You cannot lose your salvation because you are sealed. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22.

 Contrary to the religion I grew up in, many have been talking about NOT being able to lose your salvation. The context of this conversation should be obvious, what do you believe, and does it line up with the Word of God? 

If your beliefs, no matter where they came from, such as the faith movement, do not line up with the Word of God, dump them! While the terminology may not be precise, the idea that we are eternally saved is found in multiple locations throughout the Bible. Here is one of those places.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NASB (21) Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, (22) who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.

Here, Paul is doing the talking, and he is referring to a "He", who establishes us, ("us" here has to be referring to those with Paul and the early church body in Corinth.)

To Establish is to confirm, render constant, strengthen, make firm, ratify, or establish by arguments or proofs.

Paul goes on to say, that this "He," has anointed the believers, the church body.

Anointed, according to the Word Study Dictionary, tells us that "Anointing had the significance of dedication to God;" "Priests were set apart by anointing;" "Kings were designated by anointing, and we see this with David and Saul;" and, "This act was accompanied by the gift of the Spirit. So when David was anointed, the Spirit descended on him and departed from Saul."

Jumping forward to 2 Corinthians 5, we get this.

2 Corinthians 5:1-6 NASB (1) For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (2) For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, (3) inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. (4) For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. (5) Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. (6) Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord--

The bottom line is that this "He" is God. Never forget that God, the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, is one. But pay attention to the fact that God gave us the Spirit as a pledge.

But a pledge of what?

The context of this secondary conversation shows you a conversation about how we long to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven. Notice verse four as it says, while dwelling in these mortal bodies we feel unclothed and long to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven; while we feel unclothed, we can KNOW that these mortal bodies will eventually, be swallowed up by life - God is life. And finally, God, gave us the Holy Spirit as a pledge. 

For those who fear as Christians, not knowing where their home is, I give you verse six.

"Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord--"

Come back to 2 Corinthians 1:22 for a moment.

2 Corinthians 1:22 NASB (22) who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.

Sealed is the Greek word sphragizo which means to seal, or stamp with a seal for the purpose of finalizing or to close up a transaction.

According to the Word Study Dictionary sealed also implies:

• to mark distinctively as invested with a certain character, John 6:27;

  Whose character are we talking about, Paul's? Not hardly; we are talking about God's character.

• to set one’s own mark upon, to seal as one’s own, a mark of acceptance, 2Corinthians 1:22;

  God has accepted us, sealed us, and marked us as His own.

• to deliver over safely to someone, Romans 15:28;

  And it is the Holy Spirit that will deliver us over, safely to the Father; this is a logical action considering that He paid for us.

Jesus made the final payment on our behalf and God closed the books, indicating ownership when we accepted that Jesus died and rose again for us. At this point, God sealed us, and He did it with the Holy Spirit. 

The Holy Spirit is that mark upon our lives.

And note how 2 Corinthians 1:22 tells us that the Holy Spirit is in our hearts as a mark of God's pledge.

When did that happen?

On the day you accepted Him.

• Romans 16:25 says that you were established according to Paul's gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ.

• 1 Peter 5:10 tells us that He is always working to perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

• King David, in Psalm 37:23-24, states that we won't be hurled headlong because the LORD is the One who holds your hand.

• Psalms 89:4 says, that He will establish your seed forever.

• And in Isaiah 9:7 We are told that it is the zeal of the LORD of hosts which will accomplish this in us.

How do you come to Jesus?

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 NASB (1) Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, (2) by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you unless you believed in vain. (3) For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, (4) and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

That Gospel is simply this. Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. He was buried, dead, and raised again, to life, on the third day by the Father. Romans 1:16-17 tells us that this gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. And that we continue to live in this salvation through faith.

Perhaps this might help.

Jesus, I admit that I am broken and I need a savior. I understand that you died for me so that I could live eternally, with the Father, in heaven. I have nothing to offer you but my life and so I give that to you now. Thank you for forgiving my sins and accepting me into your kingdom.

So that no wind would blow on the earth. Revelation 7:1 - 8

 We are still looking at the sixth seal.

Yes, chapter six has ended; however, if the look, feel, and amount of information that we covered seems odd, that is because it is English-speaking grammarians that have inserted the chapters, book titles, and assorted punctuation, not God.

