The Scroll
The Beginning of the End
Seal 2 - War
7 SHOUTS then Silence before the Great Day of the Lord's Wrath
SEAL 2 Challenge: FEAR or FAITH The Theme of TWO is opposites or opposition.
2 WARRING KINGDOMS
(Day 2 = Air)
The Second Seal—Rider on Red Horse: WAR
Revelation 6:3-4 "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."
Sign 2 from Matthew 24 “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom…”
Day 2 Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. 8 God called the expanse heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day. Genesis 1:6-8
Seal 2 -War, Sign 2 -Wars, Day 2 Air: Separation of waters (Kingdom) above and waters (kingdom) below? What's the connection? Keep reading to see.
Church 2 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: 9 ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’
God has set the PATTERN from the beginning of Creation. Each of the 7 days of creation presents a “Theme” and a clue to God's End of the Age path. We see this “theme” repeated in the 7 Seals and in a number of the other “7”s in the Bible.
See THE 7s of GOD'S PLAN for more.
Revelation starts with 7 letters to 7 churches. These 7 letters also keep the “themes” and are the Believers instructions for “overcoming” each of the seal challenges of the End Times.
Day 2 of Creation is all about DIVIDING or Opposition and AIR. God Divides the upper and lower waters by placing our atmosphere or “air” on the earth. Have you ever wondered why God would take a whole day just to make air? It is where we now live and a symbol or picture of a battle between God and Satan. This thin layer of atmospher is presently the domain of our enemy the devil. He is the “prince of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2) and "...spiritual forces of wickedness in the (near) heavenly places." (Eph 6:12) . Satan has stolen what was given to man. He does not belong here in our air and on our Earth. Note also that Day 2 of the Creation week is the only Day God does not say anything is "good". Why? Purhaps because day two represents the battle of two Kingdoms. Daniel's 70th Week will bring an end to this enemy and restore what was lost. Satan divides and brings fear and wars and death to the world. God's final wrath, bowl #7 will be poured out on the AIR as a grand finale to Satan's domain. Rev 16:17
Note the Biblical use of waters, seas and oceans as KINGDOMS. We find the kingdom of this world as the waters below and the Kingdom of God as the waters above. The 'war' is between these kingdoms and in the 'air'.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 24 that “world wars” will be a source of FEAR. But He also instructs, “See that you are NOT frightened, these things MUST take place” (Matt 24:6). WHY MUST THEY? Because, from the beginning Satan has been warring against those made in the image of God. We are already at war.
Seal 2 sees a Red horse and rider who “takes peace from the earth”.
The Bible lists a few specific "Wars" that will stand out in this last time period. Daniel gives a running dialogue of battles that are partially fulfilled by Antiochus Epiphanies around 150 B.C. but also morph into the last days battles of the Antichrist. See Daniel 11 and 12.
In Ezekiel 38 and 39 Gog Magog from the far north and several other nations are spoken of. These Nations will surround Israel when they are at peace in order to take plunder. God leads these nations down and destroys them "...so that the nations may know Me when I show Myself holy in you before their eyes." (Eze 38:16) God sends a great earthquake, plague, hailstones and fire on them. He turns the warriors against one another and utterly destroys them. Their weapons will be used as fuel for seven years. The timing of this war is uncertain, but may happen just before the Shout that signals the final 7 years or could it be part of the wars of Seal 2?. The weapons used as fuel could help the Israelis that flee into the wilderness to be hidden from the Antichrist for 3 and 1/2 years.
Antichrist will attack and take over Jerusalem half way through this last 7 years. See Luke 21:20-24; Matthew 24:15-21; Daniel 9:27
We see repeated reference to 10 "kings" who align with the Antichrist and will likely comprise the armies that surround Jerusalem as Jesus warns. See Daniel 7:19-27; Luke 21:20; Revelation 17:12-14; Psalm 83.
Many people have heard of the "Battle of Armageddon". But that "Battle" takes place when the 7 Trumpet Judgments have finished and Jesus has returned to Jerusalem with the protected Jewish remnant. The 6th Bowl judgment tells us that this "battle" of Armageddon will be very one sided and will "finish off" the rebellious armies of the world in short order. Revelation 16:16-17 and 19:11-21
Note also that the "Grand Finale" of all of Gods Wrath is summed up in the 7th Bowl Judgment. The 7th Angel pours that last "wrath" on "the air", the place where all the battles have taken place. Perhaps this final Bowl sweeps all demonic beings into Hell. With that, the grand pronouncement is made :
"IT IS DONE!"
It is as though God is cleansing the very air of this world of all that is left of evil.
