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Concerning the first six seals in chapter six: have they already been fulfilled, are they being fulfilled, or will they be fulfilled during the tribulation? There are two supporting factors to show that they have been and are being fulfilled:
(1) In Revelation 5:2 the angel asked, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?" In verse 7 the Lamb has already taken the scroll. Then how could there be a lapse of two thousand years before the loosing of the seven seals?
(2) If God does not first take care of the matter of the church (filling up the number of the Gentiles) and then put the church aside, He cannot acknowledge and deal with the Jews (see Rom. 11:25-26). It is in Revelation 7:1-8 that God begins to acknowledge the Jews in choosing them as His servants. But 7:1-8 comes after the first six seals. Hence, we see that the period of time before these six seals is the age of the church.
By these two proofs we may conclude that during the past two thousand years, these six seals were and still are being fulfilled.
"And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying like the sound of thunder, Come. And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he who sits on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went forth conquering and to conquer."
Four horses are declared by four living creatures. We do not as yet know the meaning of this. Perhaps they are declared by four living creatures because there are four horses.
Who does the "white horse" signify? Three different explanations have been offered:
(1)It signifies Antichrist. This school gives three reasons for its assertion: (a) Christ will not be riding on a white horse until chapter nineteen; therefore, this is not Christ here. (b) In speaking of the tribulation, Matthew 24 mentions four things, one of them being false Christs; therefore, it should be Antichrist here. (c) There is a bow but no arrow. This shows that there is no real victory.
(2)It signifies an international peace treaty. The reasons given by this school are: (a) White signifies righteousness; hence, the saints wear white garments, and the Lord rides on a white horse. Peace comes through righteousness. (b) The bow without arrows signifies peace. By these we see that what we have here is the maintaining of international stability and peace by the power of righteousness.
(3)It signifies Christ. The reasons are: (a) Since the One who sits on the white horse in chapter nineteen is Christ, the One who sits on the white horse in chapter six must also be Christ, whom God crowns. (b) Since the other three horses are given power and authority by God, the first horse must also be given power by God and be crowned by God. Who could that be except Christ? (c) Only Christ goes forth "conquering and to conquer." (d) He carries a bow before He puts on a crown. If there is a bow, there had to be arrows. Since at this time there is only a bow, it means that the arrows have already been shot and that the devil has already been injured. Therefore, God has crowned Him and given Him glory. (e) Among the four horses, only in Revelation 6:4 is the word "another" used. We see from this that the last three horses are different from the first horse. (f) In God's plan the first thing is His Son's victory, the victory of the gospel. (The living creatures say, "Come." In an old manuscript "come" is rendered "go," because the four living creatures do not speak in an imperative tone.)
Which of the above three assertions is correct? Of course, the third one is more reasonable (the one referring to Christ). Hence, our conclusion is that the white horse signifies Christ.
"And when He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, Come. And I saw, and behold, another horse, a red one, went forth; and to him who sits on it, to him authority was given to take peace from the earth, and that men should slay one another; and to him a great sword was given."
"Red" is the color of blood. "To take peace from the earth" means to cause war. The first horse conquers by the bow, so it battles at a distance. The red horse fights with a sword, so it battles face to face. "To take peace from the earth" shows that it is war for the sake of war and not for a just cause. According to the Bible, a war in which men "should slay one another" is the worst kind of war. It brings nothing but death, destruction, and devastation. (See Judg. 7:22; Zech. 8:10; Jer. 25:15-31; Lev. 26:25. All swords bring death, destruction, and devastation.)
"And when He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, Come. And I saw, and behold, a black horse; and he who sits on it had a balance in his hand. And I heard as it were a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying: A choenix of wheat for a denarius and three choenixes of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine."
"Black" is the color for famine (Jer. 14:1-3; Lam. 4:8-9; 5:10). In the Bible, wheat is measured and not weighed. Balances are used to weigh precious things, but here a balance is used for measuring wheat. Hence, not a single grain is missed. "A choenix of wheat for a denarius." A denarius is a person's wages for one day's labor. It is only one person's wage because in Matthew 20:2 the pay for a laborer is a denarius a day. "Three choenixes of barley for a denarius." Normally, the ratio of the value of barley to wheat is one to two, but here it becomes a ratio of one to three (2 Kings 7:16 and 18 record a ratio of one to two). "Do not harm the oil and the wine." This shows that at other times they were not considered food and were "harmed." But now, even the oil and the wine should not be harmed. During the time of famine, even oil and wine cannot be wasted. At the same time, grape vines and olive trees are preserved by God. In the past two thousand years, wars, famine, earthquakes, and so forth have occurred more frequently as the time draws nearer. They come in greater numbers as the days go by.
"And when He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, Come. And I saw, and behold, a pale horse, and he who sits upon it, his name is Death; and Hades followed with him. And authority was given to them over the fourth part of the earth to kill with the sword and with famine and with death and by the beasts of the earth."
The word "pale" here is the same as the word "green" in Mark 6:39 and Revelation 8:7 and 9:4. Green is the color of vegetables. A green complexion indicates either sickness or death. This is why the name of the one riding on the pale horse is "Death." The word "death" in the second part of the verse can be translated "pestilence." Therefore, we interpret it as "pestilence" here also. "Hades" in the original language means the unseen world. Hades here is like a trash can (the dead people are like garbage). One fourth of the people on the earth are killed by the sword of the red horse, by the famine of the black horse, by the death of the pale horse, and by the beasts. "The beasts" indicate a very serious judgment of God (Num. 21:6; Exo. 23:28; Josh. 24:12; 2 Kings 2:24; 17:25).
