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THE OPENED SEVEN SEALS OF REVELATION. The opening of the scroll with the "seven seals" describes events that must take place during the period of the seven "trumpet" warnings and the seven "bowls" of the anger of God being poured out upon the earth. 1st SEAL OPENED: The "Lamb" of God given a crown is The Christ Michael in heaven riding a "white horse" to symbolize his holy work and conquest: That 144,000 men would be sanctified and released from satanic authority through The Christ by an anointing of Holy Spirit from God. The completion of his conquest will be when the sanctification of these holy men is finally "sealed". (6:1,2. 5:9,10. 7:3,4). 2nd SEAL OPENED: Symbolized by his fiery-coloured horse, this rider has power to take peace from people on earth, such that Godless ones will slaughter one another, symbolized by the "great sword" of war. (6:3,4). 3rd SEAL OPENED: A black horse with its rider carrying scales represents the critical measuring out of food (a quart of flour for a day's pay). But the angel riding the black horse of famine must spare the "oil" symbolizing heavenly Spirit knowledge received by Holy Spirit and the "wine" symbolizing those of the true "vine" of The Christ. (6:5,6). 4th SEAL OPENED: The sickly pale horse with the rider's name "Death" followed by "Hades" has authority over a quarter of the earth, to kill by war, famine and disease. (6:7,8). 5th SEAL OPENED: Faithful anointed witnesses of God killed because of their testimony to the Word of God, cry out to Him for vindication and for their deaths to be avenged. The white robe they each receive symbolizes their holiness. They are told to wait until the remainder of their 144,000 brothers are gathered by the rider of the "white horse". Faithful anointed witnesses made spiritually inactive ("killed") by the evil activities of the "man of lawlessness" because their testimony bears witness to the truth of the Word of God will be slaughtered by satan as their anointed brothers had been. (11:7-10. 6:9-11). 6th SEAL OPENED: The "great earthquake" will be one "such as had not occurred since men came to be on the earth, so extensive an earthquake, so great. And the great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell; and Babylon the great was remembered in the sight of God". This will be a spiritual "earthquake" by the Spirit of the Lord's Judgement within the spirits of mankind. All members and worshippers of sectarian and commercial "Babylon" will receive the "cup" of the anger of God. (16:17-21). Corrupted angels in the heavenly realm will be cast out as "unripe figs". Those exalting themselves as "mountains" against God and those cutting themselves off from Him as though "islands" shall vanish. "The kings of the earth, magnates and marshals, the rich and the powerful, and all men, slave or free" shall seek death to hide from the face of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah and from the vengeance of the "Lamb" of God. "For the great day of their vengeance has come, and who will be able to stand?" (6:12-17 NEB) (See NWT). 7th SEAL OPENED: After "the smoke of the incense" of the prayers and spiritual sacrifices of the holy ones are offered up to God, some of the "fire" of the heavenly "altar" is hurled to the earth. (8:1-6).
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