SO WHAT? (How then should we live?)
So where is the Christian's source of Peace found? Our trust is in Him who warns us to resist being filled with fear, our Lord Jesus Christ. Mark 13:8-13; John 16:33; John 14:27 Even in wars or prison we are more than conquerors through Christ. These wars will begin to clarify the 'division' between those who belong to God and those who follow satan.
How can you keep from being fearful?
Answer : Fear GOD in reverence wherever you are. Know that Christ has conquered death. See Rev 2:8-11
Choose this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15
1. Remember He who “was dead, now alive” is He who opens the Seal. Jesus has removed the "sting" of death by dying and rising again. As His redeemed, we no longer fear death. He allows war to “take peace from the earth” but admonishes us to "NOT FEAR" when these wars arise.
2. Jesus tells us in Matthew 24 that “these things MUST take place”. Even war is in God's hands. A Holy God must deal with sin.
3. The reasons why Wars must bring ‘division’ to the earth are many but the image of Birthing may help with the “Big” picture. Just as a women's body contracts so that her baby might exit the womb, so the “birth pains” are a signal to the world that a birth (Church delivered) is in sight with Jesus’ return. The sky itself will open up to 'deliver' the Saints out of the world. Revelation 6:14 See 'Birth Pains' for more.
4. The Church at Smyrna was “tested” as the devil divided them off and threw them into Prison. Yet Jesus exhorts them to have “NO FEAR” but to be “FAITHFUL” even to death. To live for Jesus will set you apart from a world at war with God. So rejoice when the world hates you for Him. You are on the “Right” side of it all. Matthew 5:10-12
5. Not all of the ‘wars’ will be direct attacks on the Saints but all the “End Times Wars” will have as their goal the destruction of God and His Kingdom. Spoiler alert—the devil looses and God's people win forevermore. "IT IS DONE" will be the last and great shout.
6. Remember too, that you are NOT a victim even in Prison or Death. Fight in the Spirit and with the Full Armor of God (Eph 6). He has not destined us for destruction but for LIFE forevermore with Him in His Kingdom. Even now as you read this hundreds of Christians are being imprisoned or martyred for their faith every week. Jesus told us we would have troubles in this world but that He would never leave us or forsake us.
“Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’”
Rev 2:10-11
Pray the 7 parts of the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. Note how each part contains and applies the Theme for each Seal.
2. "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." War: Two Kingdoms- Jesus, the King of kings vs Satan 1 John 5:19-21 "We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and He is eternal life. Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts."
Dear Heavenly Father, You warned us that we would see unrest and all kinds of evil in this broken world. Breathe into us fresh courage and strength to stand in the evil day. As members of Your Kingdom, make us to be an island of Peace and Joy in a sea of storms and battles. Use these bitter days to draw many to Yourself. Your Kingdom come....
Hint: Also Pray Psalm 91 over your fears. Jesus is a very present Help in times of trouble.
Each Millenia Holds to the Themes of each "Day"
2nd Millennium - God wages War against Sin
Noah is born right around the beginning of the second Millennium. His name means REST. Noah is a tool in God's hand to foreshadow Day 7. The World Wide Flood speaks to God's fight against all forces of evil in the world. The Kingdom above comes down and crushes the kingdom of this world.
2 Peter 2:5 calls Noah a "Preacher of Righteousness". Thus Noah stands as a type of Christ warning the world of Sins consequence. The Ark pictures God's offer to all sinners the way of escape out of Judgement by "getting on board" by faith as did Noah and his family.
1 Peter 3:19ff tells us that "Jesus, via the Holy Spirit... "went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, 20 who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you..."
Why did it take Noah so long to build the Ark? (as much as 100 years) in part because the Heart of God is not to Judge but to offer Salvation. Through Noah, God was calling that lost generation to be Saved. He was in effect fighting FOR them as Jesus, in the Spirit "made proclamation" to a wicked and unrepentant mankind.
The Tower of Babel is the 2nd major event of the 2nd millennium. God, confuses their language, spreading the growing post flood population out around the Earth. God had commanded them to spread out and "fill the Earth" Genesis 1:28 But they rebelled and purposed to stay together. Genesis 11:4 "... otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth." God concluded that had He not scattered them ..."nothing will be impossible for them." v. 11:6 Their sin would only breed and multiply their rebellion. So again God "wages war" on sin and forces them to abandon their plan. God is a Warrior and Fights Evil. He is the "Ark" of our Salvation. He places each person on earth specifically When and Where they live for one central purpose, to maximize our chance to be SAVED. See Acts 17:26-27
Click on each seal and scroll down to discover the Events that precede His Return.