We covered this information previously, but it is important to your understanding. The Revelation works on a pattern: There are six seals, bowls, and trumpets that indicate some form of God's wrath being poured out upon the nations and Israel. The seventh occurrence of these seals, bowls, or trumpets; ALWAYS announces the next set of events to be poured out. For example, when we get to the seventh seal, it will be describing what happens under the next event – the bowl judgments. We DO NOT see the seventh seal opened until we get to Revelation 8:1, and we haven't touched Revelation until now.

So what is next?

Revelation 7:1 NASB “After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth or on the sea or on any tree.”

Well, after the destruction we just read about, how bad could this be?

Actually, it is very bad. Lacking wind, evaporated waters will not move through the atmosphere, this will drastically increase surface temperatures globally. Rain will cease and bodies of water will dry up. This change in surface temperatures will cause an immense rise in temperatures near the equator and the polar ice caps will freeze solid. Ocean currents will be severely impacted, which will further change weather patterns. Famine is inevitable. With a lack of wind there will no further wind-born seed dispersal, and pollination will cease. The bottom line, it means that life on earth cannot exist; and yet, we know from scripture that there will be those who walk into the millennial era. A bit of a bewilderment, but God is definitely in control.

We now begin to look at Revelation 7: 2 – 4 (or more.)

Revelation 7:2-4 NASB “And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, having the seal of the living God; and he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, (3) saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads." (4) And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:”

• “And I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun,”

End of page one.

This is not as puzzling as it seems. The NET translation puts it this way, “Then I saw another angel ascending from the east.” If you consider that the entirety of the Revelation and most of prophecy, is focused on the Middle East; then, “the East,” or “the rising of the sun,” merely represents the angel coming from an area East of Israel. I do not think it matters, but what is East of Israel? Saudi, Yemen, and a little bit of Egypt. Saudi is currently, thanks to the Abraham accords, an ally with Israel.

This angel is NOT Jesus.

• “having the seal of the living God;”

  Did you know that God has a seal?

  Ephesians 1:13 [NASB] “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,”

  So, we were sealed in Him when we believed, with the Holy Spirit, which came into you when you received Christ. This theme is also in the Old Testament and is the basis for the New Testament gospel, as you see above.

  Here, in Ezekiel, angels are dispatched to mark in the forehead, those who sigh and groan over the abominations in the city, while the others are struck down.

  Ezekiel 9:1-5 [NASB] Then He cried out in my hearing with a loud voice saying, "Draw near, O executioners of the city, each with his destroying weapon in his hand." (2) Behold, six men came from the direction of the upper gate which faces north, each with his shattering weapon in his hand; and among them was a certain man clothed in linen with a writing case at his loins. And they went in and stood beside the bronze altar. (3) Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub on which it had been, to the threshold of the temple. And He called to the man clothed in linen at whose loins was the writing case. (4) The LORD said to him, "Go through the midst of the city, even through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed in its midst." (5) But to the others He said in my hearing, "Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare.

  In the book of Esther, it speaks of King Xerxes and how his signet ring was applied as a seal on documents that assured the salvation of the Jews in that region.

  Esther 8:8 NLT “Now go ahead and send a message to the Jews in the king’s name, telling them whatever you want, and seal it with the king’s signet ring. But remember that whatever has already been written in the king’s name and sealed with his signet ring can never be revoked.”

  Certainly, there is an application to the idea that God will NEVER let us who have given ourselves to Him, escape out of His hand.

  Do you think it is possible that Satan has stolen God's ideas and plans? Absolutely.

• “ the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea.”

  Since we have already seen four angels turning off the winds of earth and the subsequent damage that does to the earth, then these are clearly the same four angels.

End of page two.

There is an association to the four angels in Matthew 24.

Matthew 24:30-31 [NASB] "And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. (31) "And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

Jesus, in addressing the events that we find in Matthew 24, was speaking to Jewish disciples; and, He was speaking about events from a Jewish perspective. So when He says, “the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY,” He is talking about His return after the seven-years of God's wrath.

How do I know that?

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 [NASB] (16) For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. (17) Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

When He comes back, as he does in Revelation 1:7, and every eye sees Him, it will be for battle and He will be with the saints who will be dressed in white, and riding upon horses (Revelation 19:14.) But here in 1 Thessalonians 4, it says the Lord Himself will descend. No one on earth sees Him, and we will meet Him in the clouds.

