Shabbat shalom kol beit Yisra'el and Mishpachah and welcome back to Part 28 and the second part of our study of the Seven Seals. This is both a fast-moving story as well as one which is densely packed with detail to assure us that Yahweh does know the future outcome of history, that He's in charge, that His Davar (Word) is reliable and that the righteous will be vindicated especially when it appears that there are inexplicable delays and crises that seem to demand immediate attention and resolution for righteousness' sake.

In His kindness Yahweh addresses our perplexities as we see the gentle touch of a loving Father carefully worked into the grand cosmic picture. And this is one of the amazing things about this Book and of He who inspired it: He has the big picture in view as the Omniscient and Omnipotent Creator but never loses sight of each and every individual soul whom He lavishes with paternal care. It is that peculiar blend of the cosmic and the personal that makes Christianity utterly unique, because the personal and the impersonal, the microscopic and the macroscopic, are continually in view. We see the great care lavished both on each mortal creature as well as the creation as a whole. Yahweh's attention to detail is astonishing. How right David was when he declared that whether he was in heaven or in hell, i.e. in good times as well as bad, he always found Yahweh there waiting for him (Ps.139:7-8)

Since chapter 4 the afflicted qodeshim (saints, set-apart ones) have been reminded that Elohim (God) is over all and that the future is committed to the Lamb. And now, beginning at chapter 6 and continuing through to chapter 8 and verse 1, we are shown that particular future unrolling to its appointed end, which consists of the judgment of the enemies of Yahweh and the triumph - not of passive, armchair believers - but of the active overcomers. Last week we saw how the Lamb opened the first four of the seven seals - the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse - and this week we are going to look at two more of them, the 5th and 6th seals, which are linked together and are separate both from the first four by a change, as it were, of 'characters' and the last one, the 7th, by one of those parenthetical pieces or 'side-episodes' that briefly takes us off subject for a whole chapter, before we resume with the last seal in chapter 8.

One last point about last week's material before we get into the next three seals so that we are focussed on the main events and not on subsidiary ones. The first four seals concern those things like war, economic collapse, famine, and so on, that lead to poverty and pestilence. Of late, understandably, we have all been focussed on the effects of the Covid-19 'pandemic' on the health and economies of nations which has led many Bible commentators getting sidetracked into believing that this, and the expected second Monkeypox 'pandemic' (unless, for whatever reason, the élites should call it off to prevent further expose of their conspiracy and endangerment to their bigger plans), are the main cause of the huge numbers of deaths (about half the world population) that the Book of Revelation says are the result of the four horsemen. The Covid/Monkeypox affair is not a real pandemic but a 'scamdemic' or a 'plandemic', artificially manufactured 'epidemics', whereas the pandemics that are the subject of Revelation 6 are the result of famine caused by conventional, destructive warfare of a global scale.

In other words, 'you ain't seen nothing yet' - the scandemic(s)/plandemic(s) and the ever deadlier 'solutions' or 'remedies' to them were but softening up operations to weaken the health of the world population (as well as to kill a few) - a bit like an artillery barrage before the main attack - so as to make humans even more susceptible to the real pandemics to come. Don't assume that exposing the truth about the scandemic(s)/pandemic(s) will solve the dark satanic agenda seeking humanity's decimation and (finally) eradication - they are but a subset or factor in the bigger equation. What is prophesied in Revelation 6 will happen - it cannot be stopped - but individual people, communities and even nations, if they genuinely repent, may escape all of this by following Yahweh's instructions to the nevi'im (prophets) to gather. Nations are beginning to fall like flies right now - Sri Lanka, Colombia, Panama and many other nations are already 'gone' and many others are 'going', and many more will follow; it is now up to every individual, family, clan, tribe and nation to take its stand against wickedness or be consumed by it. And remember, this is only a penultimate judgment we're going through - a 'dry run' of sorts, and an opportunity to do what's right before crossing 'last lines' or 'points of no return'. We either learn from what's going on this time round, repent, and embrace the Messiah, or we set ourselves up for eradication (and worse, as far as Eternity is concerned) the next and last time round. Many nations will no longer exist by the time this is all over because their peoples will either be dead or their survivors absorbed by other nations and empires. All of this is by design, to promote a dictatorial One World Government run by the totalitarian globalist, corporatist utopians.

Today's text, covering seals #5 and #6, is the second half of chapter 6, beginning at verse 9, which we'll look at now using the New King James Version (NKJV). Be aware that we shall depart from the NKJV in verse 14 and defer to the Aramaic which gives a slightly different rendering which may, or may not, have interpretational significance, but which needs to be pointed out for accuracy's sake. Also be aware that the words 'heaven' and 'sky' in English translations refer to the same word (the plural shammayim in Hebrew) and are used without distinction in Scripture but can either refer to the atmosphere or to the spiritual place/dimension called 'Heaven' or the 'Paradise' part of Sheol (the world of the dead) which only the context can distinguish between. The sky is commonly and frequently used to symbolise 'Heaven' or the 'Paradise' part of Sheol, the abode of the dead, the disembodied spirits of the once physically living.

With these observations in mind let's read today's text:

"9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar (Ex.29:12; Lev.4:7) [1] the souls of those who had been slain for the Davar Elohim (Word of God) and for the testimony (Gk. marturia) which they held. 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, 'How long (Ps.74:9-10; Zech.1:12; Dan.9), O Yahweh (Lord), qadosh (holy, set-apart) and true, until You judge and avenge our blood (Gen.4:10; Mt.23:35; cp. 1 En.9:10; 22:7; 47:1) on those who dwell on the earth [2] (or 'the land'; 'inhabitants of the earth' - NIV = mankind hostile to Elohim/God)? 11 Then a white robe (= blessedness, purity & victory) was given to each of them (Zec.3:5); and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

"12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake (a sign of divine visitation - Ex.19:18; Is.2:19; Hag.2:6); and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood (Joel 2:31; Ac.2:20). 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth (Mk.13:25-26), as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind [3]. 14 And heaven was melted/dissolved (Aram.) ('Then the sky receeded' - NKJV) [4] as scrolls that are rolled up [5], and every mountain and island was moved out of its place (Jer.4:24; Nah.1:5; cp. Rev.16:20; 20:11). 15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves (Jer.4:29) and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 and said to the mountains and rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us (Hos.10:8; Is.2:10,19) from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb (Rom.1:18; Rev.19:15; Zeph.1:14-18; Nah.1:6; Mal.3:2)! 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?'" (Rev.6:9-17, NKJV).

