to REPENTANCE.
- We now have greater ability to understand the order of Resurrection in that the Bride, those who have “died to self” rise first (on earth). Those deceased saints who have “fallen asleep” IN CHRIST are NOT DEAD, but they are already in their glorified bodies in Heaven. We will by no means PRECEDE those who have FALLEN ASLEEP IN CHRIST. They are already in HEAVEN. The verse “Dead in Christ rise first” is NOT about the bodies of deceased Saints rising up out of the ground. This is about the Church of Philadelphia who is living on earth at the time of the TRANSFORMATION and RAPTURE rising up out of their “fleshly tombs” (physical bodies), the REDEMPTION of the FLESH.
- This incorporates the Joel 2 /Acts 2 latter rain outpouring of the Holy Spirit into end time events, expected by many Christians to close out the Church Age. Jesus said that His followers would do GREATER miracles than He did (more numerous). The Disciples partially fulfilled this, but to the extent that Jesus was referring, these Scriptures have not been fully realized yet.
- The Church of Laodicea has the OPPORTUNITY for repentance, and can therefore still make the Rapture and the Wedding Supper of the Lamb. This helps us understand the meaning of Jesus telling Laodicea that if they REPENT at the CHASTENING they can DINE with Him.
- We also have a better understanding as to why the rider on the White Horse is wearing a Stephanos (overcomer’s crown), that is only ever seen on a Christian’s head throughout Scripture. Why would the antichrist wear a Stephanos (as many Bible teachers claim), named after Stephen, the first Christian martyr? Why would he be the only other individual, besides the Christian, who wears the Stephanos (overcomer’s crown)?
- Also, we have a better understanding of the phrase “we who are alive and REMAIN”.(a MYSTERIOUS PHRASE in 1 Thessalonians 4).
- There are ANOTHER set of Scriptures that might also be incorporated into this first resurrection, and that is the MYSTERIOUS 144,000 seen in Revelation 7 and 14. We have not yet discussed them. We will discuss them in our next post.
2ND SEAL: Red horse of war
Moving on from the first seal, in a previous post we also detailed the 2nd seal, which is the Red horse of war.
Matthew 24: 7: For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom (2nd seal – war), and in various places there will be famines (3rd seal – economic collapse) and earthquakes. 8 But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. 9 “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name
The 2nd seal is the Red horse of war, so very shortly after the bride of Christ is TRANSFORMED, we should expect WAR. The “kick-off” to this war will likely be the confirmation of the Covenant with the many by the antichrist. This “covenant” that the antichrist confirms with “the many” is also a very significant event that happens at the beginning of the 7 year Tribulation. This “covenant” will LIKELY lead to the red horse of war, and will PROBABLY ATTEMPT to DIVIDE GOD’S LAND. Israel is surrounded by enemies who want to drive her into the sea. We expect to see the Psalm 83 war early in the seven year Tribulation. This is the war that involves Israel’s direct neighbors. Of course, this is speculation, but it is LIKELY that the “covenant” will allow Israel to rebuild the 3rd Temple. This is a HUGE hot button for many of Israel’s neighbors, who will go to war rather than allow her to build the 3rd Temple next to the Al Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount. But this “Tribulation Temple” will be built exactly as it is written in the book of Revelation. Revelation 11 shows us that they (the builders of the 3rd Temple) will leave out the outer court where the animal sacrifices are typically done. Why is that? Because they currently do not have enough ROOM to build the outer court on the Temple Mount. We have heard from people inside of Israel that the BLUEPRINTS that are already in place at the TEMPLE INSTITUTE do LEAVE OUT the outer court, just as it is written in Revelation 11. Because the Jewish Sanhedrin do not READ or CARE ABOUT the book of Revelation, they are UNKNOWINGLY fulfilling Scripture.
Revelation 6:3: When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come.” 4 And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.
Revelation 11:2: Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and someone said, “Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. 2 Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months. (3.5 years..2nd half of the 7 year Tribulation).
