Old Testament Symbolism in Revelation, Part One
Philip B. Brown ( www.newwine.org )

Revelation 1:3 NIV Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

Revelation is packed full of symbols that can be found in the Old Testament. How often is the Old Testament used to interpret the meaning of these symbols? There are four traditional interpretations of Revelation: historic, preterist, spiritualist, and dispensational futurist.

The historic view tries to equate the various seals, trumpets, and bowls of wrath with historical events that have occurred since Revelation was written. History is used to interpret the meaning. The Old Testament is not used. The preterist view takes a similar approach but limits the historical events to those of 70 AD, or sometimes as late as 400 AD. The Old Testament is again not used as the primary motivation for interpretation.

The spiritualist view does not believe that Revelation speaks about specific events. This belief is that it’s a description of the conflict between good and evil in all generations. Scholars agree that Revelation is packed full of Old Testament allusions. But they do not believe that the Old Testament must be used in its interpretation.

The dispensational futurist view reads Revelation chronologically and interprets the seals, trumpets, and bowls more literally. They are future events that occur after the pre-tribulation rapture. (The dispensationalists believe in the pre-tribulation rapture.) Since it is assumed that the antichrist will be revealed after the rapture, they assume that the first seal is the revealing of the antichrist. With the exception of the beast from Daniel 7, dispensationalists do not generally use the Old Testament all that much either.

All four views have this one big thing in common. None of them allow Scripture to interpret Scripture. Any valid interpretation of Revelation must show how ALL the symbols that come from the Old Testament fit into the interpretation. And the Old Testament must be used to obtain the meaning of these symbols.

Revelation also has a theme. The theme of Revelation can be found in the letters to the seven churches. Most people seem to look at everything from chapters 4 onward as being almost as though it’s a different book than chapters 1-3. Chapters 1-3 establish the theme of Revelation. And chapter 22 supports this central theme in conclusion. The theme is that the Bride must make herself ready (Revelation 19:7) for Christ to return. Every single one of the seven letters speaks about the need to continually overcome sin in order to inherit the kingdom. It's a theme of holiness. The theme of Revelation is that Christ will come again, but great tribulation (Revelation 7:14) must come first. This is also the theme of Matthew 24, which is to watch and be ready for Christ to return, but great tribulation comes first. Any valid interpretation of Revelation must show how each part of Revelation supports and builds upon this theme.

Revelation not only has a theme, it also has a personal reason for its reading. The first three verses of Revelation give the reason for the reading of Revelation. Revelation 1:3 says that if we read Revelation, and take to heart what is written in it, we will be blessed. And the reason for the blessing is that the time is near. So, every generation is to believe that Christ can return in his lifetime, but that great tribulation will come first. This forces every Christian of every generation to ask the question, "Am I willing to die for Christ?" When we take Revelation seriously, and when we see Revelation as speaking about our own personal futures, it gives us this blessing of holiness. Any valid interpretation of Revelation must be in harmony with its blessing.

But, if we say we will skip over great tribulation as do the dispensationalists, we destroy the blessing that is promised in Revelation 1:3. If we say that Revelation is not a literal part of our personal futures, like the preterist, historic, and spiritualist interpretations do, then we destroy the blessing that is promised in Revelation 1:3.

The New Wine System in Revelation

The historic, preterist, and spiritualist interpretations of Revelation are all based on covenantal (reformed) theology and amillennialism. The Church is considered to be a continuation of Israel. Revelation, as well as the Old Testament prophecies about Israel, are interpreted very symbolically, allegorical, or with typology. Since the Church is a continuation of Israel and since it’s believed that the New Testament portrays a more spiritual view of things like the kingdom of heaven, then Revelation and the Old Testament is spiritualized in order to make it conform more to the first coming of Christ.

Dispensationalism, on the other hand, uses a historical / grammatical method of interpretation for all of Scripture. Old Testament Scripture is interpreted literally. For example, Zechariah 14 describes the nations of the world attacking Jerusalem. The women are raped and the houses ransacked. Then the Messiah comes, the Mount of Olives splits open, and Jerusalem is saved. After this, the survivors from the nations that attack Jerusalem must go up year after year to worship at the Feast of Tabernacles. This is not the literal future view that seems to connect with traditional views of the Church. Yet any allegorical techniques that may be applied, to make this passage fit the first coming of Christ, would never be anything that Zechariah or his audience would have agreed with.