Yahweh knows how tough the judgments of these seals are going to be for the elect, for those who don't deserve their consequences. The faithful servants of El Elyon, the Most High, are now in view in the narrative, as they try to find meaning in all the suffering that the four horsemen bring at the last hour.

As I pointed out last time, the four horsemen are an 'ongoing thing' and have been around since the Fall so whatever your situation, Yahweh wants you to know that He understands your suffering and that it has purpose. It is the only way the mix of free agency and redmeption is possible. It is therefore a brutal, though necesssary, fact that the righteous must suffer the evils which the wicked bring on themselves because we are not islands but a part of a community on so many different levels. We must be willing to endure the selfishness and foolishness of others because we love them enough to want to give them the opportunity to set things right for themselves by choosing salvation of their own accord. As salvation is both personal (Pesach to Yom haBikkurim) and communal (Shavu'ot to Sukkot), so too is suffering. We bear not only the burdens of family and the Messianic Community (Church) but also of our friends, local communities, nations, and the world as a whole. We are all connected one way or another and are affected by everyone's choices in the events they create. It's the only way groups of people can be.

The last pandemic was a perfect example of that. Everyone was impacted one way or another. And that particular matter isn't by any means over either. Now, today, ordinary people like farmers, fishermen, truckers and others are pushing back against the deliberately suicidal politics of the utopians [6] whose unrealistic dreams are pure fantasy and unattainable without using oppression and war. What's worse, perhaps, (and definitely wicked) is that they themselves are the authors or engineers of the crises which they claim to have the solutions to. It's the cynical way they restructure society into the image of their diabolical master, that rebel malakh (angel), by first creating chaos and then re-ordering society from the ashes of the old order which, though imperfect, at least had good in the mix. The craziness of today's world is in some ways far preferable to the new world they want which is pure evil, a world with the good fully expunged but for the lone lights that are Yahweh's witnesses. We must suffer for either their wickedness or ignorance...and usually both.

We're back to the old question once again that we spent an entire session discussing in Part 22 - why did Yahweh set things up this way?n Hopefully that's getting clearer now but if you've new here, having just joined the course at this point, you might want to go over that material. I suspect we shall return to this question many times because how we approach it shapes the entire way we live life down here.

There is a saying, recorded in the Talmud, the first part attributed to the second century rabbi, Natan haBavli, which says that:

"HaQodesh (the Holy One), blessed be He, took the soul of Moses and stored it under the Throne of Glory...Not only the soul of Moses is stored under the Throne of Glory, but the souls of the righteous are also stored there. Rabbi Akiva used to say...'Whoever is buried beneath the altar is as though he were buried beneath the Throne of Glory" [7].

None of this means that when the righteous die they go to live under a literal table (the altar) in a literal three dimensional Throne Room such as you find in Buckingham Palace. Rather, the spiritual existence that the martyrs have after this life is symbolically represented by an altar, where animal sacrifice took place in the Old Covenant under which their blood was poured. The martyrs have likewise shed their blood and 'dwell' where there blood 'is'. This takes place not in a literal 'room' with height, length and breadth as is found in the physical space we currently live in but is a state of existence or being which in the temple was symbolically represented by the 'Holy of Holies'. We are being given images or pictures of realities that approximate, as far as approximation of the infinite is possible on a finite plane, the greater reality of what is to yet come to which the blessed in Christ have already gone as they await their resurrection back in earth. The marvel, to me, is that these two realities - our present mortal earth existence and the world of departed spirits - will one day be combined in a resurrection world, to be inseparably connected, that is the reward of the righteous. We shall enjoy the best of both worlds!

That inheritance, though, is not for those who simply make a confession of faith and think it's an 'easy come, easy go' kind of 'faith' that led them and which will gain them access to the Throne Room. No, no, no! That is cheap, imitation faith, disposable faith, 'once saved, always saved' 'faith': but that 'faith' isn't biblical emunah or faith or trusting at all, not remotely. True saving faith is much, much more than confession even if it necessarily begins with a verbal confession in agreement with the heart's greatest desire to be rescued from sin and death on Yahweh's own terms and not ours. The faith that saves 'at the end' is the faith that has what one might call 'endurance characteristics', and arguably the most important characteristic of that true faith is the one that leaves behind in the ears and hearts of listeners a living testimony of that faith. Let me remind you of verse 9 again (we'll use the NRSV this time just to get a little variation in linguistic colour):

"When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered for the word of Elohim (God), and for the testimony they had given" (Rev.6:9, NRSV).

The two parts of the reason they were under the altar - they were "slaughtered" for the Davar Elohim (Word of God) and for their "testimony" or "witness", are not two separate things, because the word traslated 'testimony' or 'witness' is the Greek marturia from which we derive the English word 'martyr'. In other words, those precious souls symbolically located under the altar in the Throne Room are not only willing to testify of Yah'shua (Jesus) but are willing to die for that testimony or witness too. Their testimony is backed by their very lives! They are, as it were, using their life as colateral for their testimony! This is what a true believer looks like. This isn't passive, airmchair Christianity, is it? Not remotely. It's all-or-nothing Christianity. It's the ulterimate expression of authenticity when we say when we say we give our life to Christ in exchange for our old ones and its an ultimate expression of faith, the same Abraham had in offering Isaac with the supreme confidence that Yahweh would resurrect him. This utterly changes your perspective on Christianity, doesn't it?

