Revelation Bible Prophecy

Revelation Chapter 6

Seven Seals
The White Horse

Revelation 6:1-2 “And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.”

Firstly we need to remember that there has been no break in the vision since chapter four. Thus the time frame/starting date for the breaking of the first seal is 31 A.D. As soon as Christ receives the book, He wastes no time in beginning to break the seals.

I saw - You would remember that the book that was sealed with seven seals, was written within and on the back side. Even though this is the case, when the seals are being broken off, by the Lamb (Jesus Christ), and the record was brought to light, the scenes were presented to John; not by the reading of the book, but by a representation of what was described in the book being made to pass before his mind in living characters.

The seals denote events of a religious character, and contain the history of the church from the opening of the Christian era to the coming of Christ. For there are seven seals and we have already seen that the number seven symbolizes completeness, fullness, and perfection. We shall see this more clearly as we go through these passages.

One of the four beasts saying - When the first seal is broken, one of the four Cherubim beckon for John to come and see.

2. A white horse - White is a symbol of purity and righteousness Isaiah 1:18, Revelation 19:8. A horse is a symbol of war, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge (punish) and make war.” Revelation 19:11. Through ancient history and the Bible, you will find that the horse was used primarily for war and processions, sometimes for hunting. So each horse that we will look at will denote a different type of warfare. As this horse is white, it denotes a warfare of righteousness or purity. The purity of the faith of the Apostolic church.

He that sat on him had a bow - In Habakkuk 3:9 the bow is represented as God's word.

The early Christian church, with Christ at its head, went to war against the workings of the large systems of error that were in the world at that time. They were to “endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” 2 Timothy 2:3. Their weapon, the Word of God. For it was not against literal flesh and blood that they had to war, but against “principalities and powers...spiritual wickedness” Ephesians 6:12. Thus the weapons of this warfare are not carnal but spiritual 2. (Corinthians 10:3-5) The words of truth, that were spoken, were like sharp arrows that penetrated deep into the hearts of listeners.

A crown - This comes from the Greek word 'stephanos', which means a wreathe, such as a wreathe of victory. Thus this shows that the church, under the leadership of Christ, was to be victorious.

Went forth conquering, and to conquer - Under the power of the Holy Spirit given to them at Pentecost, the early Christian church went forth conquering over its enemies, so much so that Paul exclaims that the gospel had been preached to every creature under heaven. (Colossians 1:23)

It is reported that 5,000,000 people were converted over to Christ, through the preaching of the gospel. The Church certainly went forth conquering and was victorious.

Time period of the first seal is 31-100 A.D.

The Red Horse

Revelation 6:3-4 “And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.”

Heard the second beast say - When Christ broke off the second seal, the second of the four Cherubim, that are about the throne, invites John to come and see the events that are to take place under this seal.

4. Went out another horse - A different horse is now introduced under the second seal. Thus another type of warfare is to take place.

That was red - Red is a symbol of sin (Isaiah 1:18) but is also the colour of blood. Thus the white/purity had begun to be corrupted by sinfulness and heresies. The apostles had warned the church that there would be grievous wolves coming into the flock, speaking perverse things, after their death. (Acts 20:29-31) False teachers, heresy and apostasy crept into the church. There was a war against false teachings and apostasy, with those that held to the purity of the faith coming under fierce persecution.

Peace from the earth...kill one another...great sword - A sword represents war, bloodshed and violence (obviously because of what it is used for), also a symbol of the state/civil power. But it also represents division. (Matthew 10:34-36)

During this time period of 100-313/323 A.D., the true believers came under heavy persecution from the Roman Empire. The apostate church starts to emerge and seeks the aid of the state. Divisions came into the church as the majority of the church become sinful, heretical and political.

Literal peace and spiritual peace had truly been taken away. The state was now punishing Christianity under the penalty of death. Divisions and power struggles were going on in the church. The apostate church was seeking after the state, but the faithful resist the apostasy.