Revelation 7:3 [NASB] saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees until we have sealed the bond-servants of our God on their foreheads."

We are still dealing with the four angels who are destroying the earth.

From this verse, we can validate the global destruction of the earth and the food chain by stopping the winds. This global destruction will be so thorough that this angel we see in Revelation 7:1 is, at God's request, stopping the four angels, momentarily, while they (?) mark those Jewish, male virgins that are to be sealed.

It is not clear who the “they” are. Since there is an uncountable quantity of angels in heaven, we might assume that the angels are the ones doing to sealing. Remember, it only took one angel to kill off the unprotected of Egypt on Passover night.

We get a detailed explanation of where these young Jewish men are coming from and their tribal names.

Revelation 7:4 [MKJV] And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred and forty-four thousand, having been sealed out of every tribe of the sons of Israel.

I used the MKJV as it clearly states that 144,000 will be saved and that equal quantities will be drawn. This is defined as you read Revelation 7:5-8. I am not sure if the tribes are that important to me, but I give them to you.

Judah, 12,000; Reuben, 12,000; Gad, 12,000; Asher, 12,000; Naphtali, 12,000; Manasseh, 12,000; Simeon, 12,000; Levi, 12,000; Issachar, 12,000; Zebulun, 12,000; Joseph, 12,000; Benjamin, 12,000.

End of page 3.

Again, I remind you that we are still within the sixth seal.

Revelation 7:9 [NASB] After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;

This is the second time John sees the martyred in heaven; however, this time the number is uncountable.

Allow me to crack open a can of worms.

The Monday morning “bible study” teacher would say things like this: no Jews will enter the millennial reign, and neither will anyone who is not a Christian, that “so called” teacher is not alone in his belief. I have also been told that there are no Christians in the seven years of God's wrath. This is deceptive and false teaching; so allow me a moment to explain why.

Start by asking the question, who goes up in the rapture of the church?

The standard, religious answer, is, the Christians. There are a couple of problems with this answer as many think they are Christians merely because they live in America, or, on occasion, sit in a church pew.

As for those who sit in church pews, Jesus threw a wrench in the gears of religious thought when he told the parable of the ten virgins.

Matthew 25:1-13 MKJV “Then shall the kingdom of Heaven be likened to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. (2) And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. (3) The foolish ones took their lamps, but took no oil with them. (4) But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. (5) While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. (6) And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes! Go out to meet him. (7) Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. (8) And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps have gone out. (9) But the wise answered, saying, No, lest there be not enough for us and you. But rather go to those who sell, and buy for yourselves. (10) And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came. And they who were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut. (11) Afterwards the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. (12) But he answered and said, Truly I say to you, I do not know you. (13) Therefore watch, for you do not know either the day or the hour in which the Son of Man comes.”

As virgins, they could easily be assumed to be meeting the religious standards for righteousness, and yet, out of the ten, only five made it into the wedding.

Why is that?

Because they did not have enough oil, they did not have enough oil because it wasn’t important enough to check or maintain that oil. The reasons behind that decision can be ascertained from the actions and reactions of the other virgins.

In talking about this over the last couple of years, I made the point that having run out of oil and knowing that there was nowhere to get more, I would have followed closely behind those that had the lights. Do we see any of those five without the oil doing that? No, and so another door of questions now opens.

I have found this scenario more relevant if I think about the digital flashlights most of us now own, as they work just fine until the power level gets low enough, and then they just quit. The wise person would change the batteries prior to needing them and then carry spare batteries. If you think about the process that all of them have gone through, we learn that they all took their lamps; and, they all arose and trimmed their lamps when the cry went out that the bridegroom comes. That trimming of the wicks may have only taken a few seconds, but we don't see a mad rush.

End of page four.

What we do see is a demand from those without oil, and all five of them, in unison, proceed in their attempts to purchase oil. If the five wanted to be considered attentive, they would have checked the oil level at the beginning of this process and quickly purchased enough and more, assuming it was still daylight. Considering that this was a semi-rural environment, it would be close to impossible to find someone selling oil in the middle of the night.

