7 Churches 7 Seals--Is the Church Present at the Opening of the Seals?

As the hour of our Redemption draws oh so near, fellow watchmen have been discussing, “Where are we on God’s timeline?” and more specifically, “Have the Seals of Revelation been opened yet?”

 

Whether Those in Christ are in Heaven at the opening of the Seals in Revelation Chapter 6 or not is a delineating factor as to when the Rapture occurs. Fortunately, I came across a well-written article by loudcryofthethirdangel.com containing NEW information to help answer the question of whether the Seals have been opened yet or not. So I will be quoting many excerpts herein!

 

To understand the Seals one needs to understand their legal significance. And to understand that we need to go back to Chapter 5.

Chapter 5 of the Book of Revelation opens in the throne room where Almighty God the Father is seated:

 

And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. - Revelation 5:1 KJV

And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? - Revelation 5:2 KJV

 

Similar to the high-level Roman practice for legal documents, the scroll the Father is holding contains text written on the outside and inside:  

 

The scroll in God’s right hand is unusual because there is writing on both sides. Normally, the uneven texture of animal skins and papyrus makes writing on both sides difficult. Reading a two-sided scroll is challenging as well. Yet John sees writing on the “inside and on the back” (v. 1). The doubly inscribed scroll resembles a Roman will or contract deed, with the details inside and a summary on the outside, then sealed with seven seals. oncedelivered.net

What was the scroll that John saw?

 

. . . John saw the land inheritance, the title deed of the land which was sold by Adam through sin. To find none worthy was to mean that none should receive the inheritance; none should be a redeemer of the earth; and therefore, none should raise up the name of the dead, the name of Adam. It is understandable that John should wail with an agonizing cry.

 

. . . “And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.” (Revelation 5:5-6) loudcryofthethirdangel.com

 

Notice the Hebraic references here--“Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David”. We can see the transference from the Church Age of Grace into the Time of Jacob’s Trouble ( “Jacob” is a reference to natural born Jews).

 

That Christ is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah is a reference to the blessing of the kingly sceptre, and the right to the throne of David. That He is seen as a lamb as it had been slain testifies to the redemption price to raise up the name of Adam, and pay the price of the earth.

 

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” (1 Peter 1:18-19)

 

“And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb…And they sang a new song . . . loudcryofthethirdangel.com

 

But is the Church in Heaven at this time?

7 Seals 7 Witnesses

 

From ancient times until now most legal documents require witnesses.

 

Historian Henry James Summer Maine, in his 1861 book “Ancient Law” wrote the following regarding the will and inheritance in Roman law:

“…the Testament…was invalid unless sealed by seven witnesses. . .

 

If the testament was not sealed by seven witnesses according to Roman law, the testament was legally made void. If seven witnesses could not testify to the will of the deceased, the will would be considered invalid. . .

 

“And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.” (Hebrews 9:15-17)

 

In the testament, the death of the one who gave the testament is necessary to receive the promise of inheritance. Likewise, it was necessary that Christ should die, and to rise as a new man, that He might receive the inheritance that is promised to the firstborn sons in Israel. He is “the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” The right of the firstborn was to receive the father’s estate, a “double portion of all that he hath” (Deut. 21:17).

 

Yet to this will required seven witnesses according to Roman law. If the witnesses were not present, the will was considered ineffective. . . loudcryofthethirdangel.com

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. - Revelation 5:6 KJV

 

7 Witnesses 7 Churches

 

There is a reason Jesus addresses seven churches or ekklesia in Revelation 2 and 3, for they are the seven witnesses:

 

The scroll is the title deed of the earth, redeemed by the blood of the Son of God. Yet there must be also witnesses to this purchase. When the Lamb appeared in heaven, as it was having been slain, a great mystery revealing the witnesses is given. The Lamb is depicted having “seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.”