If you want a perfect New Testament example of such a testimony-carrying martyr-soul then there is none better than the first named martyr for the faith, Stephen, of whom it is written:

"While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, 'Master Yah'shua (Lord Jesus), receive my spirit.' Then he fell on his knees and cried out, 'Master (Lord), do not hold this sin against them.' When he had said this, he fell asleep (died)" (Acts 7:59-60, NIV)

There are plenty of examples in the Tanakh (Old Testament) of those who had the same heart and spiritual destination. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego preferred being thrown into the firey furnace over bowing down to King Nebuchadnezzar's idols in Daniel 3. And though not a Tanakh story, 2 Maccabees tells that when ordered by the tyrant Antiochus IV Epiphenes to renounce their Old Covenant emunah (faith), seven sons and their mother, one after the other, chose death instead. These and many others were the prototypes for, and symbols of, martyrdom.

Stephen learned how to face death from Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) Himself, who was not a martyr at all but came to earth as One who had equality with Elohim (God) (Phil.2:6-8) "to give His life [as] a ransom for many" (Mk.10:45, NRSV). Nailed to the cross, and quoting Psalm 31:6, Yah'shua (Jesus) said: "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit'" (Luke 23:46, NKJV). This is the ultimate expression of nobility. All those souls under the altar, including Stephen, were loyal nobles. They are the true heavenly royalty, not the spoiled, self-centered, entitled and brattish 'King's Kids' of modern 'Christianity' who are unwilling to sacrifice anything except nobility itself and all that stands for noble character.

A word of caution, though, and I want to underline this most emphatically: martyrdom for its own sake is a cultish value - a fanatical, extremist notion - and is not Christian or Messianic. I underline the words 'for its own sake'. Martyrdom is not a virtue or a goal! You should not, as some Christians were to do in the Roman arenas of the second and third generations, consciously seek out martyrdom in the hope of scoring 'Brownie points' in heaven. Martyrdom isn't about us and what we can get but about Him - Yah'shua (Jesus) and what He means to us. It isn't like jihad which is attractive to those misguided people who practice it because they believe that through bloodletting it is a free ticket to Islam's imaginary sensual pornographic paradise. Martyrdom is not for virtue-signalling holiness or loyalty to others. We don't earn anything from being martyred, anymore than we can earn our salvation through obedience because obedience follows naturally to the already saved. Martyrdom is something for those whose hearts are fully sold out to Christ who are willing to suffer if called upon to do so. The one who has an authentic martyr's heart is one who is willing for the sake of love, and love only - to die for the love of Elohim (God), and for witness if at all possible. One whose love is not so formed is not willing if called upon to do die for Messiah.

No one is ever 'in the Throne Room' - whether praying, speaking in tongues, or labouring under an 'anointing' (real, imagined or counterfeit) - who does not have a true martyr's heart. One who is willing to be a martyr, if called upon, is part of the Bride, the Remnant, the Firstborn, or other scriptural designation of the Elect of Elohim (God) because there is no greater love than laying down your life for your friend (Jn.10:15; 13:17,37-38; 15:13; 1 Jn.3:16). Equally, though, such a person must be willing to live for Christ and suffer whatever he or she is called to suffer living life. Being martyred is not 'better' than one who lives and gives his all for Christ. Indeed, under most circumstances, it is a lot harder to live for Yah'shua (Jesus) than to die for Him. Just think of those imprisoned and tortured for Christ, or who selflessly labour every moment of their lives for Him. They are all the same. What characterises them? They are willing to die for their witness or testimony if called upon to do so and to suffer in the meantime, for love's sake.

Otherwise, we are to carry on witnessing and not go seeking for martyrdom for self-glory, anticipated rewards or other false motives. We simply live and die for our Master, come what may. And when it's time to go home, we either die a natural death like the Apostle John or we die like the other apostles as martyrs. It's that simple and we are not to make comparisons as to who is greater or worthier as the apostles once did, or make special requests for glory as the mother of the sons of Zebedee did that stirred up no small amount of jealousy amongst the other apostles (Mt.20:20-28; Mk.10:35-45)

I sometimes wonder if some of those who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture want to be whisked away in order to escape martyrdom? Their excuse is that the Saviour doesn't want a 'blood-stained Bride'. Pardon me, but that is utter nonsense and runs counter to the testimony of the whole of Scripture. The Bride of Christ is already 'bloodstained' and will continue to be right up until He returns. But it is interesting, is it not, that the elect are always those who are willing to remain behind to serve even if they want to be with Yah'shua (Jesus) more than anything else. Paul was one such person who declared:

"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labour; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and simcha (joy) of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) by my coming to (visiting) you again" (Phil.1:21-26, NKJV).

A Cowardly Élite of Rapturists?

Well, I promised you at the beginning of this series of studies that the Book of Revelation would expose and destroy many of the false doctrines in circulation today, and so it is doing. Which brings us to the second aspect of the fifth seal and that concerns the question of vengeance, a critically important theological question that is so wrongly applied by so many claiming to be Christian, from Crusaders to modern Western Zionists who seem more interested in nuking Iranians and Syrians instead of saving their souls. The souls under the altar "shouted at the tops of their voices, 'Holy and true Master!...how much longer are you going to put off giving judgment, and avenging our blood on the earth-dwellers?" (Rev.6:10, KNT)

The first point I want to make is that judgment and vengeance are absolutely not wrong. They are completely legitimate and biblical. The big questions are by whom should they be executed, by what method, and when? We need to have a balanced approach to this critically important subject particularly in such a time as ours with wars raging or threatened, and wicked rulers oppressing and murdering their own citizens. Those who oppose vengeance as a matter of principle usually appeal to Yah'shua's (Jesus') example and teaching in the Gospels:

"And suddenly, one of those (Simon Peter) who were with Yah'shua (Jesus) stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck [Malchus] the servant of the Cohen Gadol (High Priest), and cut off his ear. But Yah'shua (Jesus) said to him, 'Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of malakim (angels)? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus? [8]" (Mt.26:50-54, NKJV; cp. Jn.18:10-11).