The Bible divides the number seven into four plus three or three plus four. Many times it is also made up of six plus one. Three is the number of God, and four is the number of man. Four followed by three means man's progression in drawing near to God. Three followed by four means a falling from a desirable condition in God into the condition of man. Since the seven churches are arranged into two groups of three and four, they are declining. But the seven seals are composed of four followed by three. Therefore, their significance is different. Six is the number of man because man was created on the sixth day. One is the number of God because God rested on the seventh day. The seven seals are divided into four and three, as well as into six and one.
Revelation 6:9-11 speaks of the persecutions of the church during the past two thousand years.
"And when He opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and because of the testimony which they had."
"The word of God" is all of God's commands. "And because of the testimony which they had" in the original text reads "and for the testimony which they always held." "Always" means to be accustomed to; to always hold a testimony means to be accustomed to testifying. This testimony testifies of the Lord Jesus (Rev. 1:2; 6:9; 12:17). Some have said that this portion does not refer to the persecution of the church because it does not mention the testimony of Jesus. Instead, they say it refers to the saints in the Old Testament who were persecuted. But if one goes along with this, the preceding four seals would then become conditions in the tribulation. Mr. Govett said that just by the word "always" we know that this is the condition of the persecutions of the church. The purpose of this book is to testify for Jesus. Therefore, those people who testify always are the children of the Lord.
"The altar." The Bible mentions two altars: (1) the altar for sacrifices and (2) the golden incense altar. A very famous writer has said that all the altars in the book of Revelation should be translated as incense altars, but there are not enough reasons to support this statement. The altar here must be the altar of sacrifices. The reasons are as follows:
(1) According to the type in the Old Testament, all who go up by steps unto the altar should not let their nakedness be discovered (Exo. 20:26). By this we see that all who are naked cannot see God. All those who are not resurrected are naked. One who has a soul but whose body is not resurrected is naked; he cannot go to where God is. For this reason 2 Corinthians 5:4 speaks of being "clothed upon," that is, of having a new body. (When a man dies, his soul does not go to God right away.) Without resurrection, one cannot draw close to the golden incense altar.
(2) When the Bible mentions the altar, it means the altar of sacrifice. When it refers to the golden incense altar, special adjectives such as "golden," "incense," and so forth are used to differentiate it from the altar in the outer court.
(3) All the blood of the animals that are killed is poured underneath the altar (Exo. 29:12; Lev. 4:7; 5:9).
(4) There is life in the blood. The word "life" in the original text is "soul" (Lev. 17:11, 14). To be under the altar is to be under the earth. The altar signifies the cross. Beneath the cross is the earth. Therefore, to be under the altar is to be in the Paradise of Hades in the heart of the earth (Matt. 12:40). Acts 2:27 says, "Because You will not abandon my soul to Hades." Numbers 16:31-32 says, "The ground under them split open; and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up,...all the men that belonged to Korah and all their goods." (Not only can no man see God without a body, but he cannot even go down to Hades without a body.) Hence, these martyrs are crying for avenging in Paradise in Hades.
"Had been slain." During the age of the Roman Empire, Christians were persecuted and many were slain. John, who wrote this book, was one of those who were persecuted. Even in modern times, Russia has killed innumerable Christians.
"And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Master, holy and true, will You not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"
"O Master, holy and true." Mr. Govett said that this was the way the Old Testament saints addressed the Lord, but in Revelation 3:7, the Lord Himself told the churches that He is holy and true. Therefore, this is how the saints address the Lord throughout the ages.
"Those who dwell on the earth." Such an expression is used many times in this book (8:13; 13:8, 12, 14; 14:6; 17:2, 8). It means that the people who dwell on the earth have become settled in it. They have established themselves; everything they have is on the earth. Such men will be judged by God. Revelation 3:10 tells us that trial is about to come on the whole inhabited earth.
The prayer in Revelation 6:10 is not like Stephen's; Stephen prayed for God's grace, while the martyrs in Revelation pray for the judgment on the world. Therefore, the prayer here is the prayer of the saints against the sinners: "Avenge our blood." God does not forget the prayers of the afflicted (Psa. 9:12). When God judges those who have persecuted the saints, He is avenging His martyrs.
"And to each of them was given a white robe; and it was said to them that they should rest yet a little while, until also the number of their fellow slaves and their brothers who were about to be killed, even as they were, is completed."
"A white robe" represents the righteousness which God imputes to them. God's justification of these persecuted ones is different from His justification of those who believed in the Lord for salvation. The justification here is one in which God who sits on the throne announces the verdict of their victory in their appeal. All that is left to do is wait for God's execution of this verdict. "Rest yet a little while." This phrase can be used to prove that the church will not be raptured all at the same time. The word "until" means that there is still a very long persecution. "Until also the number of their fellow slaves and their brothers who were about to be killed." This is the great massacre during the great tribulation. Revelation 7:13 through 15 speaks of political persecution, whereas 17:6 speaks of religious persecution. The way the church takes is the way of death.
The Bible shows us one thing here: in the first rapture there will be no resurrection. Moreover, the words "underneath the altar" imply that this is not the death of the sacrifice of sin offering, but that of the sacrifice of burnt offering. The Bible never speaks of an altar of the sin offering; rather, it speaks of an altar of the burnt offering (Exo. 40:6, 10, 29; Lev. 4:7, 10, 18; 1 Chron. 6:49; 16:40; 21:29; 2 Chron. 29:18). What man sees first is the sin offering, but what God sees first is the burnt offering. We have no way of receiving life unless the Lord Jesus becomes the sin offering. However, unless the Lord Jesus becomes the burnt offering — offering everything to God, being obedient to Him, choosing His will, and even dying on the cross according to His will — there is no way to please God. Even Paul presented himself as a burnt offering (Phil. 2:17; 2 Tim. 4:6). His whole life was an offering.
All the martyrs will enter the kingdom as kings. Three kinds of people reign with Christ in Revelation 20:4:
(1) "They sat upon them [the thrones]." This refers to the overcomers in Revelation 3:21.
(2) "The souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God." These are the resurrected ones, referring to the martyrs in Revelation 6:9.
