When the sixth seal is opened two parties are brought to view. Each of the two is pictured in the final events of earth's history. As Christ appears and the heavens recede like a scroll and every mountain and island is removed, those who have been deceived will flee from the face of Him who sits on the throne. What deception has deceived them? The deception that is now taught in many Christian circles that people do not have to repent and forsake their sins so that those sins may be blotted out. To them the coming of the Lord is a consuming fire and they cannot face it.

The other group is pictured standing before God's throne with palm branches, worshiping God Who wipes away every tear from their eyes.

As it is shown that so many people will be rushing for the mountains begging them to fall upon them to hide them from the wrath of the God, we hear the question being asked:

"WHO WILL BE ABLE TO STAND?"

 
It is chapter 7 that deals with the answer. The answer is

"These are they that have WASHED THEIR ROBES IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB AND MADE THEM WHITE IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB." (Rev. 7:14)

  It is only through the blood of Christ that any of us can stand in that judgment. For it is only in Christ's righteousness that we can be accounted as worthy of heaven. In other words-- without the covenant, NONE will stand-- no not one -- Many CLAIM to belong to Christ, many profess, they place their seals on the book of the covenant. But when Christ opens those seals it is seen HOW they related to that covanant. The claim is not good enough we must REALLY belong to Christ.
Here is what is revealed when the seals of Christiandom are opened. "forsake the covenant".

Now the importance of the covenant relationship understanding is crucial however. For the sixth seal still reveals a lot of people who are NOT covered.

For indeed none will be in the victorious crowd in the last days who is NOT in a firm covenant relationship with Christ. NONE.

Only those whose sins are covered by the slain Lamb of God, and are in that covenant relationship with Christ will be able to stand.

  Thus Revelation's first picture of the heavenly sanctuary depicts Christ's work in the HOLY place. The sanctuary is NOW open. Previous to this no sanctuary work could be done as their was no blood-- and without the shedding of blood there is no remission for sins-- the blood of bulls and sheep couldn't do it!

The major religious teachings DO NOT understand the covenant relationship. They see the new covenant as radically different from God's dealings with the children of Israel under the OT.

  Now there is a difference between the new and the old, because the old covenant was based on human priests, animal sacrifices and blood, and an earthly sanctuary. But CONTRARY to modern understanding the former was not an end in itself. (i.e. they were saved by works, we by grace) NO! The old was a type or a series of symbols of what was to come. The old portrays in symbols how God works out His covenant.

  Therefore in the new covenant we have the REAL high Priest, the real and better cleansing blood, the heavenly sanctuary. Here the REAL work of dealing with sin takes place for it is ONLY through the BLOOD OF CHRIST that sin can be forgiven. Yet, the stipulations-- that we walk in the commandments and statutes of moral uprighteness with our Lord and Savior WERE NOT done away with-- they are still part of the covenant.

The curses and blessings of the old covenant were NOT done away with. Revelation reveals that they are still part of the new covenant. Sin that is unconfessed and unforsaken is NOT covered by that precious atoning blood of Christ and will stand against us in the investigative judgment.

  Revelation begins with Christ walking among the candlesticks (His churches) pouring out His Holy Spirit (the seven lamps and the seven spirits) upon His church and establishing the covenant with them.

These early chapters in Revelation show CHRIST'S beginning work after His ascension and carries us through the Christian era. Here is where the NEW COVENANT is established.

Here is where the wonderful provisions of "Christ's blood" and the "Holy Spirit's power", are offered to the church and it's people.

  Yes, Revelation 4 and 5 is a joyous occasion praising God for the wonderful covenant He has made with the people of men, and honoring Christ for the sacrifice He was willing to suffer, in order that the covenant could be ratified and executed.

The following chapters also deal with the way people relate to that covenant.

And it all ends with the judgment resulting in bringing to view the two parties--One the redeemed, the other-- those who rejected God's covenant.

  So yes, indeed the book in the hands of Christ is the book of the covenants...containing all God's provisions and providences, His laws and commandments, His authority, as well as the reaction of the people. Each generation of peoples have added their "SEAL" or CLAIM that they are a covenant people.

Now we see the Christian era add their seals to the book claiming to be "members of God's covenant".

