Opening the Sixth Seal

A minister of one of the end-time Churches of God has written and published a book wherein he asserts his belief that the “Sixth Seal” of Revelation has already been opened. As such, he assures us, we only await the opening of the fateful “Seventh Seal.” Can this possibly be true?

Revelation 6:12-13 “I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.”

The following quote is a short excerpt taken from that book:

Quote: “At this point, it should be interesting to the reader to know that six of the seven seals have already been opened, and the seventh seal is very soon to follow.”

Whenever I read or listen to the words of any of our ministers, I try to give them the benefit of the doubt. I listen to what they have to say; then I “search the scriptures” before forming any definite opinion. Nevertheless, my initial reaction to this minister’s statement concerning the “Sixth Seal” was to say the least, incredulous!

We read in Revelation 6:12-13 that the “Sixth Seal” unleashes a “great earthquake”; the “sun becomes black as sackcloth”; the “moon becomes like blood”; and the “stars of heaven fall to the Earth.” As weak as it may seem to be, the minister in question explains his belief this way:

Quote: “Yes, on that day, 9/11, every nation and country, large and small (prophetic mountains and islands), was moved by what happened. They were startled and sobered. It was a prelude to that time which is about to come. Yes, the time for God’s great wrath is about to unfold. Who will be able to stand? That is the announcement of this sixth seal.”

From this, and from the context of the story this passage was taken from, I must assume that “the stars of heaven [which] fell to the earth” were the planes full of passengers the Islamic terrorists flew into the towers of the World Trade Centre. The “sun [became] black as sackcloth” from the dust as the towers fell; and the “great earthquake” was the shocked reaction of the nations and the peoples of the Earth.

I must admit (with great reservation) that I can almost see what this man is getting at. There is at least the hint of a parallel between the “Sixth Seal” of Revelation and the events of 9/11; it may even be that the events of 9/11 will have its duality in the more cataclysmic events foretold by this prophecy. Nevertheless, this does not change my opinion that to teach such a belief as “a revealing of God’s truth” is to trivialize the power and the wisdom of the plan of Almighty God!

Is there a biblical answer to the events described in the opening of the Sixth Seal? I believe there is! And today we’re going to investigate what the Bible may have to tell us about the events described at the opening of the Sixth Seal. Be prepared to see words you have almost certainly read many times before -- but in a completely different way.

Revelation 6:9 “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.”

There is a consensus within the teaching of the Churches of God that the “Fifth Seal” describes a time of tribulation for the Saints of God. Keep in mind that during the end-time Satan will not only be allowed to “make war with the Saints” -- he will also be allowed to “prevail against them!” Have you ever asked yourself why God would allow Satan and his followers to prevail against those whom God had chosen as His people; His “church”? Are you prepared to believe that God would only allow this to happen if He had a definite purpose in mind?

Q…If God has chosen a specific time for fulfillment of the prophecy of the Tribulation, is He the one who will actually bring about the misfortunes destined to come upon His “church”?

Q…If Satan hates the people who make up the “church” and the Churches of God, why does he not simply go after them now -- why has he not gone after them with more determination before this -- why does he wait?

Satan hates those who try to follow the truths and the commandments of God -- he always has and he always will. I have believed for many years that the reason behind the original rebellion of Lucifer was not only God’s decision to create mankind, but His desire to set before man the awesome destiny which awaits us. Even Mohammed, the Prophet of Islam understood this: he is recorded in the Koran as saying the reason for the fall of “Iblis” [Lucifer] was the creation of mankind; not only their creation, but that the angels would one day be placed in a position of submission to mankind.

From the beginning of man’s history, in the very Garden of Eden, Satan did what he could to disrupt the ongoing plan of God. Following the birth of Jesus, Satan caused King Herod to slaughter every male child in and around Bethlehem, hoping to kill the newborn Christ before he could even begin to follow his destiny.