To reconcile this problem, dispensationalists vastly separate Israel from the Church. The Church becomes a “parenthesis” between Old Testament Israel and the Israel of the millennium, after Christ’s second coming. The Church has a separate purpose of God, and remains in heaven. Israel remains on the earth. This separation is used to explain the difference between the New Testament Church and the Old Testament Israel. Under this system, Revelation becomes the future of Israel. The Church is considered to be absent, having been caught up in the pre-tribulation rapture. The saints of Revelation are considered to be “tribulation saints,” which are a part of Israel – not the Church.

The New Wine System is futurist, but it’s not dispensational. The New Wine System uses the opposite method for resolving this perceived conflict between Old Testament Israel and the New Testament Church. Under the New Wine System, Israel is the Church. And the Church is Israel. The two are identical. But instead of trying to make Old Testament prophecies about Israel conform to traditional views about the Church, the New Wine System applies Jewish eschatology to the Church. And this challenges the traditional interpretations about the New Testament. However, if we can understand the difference between traditions and the verses themselves, the New Wine System fits Scripture better than the traditional views. The New Wine System solves most, if not all, of the Scriptural problems that have divided the churches over the centuries.

It’s been said that we should interpret the Old Testament using the New Testament as our primary source of understanding. But what if the New Testament should not be interpreted like a Greek would do, but more like a Jew would do? Was the New Testament written primarily by Jews? If so, then it should be interpreted along the lines of Jewish eschatology. For example, the Jew would have never interpreted salvation as being the same as inheriting the kingdom. The Jews believed that the nations could be saved, but that only Israel would inherit the promises of Abraham, which is to inherit kingdom.

Under the New Wine System, Israel is the Church, and Jewish eschatology is applied to the Church, instead of forcing the Old Testament to conform to traditional views of the Church. This makes our interpretation of Revelation be much more about us, the Church, than about Jews who get “left behind.” The New Wine System interprets Revelation as futurist, but not dispensational. For example, the 144,000 are not just Jews. The 144,000 are from the tribes of Israel, and Israel is the Church.

The 144,000 Are Firstfruits of the Church

Modern-day Jews are just from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and some Levi. That’s because the Jews who returned from Babylon were originally from the southern kingdom of Judah. The northern kingdom of Israel (or Ephraim) had already been conquered and scattered to Assyria. They never returned. Their bloodlines are today scattered around the world, with their Hebrew culture long lost. Think about James 1:1:

Church in Ephesus:   Revelation 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of my God.

Church in Smyrna: Revelation 2:11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. He who overcomes won't be harmed by the second death.

Church in Pergamum:   Revelation 2:17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no one knows but he who receives it.

Church in Thyatira:   Revelation 2:26-27 He who overcomes, and he who keeps my works to the end, to him I will give authority over the nations. (27) He will rule them with a rod of iron, shattering them like clay pots; as I also have received of my Father:

Church in Sardis: Revelation 3:5-6 He who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (6) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.

Church in Philadelphia:   Revelation 3:12-13 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there no more. I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and my own new name. (13) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.

Church in Laodicea:   Revelation 3:21-22 He who overcomes, I will give to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father on his throne. (22) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies."

Revelation 21:7 He who overcomes, I will give him these things. I will be his God, and he will be my son.

James 1:1 NIV James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.

This letter from James was to the churches. Yet he addresses it to the twelve tribes. And the twelve tribes were dispersed. I think James sees the twelve tribes as being the Church, which is Israel. The 144,000 are firstfruits to God and to the Lamb:

Revelation 14:1-5 ESV Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. (2) And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, (3) and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. (4) It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are [male] virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, (5) and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless.

Notice all the emphasis on holiness? The 144,000 are ready for Christ to return prior to the 42-month reign of the antichrist. What does it mean to be “firstfruits”? Why is it to God and to the Lamb? If firstfruits simply means salvation, then it would not make sense. Many have been saved before the end-times. Revelation is a book that’s packed with symbolism. We must interpret the symbolism based on prior uses of the same symbol:

1 Corinthians 15:20-23 ESV (20) But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (21) For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. (22) For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. (23) But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

The resurrection of Christ was the firstfruits. His actual resurrection (the third day) was on the Feast of Firstfruits, during the Passover week. Therefore, what is the firstfruits to God and to the Lamb? When we follow the symbolism, the 144,000 are first, after the Lamb, to receive a spiritual body. OK, so when does it happen?

Revelation 7:3-4 ESV "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." (4) And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

Again, Israel is the Church. This is the opposite of dispensationalism. It’s the dispensationalists who say the 144,000 are Jews, because for them, Israel is Jews and not the Church.

The 144,000 are sealed, according to this verse, before harm to the land, sea, or trees. This would be a reference to the first two trumpet-plagues. Thus, 144,000 get spiritual bodies (firstfruits) prior to the trumpet-plagues. The trumpet-plagues will be during the time that the two witnesses prophecy for 1260 days. And those 1260 days should be entirely before the abomination of desolation. The sealing of the 144,000 could even begin as much as 3 ½ years prior to the 1260 days.

