"We CANNOT be subjected to God's wrath - Christ did that for us on the cross, once for all."
Absolutely true !!!
One of the most challenging and comprehensive studies of Bible prophecy includes themes and conditions, and judgments that will take place at the time of the end.
The seals represent themes and conditions, and the trumpets are judgment events. All of the judgments are activated and controlled by Jesus and they will lead up to His visible return at the end of the tribulation period.
Six of the seals are an overview of the 70th week and they reveal themes and conditions. Their attributes impact in varying degrees from the beginning to the end of the 70th week.
The seventh seal is unique and does not contain conditions like the other seals, but represents a pause. There is a period of silence in heaven and then the visions continue with the events of the trumpet judgments.
The first 6 judgment trumpets will sound in rapid succession at the beginning of the 70th week. The first 4 represent physical judgment of 1/3 of the earth. The 5th and 6th represent the release of fallen angelic armies from the abyss and the Euphrates River.
The seventh trumpet sounding includes judgments which are specifically directed at Abaddon (the beast) and his followers at the end of the second half of the 70th week. This trumpet heralds the destruction of the kingdom of the beast, the victory of Jesus, and the establishment of His Kingdom on earth.
The trumpet judgments are purposely held in check until the Church (the great multitude of both Jews and Gentiles from all nations) is translated into the eternal state of existence and taken to heaven, and the sealing of 144,000 Israelites for service on the earth.
John first sees the 24 elders and the great multitude of believers in heaven when he arrives there to be shown what is to take place during the 70th week on earth.
Jesus said that he would keep all living believers from the hour (70th week) of trial (judgment) that is coming upon the world. Both dead and living believers of the Church will be translated just before the judgment trumpet soundings begin in chapter 8.
The 144,000 Israelites will be selected for service and will be the first fruits (portion) of the Kingdom that Jesus will rule for 1,000 years. Their mission will be to take the Gospel to Israel and then to the rest of the world.
They will be sealed with God's protection so that the effects of the tribulation will not harm them. They will begin their witness at the onset of the 70th week and will continue during the entire tribulation period.
The theme of the first seal (white horse) includes the translation and sealing events, and spreading the eternal Gospel of the Kingdom and personal salvation during the entire 70th week.
The actions of "conquering" and to "conquer" again during the tribulation period represent the saving power of the Gospel prior to the 70t week and then during the period.
This is not human military warfare, but the saving of human spirits for eternal life. It is the ultimate war against Satan, sin, and death. Jesus, the 144,000 Israelites, and the two witnesses will all be involved in this process during the tribulation.
Jesus is seen in a vision with the 144,000 on Mount Zion (Jerusalem) and they follow Him wherever he goes. He will be leading them to spread the Gospel of His soon coming Kingdom. He will not be seen by the world while engaged in this activity.
In the first phase of the white horse (first seal) the rider is not weaponized (no arrows) and goes forth conquering and to conquer again. In the later phase of His involvement Jesus is seen riding a white horse at Armageddon at the end of the 70th week and He is weaponized (fire and sword) for war.
The symbol of the white horse is used to represent His continuous involvement from the beginning of the 70th week up to and including the battle of Armageddon.
After this He will appear visibly to the whole world and every eye will see Him and every knee will bow to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
The theme of the second seal (red horse) represents the actions of Satan and his agents including Abaddon, the false prophet, the little horn, and the 10 other horns.
Satan will be denied access to heaven and confined to the earth during the 70th week. He will be thrown to the earth with his angels at the beginning of the 70th week having great wrath because he knows his time will be short.
These shall take peace from the earth by warfare, great destruction, persecution, and suppression. Satan's wars will begin with the destruction of the "great city" of Mystery Babylon.
The next wars will involve his conquering of most of the Middle East including the Land of Israel and then his defeat at Armageddon. [Ezekiel 39,39] [Daniel 11:36-45]
Egypt will be conquered and other governments in the Middle East will be over thrown. Abaddon will attack and destroy others north and east of the Middle East that he will view as a threat.
Abaddon is Satan's antichrist and he will rule the Middle East and will cause great destruction to the rest of the world. He will rule for 42 months, but will be challenged and defeated by Jesus at Armageddon.
The warfare will begin with the first four trumpet judgments (fire, massive physical destruction, environmental pollution of water sources, and darkness).
These are grouped and they are related to the destruction of the great city of Mystery Babylon which will be located in an area outside of the Middle East.
This attack will trigger the condition of the theme of the third seal (black horse) representing economic collapse and famine which will result in the aftermath of the destruction.
The third seal contains a very significant statement regarding those who will become believers during the tribulation period and the conditions of the famine. The oil (spiritual anointing) and the wine (joy in the Lord) is not to be harmed.
They will be able to face the scarcity and related conditions because they will have the knowledge of their salvation and eternal destiny even though many will be martyred for their faith.