In other words, this was not the time for justice to be served. The other passage commonly cited is in Luke where Yah'shua (Jesus) is dying on the cross:

"Then Yah'shua (Jesus) said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do'" (Luke 23:34, NKJV).

In other words, to intervene by executing justice at that point by interfering with Yah'shua's (Jesus) appointment at the cross, would have been to destroy the greater work of atonement which is why Yah'shua (Jesus) came to the earth in the first place. He came to die, not to judge at that time. But there is a second, very important, element for us who are His talmidim (disciples) because we are commanded to also live by the principle of forgiveness:

"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors (the most despised in Judean society at that time) doing that?" (Matt 5:44-47, NIV).

When Yahweh judges, His sole motive is justice mingled with love. As humans we tend to be driven by hate and the urge to do to the wrong-doer what he did, or sought to do, to us, 'eye for eye, tooth for tooth'-fashion. As a result we become no better than him and can end up targeting the innocent as well, based on false criteria like race, for example, that has so often led to genocide. Yes, the Scriptures absolutely make room for vengeance. The martyrs under the Altar clearly recognised that, whilst vengeance is not properly within the human domain, it is absolutely a proper function of Elohim (God). The apostle Paul taught:

"Never seek revenge, my friends; instead, leave that to Elohim's (God's) anger; for in the Tanakh (Old Testament) it is written: 'Yahweh says, 'Vengeance is My responsibility; I will repay' (Dt.32:35)'" (Rom.12:19, CJB/JNT).

Moreover, just as the voice of Abel's blood cried out to Yahweh from the ground (Gen.4), righteousness demands payment or vengeance for murder or wrongful death. And if you check the background of this passage (which you'll find in Psalm 79:10 and Luke 18:7-8a), the very clear impression is that the martyrs are here praying for vindication rather than vengeance. By contrast, the pseupigraphic (and unreliable) book of Enoch demands vengeance, a reason one must be strict about not elevating non-canonical books to the same status as the Bible, a reason why Messianic Evangelicals tread warily and don't follow the enthusiasm of so many Evangelicals and Messianics who have not properly tested this work which is falsely attributed to the patriarch Enoch.

All of this leads me to make a loud warning about the topic of vengeance before we conclude our commentary on the fifth seal. Yes, sometimes, though rarely, Yahweh commands His people to be excutioners, as He did when it came to conquering Canaan under Joshua but this was only because the inhabitants were 'ripened in inquity' and had crossed the line of 'no redemption' because of theb unspeakable evil they were doing in the land such as sacrificing their children to Moloch.

One of the reasons the Israelites had to wait so long in Egypt was bacause had they been delivered earlier by a Moses-prophet and conquered the land before the appointed time, they would truly have committed murder and genocide against the Canaanites, as atheists and other critics accuse Yahweh and Joshua of. Again, this is why timing is so important and especially why global judgment must wait for its appointed time, because were Yahweh to wipe out half the planet before its time - before the world was fully ripened in iniquity - then Satan could rightly accuse Him of being a murderer and guilty of genocide, let alone being unjust.

Grace and mercy must always have their appointed season before justice closes in to do its work. Ironically, the same people who accuse Yahweh and the Bible of being guilty of the crime of murder think nothing of approving governments that imprison, torture and execute people given that so many are treated unjustly in man's judicial system. Many of these accusers support totalitarian systems and many more support liberal systems which do little to nothing to execute basic justice in our countries. Man is not very good at being just, is he? Just look at the holocaust of millions of the the unborn committed in the name of liberty by undiscerning, selfish and hypocritical human beings.

Which brings me to the more serious issue of cults, cultic leaders and false prophets who decree human-based justice based on human values rather than Yahweh's. I do not need to talk about the 'religion of peace' which commits so many barbaric acts of injustice and murder, or even of professedly 'Christian' nations who sometimes do the same. Our record is frankly appalling which is why we need Yah'shua (Jesus) back as Regent on the earth and why we need (in the meantime) righteous people to serve as judges both in the nations and in the churches and messianic assemblies. But sadly their numbers are becoming fewer and fewer. As one who has experienced unjust excommunication from a church for teaching the truth and has stood before a court falsely accused of crimes committed by others seeking 'revenge' for their own bad decisions and choices...and still am falsely accused online [9]...I think I have a fairly good grasp of what injustice feels like. We need theocratic government - not any old theocratic government (for man has created his own counterfeit ones and given religion a bad name because of his abuse of this system) but the one promised in the Book of Revelation for the Millennium and beyond. That subject we shall eventually come to!

So, what is Yahweh's answer to the qodeshim (saints, set-apart ones) crying up from under the altar? He gives them a "white robe". What this does not mean is that He gives them a new set of clothes and they are to be satisified with them, as perhaps you might by in receiving an officer's uniform in the military in exchange for your former one. We have actually already addressed this subject in Revelation 3:4-5 when we talked about the Assembly in Sardis, the fifth congregation in the series of seven. (Do you think there is any coincidence, then, that this is the fifth seal?). As I don't wish to cover all that material again, let me just summarise what we learned back in Part 11 of this series, namely, that John is drawing upon symbolism that would have been familiar to his readers in the first century, symbols from both the Tanakh (Old Testament) itself and from the secular culture of the Roman Empire.

White symbolised purity, of course, but more than that, what is being described is preparation for the actual (true) rapture which is the Triumphal Procession of King Yah'shua (Jesus) when He comes back (not an imaginary whisking away from earth)! And here Yahweh is saying that not only are these martyrs pure of heart (and therefore justified) but - and this is what they so much want to hear - that they will be in that triumphant procession because of their faith, courage, endurance, long-suffrering and overcoming! They will be among the qodeshim (saints, set-apart ones) in the King's procession and will be wearing white robes on that grand occasion, as the ancients did in Rome and Greece in triumphal processions on earth! Everyone dressed in white for those occasions! Yahweh is in effect saying to them: 'Focus on this good news instead your past ordeals, terrible though they were, because I will settle your score with the wicked and execute perfect justice in the proper way and in the correct proportions at the appropriate time in the future. You will be vindicated! You will be seen to have been in the right!