Time period of the red horse 100-313/323 A.D.

The Black Horse

Revelation 6:5-6 “And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see you hurt not the oil and the wine.”

The third beast say, come and see - When Christ broke off the third seal, the third Cherubim, from around the throne of God, invites John to come and see the events that were to take place under this seal.

A black horse - Here we have a direct contrast between the first and third horse. The first horse was white (denoting its purity/righteousness) the third black, which is the complete opposite of white and thus must denote unrighteousness/impurity, error and apostasy.

This is a good description of the church during the years 313-538 A.D. when the apostate papal church was coming to the completion of being set up in 538 A.D. During the early years of this period, Constantine (the Roman Emperor) was supposedly converted to Christianity in order to secure unity of the empire. He made Christianity the state religion and thus made it popular; even to the point of offering a white garment and twenty pieces of gold to those pagans who would become baptized Christians, Edward Gibbon, The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Vol. 2, pg 331.

But it was to be its downfall, for it was during this time that the most amount of superstitious pagan practices entered the church. Finally most of the Christians consented to lower their standard, and a union was formed between Christianity and paganism. Sunday worship entered the church, or the chief day for the pagan worship of Mithraism which is the day of the sun/Sunday. This was instead of the seventh day Sabbath instituted by God at creation. (Genesis 2:1-3) The pagans also brought in their idolatrous practices, but the church changed the names of these pagan idols into Jesus, Mary, and the worship of the saints; and still kept the idolatrous ceremonies. Celibacy of the priesthood came into practice. The burning of wax tappers and candles, the doctrine of purgatory, eternal burning hell fire, the Mass was introduced, also the doctrine of original sin etc. Various forms of corrupt manuscripts were written. It was the great age of compromise as we saw under the church of Pergamos.

A pair of balances - There are three different applications that can be made for what balances represent;

1. Commerce/trade - (Jeremiah 32:9-10)
2. Corrupt dealing - (Hosea 12:7, Amos 8:5)
3. Judgment - (Daniel 5:27)

All three of these apply very well to the time frame of the black horse, as we will now go on to explain.

1. Religion was commercialised during this time period because of the lust of wealth from the apostate church. People were led to believe that they needed to pay money to obtain salvation. If you were baptized you had to pay. If you were confirmed in the faith you had to pay. If you were married you had to pay. Received forgiveness from the priest, for sin, you had to pay. When you buried your loved one you had to pay. When masses were said, to get him out of purgatory, you had to pay. This type of commerce was a source of tremendous income for the apostate church.

2. The corrupt dealings of the apostate church included the sale of relics, that is, the bones of so-called saints. This was used to draw people into the church. There were many cathedrals that claimed to have many of these things, such as, fingers of the apostles, pieces of the cross, a lock of the virgin Mary's hair all the way through to a piece of John the Baptist's head. They were so bold in their claims that we have this record from 'A Laymen's History of the Church of England' pgs 47-49; “But Canterbury eclipsed them all in the splendour of its relics. Round the shrine of St. Thomas were 12 complete skeletons of canonised saints - three skulls, four arms and 300 thighs, thumbs, teeth and jawbones. Here too, was part of the Bethlehem manger and of the virgin's bed and the table of the last supper. Here was Aaron's rod that budded and more marvellous still, the actual clay out of which God had moulded Adam.”

There were also fraudulent promises, given to those that looked upon these things, by the church. One of these was the remission from purgatory for a lengthy period of time. People were being grossly misled.

3. Balances also represent judgment. (Daniel 5:27) After many warnings and the rejection of the true knowledge of God, and His long-suffering with their apostasy; we suggest that God has weighed them in the balances and found them wanting, and because of their rejection of the true knowledge, God has rejected them. (Hosea 4:6)

6. Measure of wheat...three measures of barley for a penny - These were the staple food products for that day, with the penny being equal to a day's wages for a labourer. This means that the cost of the common food was 8-10 times above the normal price. When prices are such, it means that there is a famine and the prices go up due to lack of these things.