(3) "Those who had not worshipped the beast nor his image." This refers to the fellow slaves and their brothers in Revelation 6:11, who will be killed. (Revelation 20:4 shows that they will be resurrected.)
The Bible records that when the Lord comes again, the changes in the heavens and the shaking of the earth will occur twice, once before the day of the Lord and once after the day of the Lord. In other words, this will occur once before the great tribulation and once after the great tribulation. The verses in Joel 2:30-31 and 3:15-16 speak of what will happen before the great and terrible day, that is, what will happen before the great tribulation. Matthew 24:29 and 30 clearly describe what will happen immediately after the tribulation of those days. This is after the great tribulation. Therefore, the sixth seal is the situation before the great tribulation. Luke 21:11 also gives the situation before the great tribulation. (The first through fourth trumpets are calamities. The fifth trumpet may be the beginning of the great tribulation, while the seventh trumpet is definitely the beginning of the great tribulation.)
"And I saw when He opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black like sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; and the stars of heaven fell to the earth as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. And heaven was removed like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places."
I dare not say that this passage has already been fulfilled in full, nor dare I say that it has not been fulfilled at all. In the last century, something similar to this happened in Australia; it is a historical fact. Some even reported at that time that there was the appearance of what is described in Revelation 6:15-16. This seems to indicate that this passage has been fulfilled. However, the situation in 6:14 still has not occurred in history to a full extent, so it seems that this verse has not yet come to pass.
Black sackcloth describes the tents of the Jews and the Arabs which were made of black sackcloth. "The stars of heaven fell to the earth" may refer to comets. How can the stars, which are bigger than the earth, fall to the earth? Perhaps it means the direction that the stars are falling is toward the earth and does not mean that they are actually hitting the earth.
"And the kings of the earth and their great men and the generals and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains; and they say to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits upon the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb."
This indicates that their consciences sense that God's judgment has come; it is not the Bible that tells them that the time of judgment has come. Only the blood of the Lord can give us peace in our conscience and saves us from God's wrath. This is more secure then the caves and the rocks.
"For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
God has three groups of people. One group is the Jews on the earth. One is the church, which is spiritual. Revelation 7:1 through 8 refers to the earthly Jews, among whom is one group which is protected by God. Revelation 7:9 through 17 describes the scene of the rapture of the church to the heavens.
Strictly speaking, according to the Bible the great tribulation should last only three and a half years. The other tribulations are merely calamities or trials. (The fifth trumpet is perhaps the beginning of the great tribulation, but by the sounding of the seventh trumpet, we have no doubt that the great tribulation has begun.)
"After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth nor on the sea nor on any tree."
"The four winds." In the Old Testament the wind often represent God's judgment. For instance, a great wind arose when Jonah was at sea (Jonah 1:4; Isa. 11:15; Jer. 13:24; 22:22; 49:36; 51:1). In Matthew 7:25 "the winds blew"; this is also a kind of trial. "No wind would blow on the earth nor on the sea nor on any tree"; therefore, the earth is calm, the sea has no waves, and the trees are silent. God does this in order to seal all the people He wants to protect. Once the seventh seal is opened, the seven trumpets will be sounded. When the first trumpet is sounded, the third part of the earth and the trees will be burned. When the second trumpet is sounded, the third part of the sea will become blood (Rev. 8:6-9).
"And I saw another Angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and He cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom authority was given to harm the earth and the sea."
"Another Angel." Who is this angel? In the original, the word "Angel" is "messenger." An angel may be called a messenger. A man may also be called a messenger. This book mentions "Another angel" several times. The word "another" indicates that this one is different from the others. Revelation 8:3, 10:1-3, and 18:1 all speak of this "another Angel." Other than the Lord Jesus, who could have this authority? Who else could have this glory? Mr. Panton said the word "another" has a special meaning. It infers another class, another appearance.
In the Old Testament, the title "the angel of the Lord" has a special meaning. By reading carefully, we immediately realize that this must refer to the Lord Jesus (Gen. 16:7-14; 22:1-13; 32:24-30; Judg. 13:16-18). The Lord's name here, Angel, is a title used in the Old Testament. This title shows that the Lord is about to lay aside the church and return to His position in the Old Testament.
"Another Angel..., having the seal of the living God." This seal must be put into the hands of the One who is the closest to God. The Lord Jesus is the unique man beside God. Pharaoh put the seal into Joseph's hands (Gen. 41:42); in the same way, God put the seal into the Lord Jesus' hands. "He cried...to the four angels to whom authority was given to harm." From this we see that all the events that will happen to the earth originate from God. If God does not give the authority, the four angels can do nothing.
"Saying, Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we seal the slaves of our God upon their foreheads."
"The slaves of our God." Here God begins to acknowledge the Jews. He is returning to the position in the Old Testament. (In the church age, there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles.) In the Old Testament, all the people were servants (1 Sam. 8:17; 17:8; 1 Kings 10:5-8). In Revelation the emphasis is God's throne. Servants do not have the position of children, but of responsibility.
Revelation 7:1 through 3 mentions the wind; Revelation 8:6 through 9 mentions the fire. Wind and fire are very much related. To have a fierce fire, there must be a strong wind.
"And I heard the number of those who were sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel: out of the tribe of Judah, twelve thousand sealed; out of the tribe of Reuben, twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Gad, twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Asher, twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Naphtali, twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Manasseh, twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Issachar, twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand; out of the tribe of Benjamin, twelve thousand sealed."
Who are the people mentioned in 7:4-8? They are not the church but the people of Israel. The Seventh-Day Adventists assert that they are this people because they keep the law and are, therefore, the real Jews. But we have ten reasons to prove that the people in Revelation 7:4-8 are Jews in the flesh.
(1) If "the sons of Israel" in Revelation 2:14 are to be interpreted literally, then "the sons of Israel" in 7:4 should be interpreted literally also.
