Looking for His glorious appearing! Titus 2:13

Revelation 6:9-11 Exploring Revelation
Jul 3rd, 2020
Exploring RevelationArt Sadlier
Categories: Commentary;Prophecy;Book Study

THE FIFTH SEAL

We have looked at the breaking of four seals in rapid succession. Each of these four judgements have only caused the majority of men to harden their hearts against God. In Rev. 6:16, we see that these rebellious men would rather die than repent.

We see this emphasized again in Rev. 9:20-21, a refusal to repent. For the unregenerate the whole tribulation scenario is a record of men hardening their hearts. All of this hardening of hearts results in the slaughter of the tribulation saints.

The opening of the fifth seal reveals what had been taking place during the opening of the four seals (Rev. 6:9).

The background

The tribulation period began with no believers on the earth, they were all raptured with the church.

But an amazing thing took place, people began to get saved, a 144,000 Jews are saved and they are like 144,000 apostle Pauls. perhaps like Pauls conversion no men are involved or perhaps the two witnesses of Rev. 11:3 led them to Christ.

So we see two scenarios on earth during the tribulation period. 1- MULTIPLIED MILLIONS having their hearts hardened and turning against the tribulation saints and slaughtering them by the millions. 2- MULTIPLIED MILLIONS are being saved from every nation. (Rev. 7:9; 13-14).

Notice the cry for vengence

"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 dwell on the earth?" Verse 10. You see nothing like that during the entire church age. WHY? because the church age is the age of grace. God's patience and mercy and grace is extended throughout the entire church age! The age of grace begins at the cross where the veil of the temple was rent in two, at that point the age of the law ended. At penticost the age of grace began with the birth of the church. The age of grace ends when the Day of the Lord begins after the rapture. The D.O.L. is the day when God directly intervenes in the lives of men in vengence and judgment.

When the D.O.L. begins, it is right and proper that God's children should pray in line with God's purposes and actions.

Notice the answer in verse 11, the fifth seal is the beginning of God's answer to the prayer of His martyred tribulation saints. God has a pay day, it is not on Friday, it is His appointed time. "For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy." Rev. 16:6. The tribulation period is the age of judgment not of grace. However their is law in the age of grace and their is grace in the age of law, but the dominating principles apply.

A great contrast

While the tribulation saints are being martyred on earth, look what is going on in heaven, a great worship service. Read Rev. 7:9-12 How can those in heaven do that while their brothers on earth are suffering? The answer is that they have a right perspective about life on earth. To suffer for Christ is better than not to suffer for Him. To die for Christ is better than to live for Him. See Matthew 5:10-12

"Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through mainfold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:" - 1 Peter 1:6-7

So as they wait while other of their brothers are also martyred, God is pouring His fierce anger in awful judgment upon a rebellious and unrepentant world.

When the tribulation period begins their is not a believer alive on the earth, seven years latter when Christ returns their will not be a living unbeliever on the earth. (See Matthew 25:)

Blessed is He, Whosoever Shall not be Offended in Me - Matthew 11:6
Jul 3rd, 2020
Morning MeditationF.B. Meyer
Categories: Commentary;Inspirational;Book Study

A friend has turned these words into another beatitude - The blessedness of the unoffended. The Baptist was tempted to take offence with Christ, first, because of His long delay in asserting Himself as the promised Messiah; and secondly, because of His apparent indifference to His own welfare. "If He be all that I expected, why does He leave me in this sad plight, extending to me no word of comfort; making no attempt to free me from these dark, damp cells."

Are there not such hours in our lives still? We say, If He really love us and is entrusted with all power, why does he not deliver us from this difficult and irksome condition? Why does He not hurl these prison walls to the ground? Why does He not vindicate and bring me out to the light of life and joy?

But the Lord made no attempt to emancipate His servant; and He seems to be unmindful of our sore straits. All He did for John was to send him materials on which his faith should feed, and rise to a stronger, nobler growth. "Go back," He said in effect to John, "tell him what I can do; he is not mistaken - I have all power, I am the expected King; and if I do not come to his help in the way he expects, it is not through lack of power and willingness, but because of reasons of Divine policy and government, to which I must be true. Tell him to trust Me, though I do not deliver him. Assure him of the blessedness which must accrue to those who are not offended at My apparent neglect. I will explain all to him some day." Thus He speaks still. He does not attempt to apologize, or to explain - He only asks our trust; and promises blessedness to those who do not stumble at life's mysteries.