Final Martyrdom of Saints
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Before continuing with more of Christ’s explanation in Matthew 24:1-51 about the Tribulation, we need to read John’s description of the fifth seal: “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 held: and they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, do You not judge andavenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto 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” (Rev. 6:9-11).
The fifth seal portrays the martyrdom of true saints (along with vast numbers from national Israel and Judah). This occurs during the Tribulation. Rev 6:11 is a symbolic instruction to the martyrs of the Middle Ages to await this latter martyrdom of the end time.
The context develops with the souls asking God a question.
Some cite these verses to validate both the immortal soul doctrine and that the saved go to heaven—and thereby miss the whole point of what Christ is revealing. They obviously also do not put this verse with Christ’s Matthew 24:9 explanation, which again is seen to be His interpretation of its meaning.
This description is not literal, but rather is symbolic, as is much of Revelation. No one believes that the four horses, or their riders, are literal. It is obvious that they are symbolic and part of a vision. A consistent standard must be used, without randomly picking and choosing which passages are literal and which are part of the vision.
In vision, John was shown a preview of a future event (“hereafter,” Rev. 4:1). Since John was “in the spirit” as the seals were opened (Rev 4:2), the events he witnessed were not actually occurring when he saw them. They were heavenly previews of things that would happen later on Earth.
Upon the opening of the fifth seal (Rev. 6:9), John “saw under [at the base of] the altar the souls of them that were slain.”
Remember, in the vision, John was shown the future. A long period of martyrdom had taken place (up to and through the Middle Ages). A later one (the Great Tribulation) is yet to happen in our time. The souls who were already “slain” were martyred Christians throughout the ages. These earlier martyrs were told to “rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled” (Rev 6:11).
Many of God’s people in the end time have partially drifted away from being as close to Him, or as on fire for His truth and His Work as they should. They have not been praying, studying, fasting, meditating and seeking Him on a daily basis as they should. This has allowed many to be deceived, and to fall into various false doctrines. Only the Tribulation will awaken these brethren—and even then only about half (Matt. 25:1-12)!
During the Tribulation, there will be a great religious persecution. Jesus was very specific about this in Matthew 24::1-51
“And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity [lawlessness, occurring worldwide] shall abound, the love [Rom. 13:10; I John 5:3] of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved...For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be...For there shall arise false Christ's, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Mt 24:10-13, 21, 24).
The elect must remain on guard!
This is a very specific prophecy about tremendous deception that seduces “many.” The “souls under the altar” await God’s punishment of the great governmental power that persecuted them, when God “avenges [their] blood.”
All true but lukewarm Christians will have to suffer this final martyrdom (Rev. 3:14-22). Those faithful Christians who were previously killed must continue to “rest” (remain “asleep” in their graves—Eph. 5:14; I Cor. 11:30) until others join them through martyrdom.
The “souls” (dead saints) crying “avenge our blood” (Rev. 6:10) is akin to Abel’s blood (his life—note Leviticus 17:14) crying to God from the earth (Gen. 4:10) after Cain’s murder of his brother. Since neither blood nor the dead talk (Psa. 115:17; Ec. 9:5, 10), the meaning is symbolic, not literal.
So then, in Matthew 24:9-10 Jesus was actually describing a final martyrdom yet to occur among His people. Therefore, the “souls under the altar” represent those awaiting a future martyrdom of lukewarm saints—“their brethren.” These are of the seventh and last era, Laodicea, described in Revelation 3:14-22.
Invasion and Captivity
The Tribulation will also include the invasion and captivity of the “ten lost tribes” of the modern-day descendants of Israel, and Judah (the modern nation of Israel).
Recognize that God often works prophetically through the principle of duality. Many prophecies work in this way. For instance, I Corinthians 15:21-22 shows that Adam was a type of Christ, and vice versa (a problem for those who believe there was no literal Adam and Eve).
As alluded to previously, most Bible students are unaware that some prophecies have first a former, then a typical and, lastly, a final great fulfilment. This causes big problems for those trying to understand and explain such prophecies. The results are always mixed up and confused.
In Matthew 24:2, Jesus prophesied that the Temple would be completely destroyed, with not “one stone” remaining. So would Jerusalem be destroyed. This occurred in AD 69-70 to the nation of Judah, as an early type of a final, infinitely greater fulfilment at the end of the age.
Here is how Christ described this final fulfilment of national invasion, war and captivity: “But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! For there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:23-24).
This describes a time of truly great fear and real horror for the modern peoples and nations descended from Israel. (America and Britain in Prophecy covers in detail where these peoples arenow, and why they are foretold to go through such national punishment.)
We must now examine an inset of the prophecy that precedes and leads up to the Great Tribulation. We briefly covered it earlier: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matt. 24:14).
