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The Other Seals Are Opened
(Revelation 6:9 - 8:1)
Chapter 8

"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 they held."                                                                                                                         (Revelation 6:9)

The Lamb of God, who has "redeemed us to God by His blood." is also "the Lion of the tribe of Judah,"  with full power and authority to open THE SCROLL OF REDEMPTION, and to carry out all the requirements necessary to effect a total redemption of the inheritance.  One by one He opens the seals, and fulfills the ministry which furthers that redemptive work in us.  We have seen Him as the Rider of the white horse, conquering, subduing, bringing us into oneness with His will, and to make us holy as He is holy.  We have seen Him riding the red horse, and using all the fiery trials to purge and purify.  Prosperously He has ridden the black horse, bringing balance into our life, healing and building us up, even through the dark night of the soul.  And we have seen Him as the Rider of the pale horse, with death and hell at His command, to bring an end to the old creation, that the new Christ life might be fully manifested.

Now we come to the fifth seal.  Five is the number of grace, and here again we see the grace of God being manifested in new dimensions of working and blessing.  Every further "revelation of Jesus Christ,"  brings new insight into the wonders of His grace and peace.  Indeed, through "the ages to come He will continue to shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."  (Ephesians 2:7).

Again the figure is one taken from the Old Testament, of the altar of burnt-offerings, which stood just within the entrance to the court.  But instead of the appointed animal sacrifices, it streams with the blood of those who share in the "fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death."  (Philippians 3:10).  Outwardly it could well represent the martyrs who laid down their life "for the testimony which they held," but that only symbolizes what is worked out in every one who "presents their body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God."  (Romans 12:1)

Persecutions are often on-going, and Paul said, "I die daily." (1 Corinthians 15:31).  Yet, "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake."  (Matthew 5:11).  Persecution comes in many forms and disguises, from physical violence to mental cruelty, from the cruel sneer to the subtle put-down.  It takes DAILY GRACE to be a LIVING SACRIFICE, laying down our life, that HIS LIFE might be seen.

Peter also adds a timely word, "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.  But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters."  (1 Peter 4:14-15).  To suffer for our own evil-doing is to reap what we have sown.  And to meddle in another's affairs, and not be appreciated for our meddling, brings no glory to our Lord.  But there is a "suffering for well doing,"  (1 Peter 3:17), which brings honor to His name, especially when it is "for the Word of God, and for the testimony which we hold."

But all of this is to further His redemptive work in us, so John goes on-- he saw how "They cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? One would think that just laying down one's life would indicate great spiritual stature-- but here we definitely see the need for more inworking of His grace.  They are crying out "how long?" and certainly we can identify with that cry, and yet it is not true that once we have come to full stature in Christ, time" will not be a disturbing factor?  We can say with the Psalmist, "My times are in Thy hand:" and go right on to add, "deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me." Psalm 31:15).  We acknowledge that He is in control, and then we proceed to tell Him how to control it.  If our times are truly IN HIS HAND, then that includes our times of persecution also.  Thus again we see how our "how long?"  is to be swallowed up in not my will, but Thine, be done." And we yield ourselves yet the more to His all-sufficient grace.

Also, we see they are praying to be "avenged." Again we can identify with this desire, yet we read, "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."  (Romans 12:19).  Full well He knows how to judge, discipline, etc. with every action in harmony with His nature of love, He is JUST in all His ways!

But there is a further "revelation of Jesus Christ" to be brought forth here-- and of our Redeemer we read, "Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously." (1 Peter 2:23).  Indeed, we hear Him pray, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34).  And He conforms us to His image, working His redemptive processes within, we see Him revealed in His own, as in Stephen, "When he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge."  (Acts 7:60).  To this Paul also adds affirmation, that as we become one in His ministry of reconciliation, it is this "not imputing their trespasses unto them," (2 Corinthians 5:19), that will reveal His love flowing through us in mercy and grace.

Full well our Redeemer knows what we need, and so "White robes were given unto everyone of them." What a ministry to us-ward, as He takes away the filthy rags of our own self-righteousness, with our demand for vengeance, and clothes us with Himself. "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness."  (Isaiah 61:10).  So shall we be "arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints."  (Revelation 19:8).

"And it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled."  The outward circumstances of our processing vary according to our need, but the principles being wrought out in each of us are the same.  Let us find our rest in Him, until He has finished His work in each of us, and then we shall Be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that we might be filled with all the fulness of God." (Ephesians 3:18-19).  Such is the blessedness of His opening of the fifth seal in our redemption.

"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; and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth..."  (Revelation 6:12-13).

Six is the number of man, the human number, Man was created on the sixth day.  Also, six days were appointed to him for his labour, while one day is associated with the Lord, as His rest. Six, therefore, is the number of labour also-- of man's labour as moving mightily into man's world-- bringing an end to its order, that He might establish the divine order.  The opening of this seal threatens nothing less than a dissolution of the whole system of nature. "A great earthquake." The pillars of the earth are shaken, and the world trembles to its inmost core.  The lights in the heavens are plunged into darkness.  In a world, The day of the lord... in the which the heavens shall pass away with  a great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."  (2 Peter 3:10).

Again we note how this was first wrought in our Lord.  On the cross, "when He had cried with a loud voice.  He yielded up the ghost.  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent."  (Matthew 27:50-51).  The rending of His own body, the rending of the veil in the temple, the rending of the earth itself-- all spoke of the tremendous CHANGE taking place.  And when the hour of resurrection had come. "Behold, there was a great earthquake..."  (Matthew 28:2).  Two great earthquakes, at His death and at His resurrection, two being the number of witness, God bore a mighty witness that a whole order was being taken away--  "He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second."  (Hebrews 10:9).