Following the baptism of Jesus and his begettal as the first-begotten Son of God, Satan once again did all he could to disrupt the plan of God. Each and every time, he failed -- but each and every time he was allowed to try -- what I want you to realize is that Satan’s many failures will not deter him from trying at least one more time!

As often as Satan has tried and failed to disrupt the plans of God, this one fact we must accept as truth -- each time, Satan believed he could succeed! You must also try to understand that at all these times, and in all these ways -- God allowed him to try! Not only was Satan allowed to try -- he was allowed to succeed in a very limited way!

During the soon-coming end of this age, Satan will once again attempt to upset the plans of God; and once again God will allow him to succeed in a very limited way. I believe this illusion of success will lead to the eventual downfall of the Archangel Lucifer -- but not before he has caused great tribulation towards the “Churches” and the people of God!

Q…What does your Church and your minister have to say about the original rebellion of Lucifer? Do you believe that Lucifer led his angels in an assault upon God’s heavenly throne? Do you believe that the angels of God defeated Satan and his angels? Do you believe that the destruction caused by this war was truly awesome? Do you believe that when they were defeated, Satan and his angels were cast down to the Earth, to be kept here in restraint until the time of their judgment?

If you do believe these things then we agree; for I also believe! But have you considered the duality in all this to what you see prophesied for the end-time? Lucifer would not have made the original attempt against the throne of God unless he believed he could succeed. Satan will only make his final assault against God’s throne because he still believes he can succeed.

Towards the end of the movie “The Devil’s Advocate” there is what I consider to be one of the most powerful cinematic speeches ever presented. Al Pacino plays the part of Satan the Devil and proclaims within that speech: “Can anyone doubt that the Twentieth Century was my time?” Now that we are well into the Twenty-First Century -- can anyone doubt that the success of Satan has not only continued, but has increased and prospered?

Revelation 6:9-11 “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been 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, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.”

If we can accept that the confidence of Satan has reached a point where he is beginning to believe he can finally fulfill his dreams of omnipotence; what will his confidence be like when God allows him to prevail against the Saints of God’s “church”?

Daniel 7:21 “I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.”

Q…Is it your understanding that the “Tribulation of Saints” (the “Fifth Seal”) will come to pass immediately before the “Heavenly Signs” (the “Sixth Seal”); if so, then we agree, for I also believe -- but what are these “Heavenly Signs” and what causes them?

Revelation 12:7 “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, neither was a place found for them in heaven any longer.”

Earlier on this blogsite I discussed my belief that many, (if not most) of the angels that followed Lucifer in his original rebellion have long since repented of their sin and are waiting, as we are waiting, for a day of judgment to arrive. Anyone who wants to read “The Angels that Sinned” will find it in the “Archives” of this blogsite. If what I believe is true, then the end-time war between Satan and the angels of God will not cause the absolute devastation of Lucifer’s original rebellion; however, signs of this final conflict will still be clearly evident in the heavens. Satan and his angels will lose this final battle and will be cast back down to the Earth for the very last time.

Revelation 6:12-13 “I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.”

Q…How much destruction can we expect to see from this final battle of the angels?

Revelation 6:14-17 “Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?’”

Will this final heavenly battle of angels rock this Earth of ours so badly it will literally be shifted from its present axis? Will the resulting devastation cause the sun to become black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood? Will Satan and his angels be cast back down to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when shaken by a mighty wind? I do wonder!

So then: Have we uncovered a more perfect explanation for the yet to be fulfilled events referred to as the “Great Tribulation” and the “Heavenly Signs” -- or must we accept that they were already fulfilled by the tragic events of September 11th, 2001?

Note: George W. Bush has little more than one year left in his presidency. When his term in office is over there will be a sigh of relief heard from every corner of America; if not from every corner of the world. And yet, no sigh of relief will be more heartfelt than the one emanating from the President himself that his ordeal is finally over. Why anyone would choose to lead such a congregation of stiff-necked, back-biting, second-guessing complainers, is beyond my comprehension. Next week I hope to offer what I choose to believe are scripturally inspired thoughts in “The Lord’s Anointed.”