Final Seven Weeks (49 years) of Daniel's 70 weeks The Last Jubilee			7 d a y s	The End 42-month, 1290-day reign of the antichrist
Six Weeks of the Last Jubilee	Sabbath of the Seven
	New Covenant Strengthened by Christ
	Great Awakening
	144,000 are sealed	Two witnesses prophecy 1260 days
		Seven Years of Tribulation for the Church. (1260 + 7 + 1290 days)

Bottom line is that there is a seven-year period that the New Covenant is strengthened (Daniel 9:27) by Christ. This is the last week of the seventy weeks of Daniel 9. It's a time of Great Awakening in the Church, where people from every nation, tribe, people, and language will embrace true holiness through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. During this last seven-years of the New Covenant, before the end of the seventy weeks, a great number of people will come into the vine of Israel. The two witnesses will prophecy during the second half of this last seven-years. During this last seven-years of the New Covenant, the 144,000 will be sealed. After this seven-year strengthening of the New Covenant, the 42-month reign of the antichrist will come.

Revelation 3:10-13 Because you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. (11) I am coming quickly! Hold firmly that which you have, so that no one takes your crown. (12) He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there no more. I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and my own new name. (13) He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.

I believe those who are spiritually ready for Christ to return will get their spiritual bodies prior to the 42 months. But this is not the rapture. I also believe the New Jerusalem will appear in Earth orbit during this time. Everyone will see it. Those who receive their spiritual bodies will be able to go into the New Jerusalem, where rooms have been prepared for us:

John 14:2-3 ESV In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

The following verse also indicates that not all will go through the tribulation:

Luke 21:34-36 "So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly. (35) For it will come like a snare on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth. (36) Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man."

We are saved by the blood of Jesus. That is a free gift. No effort or work on our part is required. But those who are saved are asked by Jesus to “seek first the kingdom and his righteousness.” Salvation is a free gift. But to seek the kingdom requires lots of work. Only those who seek the kingdom can inherit the kingdom. This is central to the New Wine System.

There are two different kinds of Christians. There is the “foolish” group that does not overcome sin. Then there is the “wise” group that overcomes sins. Revelation is not about salvation. Revelation is about overcoming sin and inheriting the kingdom. Each of the seven letters ends with a reward for those who overcome sin. And some of the letters explicitly mention works as being sufficient or insufficient. Salvation is not about works. But inheriting the kingdom is very much about works.

Most of the Church is not ready for the rapture. We are taught that salvation and inheriting the kingdom are one and the same. We know we are saved. So we believe we have already inherited the kingdom. Therefore, we fail to seek the kingdom and his righteousness. Most Christians are not ready for Christ to return.

But 144,000 will be ready. Then the 144,000 will be around to lead the rest of the Church into righteousness (at least those who are willing), during the rest of this last seven-year period when the New Covenant is strengthened. When Christ does return, at the end of the 42-month reign of the antichrist, then those who are at that time ready will be caught up in the rapture. This will include people from every nation, tribe, people, and language. We will go to the New Jerusalem, in orbit around the earth, for the wedding banquet. We will return with Christ for Armageddon. Then during the millennium, we will then be the priests and kings, in order to lead the nations into righteousness. We will rule the nations under the literal governmental rule of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

A List of Old Testament Symbols in Revelation

The symbolism in Revelation from the Old Testament is not only the beast from Daniel 7. The beast is just the most well known symbol. The symbols, including the beast, are not exactly the same as in the Old Testament. But they are similar enough to rule out coincidence.

1) The seven churches are represented as seven lampstands (Revelation 1:12). Seven golden lampstands come from Zechariah 4:2, 10. The lampstands are also from the furniture of the temple.

2) The beast is found in Daniel 7. Notice that in Revelation 13:2, the beast is one creature resembling a leopard, with feet like a bear, and a mouth like a lion. In Daniel 7, these are three separate beasts. The symbol is close enough to rule out coincidence, but not exactly the same. This will be true of all the other symbols in Revelation, which are found in the Old Testament.

3) The four horses of white, red, black, and pale (Revelation 6) can be found in Zechariah 1:8-11, 6:1-8. In Revelation they are single horses with a rider. In Zechariah they are chariots of horses. The symbol is not exactly the same, but close enough to rule out coincidence.