 

. . . The eyes of the Lord are the seven spirits of God which are in Christ to keep His work straight for the building of the temple of God. In the same vision of John, where he sees the Lamb with seven eyes, being the seven spirits of God, he sees earlier the seven-branched candlestick burning at the throne, which the Bible tells us are “the seven churches.” (Rev. 1:20) Yet in the fourth chapter of Revelation, the seven candlesticks find a special connection with the seven eyes of the Lamb. “And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.” (Revelation 4:5)

 

. . . The Spirit of God comes upon the church of God in seven distinct prophetic generations of the church, and like the seven seals are to be sealed by the seven witnesses, who are witnesses to the purchase and redemption price paid for the land. “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

 

. . . So who are the seven witnesses of the seven seals? They are the seven churches represented by the seven candlesticks. loudcryofthethirdangel.com

And round about the throne [were] four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. - Revelation 4:4 KJV

 

24 Elders

The identity of the 24 elders would also contribute to our understanding of the timing of the Rapture of the Bride.

 

In a very helpful article Who are the 24 Elders in Revelation? it reads:

      John MacArthur makes a strong case that the 24 elders represent a completed body of redeemed humanity, which at this point in future history could only be the church. 

First, the reference to the twenty-four thrones on which the twenty-four elders sat indicates that they reign with Christ. Nowhere in Scripture do angels sit on thrones, nor are they pictured ruling or reigning. . .

Presbuteroi (elders) is never used in Scripture to refer to angels, but always to men.  It is used to speak of older men in general, and the rulers of both Israel and the church.  There is no indisputable use of presbuteroi outside of Revelation to refer to angels. (Some believe that elders in Isaiah 24:23 refers to angels, but it could as well refer to humans.)  Further, elder would be an inappropriate term to describe angels, who do not age.

While angels do appear in white (e.g., John 20:12; Acts 1:10), white garments more commonly are the dress of believers.  That is particularly true in the immediate context of Revelation. Christ promised the believers at Sardis that they would be clothed in white garments (3:5).  He advised the apostate Laodiceans to buy from Me . . . white garments so that you may clothe yourself (3:18). At the marriage supper of the Lamb, His bride will clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean (19:8).  White garments symbolize Christ's righteousness imputed to believers at salvation. 

That the elders wore golden crowns on their heads provides further evidence that they were humans. Crowns are never promised in Scripture to angels, nor are angels ever seen wearing them. Stephanos (crown) is the victor's crown, worn by those who successfully endured the trial, those who competed and won the victory. . .

 

Some teach the 24 elders are Old Testament saints:

Adventists have often identified them with the saints who arose from their graves at the time of Christ's resurrection (Matt. 27:52, 53; cf. Eph. 4:8), since that is a group known to have already been resurrected. The main resurrection is still future (1 Thess. 4:16). ellenwhite.org

If this is the case, there would not be witnesses from all seven periods of the Church Age. I lean toward the belief that 12 patriarchs and the 12 apostles make up the 24 elders. If 12 of those elders are the 12 apostles, then this is proof of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture.

Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Matthew 19:27-28

 

According to the CompanionBible by Bullinger Revelation 5:8-10 reads like the 24 elders are separate from the redeemed:

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four [and] twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us [most texts read "them"] to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us [most texts read "them"] unto our God kings and priests: and we [all texts read "they"] shall reign on the earth. Revelation 5:8-10 [Source: E. W. Bullinger's The Companion Bible pp. 1890-1891; public domain link: CompanionBible.Bullinger]

HOWEVER, I came across a teaching by David Hocking (a Blue Letter Bible commentator) on Manuscript Evidence that disputes Bullinger’s Companion Bible regarding the translation of Revelation 5:9. The Companion Bible notes that “most texts read ‘them’”; but David Hocking says:

 

In fact you'll see a number of NIV, New American and all of that saying in the margin, "most ancient authorities agree with this," Which is a flat out lie. Why? Because there are only twenty‐four Greek manuscripts on Revelation 5:9 that we know are in existence--twenty‐three of them read "us." The only one that doesn't is Codex Alexandrinas, the Egyptian tradition. BLB David Hocking-Manuscript Evidence

 

The reason the translation is so important, of course, is a determination of whether the Church saints, the Bride, is in Heaven at this time or not. 