Remember, the true gospel is about the kingdom of God. Men have devised many false gospels, but Christ preached a message about a divine, world-ruling super government to be established at His Return. God’s Church is preaching this marvellous truth, and about how His perfect spiritual Law will soon be established in all nations. This is the wonderful good news referenced earlier—the word “gospel” means good news. When our task is complete, “then shall the end come”! (Look forward to the full chapter on this subject, which makes plain the gospel truth in its component parts!)
Though there is still time for announcing God’s kingdom, it will soon run out. Some few will yet turn to God as a result of this Work. May you “hear and understand” while there is yet time!
The Sixth Seal—HEAVENLY SIGNS
Next comes the sixth seal—the heavenly, or astronomical, signs: “I beheld when He had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casts her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind” (Rev. 6:12-13).
How do we know that the heavenly signs come directly on the heels of the Great Tribulation? Here are Christ’s words: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken” (Matt. 24:29).
This is an almost verbatim, phrase-by-phrase description of Revelation 6:12-13. The parallel is unmistakable. Jesus has again interpreted the sixth seal, and its timing, for us. The phrase “immediately after the tribulation” removes all doubt about when the heavenly signs occur.
The arrival of the heavenly signs heralds a tremendous overall change in the direction—and speed!—of events. This is understood by continuing in Revelation 6:1-17, a few verses later. Let’s read: “For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Rev 6:17).
There it is in plain English. The Day of the Lord, or Day of God’s Wrath, follows the sixth seal. Heaven and Earth are shaken! This time reveals God’s awesome power! It is comparable to nothing that has ever happened before, or ever will again.
The prophet Joel was speaking of this time when God’s tremendous power and great wrath will be displayed when he said, “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and dreadful Day of the Lord come” (Joel 2:31).
Some have claimed that these signs have already occurred. This is impossible! Matthew 24:1-51 makes plain that they all follow—not precede—the Tribulation. In addition, when they occur, they are either immediately followed by or accompany the sign of Christ’s Coming (Mt 24:29-30).
The terrible period of God’s wrath is foretold to last an ENTIRE YEAR—after the initial two and a half years of the Tribulation. Here is how Isaiah described it: “For it is the day of the Lord’ s vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion” (Isa 34:8). Jeremiah refers to this period as “the year of…visitation” (Jer 11:23; 23:12—also see Ezek. 4:6 and Num. 14:34).
A Great Earthquake
Notice Rev 6:12 of Revelation 6:1-17 speaks of a “great earthquake.” This earthquake occurs after the fifth seal, upon the opening of the sixth seal. The terrible time of the fifth seal involves the military invasion and the captivity of the peoples of the modern nations (which are merely ancient tribes grown larger) of Israel. This includes the two and a half years of unparalleled suffering and tribulation—unrivalled in history. It is coming on this generation—soon!
By its very timing and context, this earthquake proclaims the end of the Tribulation and the beginning of signs that appear in the heavens.
Revelation 6:12 states, “And I beheld when He had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood.”
This event was also covered in Matthew 24:29. Reread it: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.”
Luke 21:25-26 describes this same event, adding more: “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring [tsunamis]; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.”
This earthquake will be of such awesome magnitude that “every mountain” and “every island” will be shaken out of position (Rev. 6:14).
Remember, this is the time of God’s great wrath! This earthquake will be worldwide in scope. But all the earth’s topography will not necessarily be changed by one final earthquake. This process appears to take place in stages. God will bring it about in such a way as to preserve life on the earth, with each of five final earthquakes contributing to some aspect of the transformation.
If only one cataclysmic earthquake did this, it could threaten all life on Earth. Still, only a fraction of humanity will survive into the Millennium. Again, this earthquake announces the sixth seal—the heavenly signs.
Notice Isaiah’s description of this time: “In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; to go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of His majesty, when He arises to shake terribly the earth” (Isa 2:20-21). This compares with Revelation 6:15-16.
All of Revelation 6:14-17 shows that this sign is the heavens rolling together like a scroll. This time will be so awful that John records people, in sheer terror, hiding themselves in caves and rocks and crying out to die. Rev 6:17 asks, “...and who shall be able to stand?” The masses fear facing the full wrath of the One they have disobeyed!
Three World Events
Understand! The Tribulation and the Day of the Lord are not synonymous! These are completely separate, different events. The heavenly signs come between the Tribulation, which precedes them, and the Day of the Lord, which follows them. (Although only Matthew 24:21, 29 and Revelation 7:14 use the term “Great Tribulation,” at least 30 scriptures speak of it.)
The religious leaders of this world are in almost complete ignorance of how these three earth-shattering events come—in what order they appear. Most believe them to be synonymous. They are not!
The Tribulation comes first. “Immediately after the tribulation” (Jesus recorded) come the heavenly signs. These introduce the Day of the Lord (God’s wrath), which is a separate period of events. We have seen how Joel, Zephaniah and Matthew have explained what Jesus revealed in vision to John in the Revelation. By now, these great events should be clear.