The Psalm 83 war and the Ezekiel 38 war will not be limited to ISRAEL. The United States is a huge supporter of Israel, and will likely be attacked at the same time Israel is attacked. Iran has threatened to do just that. We could be looking at a World War III scenario. Powers have already aligned themselves On one side, Israel, the United States, Great Britain, Chile, Australia, and some others. In opposition, Russia, North Korea, China, Turkey, Iran. Saudi Arabia is an ally of the United States, and a foe of Iran so will likely be on the side of the United States; however, they ARE a part of the Psalm 83 alliance that teams up against Israel. There may be some deception going on behind the scenes here. Only God really knows how all of this war will transpire. Revelation 11 shows us that the building of the 3rd Temple (Tribulation Temple) will be completed by the 2nd half of the 7 YEAR TRIBULATION… the final 3.5 years of GREAT TRIBULATION.
THIRD SEAL: Black horse – Global Economic collapse
The next shoe to drop in the 7 year Tribulation is the 3rd seal. This Seal represents GLOBAL ECONOMIC UPHEAVAL AND COLLAPSE, and the SUBSEQUENT civil unrest and FAMINE that will follow. Remember, during the opening of these first 3 to 4 seals, the TRANSFORMED BRIDE is operating in a SUPERNATURAL MINISTRY to bring in the NOW HUMBLED church of Laodicea BEFORE the first TRUMPET blows. Yes, there was the ‘LAST TRUMPET’ when the dead in Christ rose first; however, during the opening of the first 6 seals, the TRUMPETS of REVELATION have not yet blown. Revelation 7 tells us why. God is having His Angels hold back the destruction UNTIL the 144,000 (the whole group) are SEALED on their FOREHEADS. Is this another way to describe the Harvest of the Church of Laodicea? This again is the MERCY of God, who shortened the days of the GREAT TRIBULATION so that more could be SAVED. The enemy is going to collapse the global economy for the purpose of POPULATION REDUCTION, for CONTROL, AND also for the implementation of the MARK OF THE BEAST. Remember, the Illuminati believe that out of CHAOS comes ORDER. “Never let a crisis go to waste”. Their symbol is the Phoenix rising up out of the ashes. They have to first create a CRISIS..and then offer the “solution”. They have already driven the global debt to astronomical levels. There is so much debt in the world that it could never be paid. The only thing keeping the global economy afloat is FAITH. Money used to be backed by gold, now it is backed by NOTHING. Currency is really only worth the paper it is printed on EXCEPT for the fact that people have FAITH in the system. As soon as the elite decide to CRASH the system, they will create PANIC in the markets. The red horse of war will create plenty of panic in the markets. Even at the time of 9/11, it took a long time for the markets to recover. Just think about how a global war would stress an already overstretched economic system. The globalists have STATED PUBLICLY that they want to REMAKE the entire FINANCIAL SYSTEM because of CLIMATE CHANGE. They have a plan to do just that.
Enter, the MARK OF THE BEAST, where no man or woman can BUY OR SELL (food, clothing, housing, health-care) UNLESS they TAKE the MARK of the BEAST.
You will see below that there has already been hyperinflation in some parts of the world, and because of the severe weather, flooding and fires, growing seasons and harvests have been severely shortened, and forecasters are already predicting that food prices will rise.
Revelation 6:5: When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.”
Picture: Million Dollar Boy: A young man on his way to buy a loaf of bread in Zimbabwe where bread is over one million dollars a loaf due to inflation. This is a country where everyone is a ‘Millionaire’ but it is worthless. Indeed, a sign of the times.
Rising corn prices increase global food costs
06.06.2019: By Susan Reidy: ROME, ITALY — A sudden surge in corn prices due to historically low planting levels in the United States contributed to an increase in global food prices in May, for the fifth consecutive month, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on June 6.
There has already been pressure on food prices, planting and harvesting. At the same time, the global economy is a game of smoke and mirrors, with nothing of value backing most of the world’s currency. Hard times could be coming SOON, and we must be prepared to LEAN on JESUS, God our PROVIDER. For those who are not Raptured, they will be required at some point to take the mark of the beast if they want to EAT! They’re going to REMAKE the GLOBAL ECONOMIC SYSTEM utilizing the MARK OF THE BEAST as a type of CURRENCY…..but it will NOT be worth it! Those who take the Mark of the Beast in order to BUY or SELL will have a permanent one way ticket to outer darkness for eternity. No thanks!