(2) "The tribe of Judah" in Revelation 5:5 is interpreted literally, so "the tribe of Judah" in 7:5 should be also.
(3) The names of the twelve tribes are unique to the Israelites. Of the people in the church, which denomination belongs to which tribe?
(4) Israel is divided into twelve tribes, but the church is one. How can it be split into twelve tribes?
(5) Since Revelation 7:9 speaks of "every nation," how can "the sons of Israel" in 7:4 not be a nation?
(6) The great multitude in Revelation 7:9 could be numbered by no man, but in 7:4 the sealed ones were exactly a hundred and forty-four thousand. Can we say the saved ones in the church are only a hundred and forty-four thousand? Besides, this hundred and forty-four thousand is clearly the sum of twelve twelve-thousands. How can we not interpret this literally?
(7) In Revelation 6:15 "the kings" are interpreted literally. How then can we say "the sons of Israel" in 7:4 do not refer literally to a nation?
(8) In Revelation 7:13-14 John did not know where the countless multitude in verse 9 came from. Therefore, he answered the elder, "My lord, you know." John did not ask about those people in Revelation 7:4-8. This shows that he already knew who they were.
(9) In Joel 2:12-27 God told only the Israelites the way to escape the locusts. In Revelation 9:3-4 only those who were sealed were not hurt by the locusts. This proves that the sealed ones are the children of Israel.
(10) The sheep in Matthew 25 are those who treat their little brothers well. These little brothers are the Jews and those brothers who remain on earth. Those little brothers, the Israelites, will become a test to the Gentiles on earth.
The following are the different groups of people among the Israelites.
(Before we mention these different peoples, we must take note that no mention is made in Revelation 7:4-8 of the name of Dan. In Ezekiel 40—48 the scene in the coming kingdom is described. Ezekiel 48:1 clearly says that the land of Dan is in the north during the kingdom. In the Chronicles, however, the tribe of Dan is also not mentioned among the twelve tribes. What is the reason for this? This does not mean that there is no more tribe of Dan, but that perhaps the relationship between Dan and the serpent is too close. In Genesis 49 Jacob prophesied concerning his sons. When he came to Dan, he spoke of Dan's existence in verse 16 and of his behavior in verse 17. Then in verse 18 Jacob suddenly prayed as if he saw danger in Dan's future behavior. Jacob did not pray for the other children in that way. Perhaps during the great tribulation the tribe of Dan will be especially united with the Antichrist.)
The people spoken of in Revelation 7:4-8 are:
(1) The Jews who are to reign with Christ on earth in the future. They are, however, not the kings. Since the number twelve thousand is composed of twelve times ten times ten times ten, this number is eternally complete in God's administration.
(2) The suffering Jews who are part of the least of the brothers in Matthew 25:34-40.
(3) The Jews who are part of those who endure unto the end in Matthew 24.
(4) The Jews upon whom the Spirit will descend in the future. The former rain already fell in Acts 2. The latter rain of Joel 2:23, 28, and 29 has not yet fallen. The blood and the fire in Joel 2:30 correspond to the first trumpet. The pillars of smoke correspond to the fifth trumpet. So we see that the second outpouring of the Holy Spirit occurs between the sixth seal and the fifth trumpet. The great tribulation begins with the seventh trumpet. Before the seventh trumpet there are merely calamities.
(5) The Jews who will receive the new covenant which the Lord Jesus will establish with them on earth (Jer. 31:31-34).
Revelation 7:9 through 17 is a description of the rapture of the church to the heavens. Who are these people? Although I dare not say definitely that they are the whole church, I do say that they are the majority of those who have been redeemed by God — the majority of the church. This includes those who are raptured first and those who are resurrected from the dead (which constitute a large number), as well as a small number who are still living on earth. No mention is made here of how the church is raptured; rather, we are given only an outline of the scene after the church has been raptured to the heavens. Hence, these verses may be considered as a description of the scene of the entire church in the heavens after the rapture. How does one know that what is spoken of here is the scene in heaven after the rapture of the church? The reasons are as follows:
(1) The number. No one could number the multitude (v. 9). There cannot be so many in the first rapture, so it must be the gathering of several raptures of the church.
(2) "Standing before the throne and before the Lamb." Revelation 4:2 says that "there was a throne set in heaven." This shows that those standing before the throne are already in heaven. This word is recorded after the sixth seal and before the seventh seal. This is an indication that there are four raptures.
(3) The word "tribulation" in Revelation 7:14 is the same as the word "tribulation" in John 16:33 [KJV]. Hence, this "great multitude which no one could number" includes the persecuted ones and the martyrs throughout the past generations. Among them are also the believers who were resurrected. (The resurrected ones must be greater in number than those who are first raptured.)
Revelation 7:9 through 17 speaks of the situation that begins with the rapture (the first rapture) and continues until eternity (the new heaven and new earth). Those "standing before the throne" must have been raptured; otherwise, how can they be standing in heaven? Verses 15 through 17 are a description of the scene in the new heaven and the new earth in Revelation 21:3-7.
This portion is not on the rapture specifically or exclusively; rather, it speaks only in a general way about the rapture. Neither does it go into detail concerning the scene of the enjoyment in eternity; it is only briefly described. We should not misunderstand, thinking that because the church is raptured to the heavens to enjoy the blessings in eternity, we can then assume that the whole church is raptured all at once. Remember that this portion does not say in detail how the rapture takes place; it presents only an outline of the raptured majority. We are given a glimpse in advance of the scene of the rapture of the church in the heavens and the consummation in eternity. Here we are shown only where they are, not how they got there.
"After these things I saw, and behold, there was a great multitude which no one could number, out of every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes and palm branches in their hands. And they cry with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb. And all the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, saying, Amen. The blessing and the glory and the wisdom and the thanks and the honor and the power and the strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying to me, These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where did they come from?"