Which brings us to the sixth and (for today) last seal as we need two or three sessions to cover the interlude between the sixth and seventh seals and the seventh seal itself. Let's re-read verses 12-17, this time using the Jerusalem Bible:

"In my vision, when He broke the sixth seal, there was a violent earthquake and the sun went black as coarse sackcloth; the moon turned red as blood all over; and the stars of the sky fell onto the earth (Is.34:14) like figs dropping from a fig tree (Mk.11:12-14,20-24) when a high wind shakes it; the sky disappeared (melted) like a scroll rolling up and all the mountains and islands were shaken in their places. Then all the earthly rulers, the governors and commanders, the rich people and the men of influence, the whole population, slaves and citizens, took to the mountains to hide in caves and among the rocks (Hos.10:8). They said to the mountains (Is.2:10,18-19), 'Fall on us and hide us away from the One who sits on the throne and from the anger of the Lamb. For the Great Day of His anger has come, and who can survive it? (Joel 2:11; 3:4)" (Rev.6:12-17, JB).

There can be little or no doubt that this sixth seal represents some major physical events in real time and space, and alludes to descriptions of the end of the æon or age in numerous Tanakh (Old Testament) prophecies in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Joel, Nahum and Haggai. I will leave scripture references for you to research afterwards [10]. The sun being darkened and the moon turning a blood red colour is perfectly consistent with what preceeds this dimming, namely, the earthquakes causing massive volcanic eruptions across the whole world leading to massive clouds of ash being spewed out into the atmosphere.

Similar to the Egyptians in the 10 Plagues being engulfed in darkness which made it impossible to even light a fire (because the darkness was so thick), so the whole earth will likely be afflicted by a darkness caused by thick clouds of volcanic ash collecting in the atmosphere surrounding the whole world and eventually falling to earth, burrying practically everything. And those of you who know anything about the research done on Pompei which was destroyed by Mount Vesuvius erupting, you will know that the people in that blighted Roman city were literally turned into figures of sculptured-like rock as red hot air suffocated them and ash engulfted them, gruesomely preserving them in their very last act before death. That was one city but this is a worldwide occurrence. Some of you may remember what happened in the aftermath of the volcano destroying Mount St.Helen in the United States and how for miles around towns and hamlets were buried in volcanic dust and whole forests were leveled in one fell swoop.

But that's not all that will happen. The "stars of the sky fell onto the earth". This statement has confused exegetes for generations and has led many to conclude that this must surely be symbolic only since obviously literal stars cannot fall to the ground! And there is, for sure, a secondary symbolic sense attached to all three heavenly bodies (as there is to most prophecy) because stars can, and do, sometimes point to human rulers and authorities which are spoken of also in our passage here. However, in the primary sense, this is clearly a physical event along with the sun and moon darkening (or to be exact, being darkened by atmospheric conditions from the point-of-view of the observer). So what are the 'stars'? Here it becomes important for us to have an understanding of the astronomical knowledge of the people of the first century AD because for them no distinction was made between what we call stars, planets, comets, asteroids, meteorites or shooting stars because scientific knowledge was limited (they had no telescopes, for one thing). They were all lumped together as kochavim or 'stars' which literally means a 'round, shining object' in the night sky, and derives from two words meaning 'blazing' and 'rolling' (because they move or 'roll' through the night sky), some (like comets and meteorites...and particularly meterorites) 'rolling' faster than all the others. In other words, large shining objects are falling from the sky and striking the earth with devastating force in this revelation. These can only be the fragments of asteroids and/or comets, namely, meteors.

All of this, a dreadful scene indeed, explains all to well the panicked reaction of the rulers, governors, military commanders, rich people, influential people and ordinary people - they all 'head for the hills' or 'mountains' in the hope of finding sanctuary there, but they find none, because the whole surface of the earth is affected by this terrible cataclysm. And they fully understand that this is the hand of Elohim (God) bringing them to judgment and condemnation. Indeed, they are so desperate not to see the extreme displeasure on His face that they are begging the mountains to hide them! All of this is described as the product of "the wrath of the Lamb".

Yah'shua (Jesus) Himself says two things about these events so let's just quickly read them - He is mostly quoting from the Tanakh (Old Testament):

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His malakim (angels) with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other (for the triumphal procession)" (Matt.24:29-31, NKJV).

Notice how the fig tree incident plays into this prophecy:

"Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near -at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. [The present] heaven and [the present] earth will pass away, but My devarim (words) will by no means pass away.

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the malakim (angels) of heaven, but My Father (Yahweh) only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. hen two men will be in the field: one will be taken (killed - not raptured) and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken (killed, not raptured) and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Master is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming (for judgment, not rapture) at an hour you do not expect" (Matt.24:32-44, NKJV).

The second saying of Yah'shua (Jesus) follows:

"Now as they led Him away, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Yah'shua (Jesus). And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. But Yah'shua (Jesus), turning to them, said, 'Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!' Then they will begin 'to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us!'" (Luke 23:26-31, NKJV).

That the 'gentle and meek' Lamb of Elohim (God) should be responsible for this shocks a lot of liberal Christians for whom the Saviour is all Lamb and zero Lion. They cannoty associate such wrath with the Saviour of mankind. But understand this: the wrath of Elohim (God) is not a petulent, irrational burst of anger, such as we as as humans exhibit, but a qadoesh (holy), just revulsion against what is contrary to and opposes Yahweh's qadosh (holy) nature and will. This will not have been the first such global judgment either, only the method will be different, the first being by water (the flood) and the last being by fire (from the depths of the earth and from the heavens). What could possibly trigger such a global catastrophe? We know where all the flood waters came from (underground seas and a water-sarurated atmosphere) but what could possibly cause the whole earth to shake so that islands and mountains are physically moved out of their place? In other words, what could trigger such a massive, global chain of earthquakes along every fault line of the earth of such magnitude as to radically change the physical geography of the planet? Yahweh used a natural and already present element - water - the first time, so what will He use the second time? Something of immense power would be required to cause such enormous geological changes. Meteorites are one of the elements but not sufficient unless there are huge asteroid impacts.