We are not dealing with a literal famine but a spiritual one. The apostate church created a spiritual famine by taking the word of God away from the people, locking it up in the Latin language which only a few could read and understand it. This allowed superstition and error to creep in, which enslaved the people's minds.

Hurt not the oil and the wine - If these things were to not be hurt, it thus would mean they were to be preserved during this time.

Oil was used for light (Exodus 25:6) and we are regarded as the light of the world and are to let our light shine. (Matthew 5:14-16) A person can only shine forth the truth in their lives through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Thus the Holy Spirit is represented by oil.

Wine represents doctrine. (Isaiah 29:9-13, Matthew 15:1-9) Intoxicating wine represents false doctrine and thus unfermented wine true doctrine.

Even though there was to be a spiritual famine for the word of God, there were to a small remnant that would still possess a Holy Spirit led life and the true form of God's word. One group that was able to preserve the purity of God's word was the Waldenses of Northern Italy. They had God's word in their own native language. Salvation was still available to those that would seek after it.

Time period of the black horse 313-538 A.D.

The Pale Horse

Revelation 6:7-8 “And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell [Hades] followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.”

Fourth beast say, come and see - When Christ opens the fourth seal, once again one of the Cherubim from around the throne of God, invites John to come and see what is to take place under this seal.

8. A pale horse - Once again we have a different coloured horse and thus a different type of warfare. The word pale comes from the Greek word 'chloros', which means green or greenish. This colour is deadly as it is the colour that is the token of the approach of death. This is a good description of the time period of papal supremacy (when they had gained full supremacy of the stately/political power in 538 A.D.) until the reformation begun in 1517. It was sickly and repulsive.

Death and hell - The word hell means the grave. During this time when the apostate church was supreme, there were over 5,000,000 of the true and faithful believers slaughtered. And it was during this time that the inquisition was set up. Spiritual death came from the suppression of the scriptures, and literal death came to those that opposed the apostate church.

Fourth part of the earth - It is said that the Papacy ruled a quarter of the then known world.

Kill...sword, hunger, death, beasts of the earth - Here is outlined how the faithful were persecuted. Whether it be by the sword, starvation, the sentence of death, or the beasts of the earth, the papacy used all to accomplish its objective. This was repulsive in the eyes of God.

Time period for the pale horse 538-1517 A.D.

The Fifth Seal

Revelation 6:9-11 “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 which they held: 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; 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.”

Under the altar the souls of them that were slain - The word “souls” in scripture is often referred to as persons. (1 Peter 3:20, Genesis 46:18, 22, 25-27, Acts 2:41; 27:37) These persons were slain, that is, had been slain placing it in the past tense. This would naturally mean that these persons that were slain are those that lost their life under the Pale Horse of the Fourth Seal. (great persecution during the time of Papal supremacy)

Notice why they had been slain. They were slain because of their faith in God's word and because of the witness they bore in their own lives. They had sealed the faith with their blood. But why are they depicted us being under the altar?

The altar was in the courtyard of the sanctuary, and it was at the base of this altar that the blood of the sacrifice was poured out. (Leviticus 4:7) When applying this to the true tabernacle (the heavenly sanctuary), we find that there are only to apartments of the sanctuary in heaven. The courtyard, where this altar is located, we find to be this earth. A careful study of types and antitypes will show that the work that was carried out in the courtyard of the earthly sanctuary, were a type of what Christ would accomplish here on earth. A small example of this is as follows; the sacrifice was slain in the courtyard. Christ, our sacrifice, was slain upon this earth.

Thus this shows that the persons were martyred and their blood spilt, or poured out, upon this earth.

10. They cried with a loud voice - In Genesis 4:9-10 we have the following, “And the LORD said unto Cain, Where [is] Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: [Am] I my brother's keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.”

It is their innocent blood that has been shed that cries out for justice to be done.