This opens the door to a rather alarming assumption. The call to come to the waiting point must then be accompanied by the understanding that the call to the wedding could be at any minute, leaving no opportunity for last-minute preparations. All ten faced the anxiety of NOT knowing when the call would come, and they all faced the potential tedium of waiting. The fact that the invitation had come seems to indicate that the moment in which they would hear the call would be soon.

As I write this, I am reminded of the “Christian” brother who tried to humiliate me in a public meeting at church, about how, according to him, Jesus would not be coming for another forty years. Why do I bring this up? Because this man argued that we, as the church, have been waiting for over two-thousand-years, therefore, why should anything change now? His challenge proved that he did not know his Bible as well as he thought. Considering current prophetic conditions, I am convinced that we followers of Christ do not have another forty years left here on this earth.

To put this into a modern perspective, fifty percent - half the virgins invited, are somehow convinced that they are Christians; and, will, in all likelihood, be going through the time of wrath. Since, we as followers of Christ, ARE NOT DESTINED FOR WRATH, and this is precisely what the seven-year period is, how do you explain that when you get to Revelation 6:16, you find many trying to hide from “the wrath of the Lamb.” How fascinating that they understand what is going on while many so-called Christians do not.

So, if thinking you are a Christian does not make you one, then where do all these martyred saints, before the throne, come from?

In the chronology of the Revelation, we are currently at Revelation 7:9, where the 144,000 have been sealed and protected. The first that we see the martyred saints are in Revelation 6:9-11. None of these can be associated with the Church, as the Church is portrayed as the 24 elders. This definition is highly explainable, but let me point something out. John may not have known, until much later, that his conversation about the Revelation was with an elder, and therefore, fell at the elder’s feet to worship him. The elder responds with one piece of evidence proving that they, the elders, are believers.

Revelation 19:9-10 NASB (9) Then he *said to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'" And he *said to me, "These are true words of God." (10) Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he *said to me, "Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

If this elder was not a follower of Christ on earth, then he would have identified himself differently, but he did not. Instead he said, I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus. There is NO DOUBT that many of the Church were martyred, but as believers, they were, in turn, caught up in the rapture as the dead in Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 MKJV “For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. (17) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall ever be with the Lord.”

Aside from a logical approach, there is the fact, that the elders can be identified by their attire and actions.

End of page 5.

So, NO, there are NO true believers that enter the seven years of wrath, however, the martyred can be identified in other ways.

Revelation 6:4 NASB “And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.”

Although we have previously covered the second seal, there is a word here that previously escaped me, and it is the word slay. This was brought to my attention by Pastor Billy Crone, as he was interviewed on the Prophecy Watchers program. The word slay is the Greek word spházō and means to slaughter. It is used of animals killed in sacrifice; but Revelation 6:4 is NOT talking about something done to animals, it is talking about people slaughtering people. Pastor Crone said, it is also conveyed as the word butcher, and Thayer's definitions substantiates that assertion. Suddenly Revelation 6:4 takes on a whole new meaning and has given light to how so many are now standing before the throne because they were slaughtered, for their testimony.

The word testimony is one that I previously covered.

Revelation 6:9 NASB “When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained;”

To use the phrase “the word of God,” certainly makes it seem as though they are “Christians.” Perhaps the time they spent warming a pew permitted some of God’s Word to permeate their thick skulls. Perhaps, it is the fact that God will lift the veil that has held many captive, and they will NOW see the truth that is in the Word. This tends to mandate that they grab a bible and start reading if they have time.

The Greek word that we used and translated as “the word of,” is the word logos. It means something said or implied during a discourse. The mere fact that you talked about God, Jesus, or what the word teaches and you subsequently believe will get you killed. But doesn't it strike you odd that you could not be bothered with talking about God before the rapture, and now, here you are, prattling on, as I do, about this life in Christ?

With this sudden realization that you need to catch up, perhaps you could look up YouTube videos on what to do after the rapture. Just know this, the day will come when they will confiscate the bibles, shut down your internet channels, and butcher you because they think you are a “Christian."

When you read something like Revelation 6:9, it sounds like they were all street preachers and got beheaded, but I do not think it is that intense. Consider this, the most vigorous push for people to deny Christ, take the mark, worship the image of the beast, and worship the beast, primarily happens 1260 days into the time of wrath. This also parallels the Antichrist’s actions, the introduction of the false prophet, and the remainder of Israel fleeing for their lives. Since we have NO clue as to what this “beast” looks like, it is difficult at best to try to tell you what to look for, but one thing is obvious, the slaughter of those who refuse to worship the “beast” will be an uncountable number.