You have to remember that Yahweh has covenanted not to entirely destroy the earth. This is the 'Great Day' prophesied repeatedly in more than a dozen places in the Tanakh (Old Testament) - also known as the 'Day of Yahweh' (or 'Day of the LORD') (Rev.1:10; 2 Thess.2:2; 2 Pet.3:10), and 'the Day of our Master Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ)' (1 Cor.1:8), 'the Day of our Master Yah'shua (Lord Jesus)' (Phil.1:10), and later on in the Book of Revelation as 'the Great Day of Yahweh-Tsevaoth (the LORD of Hosts) (Rev.16:14; Is.2:12; Jer.46:10), 'the Day of Anger' or 'Wrath' (Mt.10:15; 2 2 Pet.2:9; 1 Jn.4:17), and mentioned in at least five more places in the Messianic Scriptures (New Testament). Only Yahweh can precisely control the extent of destruction so that it does not overwhelm all of humanity and indeed life itself, just as He ensured that an ark full of animals and plants and eight human beings would survive a massive worldwide flood). How will He do it? I believe I know what will cause this, though I cannot be sure with 100 per cent certainty, as I have no formal revelation on the subject. But we do have some substantial clues.

We know the earth has been struck by meteors from time to time in the past and that one whopping one struck Arizona in the distant past (the Barringer Meteor Crater) as did one in Yucatan, Mexico (the Chicxulut Crater). But we know of an even bigger, gigantic one, likely asteroid-sized, that fell in what is now the Gulf of Mexico, perhaps being responsible for wiping out a previously great but wicked and corrupt civilisation in the Americas, leaving sunken cities in the Caribbean like those ancient sunken ancient cities off the coasts of India and Japan. The movement of mountains and islands described in chapter 6 of the Book of Revelation is consistent with the kinds of catastrophic changes that have happened in the past.

Moreover, Yahweh tends to use repeat methods and simply adjusts the scale depending what the goal is. Flooding is not an uncommon thing. We know large local floods have afflicted many areas of the world historically, including one in Mesopotamia which liberals are keen to advance as the basis of their global flood 'myth', as they wish the biblical flood to be viewed. Mesopotamia, and the Euphrates basin in particular, was likely flooded many times in the past. That does not, however, negate a global flood like the one we read about in Genesis, for which there is compelling geological and historical evidence [11]. There are different kinds of floods, the the global flood is simply one of scale.

Indeed I believe the earth has experienced two global floods in its history, on each occasion wiping out everything that existed before, and both for the same or similar reasons. The earth as described in Genesis 1:2 looks very much like a world that has been submerged in water completely. It is our belief that this was once a malak or angel planet, that it was the original domain of Heylel, or Lucifer who became haSatan, or Satan 'the Adversary'. You will find this discussed on our Science website. This also explains why the earth is not 6,000 years old (we can absolutely prove it is much older because of ancient civilisations from the remote past that I recently discussed in a video on Ancient America) whilst accommodating the indisputable scriptural fact that Adam was indeed the first man, by special creation, on a whole rebuilt planet, and not in a line of evolving monkeys that Darwinist Christians demand. Evolutionary hypotheses contradict the Scriptures and indeed Yah'shua (Jesus) the Creator Himself.

This model simultaneously reconciles the great age of the earth and the universe with the Bible as well as explaining the 'strange' order of creation in the Genesis account (in reality, a recreation following the flood of the angel world - the present creation is indeed young, not more than about 15,000-20,000 years). The only difference between the first flood and Noah's Flood is in the first one everything and everybody was destroyed, turning the malakim (angels) into disembodied spirits, which also explains their hankering after physical flesh which they long to be a part of again as they were in the pre-Adamic world before its judgment. This is a big subject that I go into in greater depth elsewhere [12] but I wanted to take the opportunity both to sensitise those new to this ministry as well as to provide a backdrop for the destruction of the earth by fire which is the subject of the Book of Revelation.

Like the large Galilean moon Io that orbits Jupiter, though not nearly as bad, planet earth is a volcanic planet. It is also part of a vast Solar System with numerous large bodies (like the gas giants), trillions of asteroids and meteorites, comets and as likely yet undiscovered planets with wildly eccentric orbits like Pluto. In the year 705 BC some large heavenly body came dangerously close to the earth and changed everything, including the calendar of 12 x 30 day-long months. I talked about this recently again. Fifteen ancient calendars had to be altered from around the world to accommodate the new astronomical changes to earth's orbit, tilt, spin, and so forth. And possibly this has happened in even the remote past.

Similar, if not the same, occurences were likely responsible for Hezekiah's shadow on the stairway of Ahaz (2 Ki.20:11) and Joshua's sun standing still (Josh.10:12-14) [13]. Many ascribe these upheavels on earth to a planet called 'Nibiru or Planet X' which was supposed to have arrived in 2012 but never did. (Indeed I seriously investigated this claim myself and considered it a distinct possibility [14]). Whether Nibiru is a real planet with a hugely eccentric orbit or not, this is possible explanation, but at present unsubstantiated. A far better explanation is that we have periodically had close encounters with Mars caused by intersecting orbits. If you'd like to know more about this, there is a video at the end of our Creation Calendar website.

I share this with you only to make you aware that the events described in the 6th Seal could well be set off by a close fly-by of our own planet Mars which we know from astronomical calculations has serverely disturbed the earth in the past. One day, in the not too distant future, the generation after mine may look up and briefly see Mars fill the night sky and set off the events described by John. Since Yahweh is the omniscient, all-knowing Master Coordinator, it is not at all beyond the realms of possibility that this is how He will 'do' the 6th Seal. I'm of course willing to be corrected if I am wrong but for now this is what I believe. Moreover, it is consistent with the way in which Yahweh has used natural phenomena in the past. That is not to say Yahweh can't cause the 6th Seal events to occur by a completely different means - I am open to that; I am just persuaded that He is more likely to employ natural events to achieve His purposes given the witness of the past.