Revelation 13:16: And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, 17 and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name
Revelation 14: 9 Then another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire andbrimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” 12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on!’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them.”
It is far better to die in the Lord during the Tribulation than to take the MARK OF THE BEAST..an unforgivable sin that will lead to ETERNAL TORMENT DAY AND NIGHT…FOREVER! There is no contest…it is much better to die in the Lord. However, it is even BETTER to recognize Jesus as Lord NOW...while it is yet day, and get on the ARK of SAFETY BEFORE the TRIBULATION PERIOD!
FOURTH SEAL- PESTILENCE, DEATH, HADES
The fourth Seal is, you guessed it…death and destruction. These are the “four severe judgments” of the Lord as spoken of by the Old Testament Prophet Ezekiel that will affect 1/4 of the earth. The 4th Seal seems to be a combination of seal 2 (war) and seal 3 (famine)…adding to that seal 4 (pestilence/disease) and wild beasts. What is likely to break out when people are starving from war and famine? Pestilence (disease). Plus, we may also see biological warfare utilized in the Tribulation wars. The 4th Seal is definitely a manifestation of God’s 4 severe judgments spoken of in the book of Old Testament Prophetic book of Ezekiel. When God speaks of “the wild beasts of the earth” in Rev. 6:8 (4th seal), we notice that the Greek word for “wild beast” is thērion. This is important because we see this same word used later in the Revelation 13:1. The beast that rises up out of the sea is a thērion! This Beast rising out of the sea is the antichrist and his kingdom of 10 toes/horns/regions, the GLOBAL New World Order. The 4th Seal is NOT referring to death by NATURAL wild beasts, but of the wild beast kingdom, the antichrist and his kingdom, who will be beheading Christians, and killing people who do not submit to their authority. Notice in the 4th seal that Hades follows after the rider on the 4th horse. Hades is a place where unbelievers go…
Ezekiel 14:21: For thus says the Lord GOD, “How much more when I send My FOUR SEVERE JUDGMENTS against Jerusalem: sword, famine, wild beasts and plague to cut off man and beast from it!
Revelation 6:7: When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” 8 I looked, and behold, an ashen horse (sickly color); and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword (war – 2nd seal) and with famine (3rd seal) and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.
Revelation 13:1: And the dragon (satan) stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast ( wild beast/ thērion) coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems(crowns), and on his heads were blasphemous names.
The opening of the 1st 4 seals of Revelation, especially seals 2-4, paint for us a picture of rebellious mankind who does NOT want the ways of God. The ways of man lead to MURDER, WAR, FAMINE, PESTILENCE, and DEATH…and ultimately to HADES (HELL). This is the inevitable END for ALL mankind who CHOOSE to REJECT our CREATOR.
But even during these dark days, the Lord Jesus Christ shows mercy.
Acts 2:21: The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and glorious Day of the Lord. 22: ‘AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’
We will continue this “thread” in another post. We don’t want to overwhelm anyone with a single post, or even two posts. The end of the age is a really big subject. Quite a bit of Scripture points to this time period. Entire books have been written about this subject. In our next post, we will go over the remaining seals 5-7, and give more details about the MYSTERIOUS “144,000”. We’ll also talk about the abomination of desolation, overlaying it with the 6th seal of Revelation. When the 7th seal is broken, the first TRUMPET of REVELATION sounds…and the judgments become a lot more severe. By this time, the Rapture or catching away of the Church WILL HAVE TAKEN PLACE. The Catching away of the Church seems to occur sometime after the 1st seal (transformation of the bride/harvest), but before the 7th seal. The amount of time that the transformed Saints remain (“we who are ALIVE and REMAIN) for the harvest is unclear. It is also possible that SOME of the dead in Christ (TRANSFORMED SAINTS) go to Heaven, and others REMAIN to serve God for the harvest..and then all are CAUGHT UP TOGETHER “in the air” before the first Trumpet sounds. God often writes in such a way as to leave room for SURPRISES. By Revelation 7, we see the ENTIRE HARVEST of God’s people (Raptured Saints) around God’s THRONE in HEAVEN…so we know that this group is in Heaven sometime BEFORE the 7th seal, which is also the FIRST TRUMPET.