How long...dost thou not judge and avenge - This clearly shows that these event are pre-judgment, that is, pre 1844. For the question asked is “how long...dost thou not judge.” This also shows that those that have put to death the faithful are not being punished at this time. Vengeance belongs to God (Hebrews 10:30) and they will be ultimately avenged when the wicked are destroyed in the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)

11. White robes were given to every one of them - White robes were given to each of the martyrs.

Those that were martyred for the word of God and the witness that they lived, by the apostate church, were regarded as the most basest of criminals. Their characters were painted the blackest of black when being burnt at the stake, generally the victims had placed on their heads a paper mitre that had demons painted on it. This was to indicate that they were basically demons in human form. There was to be no mercy shown to them. But how then were they given white robes?

White is a symbol of overcomers (Revelation 3:5) also of righteousness. (Revelation 19:8) How then could they be seen as such when they were seen as the basest of criminals with the blackest of characters? The Protestant Reformation dramatically changed the opinion of the world concerning the martyrs.

“But the Reformation began its work. It began to be seen that the church was the corrupt and disreputable party, and those against whom it vented its rage were good, and pure, and the true. The work went on amongst the most enlightened nations, the reputation of the church going down, and that of the martyrs coming up, until the corruptions of the papal abominations were fully exposed, and that the huge system of iniquity stood forth before all the world in all its naked deformity, while the martyrs were vindicated from all the aspersions under which that anti-Christian church had sought to bury them. Then it was seen that they had suffered, not for being vile and criminal, but “for the word of God, and the testimony which they held.” Then their praises were sung, their virtues admired, their fortitude applauded, their names honoured, and their memories cherished. White robes were thus given unto every one of them.” Daniel and the Revelation, by Uriah Smith, pg 413.

Rest yet for a little season... - Their total vindication was to be after the martyrdom of their fellow servants and brethren. Even though the Reformation was spreading from country to country, Rome was still putting to death God's faithful people. But we also see that before the close of Probation there will be death to those that do not worship the beast and his image. (Revelation 13:15-17)

Period of the fifth seal 1517 - 1798.

The Sixth Seal

Revelation 6:12-13 “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; 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.”

A great earthquake - At the opening of the sixth seal there was a great earthquake. From the information that will be given below, it will be seen that this is fulfilled by the Lisbon earthquake of November 1, 1755.

“The great earthquake of Nov. 1, 1755, extended over a tract of at least 4,000,000 square miles. Its effects were even extended to the waters in many places, where the shocks were not perceptible. It pervaded the greater portion of Europe, Africa, and America; but its extreme violence was exercised on the south western part of the former. In Africa, this earthquake was felt almost as severely as it had been in Europe. A great part of Algiers was destroyed. Many houses were throne down at Fez and Mequinez, and multitudes were buried beneath the ruins. Similar effects were realized at Morocco. Its effects were likewise felt at Tangier, at Tetuan, at Funchal in the Island of Madeira. It is probable that all Africa was shaken. At the north, it extended to Norway and Sweden. Germany, Holland, France, Great Britain, and Ireland were all more or less agitated by the same great commotion of the elements. Lisbon (Portugal), previous to the earthquake in 1755, contained 150,000 inhabitants. Mr. Barretti says that 90,000 persons were lost on that fatal day.”

“In no part of the volcanic region of southern Europe has so tremendous an earthquake occurred in modern times as that which began on the 1st of November, 1755, at Lisbon. A sound of thunder was heard underground, and immediately afterward a violent shock threw down the greater part of that city. In the course of about six minutes, sixty thousand persons perished. The sea first retired, and laid the bar dry; it then rolled in, rising fifty feet above its ordinary level.”

“The most extraordinary circumstances which occurred at Lisbon during the catastrophe, was the subsidence of the new quay, built entirely of marble, at an immense expense. A great concourse of people had collected there for safety, as a spot where they might be beyond the reach of falling ruins; but suddenly the quay sunk down with all the people on it, and not one of the dead bodies ever floated to the surface. A great number of boats and small vessels anchored near it, all full of people, were swallowed up as in a whirlpool. No fragments of these wrecks ever rose again to the surface, and the water in the place where the quay had stood is stated, in many accounts, to be unfathomable; but Whitehurst says he ascertained it to be one hundred fathoms.”