4) The scroll that is sweet in the mouth and bitter in the stomach (Revelation 10:8-11) can be found in Ezekiel's call to preach (Ezekiel 2:9-3:3). In Ezekiel, it's "sweet as honey in the mouth," just as in Revelation. But Ezekiel doesn't mention that it's bitter in the stomach. However Ezekiel says that on both sides of the scroll are words of lament and mourning and woe. Thus we know why it's bitter in the stomach.

5) The scroll with the seven seals is found in Daniel 12:4. In Daniel, the number of seals is not mentioned. But we see in Daniel that the sealing of the words is a sealing of understanding. Daniel did not understand the prophecy. But in the end times, the wise will understand. In Revelation 5-6, Jesus breaks the seven seals, so that the wise begin to understand.

6) The trumpets themselves are a symbol. In the Old Testament, trumpets announced the presence of God, the Jubilee, a gathering of the people, an announcement of news, a signal that war is finished, and the announcement of a new king.

7) Related to the seven thunders of Revelation 10, we find an angel who stands on the land and the sea, who swore by him who lives forever (Revelation 10:5). We can also find this in Daniel 12:7. The difference is that in Daniel 12:7, the angel is over the water of the river.

8) Associated with the two witnesses of Revelation 11, we find two olive trees and two lamp stands (Revelation 11:4). These can be found in Zechariah 4:3,11-14. In Zechariah, it's talking about the building of the temple. And Revelation 11:1-3 also speaks of the temple.

9) In Revelation 12, the woman, who brought forth a man-child, and later the rest of her offspring, can be found in Isaiah 66:7-13. The description of the woman, “clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head,” can be found in Joseph’s dream (Genesis 37:9).

10) Revelation 12:14 speaks of a “time, times, and half a time.” This is also found in Daniel 7:25 and 12:7.

11) Revelation 1:17, 2:8, and 22:13 speak of Christ being the first and the last. This is found in Isaiah 44:6, and 48:12.

12) The wraths of Revelation include: (1) water changed to blood (Revelation 16:3, 16:4), (2) frogs (Revelation 16:12-14), (3) sores (Revelation 16:2), (4) hail (Revelation 8:7), (5) locusts (Revelation 9:3), (6) and darkness (Revelation 16:1-10). These are six of the ten plagues on Egypt.

13) The firstfruits are found in 1^st Corinthians 15:20-23.

14) The winepress of God’s wrath comes from Joel 3:9-16 and Isaiah 63:2-6.

There are other Old Testament symbols in Revelation, such as Babylon and the prostitute. But these are the ones that are either discussed in this article, or they don’t require further explanation.

Any reasonable interpretation of Revelation must show how each and every one of these symbols are consistent with their use in the Old Testament. None of the four major views of Revelation make a serious attempt to do this.

We must interpret Revelation in terms of its theme, which is our personal need to get ready for Christ to return. When we do this, all these Old Testament symbols, found in Revelation, begin to connect. Then all meanings from the Old Testament will fit when applied to their context in Revelation. They all fit when Revelation is viewed as our personal future, under the theme of personal holiness.

Each part of Revelation, such as the seals, trumpets, and bowls of wrath, must have a distinct purpose that builds on the theme of personal holiness. But each part must have its own purpose. Each part must use these Old Testament symbols in a way that is consistent not only with the overall theme, but also with the purpose of that part. The purpose of the seals is to show the signs of the times to the end-time generation. The purpose of the trumpets is to call the Church into holiness, so that the Church will be ready for Christ to return. And the purpose of the bowls is God’s wrath on the day of the Lord. They are also a message to the world and to Pharaoh (Satan). God is saying, “Let my people go.”

When we bring all the Old Testament symbols into Revelation, and see how they relate to the overall theme and purpose of Revelation, with each distinct part building on that theme, we see how Revelation is one of the most extraordinary pieces of literature ever written.

An Overview of Revelation

Each part of Revelation, the seals, trumpets, and bowls of wrath, have distinct purposes. Here is a basic outline of Revelation. Revelation is not strictly chronological. For example the sixth seal is right before the day of the Lord. But from an overall perspective, Revelation is basically chronological.

Chapter 1	Introduction and statement of purpose
Chapters 2-3	Theme of Revelation as stated in seven letters to seven churches
Chapters 4-6	Signs of the end-times (baby-boom) generation, as given by the seals.
Chapter 7	Bringing the sealed from 144,000 to a countless number
Chapters 8-9	Trumpet-plagues as a wake-up call for the church
Chapter 10	A call to preach to the church
Chapter 11	The building of the temple, which is the church
Chapter 12	The woman about to give birth to the church
Chapter 13	Night - The reign of the antichrist – no more building of the church
Chapter 14	A summary of the tribulation period
Chapters 15-16	The bowls of wrath on the day of the Lord
Chapters 17-18	The people of the world who follow the antichrist
Chapter 19	Wedding banquet followed by the defeat of the antichrist
Chapter 20	The day of the Lord (the millennium) followed by the Great White Throne Judgment
Verses 21:1-8	The new heavens and the new earth
Verses 21:9 – 22:21	The New Jerusalem to appear during the seven-years that the New Covenant is strengthened.