The theme of the fourth seal (pale horse) represents the physical killing of humans in warfare and related sickness and disease. These conditions will continue in varying degrees throughout the 70th week.
One fourth of the world's land surface (50% of the current land area is inhabited by human populations) will be subject to human death. This would amount to one half of the current world population and would mean that as many as three billion humans will be killed.
The theme of the fifth seal reveals believers who are martyred for their faith by the beast and his adherents. These become believers during the 70th week and most of this killing will take place during the 42 month rule of the beast.
It is significant to note that these believers are killed by beheading. This form of murder is a current method used by Islamic fundamentalists. It is supported by the Koran to be used on infidels, specifically Jews and Christians.
These martyrs will be resurrected at the end of the tribulation period. This is the first resurrection of those who become believers and are martyred for their faith during the tribulation period.
This resurrection is not to be confused with the resurrection and translation of the Church which will occurs earlier. All of these tribulation martyrs are beheaded for their faith. Both resurrections are "first" resurrections.
The first resurrection is the resurrection to life. The second death will have no power over these believers as it will over all other humans who have not and will not responded to God's call for the salvation of their spirits.
All of Adam's descendants up to the end of this present age who don't respond will experience the "second" resurrected to face judgment at the end of the 1,000 year rule of Jesus on the earth.
Their names will not be found in the book of life and these will experience the second death of eternal punishment (elimination of their spirits) and cease to exist forever.
The theme of the sixth seal portrays the effects of God's judgments and the related human response during the tribulation and presentation of this theme leads to the viewing of all of the actual judgment events that will take place beginning in chapter 8.
The earthquakes, plagues, darkness, and other conditions trigger anger and blasphemy towards God and refusal to repent of their life styles and worship of the cult of the beast. These are the unbelievers of the tribulation period.
The fifth trumpet judgment (first woe) will follow on the heels of the destruction of the great city of Mystery Babylon (first 4 trumpet judgments) and introduces the release of Abaddon the fallen angelic king of the abyss and the other abyss angels.
Abaddon will be released from the abyss and will begin to influence and control the little horn (human king) who will be ruling Abaddon's sixth head (dominion) in the Middle East.
The little horn and the 10 other kings will have already destroyed Mystery Babylon's great city when Abaddon is released. Satan's objective will be to incarnate his christ (antichrist), who is Abaddon, in the little horn to rule the seventh divided kingdom of iron and clay for 42 months.
The little horn will expand the sixth into the seventh, and will be incarnated by Abaddon. Abaddon will then become the eighth king himself.
The fifth trumpet also triggers the release of myriads of other abyss angels who are under the command of Satan. These are fallen angels who have been reserved for judgment actions during the 70th week.
They are described (symbolized) as scorpions and they will cause great pain and suffering for those who are not sealed and protected by God. The 144,000 Israelites will not be harmed by this judgment or any others during the tribulation.
The opening of the abyss is conducted by a star (angel) "falling" from heaven who has the key of the abyss. I believe this is Satan who is thrown to earth at the beginning of the 70th week. He will be allowed to release Abaddon.
God's angel [not the fallen angelic satan in 9:1] who "comes down from heaven" is also given the same the key to the abyss at the end of the tribulation period. He captures Satan and locks him in the abyss for 1,000 years so that he cannot deceive the nations during the 1,000 year reign of Jesus.
The sixth trumpet judgment (second woe) will involve fallen angelic armies who will be released from the Euphrates River area for the purpose of killing one third of all humans.
The seventh trumpet (third woe) is unique and its sounding will bring the Lord's direct judgments upon the beast and his kingdom of followers. These judgments will occur during the next 30 days following the second half of the 70th week.
The days of this trumpet will include the destruction of the kingdom of the beast and then to restore the kingdom to Israel .... the 1,000 year kingdom of Jesus Christ on the earth.
These judgments are directed at the beast and his followers and will include the battle of Armageddon. Their duration is for the 30 days following the last half of the 70th week.
These judgments will include grievous sores on their bodies, environmental pollution, drought, and severe scorching heat from the sun. They will not repent of their transgressions toward God, will openly defy Him, and will attempt to hide from Him.
The beast's government and base of operations will be in the target area and the beast and his armies will react by challenging Jesus at Armageddon.
Satan, the beast, and the false prophet will gather the human armies of their allies into the Middle East for war. God is actually setting Satan up for his defeat.
The Euphrates River will be emptied of its water and the river bed will serve as a means to transport the armies that come from the east.
God will activate a worldwide earthquake during the battle of Armageddon that will destroy all of the cities left in the world.
It will also divide the land mass into three parts where the great city of Mystery Babylon existed before it was destroyed at the beginning of the 70th week.
The last seven years of this present age will come to an end, the beast and the false prophet will be destroyed in the lake of fire. Satan will be sent to the abyss, and Jesus will rule the earth from Jerusalem for 1,000 years.
