The first four seals are to be regarded as one unit; the four horsemen go forth under the control of the throne. The fifth and six seal are also to be regarded as being closely related. We actually find this order of events in the preaching of Christ. If you turn to Matthew Ch24:29 the Lord tells us, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened and the moo shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.” Hence the order of the fifth and sixth seals is maintained by the Lord Jesus Christ in Matt Ch24, tribulation first, the world of men affected, particularly the world of the saints and then the shakeup of the physical creation. The same order is also seen in Luke Ch21:11-12, “and great earthquakes shall be in diverse places, and famines and pestilences and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven, but before all these they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prison, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.” The order, persecution then cosmic chaos and then cometh the end. These words of Christ shed great light on the passage before us, as John sees the Lamb take the sealed book and further loose the fifth and sixth seal.
Again we want to understand the message and application not only to John but to us today. |