“The great area over which this Lisbon earthquake extended is very remarkable. The movement was most violent in Spain, Portugal, and the north of Africa; but nearly the whole of Europe, and even the West Indies, felt the shock on the same day. A seaport called St. Ubes, about twenty miles south of Lisbon, was engulfed. At Algiers and Fez in Africa, the agitation of the earth was equally violent, and at the distance of eight leagues from Morocco, a village, with the inhabitants, to the number of about eight to ten thousand persons, together with all their cattle, were swallowed up. Soon after, the earth closed again over them.” As quoted in Daniel and the Revelation by Uriah Smith, pgs 414 - 417.

This was the greatest earthquake in area and is easily seen to be the starting date of the sixth seal.

Sun became black as sackcloth of hair - Following the earthquake there was to be a darkening of the sun. This was in May 19, 1780. We have this record from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, edition of 1884, pg 1604;

“Dark Day, The. May 19, 1780; so called on account of a remarkable darkness on that day, extending over all New England. In some places persons could not see to read common print in the open air for several hours together. Birds sang their evening song, disappeared, and became silent; fowls went to roost; cattle sought the barn-yard; and candles were lighted in the houses. The obscuration began about ten o'clock in the morning, and continued till the middle of the next night, but with differences of degree and duration in different places. For several days previous, the wind had been variable, but chiefly from the southwest and the northeast. The true cause of this remarkable phenomenon is not known.”

“The darkness was such as to occasion farmers to leave their work in the field, and retire to their dwellings. Lights became necessary to the transaction of business within doors. The darkness continued through the day.” Gage's History of Rowley, Mass.

“It was midnight darkness at noonday...Thousands of people who could not account for it from natural causes, were greatly terrified; and indeed, it cast a universal gloom on the earth. The frogs and night-hawks began their notes.” Dr. Adams.

“Candles were lighted in many houses. Birds were silent and disappeared. Fowls retired to roost. It was the general opinion that the Day of Judgment was at hand.” Pres. Dwight, in Ct. Historical Collections.

“The dark day of Northern America was one of those wonderful phenomena of nature which will always be read of with interest, but which philosophy is at a loss to explain.” Herschel.

For those of you who think it may have been an eclipse of the sun it would be interesting to note the following;

“...the moon was more than one hundred and fifty degrees from the sun all that day,” and was “more than forty hours' motion past her opposition.” Great Events of the Greatest Century, pg 46.

Moon became as blood - This too was on May 19, 1780. Note the following quotations;

“The darkness of the following evening was probably as gross as has ever been observed since the Almighty fiat gave birth to light. I could not help conceiving at the time that if every luminous body in the universe had been shrouded in the impenetrable darkness, or struck out of existence, the darkness could not have been more complete. A sheet of white paper held within a few inches of the eyes, was equally invisible with the blackest velvet.” Mr. Tenney, of Exeter, N. H., quoted by Mr. Gage to the “Historical Society.”

13. Stars of heaven fell to the earth - This event occurred on November 13, 1833.

“Extensive and magnificent showers of shooting stars have been known to occur at various places in modern times; but the most universal and wonderful which has ever been recorded, is that of the 13th of November, 1833, the whole firmament, over all the United States, being then, for hours, in fiery commotion. No celestial phenomenon has ever occurred in this country, since its first settlement, which was viewed with such intense admiration by one class in the community, or with so much dread and alarm by another...During the three hours of its continuance, the day of judgment was believed to be only waiting for sunrise.” Our First Century, pg 329.

As a fig tree casteth her untimely figs - Green figs have a good hold upon the tree, thus would need a mighty wind to shake them off. But when shaken off they would not naturally fall to the ground as ripe figs would. The force needed to pluck them from the tree by a mighty wind would send the green figs in every direction. So too it was with the falling of the stars. They did not fall just in one direction or straight down. In every direction they fell.

