Rethinking Revelation 6 Part 1

June 2, 2023 at 5:11 PM 11 comments

Audio for this article here: SermonAudio.com/StudyGrowKnow

Ever since the world was hit with the COVID pandemic (plandemic?), I have been looking at and considering the ramifications of Revelation 6. For many years, I have looked at the events occurring there as being inside the Tribulation. It’s always made sense that way and nearly every conservative Bible scholar I’ve studied has said as much. All of the more liberal Bible scholars I’ve studied have usually gone the way of hyperbole, allegory or something else other than taking Scripture in its most plain and ordinary sense.

What I find absolutely fascinating though (and this is recent for me), is that the first several seals that are opened in Revelation 6, in essence, could be occurring now. Let’s take a look and find out why I think that this may be the case.

At the onset, I want to state without equivocation: I could be wrong. I want to be clear about stating that because I actually could be wrong.

I believe I am correct in understanding the following biblical facts:

  • a future seven year Tribulation ahead of us
  • that Antichrist will be supreme ruler of the earth during that time
  • through the Antichrist, the world will worship Satan
  • our Lord and Savior, Jesus, will physically return to this earth at the end of the Tribulation
  • somewhere from this point to the our Lord’s physical return, the Rapture will occur (I favor the PreTrib Rapture because that’s what I see being taught in Scripture, but it does not matter to me when it occurs)
  • when Jesus physically returns, He will defeat every one of His foes on this earth, starting with Antichrist and judge the nations
  • Jesus will set up His 1,000 year kingdom over which He will rule as the Supreme Monarch
  • at the end of the 1,000 year kingdom, the Great White Throne of Judgment will occur
  • following this, our Lord will create new heavens and new earth and life will begin anew without sin

The above list is a short list but an important one. Other things like how the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments are released (quick succession? long intervals between? all at once?), in what form the seals, trumpets and judgments will actually appear to humanity, and numerous other things as revealed in Scripture (Daniel, Ezekiel, Revelation, etc.), allow for wiggle room because not one other person saw what John saw in Revelation. We have a record of it because John was privileged to see things, but we do not know for certain exactly what he saw (imagery that represented something? actual events/things as they will be released?), nor can we be thoroughly dogmatic on numerous things.

As I’ve said, I have always thought that the seals in Revelation 6 occur inside the coming Tribulation. I also believed (and still do), that the Tribulation will not start until the fulfillment of Daniel 9:24-27, where the coming man of sin will confirm a covenant (already in existence), with the many (Jewish leaders of Israel), for one ‘week’ (seven years based on Daniel 9‘s context).

So if the starting point of the Tribulation is when the Antichrist confirms the covenant, then we can also assume that the first seal (the rider on the white horse), of Revelation 6:1-2, simply brings the Antichrist onto the world’s stage, but he does not immediately rise to power as ruler of the world. That will take some time.

I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, ‘Come!’ 2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

So in the above verses, we learn that some guy will be coming on the scene. He rides a white horse and appears to be a conqueror and in fact, is “bent on conquest.” (This is imagery. The only one who will ultimately ride any horse is Jesus at the end of the Tribulation.) This “rider” will be an adult male who may well be alive now and who came into this world by birth, not riding a white horse (or any horse).

Most conservative scholars believe this conqueror is the Antichrist. I find no reason to disagree with it, though I’m aware that some firmly believe this to be Jesus. In my mind that notion doesn’t hold up. Just saying.

So Mr. Antichrist begins the process of conquering once he is able to take his pre-appointed position as conqueror-in-training. I’m guessing this would take a while because the fact that he has no arrows in his quiver (he has a bow), tends to point to the fact that he will not be going to war with anyone he considers an adversary (until a bit later when he takes out 3 adversaries). In essence, he will be using political intrigue to gain his ascent to his satanic throne.

If I look around the landscape today, I could name a number of people who might fit the bill of ultimately being the Antichrist. I’m not going to name them because it doesn’t matter since I cannot prove anything. I recall in the 1970’s, books were printed naming specific people as the Antichrist. They were all wrong. I have no clue who the Antichrist will turn out to be, but I have some ideas of who might possibly fill those shoes.

I will say that if the Tribulation starts, oh, let’s say soon or just before or sometime in 2030, then the Antichrist has to be alive now. He also must be already deeply involved in the political arena already, worming his way through this group and that one, edging closer to his goal of absolute dictator. Now, if this is the case, then to make this happen, this Antichrist might not even be aware that he is the Antichrist. He could simply be a guy who is exceedingly narcissistic, politically minded and well placed in political circles. He may have already held a very powerful position over a nation and is seen as very charismatic (not in the religious sense), and able to get people to come alongside him in unity and solidarity. He is someone that white people, blacks, Hispanics and other cultures might be impressed with and when he gives a speech, he has the ability to wow the audience, not in the way Hitler did, but in a milder, more familial way that endears him to people.