Well, we made to Revelation chapter seven, verse eight, where God halts the outpouring of His wrath to preserve 144,000 Jewish males. Preserved means to protect from damage and to keep for future usage. What a fascinating concept. Could it be, at minimum, that these sealed Jews would be the basis for those who teach others about Shavuot – the feast of booths because He will make all nations come and bow before Him for seven days, as they participate in the feast? Please don’t ask me to explain it, as I am a clueless, adopted Gentile.

If you don't know Jesus, you can. Ask Jesus into your life. He died on that cross for your sins so that you don't have to carry the weight of them, and He was buried and rose again so that you can have this new life. He will seal you and one day soon welcome you into the kingdom.

Time is, just that short.

A scroll, sealed with seven seals. Rev 5: 1-6

 We previously covered Revelation chapter four, which opened with “after these things.” The terminology is understood by many to mean after the church age, and chapter four ends by describing the 24 elders. Having covered the clues as to who the 24 elders are in the previous study, it is evident that they, at minimum, represent the church.

Now we move into Revelation chapter five. After our journey into chapter four, one might think that the focus would remain with the church, or perhaps the elders and some role they might continue to play, but that does not happen because the focus of this book is that it is a revelation of Jesus Christ. We learn of this fact in the opening statement of the Revelation. With that in mind, we continue.

I give you the Complete Jewish Bible version, as it specifically refers to the document as a scroll and NOT a book.

Revelation 5:1 CJB Next I saw in the right hand of the One sitting on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals;

The CJB chooses to show respect for Jehovah by referring to Him as the One. The NASB uses what I have come to see as a standardized capitalization of Him, but insisted on referring to the document as a book.

Revelation 5:1 NASB I (John) saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals.

Using the term “book” is a modern and logical direction as it gives us Gentiles an easy way to visualize this scene. If you felt the need to seal the “book,” why would you need to put seven seals upon it. Merely breaking one seal should give someone access to all aspects, whether you wanted them in there or not. To some degree, a bound book protects the words inside, but NOT on the outside; because of this, the mental imagery doesn't work as this is a scroll, sealed and secured for a specific time and a specific person to open it, by breaking the “wax” seals marked with an official stamp.

The problem with the modern terminology became immediately apparent as I began looking for the term “a book” as a comparative so that I might understand what this book in God's hand, was associated with. (My initial thoughts went to the Great White Throne.)

Revelation 20:12 CJB “And I saw the dead, both great and small, standing in front of the throne. Books were opened; and another book was opened, the Book of Life; and the dead were judged from what was written in the books, according to what they had done.”

We have nothing in Revelation 20:12 to tie this scroll to what we see in Revelation 5:1, but there is a correlation to Ezekiel 2:9-10.

Ezekiel 2:9-10 NASB Then I looked, and behold, a hand was extended to me; and lo, a scroll was in it. When He spread it out before me, it was written on the front and back, and written on it were lamentations, mourning, and woe.

Woes can also be parallelled to Revelation 8:13, which does not speak of a book, however, the information is the same and the result of a seal being opened.

Revelation 8:13 NASB Then I looked, and I heard an eagle flying in mid-heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!”

We are continuing with chapter five and a question, who is worthy?

Page one.

Revelation 5:2 CJB and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”

• A mighty angel?

This is not a foreign statement to the Jewish community, as they are very familiar with the concept of angels and their power. Daniel, in an explanation from an angel, hears this.

Daniel 10:13 NIrV But the prince of Persia opposed me for 21 days. Then Michael came to help me. He is one of the leaders of the angels. He helped me win the battle over the king of Persia.

The Dake’s Bible, in his side note commentary, states that,

“[the prince of the kingdom of Persia] ...is the satanic prince or ruler of the kingdom of Persia (a fallen angel,) one ruling the kingdom of Persia for Satan who is recognized in Scripture as being the god and ruler of this world, having usurped man’s dominion.”

Dake refers to many passages, but one of the first is Matthew 4:8-9.

Matthew 4:8-9 NLT “Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. (9) “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”

The devil/Lucifer is a fallen angel. He was the prince/ruler of all the angels.