It neatly deals with otherwise perplexing problems like Joshua's extra day because all the other explanations that have been advanced seem too incredible to me, and I don't want to make ridiculous claims. It's embarassing thinking back at some if the silly theorems that Christians of the past have advanced to explain, for example, thr presence of dinosaur fossils. Their explaination: 'Satan put them there to confuse unbelievers'. What utter bunkum. Indeed, the theory that there was an angel planet here before this one could well place the dinosaurs in that earlier æon or age, meaning we don't have to explain how men and dinsoaurs coexisted in the primitive past (which to me seems nigh impossible - try to imagine it! nor do we have to force Noah to carry any on the Ark. I'm not saying he couldn't or didn't (they could well have been young juveniles) or that we haven't co-existed with dinosaurs at some point. I am simply offering alternative and, I believe, better explanations that make us more scientifically credible (because we were created rational beings) as well as scripturally faithful.

Now I do not, of course, believe that the Second Coming of Yah'shua (Jesus) will be a 'natural' phenomenon, nor am I saying that supernatural powers aren't somewhere involved in the mix of all these natural disasters. There can be no doubt that Yahweh steers the Universe He both designed and created. We live in an age of tremendous scientific and theological discovery and the two are getting closer and closer. Indeed, thanks to the sophisticated telescopes we have in orbit as well as the new James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) we are able to compare the structure of the human brain with the universe itself to see not only the amazing similarirties between the two but to see that the universe is actually intelligently designed and not at all 'random'. What we see is a manifestation of the Creator's genius and awesome power!

Given, then, the terrible destruction at the very end, how can Yahweh's people stand? Never mind the persecutions and pogroms against believers that are to come, and are already taking place in many places here and now, but how will the last generation survive a close encounter with Mars and the horrendous earthquakes (which the Book of Revelation mentions three times, you will recall, at the end of each of the series of seals, trumpets and bowls/vials)? Well we know the answer to that question - Yahweh has called for the establishment of Twelve Cities of Refuge in a Final Gathering toward the end of the current Final Exodus which will be supernaturally protected both against enemies and global natural disasters. So I am not worried about that. What I am worried about is all those people who refuse to repent and accept the Besorah (Gospel, Good News) because the description in the 6th Seal tells us that it will not go well for them. And there's more to come yet! It isn't even the end of woes! This is, after all, the final wrapping up scene, the end of the Æon!

Those of the world who glory in their own power will come, finally, to realise that it was all an illusion when the 6th Seal is opened. Even weak people who manipulate and try to gain power in small ways (like Antifa in Portland) will be revealed for what they are. Fakes. Only those Yah'shua (Jesus)-trusting, Torah-obedient believers, who restrict "praise and honour and glory and power" to Elohim (God the Father) and the Lamb (Rev.5:13, NIV), will survive their fury! That is the final message of the 5th and 6th seals.

We now know who the Elect really are - what character they possess - they who cry out in the midst of apparent chaos and suffering like King David of old:

"How long, O Yahweh? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart daily?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?" (Ps.13:1-2, NKJV).

"How long, Yahweh?
Will You hide Yourself forever?
Will Your wrath burn like fire?
Remember how short my time is;
For what futility have You created all the children of men?
What man can live and not see death?
Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave?" (Ps.89:46-48, NKJV).

You see, he too wondered at the current 'set-up'! Yet I hope that you of the last generation will draw comfort from the fact that all of Yahweh's Elect struggle as David did. It isn't easy but you will be vindicated! You absolutely will! The surprising lesson from the 5th Seal is that the Lamb will restrain His wrath against the assaults on His witnesses until the last martyr has been slain. Until then, the spirits of the deceased qodeshim (saints, set-apart ones) will rest a little longer (Rev.14:13) in the white robe of victory and purity. Indeed, the rest of the Book of Revelation, which we shall start getting into next week, shows how Yahweh answers their prayers to avenge their deaths, beginning here at Revelation 6:15-17 with the very ones who had put them to death.

Them, finally, with the 6th Seal, we have seen a preview of the coming destruction of the first heaven and earth at full display of the wrath of the Lamb - we'll learn more about that in Revelation 20:11 and 21:1). The first of three global earthquakes will unmistakably mark or identify those times so that none will be in any doubt. The important lesson to be gleaned is this; you do NOT want to be a witness of the return of the Master in glory in an unsaved state whether in the heavenly realm as a disembodied spirit or as one still alive on the earth which shall be shaken as in no other time in history. Two world wars and the communist holocausts are nothing in comparison!

And you will remember, I hope, from earlier on in this study, how most of the Seven Assemblies of Asia Minor in Revelation 2-3 had experienced devastating earthquakes during the century before the Book of Revelation so they would have been able to relate in the same way that others today who have experienced earthquakes (for example, in Turkey) will be able to relate. So believers in these cities could graphically imagine three massive global earthquakes preceeding the master's terrifying arrival! The changes in the heavenlies - the darkened sun, blood-red moon and 'stars' falling out of the sky and crashing into the ground dropping like figs onto the ground in the wind, the sky dissolved or rolled up like a scroll, with every mountain and island displaced, would be - and will be - unmistakable. No one will be trying to allegorise Revelation 6 any longer. This is in real-time! Rebellious humanity will seek to hide their collective face from the Creator, begging to be buried.

Which leaves you and me with the question we have to ask ourselves that Nahum asked his generation:

"The mountains quake before Him,
The hills melt,
And the earth heaves at His presence,
Yes, the world and all who dwell in it.

Who can stand before His indignation?
And who can endure the fierceness of His anger? His fury is poured out like fire,
And the rocks are thrown down by Him" (Nah.1:5-6, NKJV).