On the other hand, the coming Antichrist, who I believe is already here, may be very aware of his calling, bides his time behind the scenes as he works to gain more power and draws more people to him. He may or may not be indwelt and empowered by his spiritual father at this time, but certainly will be and I believe this occurs at the midpoint of the Tribulation. Paul speaks about this in 2 Thessalonians 2. The result of that infilling will be blasphemy against God to the fullest extent possible, when Antichrist waltzes into the rebuilt Jewish Temple and sits down at the Holy of Holies, declaring himself to be God.

My point is that it will take some time for Antichrist to gain traction and conquer enough people and even national heads through political intrigue (as Antiochus Epiphanes IV was able to do), before he will have enough power to confirm any covenant that will wind up being put in place between “the many” (Jewish people or Israel’s leaders), and Arabs who hate Jews. This won’t happen overnight. It will take time.

Is Antichrist here now? I believe so. Who is he? Not sure. What is he doing? Working hard to gain the upper hand. Over who? The world’s elect/elite/globalists who believe they will one day rule this world.

So if this all occurs with the opening of the first seal, then it may have opened awhile ago, in my opinion, unless of course the Tribulation is many decades away. Would you agree? If it opened a while ago, then is it possible the other three, four and even five seals could have been opened or are beginning to open?

As with the way the first seal transpires over a period of time (years really), is it possible that the other seals also occur over a period of time (months or years), and could happen in quick succession? I think it is very possible. Let’s look.

When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword.

The above text from Revelation 6:3-4 highlights the second seal; essentially war throughout the earth resulting in massive death. We had COVID and that ended apparently, maybe too quickly for the globalists’ liking. What happened on the heels of COVID? Threats of World War III using puppet Zelensky and Ukraine as a proxy against Putin and Russia.

Almost immediately, the world’s leaders along with most news bureaus and talking heads (including celebs), began talking of supporting Ukraine against bad Russia. This is in spite of the fact that Nazis are the major portion of Ukrainian war machine. In this case though, those Nazis appear to be “okay,” but any other Nazis (especially those considered Nazis in the USA), are terrible and need to be snuffed out.

So the world quickly came together in near solidarity with Ukraine and lionized Zelensky, their president. He can do no wrong apparently (just as Trump could do nothing right). Overnight, people’s social network pages went from CV to Ukraine because people in general are so easily manipulated and want to be part of the “in” crowd.

The talk of continued war and even the threat of nuclear weaponry is something that is highlighted often now. Where it will end, we do not know, but nations are choosing sides. In essence, peace on earth does not now exist, having been removed by unscrupulous people who need diversions (whether a pandemic, war or something else), and to gain more money through arms sales, etc. It doesn’t matter to those people if thousands or millions die in this burgeoning conflict. For them, that’s actually a side benefit.

So if Seals 1 and 2 have possibly opened, we did not see an actual individual on a white or red horse, did we (that’s probably in the spiritual realm)? Instead, we are seeing the results of those riders in this physical realm. The objective for Seal 1 is for Antichrist to eventually and ultimately take his position of power, which will take time. The objective of Seal 2 is remove peace and take the lives of millions. Is that happening now?

We will continue with this in another article because there’s much more to cover.

Entry filed under: agenda 2030, Agenda 21, alienology, Atheism and religion, christianity, Communism, Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), Cultural Marxism, Demonic, devil worship, Emotional virtue, eternity, Global Elite, israel, Judaism, Political Correctness, Politically Correct, Politics, rapture, Religious - Christian - End Times, Religious - Christian - Prophecy, Religious - Christian - Theology, salvation, Satanism, second coming, Shadow Government, Transhumanism, Trilateral Commission. Tags: , .

Times of Trouble, May 29th Revelation 18 Part 2

11 Comments Add your own

  • 3. Unknown's avatar Rethinking Revelation 6 Part 2 | Study - Grow - Know  |  June 7, 2023 at 9:41 AM

    […] my previous article, I shared that I’ve been rethinking the timetable related to the first several seals that are […]

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  • 4. Maranatha Today's avatar Maranatha Today  |  June 6, 2023 at 4:50 PM

    Thanks so much for another great article. I personally have looked at many different ways this all plays out and having studied, Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel and Revelation at length and – based on no one really seeing Lockdown 2020 and the CV hysteria – I am now just praying, watching and waiting. Like you there are some very prominent men who fit the bill of AC, but only time will tell.