Sandwiched between the sixth and the seventh trumpets are two whole chapters of Revelation. Chapters 10 and 11 include things like the angel with the little scroll, the measuring of the temple, and the two witnesses. This is also true with the seals and the bowls of wrath. Sandwiched between the sixth and the seventh seals are the 144,000 and the countless number from every nation, tribe, people, and language. Sandwiched between the sixth and the seventh bowls of wrath are two verses (Revelation 16:15-16) that speak of the rapture and Armageddon. These sandwiched portions give us an idea about the purpose of the seals, trumpets, and bowls.

The trumpets have two chapters between the sixth and the seventh. Based on the Old Testament symbols, chapter 10 is about the Mystery of God. It's also a call to preach to the Church. Chapter 11 is about the building of the Church, symbolized as the building of the temple that occurs as a result of the trumpets. The trumpets are literal plagues similar to the ones God poured out on Egypt. In other words, the shock-and-awe that occurs because of the trumpet-plagues causes the Church to get serious about overcoming sin. And overcoming sin is the theme of Revelation. So, Chapter 10 is the call to holiness. Chapter 11 is how that holiness comes about.

The woman, about to give birth, is about the "desert" of sanctification that the Church must go through before Christ will return. The Bride must overcome sin, as stated in the seven letters, before Christ will return.

Then we have the bowls of wrath on the day of the Lord. The fact that the bowls are on the day of the Lord isn’t presented in the text on the bowls themselves. But it can be seen in the sixth seal. Again, these are literal plagues, which are even more like the ones God poured out on Egypt. So, it's really wrath against the world of sin.

The seals use more Old Testament symbolism to show the signs of the end-time generation that will see Christ's return. The four horses (first four seals) are about the world governments that exist in this generation. The fifth seal is about the gospel being preached to all nations before Christ returns. And the sixth seal is about the signs in the heavens that announce the day of the Lord. Men are terrified of the wrath that comes on the day of the Lord. The seventh seal, I believe, are about first days of the millennium during which the six bowls of wrath are poured out.

The Statue of Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

The first verse of Revelation is, “This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon." This verse is considered by many scholars to be an allusion to Daniel 2:28, which reads, “There is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has made known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days." The Greek words for this verse in Revelation are very similar to the Greek in the Septuagint, for this verse in Daniel. Notice that, “latter days” becomes “must take place quickly.” Verse 1:3 of Revelation amplifies this by saying, “the time is near.”

Daniel 2:26-28 The king answered Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation? (27) Daniel answered before the king, and said, The secret which the king has demanded can neither wise men, enchanters, magicians, nor soothsayers, show to the king; (28) but there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has made known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head on your bed, are these:

Many people have used this as an argument to say Revelation has already been fulfilled. But the book of Revelation is simply saying that every generation is to believe that Christ can return in his lifetime, but that great tribulation will come first. Daniel was told that he would rest until the time of the end (Daniel 12:13). Therefore, the time of the end is the time of the resurrection. The Old Testament does not teach this expectation of a soon coming of the Messiah. But now that Christ has come, the New Testament gives all generations the hopeful expectation of Christ’s soon return.

Not even the disciples were to know the “times or the seasons” of Christ’s coming (Acts 1:7). But they were taught to expect Christ to return soon (Matthew 23:10, 16:27-28, 24:34). Revelation 1:1-3 continues with this teaching that Christ will return soon.

There are five parts of the statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Traditionally this had been interpreted as being four kingdoms. But that’s because of an assumption that Daniel 7 is about four ancient kingdoms. And it’s been assumed that the two visions are about the same four kingdoms. The four kingdoms of Daniel 7, however, are modern-day kingdoms of the time of the end. Daniel 7 is discussed more in the later section called, “The Four Beasts – Four kingdoms that control Israel.” But the statue in Daniel 2 is indeed about ancient kingdoms starting with Babylon. There are five parts of the statue. There are five kingdoms. The fourth kingdom was the Roman Empire. The fifth is the one world government at the time of the end. It’s not a revived Roman Empire.