"After these things..., standing before the throne and before the Lamb." Since the rapture begins here, this implies that there is a rapture before the opening of the seventh seal. These are the people redeemed by the Lord's blood throughout the past two thousand years. The positive reasons are as follows:
(1) The number. Revelation 7:9 reads "I saw, and behold, there was a great multitude which no one could number." Anything to do with the Israelites is usually numbered. Examples are: the twelve tribes, the seventy going down to Egypt, the number leaving Egypt, the numbers recorded in the book of Numbers, and the numbers at the time of David. From generation to generation, the Israelites were numbered. The Israelites who are sealed are also numbered (vv. 1-8).
In regard to the church, although there are numbers, such as the twelve disciples, the seventy sent out by the Lord, the one hundred twenty who gathered together, the three thousand and the five thousand who were saved, and so forth, sometimes the Bible only says, "The Lord added together day by day those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47). Revelation 7:9 says, "Which no one could number." By simple arithmetic we know that these people are not those from the age of tribulation since the world population is 1.7 billion [at the beginning of the twentieth century]. In Revelation 9:16 the horsemen are numbered at two hundred million. This is the largest number in this book. But 7:9 says that "no one could number" them; hence, the number must be more than the two hundred million horsemen!
(2) Where do they come from? Revelation 7:9 reads, "Out of every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues." If you refer to 5:9-10, you can see that the "men out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation" are those chosen from the Gentiles to be given to God; they are the church (Acts 15:14-19). In the church age, if the Jews are to believe in the Lord, they do so in the position of Gentiles and are saved according to the principle of the Gentiles. Therefore, the church can be considered as saved Gentiles. It can also be said that in the church there is no difference between the Gentiles and the Jews.
(3) Where do they go to? Revelation 6:17 says, "Who is able to stand?" Yet these people in 7:9-17 are able to stand before God. God gave the promise of rapture only to the church. Hence, only the church is able to stand before God.
(4) When will God return to take care of the Jews? Not until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in (Rom. 11:25-26). Revelation 7:9-17 must refer to the people in Romans 11:25. These people are the church.
(5) Regarding the twenty-four elders, the four living creatures, and the one hundred and forty-four thousand, no mention is made of being purchased by the blood. Only these people were purchased by the blood.
(6) Although to be clothed in white garments was what God promised the church in Sardis, both Sardis and Philadelphia put together could not have produced such a large number. None could have such a glorious destiny but the church. Therefore, this must be the scene of those in the church who were raptured to heaven.
(7) The angels' attitude. The first sentence which all the angels say is, "Amen" (7:12). There is great joy in heaven over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7). When all the angels see so many people coming, they cannot help praising for joy.
(8) Their garments were cleansed by the blood (7:14). Only the church has this kind of special condition.
(9) The scene in Revelation 7:15-17 is similar to the scene of eternity in Revelation 21:3-7. The overcoming in Revelation 21:7 is an overcoming by faith (1 John 5:4), since Revelation 21:6 states, "I will give to him who thirsts from the spring of the water of life freely."
Some have argued that the whole church will be raptured before the tribulation and that the people mentioned here are those who are saved during the great tribulation. However, this argument cannot stand for the following reasons:
(1) This school proposes is that the twenty-four elders in chapters four and five represent the whole church. So the whole church should already be raptured by this time. We know that this is basically wrong. (The reasons have already been given in the discussion on chapter four concerning the twenty-four elders.)
(2) In Revelation 7:9 no one could number the great multitude. Let us ask if during the tribulation, under such great persecution, there could be so many people receiving salvation. The total population of the whole world is 1.7 billion. If we can subtract the dead ones which can be counted in this book, how many do we still have? In Revelation 6:8 the fourth part of men were killed, about four hundred million dead ones, leaving approximately 1.2 billion alive. Again, the third part of men were killed in 9:15 and 18, approximately four hundred million men, leaving eight hundred million men. In addition to that number, in Revelation 8:9 there were men who died because ships were destroyed; in 8:11 many men died because the waters became wormwood; and in 11:13 many died of earthquakes, among whom were numbered seven thousand men of renown. (Mr. Govett did some research and concluded that the original language referred to these men as men of renown.) How many more died, who were not men of renown? Furthermore, no one knows how many were killed during the final tribulations in chapters fifteen and sixteen. Since the number of the army of horsemen in Revelation 9:16 was two hundred million, if we subtract from the remaining eight hundred million men these two hundred million horsemen, we are left with only six hundred million men. If we further subtract from these six hundred million the above unaccounted-for number, what is left is much less. Therefore, even if all those who survive the great tribulation were saved, the number would not be so many that no one could number.
(3) By this time the great tribulation has not arrived. It is not until Revelation 8:1 that the seventh seal is opened. The first four trumpets which come after that are merely calamities. Only by the time of the fifth trumpet do we have the beginning of the trumpets of woes. Perhaps this is the beginning of the great tribulation. The seventh trumpet is undoubtedly in the great tribulation. How then can there be people who are saved during the tribulation, when the tribulation has not even come yet?
(4) Revelation 7:9 says, "Before the throne." If it were not for the rapture, how could anyone be in heaven? Yet during the great tribulation, no one will be raptured. The church is the only group that will be raptured.
(5) In the whole Bible, no mention is made of such a great revival during the great tribulation. A biblical prophecy never stands by itself. It is always confirmed by other books. Second Peter 1:20 is definitely a rule of interpreting prophecies. This is the principle according to which the Holy Spirit writes the Bible.
Hence, these people do not refer to the believers who are saved during the great tribulation.