Jesus also taught His disciples, “...in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men...” (Mark 7:7-8). There are many “traditional,” but incorrect, views of prophecy.
More and more people are writing of prophecies they know nothing about. They ignore what God says, in order to promote time-honored, empty theories—or even newer, more far-fetched ideas. I have just reviewed an article in a national magazine about much of what has been covered so far in this and the two previous chapters. It demonstrates appalling ignorance of even the most basic facts of scriptures pertaining to end-time prophecies. Yet the article shows that almost three out of five Americans (scores of millions) believe that the mixed-up jumble of ideas it references about Revelation will soon come true, but only in some inexplicable, mysterious way. Millions of other professing Christians, no doubt because they either do not care or are confused, reject anything to do with prophecy! Either way, people remain ignorant.
I repeat: The great majority of people believe the Tribulation, heavenly signs and Day of the Lord are identical—one and the same. Anyone who cannot distinguish between these obviously separate events has no hope of understanding what God has prophesied.
Here is an important distinction: The Day of the Lord reflects the wrath of God. The Tribulation is actually the wrath of Satan the devil. It is a sobering thought to realize that this time sees the unleashed wrath of the second most powerful force in the universe. This fallen angel is well aware that he has but a short time to remain the god of this world (II Cor. 4:4), deceiving the nations (Rev. 12:9). His time is almost up (Rev 12:12).
The Tribulation is also Satan’s final persecution and martyrdom of many of God’s true servants in a lukewarm condition. If they return to and remain close to God, Satan cannot deceive them—so he is furious.
If you seek God, you need not worry about events soon to strike all nations. Take a moment to review Luke 21:36. It is a reassuring promise from Christ that requires you to “Watch...and pray...that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things...and to stand before the Son of man.” Then remember Christ’s sobering description in the preceding verses in Luke of how these events will strike a completely unsuspecting world—billions of people—“like a snare.”
The goal of a Christian is to stand before Jesus Christ at His Return, and rule with Him when the kingdom of God is established!
Chapter 7: Why God’s Wrath Temporarily Held Back
Right before the Day of the Lord, an angel temporarily holds back the four winds, which Revelation 8:7-12 explains are the first four trumpet plagues of the seventh seal. Now notice: “And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel” (Rev 7:1-4).
This is a dramatic scene. Four winds are about to “hurt the earth”—devastate its landscape! (Though symbolic in language, the plagues they bring will be most real to all who suffer them.) God’s wrath, which is the beginning of His direct intervention in world affairs, is poised to appear. But it is temporarily restrained. Something must happen first before this can occur.
These winds are held back so that the well-known (but little understood) 144,000 can be sealed—and the great (innumerable) multitude—each the subject of later chapters—stand before the throne of Christ wearing white robes.
First, most briefly, the 144,000 are sealed (Rev 7:4-8) with the Father’s Name (Rev 14:1)—and represent 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Revelation 14:1-20 adds more about this group (Rev 14:1-5). These are obviously converted people. They are sealed with the Father’s Name (and the Holy Spirit “in their foreheads”) because this is how Christ prayed, in John 17:11, that the Father would “keep” His servants. This world’s churches are named after men, doctrines, locations, etc. God’s Church (in 12 places in the New Testament) is always named after Himself—Church of God!
The innumerable multitude is comprised of those who are drifting along, not heeding God’s instruction now, though some may know His commands. These “came out of the great tribulation” (Rev 7:14).
John records the following: “After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindred's, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands...And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir you know. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev 7:9, 13-14).
Many know the truth today but are either not acting on it, or are only responding to it in a limited way. Hundreds of millions heard the voice of Herbert W. Armstrong during his 52-year ministry. He boldly proclaimed the true gospel of the kingdom of God, and restored many true doctrines to the sixth era (Philadelphia) of God’s Church. The vast majority did not heed. They were “choked by the cares of the world.”
Some will finally wake up during or after the Tribulation, after experiencing the terror of the heavenly signs—and after much suffering. These stupendous events will sober and awaken many before it is too late. In complete submission, they will repent and turn to God.
Why God Sends Plagues
A loving God never punishes people before He warns them. Proverbs 3:11-12 states, “…despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of His correction: for whom the Lord loves He corrects; even as a father the son in whom he delights.” (A later chapter describes in graphic detail why God plans such severe correction and chastening.)
These are the plain words of God about how He works with people. Theologians and ministers focus almost solely on God’s love. They ignore such verses as Proverbs 3:11-12, or others like “Behold...the goodness and severity of God” (Rom. 11:22), among many others.
We are about to read of terrible plagues to be poured out on a God-hating, truth-rejecting, self-willed, rebellious world. This punishment is coming for a reason. Six thousand years of ignoring God have come to the full—and God is filled with wrath...