What you need to ask is, how did Satan obtain authority and ownership of the earth?

The answers are out there if you are willing to find them but I am not going into that here. Since an angel, with a simple touch, disabled Jacob, we should never try to exert power over an entity like this without the backing of the Holy Spirit.

• “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”

John Gill’s commentary says this is “suggesting, that if there was any such person, that he was desired to come, and do it.”

This is like a teacher asking if anyone has the answer to a question, and NO ONE raises their hand. As I read this, I think it would be only the arrogant who would dare to approach the scrolls. Having been involved in the faith movement, I can picture a few who think their faith would give them the prestige to step forward; however, scripture proves that is NOT the case, as there is only ONE who is worthy, and that is Jesus because of the cross.

Here again, this should evoke other questions in your mind, such as, why is He the only one?

I am not going to into the why’s of Him being worthy, as that would be another six-page study; so suffice it to say that you should look at the events that include and surround the cross. Continuing on.

Revelation 5:3-4 NASB And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it. (4) Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it;

This is an intriguing plot. If we have been raptured, then our status, in Him, would perhaps be seen as worthy, but that does not happen. I suppose the practical reasons for not being able to open the seals that go back to a time before time. Jesus’ authority, responsibility, and right to open the seals may well have been established before time began.

Page two.

Dake refers to this statement “no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth” as “Men Conscious in Three Realms.”

The realms then are:

• In heaven.
• On the earth.
• Or under the earth.

According to scripture, is what Dake says a valid assessment?

Those under the earth are those that have died without Christ.

Psalms 9:17 NLT The wicked will go down to the grave. This is the fate of all the nations who ignore God.

Wicked is the Hebrew word râshâ‘ and conveys the meaning of wicked, criminal, hostile to God, or guilty of sin.

Since we don’t know why they did not go up in the rapture, we must leave it to God to sort out what He will do with them, and He does; but for the moment, we understand that they are in Sheol.

Sheol is “the OT designation for the abode of the dead.” (BDB)

Because of Revelation 5:3-5, we know that there is NO ONE in Sheol worthy to break open the seals.

Alright then, what about those on the earth?

Scripture tells us,

“The path of life leads upward for the wise That he may keep away from Sheol below.” Proverbs 15:24 NASB

Pay attention to the wording in Proverbs 15:24. It is the wise who walk the path leading upward; and the wording, "that the wise MAY keep away from Sheol below. I am going to put it this way, even if you are wise, you may potentially get yourself caught in a trap. Some traps will kill you. Many teach, once saved always saved, but doesn't that apply to God's attitude toward us? We are still liable and responsible for the poor choices that we make here on earth.

This response "who rescues us from the wrath to come" is froth with arguments, as some cannot see the church in heaven until the end of the time of wrath (the Great T. This argument commits the church to endure God’s wrath, which is what these seven years are designated. The problem with that presumption is that those who argue for it ignore the fact that Jesus took all of God’s wrath upon Himself.

1 Thessalonians 1:10 NASB (10) and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.

This same Jesus bought us out of the slavery and bondage that we were due, thereby, once again escaping God’s wrath.

Ephesians 1:7 NASB In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace

Here in Ephesians 1:7, the word redemption is the Greek word apolutrōsis and means a ransom paid in full. In other words, we were freed from the bondage that was our fate. None of this, however, gives us an escape from the tribulations that are a part of our daily lives as followers of Jesus Christ. Since we know that the number of those who accept Jesus Christ after the rapture will be innumerable, we could conclude that there are still Christians here on earth.

Why not draw from one of these?

Page three.

(I can guarantee that some of you are pointing out that there is a simplistic answer, and there is, but it does not explain the reasons why Jesus is the only answer. Allow patience to work as the answer is provided and will soon be seen.)

We seem to set aside the fact that the age of grace has been removed from the earth along with the church; this removal has nothing to do with the action of the Holy Spirit, as He continues to draw all humanity to God. With grace being gone, all those acknowledging Jesus Christ will have to prove their loyalty through their death. When you think about this process, it makes sense why there is NO ONE worthy, on earth, to open the seals.

So then, the last option is to look for someone in heaven, and apparently, they do, but what an odd statement since we know that Jesus is in heaven, seated on a throne, next to the Father, ever making intercession for us. You have to believe that they looked around and see no one with their hand raised, saying, pick me.