II TIMOTHY 2:19

  In the first seal, Christ moves forth on the white horse-- this white horse appears again in Revelation 19:11 where the rider is called, faithful and true and the Word of God and King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This is the Christ declaring:

"the kingdom of heaven is at hand"

  The kingdom of grace proclaiming the victory of the cross--

The four horses portray the polluting of Christianity's power".
The four horses galloping forth from the first four seals depict the sad story of how Christianity related to God's Covenant. It began with Christ:

Psalm 45:4-7
 
"And in Your Majesty ride prosperously because of truth, humility and righteousness, and your right hand will instruct you in awesome things. Your arrow are sharp in the heart..."

  But by the fourth horse, Christianity is pictured as death. The apostolic truths started out as strong and alive in God's spirit, but gradually lost it's purity as it moved on into stark famine of real spirituality, and ends up as "death".

Let’s look at the seals for the announcement of the investigative judgment

 

In the fifth seal, the blood of the martyrs cry out with a loud voice:

"

  Lord, YOU received the authority an power to bring salvation, why has this system, which goes forth in YOUR name, trampled upon YOUR people and preverted YOUR truth? Why don't YOU exercise your authority and judge?

  But the great plan of salvation includes allowing sin to play out it's full revelation, as well as GOD revealing HIS ULTIMATE GOODNESS. Thus mankind is given freedom to respond to God's covenant. Thus it is revealed what the antagonism of the enemy of souls will do to the covenant of God and to the people who cling to God's covenant.

BUT GOD WILL JUDGE-- from the middle of the fifth seal to the seventh seal God reveals HIS judgment.

  Notice what happens next?

 

"Then a white robe was given to each of them."

 

  Judgment has NOT been going on before this. But NOW their cases are investigated. They were judged and vindicated. The sentences of the carnal, earthly courts are reversed. They were declared righteous! But they are still dead.

For

 

"it was said that they should rest a little longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed."

 

  This shows that the investigative judgment began after the tribulation of 1260 years, those martyred during the ages past, are vindicated, but this is not the second coming. In the future there will be another time when the beast will put to death those who follow the word of God.

 

  In: Revelation 20:4, we read that people will be martyred during the time when the beast and his image try to force their mark on the whole world.

Yet, even here the promise is given that they will LIVE and reign with Christ. The investigative judgment is not at the second coming. The judgment is seen over and over again, to commense after the 1260 day/years of papal corruption and power, but before the second coming.

  It is the sure promise that Christ will make the final decision as to who will receive eternal life -- not some earthly powers which try to force false worship. It is very important to understand this. For it will help settle in the minds of God's people the importance of the truths of the final crises.

  The sixth seal shows the results of that investigative judgment. First we see what appears to be ALL the people, the high officials, the common people, the servants, all running in terror, for the day of God's wrath has come, and they beg the mountains to fall upon them.

But there are some people who do have the real seal--the seal of God! In chapter seven we see a great multitude that no man can number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white.   They are singing. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more, for the Lamb will be their shepherd, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

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THE BOOK OF THE COVENANT

 

  That book of the covenant, which God the Father gives to Christ, contains the history of God's providences, His Divine utterances, His authority, His commandments, and the history of mankind's response to His revelations and to His covenant of salvation. Due to the fact that Christ gave His blood to ratify that covenant, gives Him full and complete authority to do all that is required in the saving of those who respond, and to destroy all sin in the end.

  The scroll of the covenant deals with all the stipulations and authority for dealing with the sin problem, both for vindication of those who have washed their robes in the Blood of the Lamb, and for destruction of all who forsake the covenant.

The Bible tells us why "God's wrath goes forth"
BECAUSE THEY HAVE FORSAKEN THE COVENANT! "keep the Commandments of God and have the FAITH OF JESUS."

 

 

Jer. 22:9

 

"Because they have forsaken the covenant
of the Lord their God,"

 

(Joshua 23:16, Judges 2:20, Ps. 78:37, Is.24:5, Jer. 11:3, Jer. 11:8,10, Jer. 34:18, Ez. 16:59, Ez. 17:16-18, )

 

Hosea 8:1

 

"Set the trumpet to your mouth! He shall come like an eagle against
the house of the LORD, because they have
transgressed My covenant and rebelled against my Law."

 

Revelation 14:12

 

Says those who stand and do not receive the wrath poured out without mixture are they that

 

  A people in true COVENANT relationship with Christ.

 

  The covenant document of God with his people, the book revealed in Rev. 5, contains the revelation of God's will to men; it relates to God's entire dealings with men-- not just judgment, not just vindication, but all God's dealings with man kind from the beginning to the end.  