At the time when Revelation was written, John would probably have seen himself as being well down the legs of iron on this statue. It was not unreasonable to expect the fifth kingdom to be soon. Revelation 1:1 says these things “must take place quickly,” instead of “in the latter days” like in Daniel 2:28. The allusion, therefore, shows us that Revelation is about the final kingdom represented by the feet of the statue. Revelation is about the time of the end, when God will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed (Daniel 2:44). And this should not be interpreted as a spiritual kingdom, because all the other kingdoms in this statue were natural one-world governments.

Matthew 24 and Daniel 12

Old Testament symbolism is extremely important in the interpretation of Revelation. But just as important is a good understanding of Matthew 24. You can’t understand Revelation without first understanding Matthew 24. The Olivet Discourse is the most basic and easily understood prophecy about the end times. Yet, like Revelation it’s also misunderstood. You can’t understand Matthew 24 without first understanding Daniel 12.

Daniel 12:1-2 "At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, [tribulation] such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who shall be found written in the book. (2) Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Daniel 12:6 One said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?

Daniel 12:8a I heard, but I didn't understand.

Daniel 12:9-10 He said, Go your way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. (10) Many shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but those who are wise shall understand.

Daniel 12:11 From the time that the continual burnt offering shall be taken away, and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred ninety days.

Daniel 12:12 Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred thirty-five days.

Daniel 12:13 But go you your way until the end be; for you shall rest, and shall stand in your lot, at the end of the days.

Matthew 24 is interpreted better if it's done in the context of Daniel 12. Daniel 12 is like a small Olivet Discourse. It speaks of Michael the restrainer (not the Holy Spirit) being removed, then followed by the great tribulation, and then followed by the resurrection. Then a question is asked: "How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?” The answer was given, but Daniel did not understand. He was told that only the wise would understand at the time of the end. The wicked would not understand. But Daniel was given a sign. From the abomination there are 1290 days. And blessed is he who waits for the end of the 1335 days. Then Daniel is told that he would rest until the time of the end (verse 13). Therefore, the time of the end is the time of the resurrection. The time of the end would be some number of days (like a generation) preceding the end. And the wise of the end-time generation will understand the answer to the question.

In Matthew 24, the disciples ask almost exactly the same question. They didn't ask when the time of the resurrection would be, but they did ask when the time of the Christ's appearance would be. Jesus makes reference back to Daniel, and says no man knows the day or the hour. Interpreted in terms of Daniel 12, it means no one presently knows, but at the time of the end the wise will know. Then Jesus gives parables about the thief in the night with the wise or wicked servant. The wise and the wicked relate back to the wise and the wicked in Daniel 12. The wise will know the day and hour. But the wicked will not know. Also, in the parable of the 10 virgins, five are wise and are five foolish. Jesus tells the foolish virgins, “I tell you the truth, I don’t know you. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” (Matthew 25:12-13). The foolish will not know the day or the hour. Again, this goes back to Daniel 12, about only the wise understanding (knowing) at the time of the end. In this case, the foolish are not wicked. But they are not wise either. So like the wicked, they too will not know the day or hour of Christ’s return.

The context of Daniel 12 is all about the timing of the resurrection. When will all this happen? The wise will know, but not the foolish or the wicked. But a sign is given. From the abomination there are 1290 days until the resurrection (by context). When the wise that are still alive see this sign, we will be able to calculate the day of the resurrection. Then we will have to wait that number of days. But those who are resurrected do not have to wait through the 1290 days. They don't continue to watch for this sign of the abomination. But the next verse says, "Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.” Those who wait through the 1335 days are those who are alive at the time. So, the resurrection is 1290 days after the abomination. And the rapture is 1335 days after the abomination.

1st half of final week before The End	1260 days 2nd half of final week before The End	Day 1 of The End	Days 2-1289 of The End	Day 1290 of The End	Days 1291-1334	Day 1335
Beginning of the sealing of the 144,000	Two Witnesses Prophecy	Abomination of Desolation	42-Month Reign of the Antichrist	The “Last Day” Resurrection	Bowls of Wrath	The Rapture

Some will say that 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 teaches the resurrection and the rapture happen on the same day. Paul is addressing a problem that had developed at that church. Brothers in Christ had been dying, and there was concern that they would miss the return of Christ. Jesus had spoken about his return in Matthew 24:31. And he had spoken about the resurrection on the last day. But Jesus had not put the two together.

1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 (15) For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left to the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. (16) For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God's trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, (17) then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.

This verse does not require that these events happen in one 24-hour day. Paul is just saying the resurrection will be before the rapture. But these events are events that happen when the "day of the Lord" (the millennium) comes, according to verse 5:1. The main point Paul is making is that the resurrection is first, so that those who are dead in Christ will witness the return of Christ. In other words, "after that" can be 45 days later.