What happens next?

Revelation 5:4-5 NASB Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; (5) and one of the elders *said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.”

More so than anyone else, John would be the one who knew Jesus was already here in heaven. Jesus was John’s best friend. In the last hours of Jesus’ life, we find John with his head lying on Jesus’ chest. Try to imagine the significant loss he felt when He saw Jesus die, and the shock he felt, when, upon running to the tomb on the third day, found it open and Jesus was gone. You might think that John would expect to see Jesus strutting out on stage, dressed as a Messianic warrior, declaring that He would open the seals, but that did not happen.

One of the elders consoles John and says, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.”

Even with this noble description, what does John see?

A lamb, as if it had been slain.

Revelation 5:6 NASB And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.

On a side note. As a city kid, I never saw horns on a lamb. All that changed one recent year at the county fair, walking around with my grandchildren. We saw a lamb that had massive horns. It was then I remembered a friend, who managed the small farm for his parents, and he told me they cut the horns off when the sheep are young.

A lamb as if had been slain?

I cannot detach myself from the imagery portrayed in the Mel Gibson movie, The Passion, and yet, I believe the brutality was worse than the film depicted. Now we have a lamb as if slain. To slaughter an animal for dinner is a different process than one to be sacrificed, as the throat is slit, and the animal is then hung up and left to bleed out. Indeed, in this case, the lamb is covered in its blood, so much so that there would be no reason to understand how this animal could be standing, but there He is triumphant.

Page four.

Seven horns and seven eyes?

Initially, I wanted to back away from this section as it is bizarre and confusing. The Holy Spirit said to me, those people you lead are looking for answers, so give them an answer. I put aside the doubt and fears, and this is what I heard. 

We are told they are seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. When Jesus left the earth, He said, He would send the comforter – the Holy Spirit. That Spirit of God went into all the earth.

Dr. J. Vernon McGee tells us,

“the Seven horns denote complete power. A horn speaks of power (see Dan. 7-8). He is omnipotent. Seven eyes denote complete knowledge. Christ is omniscient. He is the omnipotent and omniscient God. He moves in the fullness of the Spirit, who is the Spirit of wisdom and understanding.”

To be honest, it is a freakish image, but if that completeness of power and knowledge is all that they mean, it would be enough, for certainly Christ was and is all of those things that Dr. McGee says.

Paul stated that by proclaiming Christ, they sought to present every man to Christ, complete.

Colossians 1:28 NASB We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.

On the part of Paul and his missionary buddies, this goal was never fully accomplished and still goes on today. So, how could Paul then say, "... you have been made complete in Him." Well, it does not say precisely that; it says that “in Him, you have been made complete.”

Colossians 2:9-10 NASB For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, (10) and in Him, you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;

So being in Him is a mandatory aspect of our completeness.

Dake’s commentary indicates that there are 27 references to lambs in the Revelation. While that is fascinating information, they are not all of Jesus, and here is one that conveys an opposing and deceiving image.

Revelation 13:11 NASB “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon.”

What is newsworthy is how Satan has mimicked God at every turn. God marks those who are His own and Satan, will make it mandatory for people to take a mark to buy or sell anything at some point.

God has the 144,000 sealed with a mark on their foreheads; and what does Satan do? Enforces the mark on the right hand or the forehead.

Revelation 9:4 NASB “They were told not to hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.”

The point in time, where buying food is restricted to those who have a seal in their right hand or forehead, is three and one-half years into the time of wrath; and is associated with the Antichrist. On the other hand, we live in a period that, as they used to say on Star Trek, is moving at warp speed, and it feels as though taking a mark through a “harmless” vaccine may happen within months.

For the sake of brevity, I want to end here; however, I am not done.

Because of Jesus' willingness to be beaten, go to the cross, and endure the taunts of Satan as he went down to Sheol, He can stand there, the Lamb as it had been slain, worthy to open the seals.

What is our proof that this happened?

Psalms 16:10 NLT For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.

Page five.

Let's end on this.

Ephesians 2:13-21 NLT

But now you have been united with Christ Jesus.

Once, you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

For Christ, himself has brought peace to us.

He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.

He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations.

He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups.

Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near.

Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.

Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.

We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.