Mark 13:24 shows that the darkening of the sun was to occur “in those days” (the days of Papal supremacy 538 - 1798) but after that tribulation (persecution cut short for the elect's sake in 1773). So we were to expect the dark day to be after 1773 but before 1798, and we have seen that this has been fulfilled as Christ and John the Revelator have said.

Here are the parallels between Matthew and Revelation.

Revelation 6:12-17	Matthew 24:29-30
Great earthquake.	Not mentioned.
Sun darkened.	Sun darkened.
Moon as blood.	Moon unlit (occurred the same day).
Stars fall.	Stars fall.
Atmospheric heaven departs.	Heavens powers shaken.
Great earthquake.	Not mentioned.
Not mentioned.	Sign of the Son of Man.
Flight and cry of unsaved.	Populace mourns.
Coming of Christ.	Coming of Christ.

Looking at these signs, we can easily conclude that God was telling mankind that the last days had begun and that we should be looking and expecting His return. Since 1798 we have been living in the time of the end. (See notes on Daniel 11:35)

Revelation 6:14 “And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.”

Heaven departed as a scroll - As we have seen from Matthew 24:29-30, this is none other than the shaking of the powers of heaven when Christ comes the second time. The heavens shall pass away with a great noise and will also be on fire. (2 Peter 3:10, 12)

See also Joel 3:16 and Hebrews 12:25-27.

Every mountain and island were moved - What a massive earthquake this is. We see the same language in Revelation 16:18, 20 under the seventh plague, “...and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, [and] so great...And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.”

Also Jeremiah 4:23-27, “I beheld the earth, and, lo, [it was] without form, and void; and the heavens, and they [had] no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, [there was] no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place [was] a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, [and] by his fierce anger. For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate.”

Again Isaiah 24:19-20, “The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.”

This earth will so terribly be shaken by this quake that even the islands will sink and the mountains be moved out of their places. This occurs when Christ comes the second time.

Revelation 6:15 “And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;”

There are seven groups of the unsaved mentioned hear, thus denoting all of the lost. Notice there is no respect of persons with God. Position, rank, title, and honour mean absolutely nothing. It will not bring salvation to them. All have slighted salvation.

They wish to be hidden in the dens and the rocks of the mountains. Why?

Revelation 6:16 “And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:”

“They who never prayed to Him whose arm could bring salvation, now raise an agonizing prayer to rocks and mountains to bury them forever from the sight of Him whose presence brings to them destruction. Fain would they now avoid reaping what they have sown (Galatians 6:7) by a life of lust and sin. Fain would they now shun the fearful treasure of wrath which they have been heaping up for themselves against this day (Romans 2:5). Fain would they bury themselves and their catalogue of crimes in everlasting darkness. And so they fly to the rocks, caves, caverns, and fissures, which the broken surface of the earth now presents before them. But it is to late. They cannot conceal their guilt, nor escape the long-delayed vengeance.” Daniel and the Revelation, by Uriah Smith, pg 433.

When all heaven and the saints were interested in their salvation, they were not. When life was offered to them they were not interested. But now that they know they are going to reap what they have sown, they run to find safety. They have slighted salvation and are lost eternally. (Isaiah 2:17-21, Jeremiah 8:20)

But as the wicked pray to the rocks in utter despair, the righteous' prayer will be, “And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this [is] our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this [is] the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isaiah 25:9.

By the events that have just been looked at, it is impossible to say that the saints will be secretly raptured away. The wicked flee from His presence, thus showing that they to will see Him come.

Revelation 6:17 “For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”

The wicked have rejected the call to stand for Christ, but now they cry, “Who shall be able to stand?” The time period for the sixth seal is 1755 - Close of time.

Who will be able to stand during this momentous time?

Will you be able to stand?

Revelation Bible Prophecy Chapter 7...