    The amount of wickedness is disheartening but I do believe there are a whole lot of reprobates out there and God’s turned them over! He won’t be mocked and He hasn’t abdicated His Throne to anyone!

    Hopefully we will soon see, at least the two witnesses, if we are still here, till then…Maranatha. Blessings.

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    • 5. modres's avatar modres  |  June 6, 2023 at 4:59 PM

      “I am now just praying, watching and waiting.”

      Exactly. I’m thinking more and more that God gave us a general overview of end time events. He knows every detail. He provided what He provided as proof He is control.

      I think we lose something when we start focusing and every imaginable detail.

      Ppl focus on minutiae and then argue about that minutiae. This takes away our focus from where it should be: on God and living in a way that brings Him glory.

      I think we can safely say that things will worsen, but God provides to those who lean on Him and trust Him.

      I’m interested frankly to see how in Scripture transpires. In the second part, I go into more detail on AC and other seals.

      Thanks again, Maranatha.

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  • 6. Susan Rasmussen's avatar Susan Rasmussen  |  June 4, 2023 at 10:27 PM

    Maybe the seals have been happening since Christ died? Like birth pangs they were in different countries at different times. But as history moves forward everything gets closer together and affects more countries at the same time. Just as drought used to only be seen on the African continent on a large scale and everybody tried to help. But now many countries are looking at drought, drop in food supply and famine. Same with major storms, wars, fires, etc.

    Do you think the antichrist will be about the same age Jesus was when he started his ministry? If Lucifer is trying to follow in Jesus’ footsteps with miracles and such it would make sense.

    Thanks for all you do to keep us informed.

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    • 7. modres's avatar modres  |  June 4, 2023 at 10:33 PM

      It’s possible that the seals have been opening for awhile, yes.

      And yes, I think Satan will choose a man that in many ways will do the things Jesus did. In fact I’m going to discuss some of those things in my ext article including the Antichrist’s possible age.

      Thanks Susan.

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  • 8. Lynn Holzinger's avatar Lynn Holzinger  |  June 3, 2023 at 12:59 PM

    This is an interesting take. Like you, I have always believed the seals were inside the Tribulation. But you could be right. The problem is, how will we know? For all the studying of end-time prophecy we do, we could all still be surprised…not surprised in that we don’t see what’s going on, but surprised by how it all plays out in connection with Scripture. Sometimes I wonder why God wants us to pay attention to the book of Revelation (Rev 1:3). With no dates, and so many different beliefs about the rapture alone, I mostly feel confused.

    This afternoon (6/3) on Fox Business, Jack Hibbs is doing a show on the Antichrist. One of the questions he’s going to address is why Christians need to know about him. Why do you think we need to know? Especially if we won’t be here. Of course, if we are still here, it makes more sense.

    You wrote that we are in the days of Noah and Lot now. Do you think Luke 17:26-35 is referring to the condition the world will be in or the fact that people will be unaware and will just go about their lives as if judgment is not coming? Or both? Some of the verses highlight that people will be unaware, but most people who talk about these verses explain it as if people will be just as bad. I believe the world can get lots worse, but we are definitely trending toward letting our social influences indoctrinate us. In a couple of generations, what seems mainly embraced and pushed by the elites and globalists, will possibly be mainstream. Or they’ll have total power.

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    • 9. modres's avatar modres  |  June 3, 2023 at 2:01 PM

      “The problem is, how will we know? For all the studying of end-time prophecy we do, we could all still be surprised…not surprised in that we don’t see what’s going on, but surprised by how it all plays out in connection with Scripture.”

      Yep, I agree. Studying prophetic portions of Scripture can be difficult. Many of the events that occurred during Israel’s early days as a nation were prophesied one way but looked different when they actually took place. Not all of them but certainly some.

      This is why it’s best to not be dogmatic about prophetic Scripture. But I think it’s important to study those areas with the rest of Scripture because included those sections for our benefit.

      We know for instance Jesus will return one day, physically. That by itself is comforting. When? No clue anymore than knowing when I’ll die but in either case I’ll see my Savior.

      Jesus Himself said in Matthew 24 that when certain things start to happen we should look up. He was talking to Jews (IMO), who will be alive during the Trib.

      However as we see the darkness of hell encroaching we don’t have to be confused and afraid. We know that things are occurring that will usher in the end of humanity’s timeline. Knowing that gives us hope.

      “Do you think Luke 17:26-35 is referring to the condition the world will be in or the fact that people will be unaware and will just go about their lives as if judgment is not coming? Or both?”

      I believe Jesus’ comments in the Luke passage refer to both. In fact Jesus specifically stated that the coming times will be the worst this world will ever have seen.

