As discussed in Part one, we have learned that there is a time element, which is found in Daniel,
and which consists of a beginning, a middle, and an end. It is the time element in which some
events occur inside, whereas other events occur outside of the time element.
The beginning of the time element is the confirmation of the covenant. This is an
act between Antichrist, king of Prophetic Babylon,(Is. 14) and Israel, in which Israel will put
their refuge in Antichrist instead of God. The words "covenant" and "testament"
in English are both the same word and also share the same Hebrew and Ancient Greek
equivalent.
We know that "...where a testament (or "covenant") is, there must also of necessity be the
death of the testator." (Heb. 9) And in that same passage it is previously said, "For
if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean,
sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who
through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from
dead works to serve the living God."
So we know that to confirm a covenant or "testament," that "there must also of necessity
be the death of the testator." The most important sacrifice will be that of the red heifer
of the Law of Moses.(Num. 19) Without this special and rare red heifer, there can be
no ashes for water for purification, which is "a purification for sin." If someone
touches a dead body but is not purified, the Law says that "that soul shall be cut
off from Israel: because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean;
his uncleanliness is yet upon him." The significance of this causes us to realize that
there can be no temple worship without this special and rare, and somewhat
formerly extinct, red heifer.
Antichrist's relation to Israel is that he will provide their false refuge, apart from God. Antichrist's
Israel will use the purificaiton water from the red heifer to atone for their sins instead
of our Lord Jesus.
1,260 days then follow the death of the testator/confirmation of the covenant,
at the expiration of which Antichrist causes the oblation to cease. This is one of the actions pertaining
to the event called the ABOMIATION OF DESOLATION. A swift and terrible destruction of Jerusalem,
worse than any before, immediately follows. The Great Tribulation also follows, in which
many saints are killed at the hands of Antichrist. This is also when the seven trumpets
of Revelation begin.
The prophet Isaiah records the word of the Lord concerning these events, "Wherefore
hear ye the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. Because
ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when
the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies
our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves...."
Later in this passage, the word of the LORD continues, "And your covenant with death shall
be disannulled, and your agreemnent with hell (or Sheol) shall not stand; when the overflowing
scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it." Later the Lord compares
this false refuge with a bed that is too short and on which the blanket is too narrow
for a man to stretch out on and cover himself.(Is. 28)
"And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and the name that sat on him was Death, and
Hell (or "Hades") followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of
the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with beasts of the
earth." This is what happens after the opening of the Revelation's fourth seal. Both Sheol and
Hades refer to the recepticle where the the non-converted dead live in torment, so the
idea of "hell" as expressed in Isaiah and Revelation are of the same essence. This "Death
and Hell" that follow the pale horse are the consequence of the covenant between
Antichrist and many. We now can recognize the fourth seal as marking the confirmation
of the covenant which Antichrist confirms.
Now look at what comes next: "And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the
altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which
they had held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true,
doest thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes
were given unto every one of them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until
their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were,
should be fulfilled."
We know the exact time in which the Great Tribulation lasts. It lasts for 1,260 days,
and this is the "little season" to which the fifth seal refers. The fifth seal marks
the Great Tribulation and provides a description of the saints who have been martyred
from Abel onward, leaving out those who are yet to die for the name of our Lord Jesus
during the Great Tribulation. This also teaches us what is in store for many end-time
Christians here on earth, and that following our Lord Jesus
is not an easy road of what many sinfully consider "regular life."
From what we have discussed in Part 1 and 2, we learn that the Antichrist confirms the covenant, which
is almost certainly marked by the sacrifice of the red heifer. 1,260 days follow. At that
exact mid-point, Antichrist causes the temple sacrifices ("oblation") to stop, and declares himself to be God,
showing himself that he is God while in the Temple. The causing of temple sacrifice to stop and declaring himself
to be worshipped as God is the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION. The Great Tribulation, "mega thlipsis,"
immediatly begins and lasts for 1,260 days. After this, the events discussed in Part 1 take
place. Great signs occur, including the total darkening of the sun. Then our Lord Jesus
returns with all his holy angels to gather his saints and execute vengance on the ungodly.
Now we know that the fourth seal marks Antichrist's confirmation of the covenant with Israel, the fifth
seal marks the start of the Great Tribulation, the sixth seal marks the signs which immediately follow
the Great Tribulation and which also immediately precede the events of the Day of the Lord. The seventh
seal describes the gathering of saints, which is the opening event of the Day of the Lord;
and this description is from the perspective of heaven. Heaven is silent, because everyone is gone.
We learn that the gathering takes about
the space of half an hour. The seals then come to a close.