The phrase "standing before the throne" in Revelation 7:9 only tells us of the fact of the rapture. It does not tell us the process of their rapture. "White robes" here refer to the purity of their conduct as a result of the cleansing by the blood (v. 14). The white garments in Revelation 3:4 are a promise which corresponds with that mentioned in Revelation 19:8. This refers to their victory on earth, that is, their purity. In the future this will be manifested in the heavens and enjoyed in the heavens. The white garments in 4:4 speak of the elders who are without sin. The white robes in 6:11 refer to the martyrs' acceptance by the Lord. The "palm branches" in 7:9 signify victory. The feast of tabernacles in Leviticus 23:39-43 uses palm branches. The feast of tabernacles shows that God wants to live with His people temporarily on earth. This foreshadows the millennium.
"And I said to him, My lord, you know. And he said to me, These are those who come out of the great tribulation."
The "great tribulation" in 7:14 is not the three and a half years of great tribulation. The reasons are as follows:
(1) The great tribulation, at the earliest, should begin with the trumpets of woes, and the first woe is declared at the fifth trumpet (8:13). Strictly speaking, the great tribulation begins with the seventh trumpet (11:15-18), but Revelation 7:9 implies a first rapture before the seventh seal. These have already come before the throne and have not passed through the tribulation of the seventh trumpet.
(2) The great tribulation cannot begin before Satan is cast down to the earth. Verses 9 through 17 are before the opening of the seventh seal, while Satan's being cast down is after the sounding of the sixth trumpet (11:14-15). Before the context of the forty-two months (13:5), the man-child has already been raptured to the throne (12:5). Although I dare not say the man-child includes all those in mentioned 7:9, I do say that it must be a majority of these people.
(3) The conclusion of the great tribulation is at the pouring out of the seventh bowl, which immediately ushers in the kingdom. At this time we do not see the heavenly temple, only the earthly temple as spoken of in Ezekiel (the temple on earth in the kingdom age). During the great tribulation there is no time for God's people to serve Him, but Revelation 7:15 clearly says that they serve God day and night.
(4) In the great tribulation, there cannot be so many people receiving salvation, yet the "great multitude" in 7:9 has come out of the great tribulation according to 7:14. This shows the great tribulation in 7:14 must be different from the great tribulation that comes after the fifth trumpet.
(5) Revelation 11:1 makes mention of those worshipping in the heavenly temple, yet except for those in Revelation 7:9, there are none who worship God in heaven. At this time, the great tribulation spoken of in Revelation has not yet begun, yet these have passed through the great tribulation already. There is no temple in the new heaven and new earth (21:22), for God and the Lamb are the temple to the new city. (The center of the new city is God and the Lamb. In Revelation 3:12, following the words "temple of My God" is the expression "he shall by no means go out anymore." This no doubt refers to the time of the new heaven and the new earth when God and the Lamb will be the temple.)
(6) The Bible clearly says that there are Christians who need not pass through the tribulation (Rev. 3:10; Luke 21:36).
(7) If the people spoken of in Revelation 7:9 are those who pass through the great tribulation, then they must be those who die when the nations trample the holy temple. But according to Revelation 11:2, the church should not be included there. How then could the people in 7:9 be those who come out of the three and a half years of great tribulation?
(8) The three and a half years of great tribulation are especially related to the Jews. Daniel 12:1 says, "And there will be a time of distress, such as never occurred since there came to be a nation until that time; and at that time your people, every one found written in the book, will be delivered." This passage together with Matthew 24:16-18 describes the condition of the Jews in particular. God's main goal in having the great tribulation is to deal with the Jews. In Jeremiah 30:7 the time of Jacob's trouble clearly refers to the Jews. The tribulation spoken of in Revelation in several passages points to the church (e.g., 1:9; 2:9-10, 13). John 16:33 also says that affliction is the portion of the church in the world. The time is long, and the suffering is hard. That is why it is called "great." But it is not the three and a half years of the "great tribulation." The "great tribulation" in Revelation 2:22 is different from that in 7:14 in the original text. It is also different from the great tribulation of the three and a half years elsewhere mentioned in Revelation. (In Acts 14:22 the phrase "through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God" refers to the experiences of the ones who are entering into the kingdom of God.)
"And they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
The word "robes" here is plural. Robes, plural, signify righteousnesses. But here the righteousness is the righteousness of the saints themselves; it does not refer to the Lord Jesus Christ as our righteousness. Robe, singular, refers to the righteousness (Isa. 61:10) which is Christ Himself (Jer. 23:6). Christ is our righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30). We put Him on to come before God. This righteousness does not need to be washed in the blood.
We have two robes. One robe, through which we come before God, was put on at salvation. The other robe is the righteousness of our own conduct; it is our victory through which we come before Christ. In Revelation 3:18 the white garment (the second one) requires the paying of a price, but the redemption typified in the former case does not need to be purchased. No Christian will be condemned by God to perdition (John 5:24), but neither will there be a single Christian who will not be judged before the judgment seat of Christ concerning his conduct (2 Cor. 5:10). Their robes were cleansed not because of the great tribulation, but because of the blood of the Lamb. They applied the blood of the Lamb to their robes. This shows that they were contaminated on earth; nevertheless, they practiced 1 John 1:9 all the time so that they were cleansed.
"Because of this they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits upon the throne will tabernacle over them."
"Because." According to the foregoing text, the reason that they can serve God is because they did not take the matter of sin lightly.
"They will not hunger any more, neither will they thirst any more, neither will the sun beat upon them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and guide them to springs of waters of life; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Compare this with Isaiah 49:10 (cf. Isa. 49:6; Acts 13:47 Isa 49:8; 2 Cor. 6:2).
"They will not hunger any more, neither will they thirst any more" is the fulfillment of hope. "Neither will the sun beat upon them, nor any heat." In the new city, there is no need of the light of the sun or moon (Rev. 21:23; 22:5). It is not that there is no sun or moon, but there is no need to use their light. Yet there is still night on the new earth (21:25); since there is "day," there must be night. "God will wipe away every tear" because there is no need to shed tears anymore.