      I understand your confusion. The confusion often comes in when people try to attach dates, faces and names to specific events in Scripture.

      It may be best to approach the prophetic aspects of Scripture looking at the overall, very large picture and avoid trying to pigeon hole things if you can. We all do that but I think focusing on the big picture helps us to focus on God, His purposes and His provision.

      It’s like a financial “reset” (read: crash), is coming. People spend all sorts of time trying to figure out when and how bad. Soon is probably a good generalization so my wife and I have done what we could but understand we cannot cover all the bases. We also don’t know exactly when (day/time), it’ll begin. Do we need to know? Not really because it doesn’t matter except to the person who will be completely surprised.

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  • 10. ianpomeroy's avatar ianpomeroy  |  June 3, 2023 at 3:10 AM

    There is a big flaw in your consideration.
    I do agree that the Tribulation does not come suddenly out of nothing and that there must be a preparation for the Tribulation to happen. Thus we must consider everything in context. Verse within chapter, chapters within books. Books within the context of all of the Holy Bible.

    The preparation began the moment that Lucifer rebelled against God and disobeyed Him.

    When God created Adam and Eve, Satan [once Lucifer and renamed to suit his changed character] appears to then and develops a strategy that causes them to disobey [sin] God. A most significant moment occurs when God prophesises that Jesus Christ will defeat Satan. Genesis 3 v 14 & 15. From that moment Satan continued to seek ways to destroy mankind for we, and especially the Nation of Israel, are in the way of his conquer of mankind.

    Never forget that he was defeated by Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Satan believed that he had won when Jesus Christ died on that cross. He was proven significantly wrong for Jesus Christ rose from the dead and

    When the manipulated, by Satan, covid tragedies struck in 2020 it occurred to many Christians that this was stage setting by Satan, that God has permitted his created being to stage a ”final coup”.

    That ”coup” is now in progress. It has destroyed many, many millions of people. However God is in charge and He does not allow Satan ”full reign”. Satan cannot implement his plan to release Antichrist until God Raptures His people, which will happen prior to the Tribulation.

    Thus your conjecture is flawed by failing to take this very event into consideration. Yet everything is converging such that the moment God’s restraint is removed the Tribulation could happen almost immediately afterwards.

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    • 11. modres's avatar modres  |  June 3, 2023 at 7:54 AM

      Hi Ian and thanks for your comments. As I noted in the article, I favor the PreTrib Rapture. I also noted that the Tribulation does not begin until the covenant is confirmed as noted in Daniel 9:24-27. So we know the covenant is the official starting event of the Tribulation but this event is not referenced in Revelation 6. The reason I think it’s not referenced is because the events of the seals seem to me to occur over time. In order for AntiChrist to gain enough power to be able to officially confirm a covenant, time will have had to transpire.

      Because we do not read about the actual event of AntiChrist confirming a covenant in all of Revelation (we DO read of him breaking the covenant), then it is difficult to know exactly when the Trib officially begins.

      However, like you I believe that the Rapture will occur prior to the official start of the Trib. However we cannot point to a specific place in Revelation where we can state with certainty, “There is the official start.”

      What we do is simply agree with other learned people who e come before us and stated with the release of Seal One in Revelation 6:1-2, the Trib starts.

      I believe the confirmation of the covenant IS built into it but certainly not at the beginning of its release.

      I also agree that Satan has been working from the beginning to overthrow God but God has always kept Satan on a leash. At some point, Satan will be allowed to temporarily rule humanity.

      If you can find in Revelation the exact beginning of the Trib, please let me know.

      The events of Revelation 6 certainly may evidence it but there is nothing specific that jumps out at me regarding the start of it in Revelation 6. Because of that at least some of the events listed could come before the official start.

      If you consider how bad things ARE getting in society and will CONTINUE to get, why couldn’t the shadow of the Tribulation have begun affecting the world now? If the official start of the Trib occurs when AntiChrist confirms the covenant, then you appear to be saying that Seal One does not occur until the Trib officially starts. That’s possible but do you think AntiChrist coming on the scene will immediately confirm the covenant that exists with Israel or will time be needed for him to gain enough power to do that?

      I can’t imagine it will be immediate. So if Seal One signals the start of Trib, then it won’t be until later into the Trib that he confirms the covenant right? That is also possible.

      I’m simply looking around the world today and noting what Jesus states in Matthew 24 regarding the end times. We ARE in the days of Noah and Lot with satanic filth vomiting onto the world from hell itself.

      What should we assume from this? Seems to me the Trib is right around the corner but in order for it to actually start (confirmation of covenant by AntiChrist, there must be events leading up to it.

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