But the verse in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 reads a bit differently. The context of the entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 15 is the resurrection. In this case, we have words like "in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet." This does sound like a single quick event. The dead are raised and we are changed during this same "flash, [and] twinkling of an eye." But this verse does not mention the rapture.

John 9:4 says that night is coming, when no more work can be done. The work is the work of spreading the gospel. The only time when no more work can be done is during the 1290 days during which the saints are turned over to the antichrist (Revelation 13:5-7, Daniel 7:25). But Jesus returns as a thief in the night. No one will be able to spread the gospel during the 1290 days. During this time, "night is coming, when no one can work” (John 9:4b).

John 9:4-5 I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work. (5) While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

Daniel is raised at the end (Daniel 12:13). It could be considered the end of the 70 weeks because Daniel 9 also uses that term, "the end." And this is in fact true. But in the context of Daniel 12, it's the end of the 1290 days. Daniel is raised on the "last day" (John 6:39,40,44,54). It's the "last day" before the millennium. It's the "last day" of the 1290 days. The 70 weeks are over when the millennium begins. So, the 45 days between the 1290 and the 1335 is the first 45 days of the millennium. The rapture is on the 45th day of the millennium.

Some will argue that from the abomination there are 1260 days to the millennium. It’s assumed that 3 ½ years is strictly 1260 days. The difference between 1290 days and 1260 days is 30. They see 30 days, and then another 45 days, as being the first 75 days of the millennium. And since they don’t read these verses in the context of the resurrection, they just speculate about what might happen 30 days and 75 days into the millennium.

This comes from the ‘prophetic year’ interpretation of the seventy weeks of Daniel 9. But 1260 days is not 3 ½ years on either the Jewish or the Gregorian calendar. The seventy weeks are weeks of years. All calendars must correct to the solar cycle, else the growing seasons would quickly get off. The so-called 'prophetic year' is just an invention to make Daniel 9 work the way they wanted it to work. A week of years comes from the Jubilee, which is seven weeks of years. Thus the seventy weeks are ten Jubilees. The Jubilee is all about giving the land a rest every seven years. It's strongly tied to the growing seasons, which is the solar cycle. The seventy weeks must be weeks of years on a calendar that is corrected to the solar cycle, like the Jewish calendar is corrected.

The following calculation shows that seven years does not have to be 1260 days times 2:

(The two witnesses prophecy for 1260 days – Revelation 11:3)
(Then they lie dead for 3 ½ days, which is half of 7 – Revelation 11:9)
(Then from the abomination of desolation there are 1290 days – Daniel 12:11)
1260 + 7 + 1290 is 2557 days.

There are 365.25 days in the solar cycle (year).
365.25 * 7 is 2556.75, which rounds to 2557 days.

So, 1290 days is indeed the second half of a seven-year period. (This seven-year period is not the week of the covenant in Daniel 9:27. But this seven-year period is the time of tribulation for the Church.) The abomination doesn't have to be in the exact middle of this seven-year period. It's simply in the midst seven years. Daniel 12:11 says that from the abomination there are 1290 days. By context, it's 1290 days until the resurrection. That's the only interpretation that fits the context.

For example: I live in North Carolina. Let’s say that someone asks, "How long would it take to get to California". I might say, "I don’t know." But when you see the Nevada it's 2 more days. In this example, did I explicitly say what happens after the 2 days? No, but from the context you know that I would reach California after the 2 days. It's the same in Daniel 12. 1290 days from the abomination is the resurrection. So, an argument of 1290 days being longer than the second half of the seven years just doesn't fit the natural reading of the passage.

The Old Testament refers to the "day of the Lord" as being a day of wrath. The "day of the Lord" is the millennium. The wrath, therefore, begins after the resurrection at the start of the millennium. It's during the 45 days. This would put the six bowls of wrath at about one a week. Then the rapture is after the sixth bowl (Revelation 16:15). After the rapture, the kings are gathered for Armageddon (Revelation 16:16). In the mean time, we have the wedding banquet in heaven (Revelation 19:7). After the wedding banquet, we return with Christ, who defeats the antichrist at Armageddon (Revelation 19).

Isaiah 13:9-13 Behold, the day of Yahweh comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger; to make the land a desolation, and to destroy its sinners out of it. (10) For the stars of the sky and its constellations will not give their light. The sun will be darkened in its going forth, and the moon will not cause its light to shine. (11) I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity. I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and will humble the haughtiness of the terrible. (12) I will make people more rare than fine gold, even a person than the pure gold of Ophir. (13) Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken out of its place in the wrath of Yahweh of Armies, and in the day of his fierce anger.