Trumpets and the Day of Atonement

 

  How fitting it is, as we see all things focusing on the "Day of Atonement", the HOUR OF HIS JUDGMENT, which the angel of Revelation 14 proclaims, is preceeded by seven trumpets.

 

THE FEAST OF TRUMPETS

 

  This feast was observed on the first day of the seventh month.
Now the first day of every month was begun with the blowing of trumpets. So why make special mention of the blowing of trumpets on the first day of the seventh month?

The importance was, that in the seventh month, the trumpets were announcing that this was the month of the day of atonement, and all were to consecrate themselves to the Lord in preparation for this solemn day.

It is interesting that seven months pass. Each beginning with a trumpet blast. On the seventh month, we have the seventh trumpet blast announcing the day of atonement.

Are any bells ringing? Is anything corresponding in our minds?

Revelation! There we have seven trumpets blown consecutively, not all together . And when the seventh trumpet blows, in chapter 11, we see the inner door into the Most Holy of Heaven opened and we see the ark, while the 24 elders declare that the time of judgment has come.

  It seems very likely that the blowing of the seven trumpets in Revelation correspond to the blowing of trumpets at the seven New Moon (or New Month) festivals in the Old Testament. Each new moon trumpet blowing was understood as a day of judgment in miniature, which warned people to prepare for the final judgment ushered in by the Feast of Trumpets. When the seventh trumpet blew, it was to announce the Day of Atonement was at hand.

  In like manner, the trumpets in Revelation each have a warning function and after the seventh trumpet (Rev. 11:18) the judgment is announced and the ark of the covenant is shown.

  Could the fulfilment of the feast of trumpets have occurred when the 1844 message was sounded around the world by Miller and others with the same message. The Millerites certainly believed that! Prepare to meet your God, they preached. They thought Christ was coming to earth at the time, but it was actually the announcement of the inauguration of the day of atonement.

  The Jewish understanding of the Feast of Trumpets is an annual trumpet call to stand trial before God and seek for His cleansing grace. The ten days between the feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement were seen by the Jews as a time to prepare for judgment. They even have liturgy to capture the awesome qualities of judgment and trial. One of there cerimonies included going to a body of water and sprinkling crumbs on the water while praying;

 

"You will cast all my sins into the depths of the sea, and they shall not be remembered or visited or come to mind,"

 

  The ten days leading up to the day of Atonement is a period of deep soul searching and repentance to prepare themselves for the final cleansing and judgment on the day of atonement.

  It was also a time when the principles of the law were studied. At the time of the feast of trumpets, in Ezra's time, he asked the scribe to bring the book of the law,. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month, explaining to the people the principles of the divine law.

 

"So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the meaning, and caused them to understand the reading." . And he read the law to them. . . . And the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law."

 

THE DAY OF ATONEMENT

 

  On the day of atonement all sin is dealt with. This is when the High Priest enters the Most Holy Place. Those who have embraced God's covenant, whose sins have been confessed and forsaken are covered by the blood placed upon the mercy seat and there sins are then taken and placed on the instigator of sin and cast out into the wilderness (bottomless pit for 1000 years). Those who refused to confess and forsake their sins and enter into a covenant relationship with Christ are also cast out into the wilderness.

  We know that Jesus is now still giving us opportunity to accept HIS covenant, to confess our sins, to repent in deep humility, and have our lives purified in obeying and living out the truth. Now is the time for wrongs to be righted and sins to be confessed, or they will appear against us in the judgment. We know we are living after the seventh trumpet has begun to sound, but it has not finished sounded-- Christ has not yet appeared in the clouds of glory! We are living in the hour of HIS judgment, when our High Priest has gone into the Most Holy Place for the final work of Priestly Ministry. Soon, we will experience the Feast of Tabernacles--and enter the promised land.

"How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"
(Revelation 6:10)
 
Painting by Frank Breaden,
Pictorial Aid for Bible Study
The four horses of Christiandom have already galloped forth. The era of papal oppression, that little horn
 
"which came up and made war against the saints and prevailed against them" (Dan. 7:21) for 1260 years (Daniel 7:25)
 
  Has taken it's toll.
But judgment has NOT YET BEGUN?
Daniel's prophecy has declared that the Ancient of Days would came and judgment would be made in favor of the saints and against the beast (Daniel 7:22,25) after the 1260 day/years.
 
  Now the injustice done to the sheer number of martyred saints who were slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held, cries out:

"How long, O Lord, until You judge?"