One thing deserves our attention. The people in Revelation 7:9-17 and the man-child in Revelation 12:1-11 have many similarities:
(1) Revelation 7:10 says that they were redeemed by the Lamb. Revelation 12:11 says that the man-child overcame because of the blood of the Lamb.
(2) Revelation 7:9 says that they are standing before the throne. Revelation 12:5 says that the man-child is caught up to God and to His throne.
(3) Revelation 7:10 says, "Salvation to our God...and to the Lamb. Revelation 12:10 says, "Salvation...of our God and...Christ."
(4) Revelation 7:4 through 8 says that twelve tribes were sealed. Revelation 12:1 says that on the woman's head was a crown of twelve stars. The crown of twelve stars does not refer to the apostles. Joseph's dream of the twelve stars clearly indicates that they refer to the twelve tribes.
(5) Revelation 7:11 says that the angels are praising. Revelation 12:10 says that a loud voice in heaven speaks.
(6) The people in Revelation 7:9 must have resurrected bodies before the throne of God. The man-child in Revelation 12:5 also has a resurrected body. The words "caught up" must be interpreted according to the rule of interpreting visions and must not be interpreted literally. According to Acts 13:33-34, we see that it refers to resurrection. In addition, if Christ did not put on the resurrected body, He could not see God and would be reckoned as naked (2 Cor. 5:2-3; Exo. 20:26; 28:42). First Corinthians 15 speaks of the fact of resurrection, while 2 Corinthians 5 speaks of the condition of resurrection. At the present time, there is no Christian before the throne; this will happen only in the future. In Revelation 4:6 the glassy sea is empty. Not until Revelation 15:2 are there people on the glassy sea. Acts 2:34 clearly says that David did not ascend into the heavens. First Samuel 28:13 clearly says that Samuel came up out of the earth. This shows that they have not yet put on resurrected bodies. Their bodies are still in Paradise (in Paradise as in Luke 23:43 and in Hades as in Acts 2:27). Only the Lord descended out of heaven and still remained in heaven (John 3:13). Even the taking up of Enoch and Elijah was perhaps to a certain place that God has put them; they have not yet received a resurrected body.
(7) Revelation 7:15 says, "He who sits upon the throne will tabernacle over them," while Revelation 12:12 says, "O heavens and those who dwell in them." "Dwell in them" in the original Greek is "tabernacle in them."
(8) The ones in Revelation 7:9 are the overcomers because: (a) the "white robes" are promised to those in Sardis who have not contaminated their robes; (b) to be spared from the hour of trial is promised to the overcomers in Philadelphia who have kept the word of endurance; and (c) the palm branches signify victory. In the same way, the man-child in Revelation 12:5 is the overcomers, who rule over the nations with an iron rod.
This is the end of the inserted visions.
The seals are unveiled in secret, while the trumpets are sounded in the open. In the Old Testament, the blowing of the trumpet was a solemn occasion. Hence, this book is also quite solemn. (Revelation 1:10 and 4:1 say, "like a trumpet.") The seventh seal produces the seven trumpets, while the seventh trumpet includes the seven bowls. The seven trumpets that come out of the seventh seal are sequential and extend over a period of time. For example, the fifth trumpet lasts for five months (9:5), while the sixth trumpet lasts for at least thirteen months. Furthermore, Revelation 10:7 and 11:2-3 together show that the seventh trumpet lasts for about three and a half years. According to 11:15, after the seventh trumpet is sounded, the kingdom of Christ will come. The seven bowls included in the seventh trumpet equal the seventh trumpet. The time for the pouring out of the seven bowls is the time for the blowing of the seventh trumpet. This is unlike the seven trumpets included in the seventh seal, which extend over a period of time. When the seventh trumpet is sounded, there will be very little time left. To facilitate our understanding, we have the following chart:
The opening of the seven seals takes approximately two thousand years. But one can only see what is written in the scroll after the seventh seal is opened. The seventh seal includes the seven trumpets. When the first through the sixth trumpets have sounded, one still cannot see what is written in the scroll. It is only at the time of the seventh trumpet that the scroll is opened. When the seventh trumpet is over, the kingdom will begin. By then we will see the new covenant and the blessings God has prepared on earth (Jer. 31:31-34; 33:14-15).
The seals extend over a period of time, and the trumpets also extend over a period of time. However, there is a difference between the trumpets and the seals. The seals will damage one fourth of the earth (Rev. 6:8), while the trumpets will damage one third of the earth (8:7).
The beginning of the seventh trumpet is the beginning of the first bowl. The end of the seventh trumpet is the end of the seventh bowl. Moreover, this trumpet will last for at least three and a half years. Revelation 10:7 corresponds with Romans 16:25-26, and Revelation 11:15 is at the end of the seventh trumpet, when the kingdom is about to come. In between these two verses are three and a half years. Revelation 11:3 mentions three and a half years (42 months, 1260 days). Revelation 12:6 and 14 also mention three and a half years (1260 days and "a time and times and half a time"). In Revelation 11:7 the completion of the two witnesses' tesitimony will come after a period of time. We can say that the seventh seal "begets" the seven trumpets, while the seventh trumpet includes the seven bowls. The seven bowls describe the condition of the seventh trumpet.
If we compare "Your wrath" in Revelation 11:15-18 with "the fury of God" in Revelation 15:1, we can see that the seven bowls are the fury of God.
The seals are opened in heaven in secret, while the trumpets are sounded on earth and are heard by everyone. The bowls are physical and are not a mere sound. The opening of the seals is the judgment in the dispensation of grace. Only the believers know where these things such as famine, earthquake, and swords originate. They are not known to the unbelievers. Hence, they are hidden. The sounding of the trumpets signifies a change of dispensation; the dispensation of the gospel has ended. Chapter seven is on the sealing of the Israelites and the rapture of the overcoming believers. Chapter eight is a declaration of war. The trumpets convey the sense of announcement, while the bowls signify wrath. In the Old Testament, there is the "cup of wrath." But here, the bowl of wrath is stronger than the cup of wrath.