Here, indeed, is a "revelation of Jesus Christ"  as our Redeemer fulfills in us that cataclysmic transformation which results in our receiving "a new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."  He alone is able to bring to nought the kingdoms of men, and "make us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.  Delivering us from the power of darkness, and translating us into the kingdom of His dear Son: in whom we have redemption..."  (Colossians 1:12-14).

So we need not think it strange when we also experience these shakings.  The purpose is clear-- to loose us from all of the old order, and every chain that binds us to the earthy.  This is seen of the life of Paul, when being in prison, yet at midnight praying singing praises unto God, "And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed."  (Acts 16:26).  What an illustration of what is to be wrought in our little earthen vessels.

The principalities and powers which held dominion over us shall be cast down.  The stars which shone so brightly in our little world shall be no more, for there is a "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."  (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Jesus declared, "The sun shall 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."  (Matthew 254:29).  And we could well borrow the words of David, uttered at the death of Saul and Jonathan, "How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!"  (2 Samuel 1:27).  Kingdoms, rulers, exalted leaders of men shall all be brought low, for it is truly in the outworking of the redemption process that "Thy lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted."  (Isaiah 2:11).

The Word has been clearly spoken, "He hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also the heaven.  And this word, Yet one more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.  Then follows the positive promise that we shall "receive a kingdom which cannot be moved," therefore, "let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear."  (Hebrews 12:26-28).

Awesome as the shaking is when "the axe is laid unto the root of the trees," (Matthew 3:10), and "the foundations of the world were discovered at Thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of Thy nostrils," (Psalm 18:16).  For truly, "salvation is of the Lord." Thus John continues with his narrative-- not only does God INVADE every man's earth-world, to bring low the flesh of man, but then He also SEALS US TO THIS KINGDOM. "Sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads."  (Revelations 7:3).

"Sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory."  (Ephesians 1:13-14).

The word seal" literally means: to stamp (with signet or private mark) for security or protection; also, as a mark of privacy, or genuineness; as a sign of ownership. "The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His.  And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."  (2 Timothy 2:19).

This seal, Paul brings out, has two inscriptions, two mutually complementary aspects. First, God's knowledge of His chosen; and secondly, our recognition of our relationship to God and its imperative call to holiness.  Thus we have security and purity.  Security is well wrapped up in "the Lord knoweth them that are His." He watches over and protects His own, for "My Father... is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck out of My Father's hand.  (John 10:29). He never leaves us, nor forsakes us.

But we also find that purity and security are indispensable to each other.  He not only indwells us by His Spirit, sealing us to Himself, but, "when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment."  (John 16:8).  The purity is highly essential to the security-- if it is not pure, it cannot be secure, to the one necessitates the other.  Therefore, "Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." Though the earthquakes we experience are often severe, they are bringing an end to the human-effort realm, and bringing us into the security of His seal-- the guarantee that our redemption will be complete.

John saw those who had come through the pressures, "arrayed in white robes. - These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. - shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. (Revelation 7:14-15, 17).

What more can be said?  He who looses the seals on the scroll of redemption is able to fulfill every requirement in hopes and dreams, for "He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.  Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages." (Ephesians 3:20-2). Amen!

But there is one more seal to be opened. "And when He had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour" (Revelation 8:1).

One of the difficult tests in the life of the believer is that of "silence," and yet it is used of God in preparation for greater things to come. "Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord."  (Zechariah 2:13). The more we are stripped of all flesh-works, the more inner Christ-life can find expression through us.  Silence is a vital part of the inworking of redemption-- it is a proving time, whether we will seek for "other voices," or wait until He speaks to us again.  A time of silence will test our ability to keep focused on Him.  This it is also a mark that we are HIS. "The sheep follow Him: for they know His voice.  And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers." (John 10:4-5).

The Psalmist offers some valuable insight.  "Truly my soul waiteth (Hebrew, IS SILENT) upon God: from Him cometh my salvation." (Psalm 62:1).  So purified, so becoming one with the Spirit, the soul is now silent before Him.  A ceasing from all self-motion and noise.  Trusting in HIS GRACE alone, to 'rest (be silent) in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.  (Psalm 37:7).  No longer the agitation of the mind, with thoughts in a turmoil, for the mind is renewed into oneness with the mind of Christ.  No more are emotions turbulent and shouting for expression, because He has subdued and brought peace to the inner man.  Truly the redemption process works-- it brings peace, harmony, tranquility. The travail and sorrow are ended, and we "remember no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born..."  (John 16:21).  He will have brought "many sons unto glory."  And they are silent before the Lord, it signifies that we have BECOME HIS PRAISE, and in this state of being we stand before Him-- what we are IS a praise to Him.  We can "Be still, and know that He is God."  (Psalm 46:10).

Yet there is another aspect to be considered.  When the host of FIRSTFRUITS OF THE REDEEMED stand in silence before Him, awesomely aware of their ONENESS WITH HIM, they have no agenda of their own to pursue, but they quietly wait for His instruction.  Ezekiel records it, "Whithersoever the Spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go..." and when they returned, having fulfilled their commission, "when they stood, they let down their wings." (Ezekiel 1:20, 24).  No restlessness within to get moving again, but all of their being awaits His pleasure in a state of quiet willingness." "Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power." (Psalm 110:3).

It is also written of this seed, this anointed company of which He is the Head, that "In thee shall all nations be blessed." (Galatians 3:8).  And now shall commence that great work of restoration, when He shall "gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in Him.  (Ephesians 1:10).  Thus, in silence, these purified ones wait before Him, alert for the unfolding of His will and plan.  Soon the seven trumpets will sound, and such a move of God shall sweep the earth as unparalled in all history.  Truly, the future belongs to God, and His anointed ones.  Going forth "conquering, and to conquer," until all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest."  (Hebrews 8:11).  How triumphant are the workings of God!