"But who can endure the day of His coming?
And who can stand when He appears?" (Mal.3:2, NKJV).

Can you answer in the affirmative? If you cannot, then now is the best time to fall to your knees, repent of your sins, admit Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) into your heart, be cleansed and set free within by the power of the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit), and thereafter live a pleasing, Torah-obedient life as His witness and representative. That is, after all, why we are even studying the Book of Revelation. We want to know what our part in all this is as we enter the narrative!

Next week we will see how Yahweh seals up His people against the day of wrath. May you have a blessed Sabbath giving the time to Him to be with Him, and commune with Him, and to so redeem the time! Blessings to you all in the Saviour's Name. Amen.

Endnotes

[1] The symbolism of the qodeshim (saints, set-apart ones) being 'under the alter' points back to the Old Covenant sacrificial system because this is where the blood of slaughtered animals was poured out to make atonement. Cp. the blood of Abel calling up out of the ground for punishment (Gen.4:10)
[2] A common negative description in the Book of Revelation specifically pointing at mankind in its hostility to Yahweh (also see Rev.3:10; 8:13; 11:10; 13:8,12; 17:2,8)
[3] Green figs appearing in the winter and easily blown from the tree, which at that season has no leaves
[4] The Greek translator misread the Aramaic word, 'dissolved' here as 'departed' or 'receeded' - the words "that are rolled up" (NKJV) or "when it is rolled together" (NIV) are not in the Greek text but do appear in the Aramaic. See Isaiah 34:3-4; Nahum 1:5-6; Micah 1:4; Psalm 97:5; cp. 1 Enoch 1:6; 52:6
[5] Isaiah 53:; Jeremiah 4:23-29; Joel 2:10; 3:4; 4:15; Haggai 2:6; Matthew 24:29; Luke 23:30).
[6] See Swedish Perceptions: The Mass Psychology of Utopia
[7] Avot diRabbi Natan 12:4; 26:2
[8] John explains: "Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" (John 18:11, NIV) [9] This ministry with all its administrators was thrown of facebook the day before (11 August 2022) after 15 years without any specific charge being levelled
[10] Isaiah 2:10-12; 2:19; 13:10; 34:4; 50:3; Jeremiah 4:23-29; Joel 3:4; 4:15: Nahum 1:5-6; Haggai 2:6 (cp. Matthew 24:29; Luke 23:30)
[11] See, for example, Bill Cooper, The Authenticity of the Book of Genesis: A Study in Three Parts (Creation Science Movement, UK: 2011) for the historical evidence; John C. Whitcomb & Henry M.Morris, The Genesis Flood: The Biblical Record and Its Scientific Implications (Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, Philipsburg, NJ: 1961) & Andrew A.Snelling, Earth's Catastrophic Past: Geology, Creation and the Flood (Institute for Creation Research, Dallas, TX: 2009), 2 volumes, for the scientific evidence
[12] See my article, Genesis 1: How Old is the Creation?
[13] In ancient Chinese writings there is a legend of a long day with the Inca of Peru having a similar record. There is also a Babylonian and Persian legend of a day that was miraculously extended. Herodotus, an ancient historian, recounts that while in Egypt, a priest showed him their temple records, and that he read of a day which was twice the natural length of any day that had been recorded - see Robert Boyd, Boyds Bible handbook, pp.122-123)
[14] Jacco van der Worp, Marshall Masters and Janice Manning published a book called, Planet X Forecast and 2012 Survival Guide in 2007, which I bought, and whilst they were obviously wrong as nothing happened in 2012, the survival guide is very useful and they were not wrong about the concept of a huge heavenly body coming dangerously close to earth and triggering earthquakes and volcanos

Acknowledgements

[1] David Pawson, Unlocking the Bible: A Unique Overview of the Whole Bible (Collins, London: 2007)
[2] Tom Wright, Revelation for Everyone - The New Testament for Everyone Commentary Series, Vol.19 (SPCK, London: 2011)
[3] E.W.Bullinger*, Number in Scripture (Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, Michigan: 1967)
[4] E.W.Bullinger*, Commentary on Revelation (Kregel Classics, Grand Rapids, Michihan: 1984)
[5] E.W.Bullinger*, The Companion Bible being the Authorized Verion of 1611 with Structures & Critical Explanatory Notes (Samuel Bagster & Sons Ltd., London: 1974), pp.1883-1914
[6] David H. Stern, Jewish New Testament Commentary (JNT Publications, Clarksville, Maryland: 1992)

*E.W.Bullinger was a brilliant Anglican clergyman and scholar whose works merit careful study by serious students of the Bible. He was, however, seriously in error in at least three main areas, namely, (1) he believed the 'Church' has been raptured before the Book of Revelation opens, (2) he believed that the 7 churches in Revelation 2-3 are 7, literal Jewish churches or assemblies yet to come, and (3) he believed in a pre-tribulation, pre-millennial rapture.

• 1. White horse - military aggression
• 2. Red horse - bloodshed
• 3. Black horse - famine
• 4. Pale Green/Blanched/Pallid/Sickly-looking horse - disease, epidemics

  ---

• 5. Persecution & prayer
• 6. Tremour & terror

  ---

  (The 144,000 Redeemed)

  ---

• 7. Silence in heaven, listening to prayers which are then answered in a final catastrophe: a severe earthquake

• 1. Scorched earth
• 2. Polluted sea
• 3. Contaminated water
• 4. Reduced sunlight

  ---

• 5. Insects and plague (for five months)
• 6. Oriental invasion (200 million army)

  ---

• 7. The Kingdom comes, the world is taken over by Yahweh & Yah'shua (Jesus) after a severe earthquake

• 1. Boils on the skin
• 2. Blood in the sea
• 3. Blood from the springs
• 4. Burning by the sun

  ---

• 5. Darkness
• 6. Armageddon

  ---

• 7. Hailstorm (OB 368:11-12) and severe earthquake, leading to international collapse