From the following arguments we can see that the tribulations of the seven trumpets are real tribulations:
(1) The book of Revelation is not a book of signs.
(2) The sounding of the trumpets is audible and is not hidden. Whatever is sounded is what they signify. (At the sounding of the last trumpet, there is resurrection. Resurrection is miraculous. Of course, the first to the sixth trumpets are also miraculous.)
(3) The seventh trumpet brings God's judgment to men.
(4) All the prophecies in the Old Testament, whether concerning judgment or the coming of the Lord, are to be interpreted literally. Why then should it be different in the New Testament? Since the ten plagues in Exodus were literal, why should the tribulations in Revelation not be interpreted literally?
(5) By Revelation 7 the age of the church is over, and God has returned to the position of the Old Testament. Of course, as such, all the judgments have to be interpreted literally. Micah 7:15 says that God will execute judgment like He did in Egypt, only it will be a greater judgment (Isa. 11:15-16). Moreover, Jeremiah 23:7 and 8 say that God will execute a deliverance greater than that in Egypt. It therefore follows that the tribulations will be greater than those at the time of the exodus from Egypt.
(6) The "marvels" prophesied in Exodus 34:10 will be fulfilled at the time of the sounding of the seven trumpets.
(7) The "great and persistent plagues" mentioned in Deuteronomy 28:59 are all "extraordinary." God's judgments are always carried out through miracles.
(8) The Lord said that the day of the Son of Man will be like the days of Noah and of Lot (Luke 17:26-28). At the time of Noah, God opened up the window of heaven and poured down rain. At the time of Lot, God sent fire from heaven. These were miraculous judgments.
(9) God has to show men that He is Jehovah. In men's eyes, many calamities are only changes in nature. But to turn water into blood, and to turn only one third of it, proves that it is not a common change in nature. Rather, it has to be an act of God. Man is saturated with sin, and God has to come in to judge.
The "great tribulation" in Matthew 24:21-28 concerns the Israelites. It is the persecution of Antichrist on the Israelites. The earliest this persecution will start is at the sounding of the fifth trumpet (Rev. 9:1-11). Actually, it starts at the seventh trumpet because only then do the events concerning Antichrist begin to transpire (10:7; 11:2; 12:12; 13:1-18).
The "hour of trial" in Revelation 3:10 is for the whole world, while the "great tribulation" in Matthew 24:21-28 is for the Jews. The "hour of trial" of Revelation 3:10 begins from the time of the first trumpet, while the "great tribulation" of Matthew 24:21-28 will start, at the earliest, with the sounding of the fifth trumpet. Strictly speaking, it will start with the sounding of the seventh trumpet; otherwise, the world would persecute the Israelites (those who belong to God) even more.
"And when He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them."
At the time that the seventh seal is opened, all noise stops. (The whole universe is silent; even the throne is silent.) This is because the age is about to change. "And I saw the seven angels who stand before God." The angels are standing, while the twenty-four elders are sitting. The seven angels have instruments in front of them. Hence, some have thought that Gabriel should be one among them (cf. Luke 1:19). The trumpets are for warfare (1 Cor. 14:8; Amos 3:6; Exo. 19:16). The heavenly will is ready for the sounding of the trumpets, but God has to wait for something to be accomplished before He will issue the command. God has to wait for His sons to express their sympathy towards Him; that is, He has to wait for the prayer of Revelation 8:3-5. Mr. Gordon said, "Prayer is the tracks for God's will to run on."
"And another Angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer, and much incense was given to Him to offer with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne."
The "another Angel" is the Priest; this is the Lord Jesus. The prayers of the saints are offered to God through the incense of this "another Angel." No Christian can offer up prayer by himself. There must be the incense, which is the merit of Christ's work, the fragrance of Christ. The believers' prayer must be joined to the fragrance of Christ before it can reach God.
Why does this verse call the Lord an angel and not a priest? Hebrews 2:16 says, "Assuredly it is not to angels that He gives help." Hence, the Epistles show us that, in the Lord's relationship to us, He takes the position of a man. Hebrews 2:17 says, "He should have been made like His brothers in all things." Because He is a man, He can draw near to man. His being the "Angel" implies that He is higher than man. In Genesis 18:2, 16, and 22, the Lord is described as a man who drew near to Abraham. However, in Genesis 19:1 He came to Lot as an "angel," showing that He was apart from man. Later when He was helping Lot, He appeared as a man again (Gen. 19:10, 12, 16). Revelation 8:3 says that the Lord is "another Angel." This means that the age has changed; He is no longer the Son of Man of the age of the gospel. He has now become "another Angel," yet He is still a priest. The saints here are in the midst of tribulations.
In the Old Testament, the incense had to be lit with the fire from the altar; no strange fire could be offered up. The altar is a type of the Lord's cross. The incense is our prayer. Hence, one can only come to God through the merit and the redemption of the Lord's cross. Prayer cannot be offered up with strange fire (fire that is not from the altar). Hence, without the cross, there can be no prayer.
"And the smoke of the incense went up with the prayers of the saints out of the hand of the Angel before God."
"The smoke of the incense." The incense is lit, and the smoke of the incense signifies the Lord's merit. Only smoke will ascend. Without the Lord's incense, no prayer can ascend to God.
"And the Angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar and cast it to the earth; and there were thunders and voices and lightnings and an earthquake."
"And there were thunders..." This is God's answer to the prayers. Although we do not know the content of the prayers, we know what the prayers are about from the fact that they are answered. The prayers of the saints here correspond with the cry from underneath the altar of the fifth seal; they are the prayers of those who ask to be avenged (Luke 18:1-8). "The Angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar and cast it to the earth." It is cast back to the same place from whence it came. That which is cast to the earth is God's judgment.