 

In the controversial text for instance, in Revelation 5:9 about the new song that the elders are singing in heaven, whether they are singing it about themselves-"we've been purchased of God with His blood"-or about those that are on earth that are going to get saved, is the difference between being a pre‐tribulationist and a post‐tribulationist. That's how serious it is. So, it's a matter of manuscript evidence. BLB David Hocking-Manuscript Evidence

Who are the Riders?

 

Many scholars and researchers have come to conclusions as to who they believe the Rider on the White Horse of Revelation 6:2 is, yet who are the rest of the Riders? Derek and Sharon Gilbert of SkyWatch TV do an excellent series on the Book of Revelation called Unraveling Revelation wherein they explain why they believe the Four Horsemen of Revelation are spiritual entities who presented themselves as gods in ancient times. The Gilberts, who believe in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture, also believe these entities began their ride back in the 1^st Century after the resurrected Jesus entered Heaven’s Throne Room. Thus, they conjecture Seals 1 through 5 have already been opened and we are awaiting Seal 6 when the Resurrection/Rapture occurs.

 

If they are correct, then we are waiting on a 6^th Seal Resurrection/Rapture now! But this would not jive with what we have learned about legal documents.

 

So, here is my thinking. Perhaps the Four Horsemen are Principalities or chief demonic spirits.

 

Ephesians 6:12 teaches that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”. If these Riders are Principalities or Powers, they would be allowed to influence the world even during the Church Age, AND they will be cast down by Satan along with their fellow evil angels in Revelation 12:3-4:

 

And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. - Revelation 12:3-4 KJV

 

And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. - Revelation 12:7-9 KJV

 

This type of spiritual warfare would manifest and be seen by the Bride of Christ only tentatively for the Rapture would instantly follow as seen in Revelation 12:5:

 

And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up [harpazo--raptured] unto God, and [to] his throne. - Revelation 12:5 KJV

 

This explains why so many believers have had dreams and visions of witnessing tsunamis, asteroids or a comet, nuclear missiles and fallen angels posing as “aliens” coming in UFOs just prior to the Rapture.

 

In February 2020 the Gilberts presented The Rider on the White Horse with this blurb:

 

We explain why we believe the first seal of the seven-sealed scroll was opened by the Lamb (Jesus) shortly after the Resurrection, and we speculate that the rider may be the ancient god known as Nergal in Babylon, Resheph in Canaan, and Apollo in Greece and Rome.

 

In The Rider on the Pale Horse Sharon and Derek connect Revelation’s Riders of the Apocalypse to the judgment God decreed against Judah in the days of the prophet Jeremiah and Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon:

 

And it shall come to pass, [that] the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the LORD, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand. - Jeremiah 27:8 KJV

 

In The Open Door of Heaven Derek expounds on Exodus 24 and how it is a foreshadowing of the throne room scene in Revelation Chapter 4:

 

Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: And they saw the God of Israel: and [there was] under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in [his] clearness. And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink. - Exodus 24:9-11 KJV

In Summary

 

If what the Gilberts present about the Four Horsemen being sent as a judgment God decreed against Judah is accurate, these unrestrained Riders will be responsible for much of Jacob’s Trouble/The Tribulation--a time designated for turning Israel back to God.

 

The study of legal documents and the proof of the ancient manuscripts give strong evidence of a Pre-Seal and Pre-Tribulation Rapture. While worldly documents are binding on earth, the Heavenly Scroll or Book revealed in Revelation 5 is formally bound both in heaven and on earth. Those who are witnesses of Christ from the seven periods of the Church Age must be present at the opening of the Seven Seals or the Scroll would be invalid at its opening!

 

As the Luciferian elite converge their plan against the inhabitants of earth, the trump of God will be sounded signaling an Event Horizon when the dead in Christ will be made immortal and explode out of their graves and those who remain will be powerfully transformed and meet the Lord in the air.

We will stand in the presence of Almighty God at the Great Assembly fulfilling His and our greatest desire--to be together for the Greatest Family Reunion of all time. We will see God and will eat and drink AND CELEBRATE!