The day of the Lord comes as a thief. Paul speaks of both the resurrection and the rapture coming like a thief (1 Thessalonians 5:2). And the resurrection is the 1290th day. Paul says the day of the Lord comes as "sudden destruction." People are saying "peace and safety" then sudden destruction comes. So, it’s unlikely that the bowls of wrath are happening during the 1290 days of the antichrist. The day of the Lord comes like the days of Noah (Luke 17:24-27). They are "eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage." So, during the 1290 days, it's "peace and safety". After "peace and safety" comes "sudden destruction." The 1290 days is like the days of Lot. People were "eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building" (Luke 17:28). All this cannot be during the time of God's wrath. So, the bowls must be after the 1290 days. After the 1290 days is the first 45 days of the millennium.

When the resurrection happens, those who are alive are changed (1 Corinthians 15:52). This verse does not mention the rapture. So, during the 45 days after the resurrection, all Christians are alive and have spiritual bodies. The rapture, therefore, is post-wrath. But the change into spiritual bodies is pre-wrath. The wrath of God will not harm believers because we will have spiritual bodies.

God’s Mystery in Parables and Symbolism

Revelation 1:8b says Christ is the one, “who is, and who was, and who is coming.” This verse parallels verse 19, where John is told to “write the things that thou hast seen, and the things that are, and the things that are about to come after these things.” The things that John has seen relate to the vision itself. The “things that are” relate to the seven letters to the seven churches. And the things that “come after these things” relate to the events of the end-times, and the fifth kingdom of the statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.

It’s important to realize significance of the letters to the theme of Revelation. The letters are to the churches. The rest of Revelation is also to the churches. Revelation is to the churches of all generations. But the things that are taught in Revelation are even more important to the generation that actually witnesses all these things.

The next verse (Revelation 1:20) speaks of a mystery. In the Greek, this sentence starts with the word ‘mystery’ and it’s article. This is considered awkward grammar in Greek, because there is no transitional word from the previous sentence. This seems to have prompted Young’s Literal Translation to force a continuation of the previous sentence using a semicolon. There are a number of such solecisms in Revelation, where there seems to be intentional problems with the grammar. The solecisms tend to make the reader pause in his reading, forcing him to closely consider what’s being said. Some scholars believe these solecisms are used to indicate an allusion to the Old Testament.

Revelation 1:19-20 Write therefore the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will happen hereafter; (20) the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands. The seven stars are the angels of the seven assemblies. The seven lampstands are seven assemblies.

The word “mystery” is being used in this verse to say that a symbol is being interpreted. In the section titled, “The Statue of Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream,” we saw that Revelation 1:1 is an allusion to Daniel 2:27-28. These verses also speak of a mystery. Daniel interprets the “mystery” of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Likewise, Revelation 1:20 interprets the “mystery” of the seven golden lampstands in verse 12, and the seven stars in verse 16. Thus we see the allusion to Daniel 2:27-28.

This verse is also an allusion to Matthew 13:11, Mark 4:11, and Luke 8:10, where the parables are spoken of as being mysteries. Jesus is saying that the “mystery” of the kingdom of heaven is given to the disciples, but is hidden from the wicked. And this is why Jesus spoke in parables. In all three of these accounts, the mystery is hidden from the wicked so that “though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand” (Luke 8:10b). Each and every one of the seven letters to the seven churches says, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” And Revelation 1:3 also says, “Blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it.” Therefore, Revelation as a whole is a similar mystery. It’s hidden from the wicked, but those who are wise will hear it and take it to heart. And Revelation uses Old Testament symbolism for the same reason that Jesus spoke in parables. The mystery of Revelation is hidden from the wicked so that “though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.”

Matthew 13:10-17 The disciples came, and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" (11) He answered them, "To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them. (12) For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance, but whoever doesn't have, from him will be taken away even that which he has. (13) Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don't see, and hearing, they don't hear, neither do they understand. (14) In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says, 'By hearing you will hear, and will in no way understand; Seeing you will see, and will in no way perceive: (15) for this people's heart has grown callous, their ears are dull of hearing, they have closed their eyes; or else perhaps they might perceive with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and should turn again; and I would heal them.' (16) "But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. (17) For most certainly I tell you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which you see, and didn't see them; and to hear the things which you hear, and didn't hear them.

Parables are used to hide the truth from the wicked. But they are also used to show the truth to the righteous. A parable can be used to show a sinful nature in a fictional person, and then the righteous person recognizes the same sinful nature in himself. Likewise, a parable can be used to show righteousness in a fictional person, and then we desire that same righteousness in ourselves. There is one example of this in the Old Testament. In 2 Samuel 12, Nathan tells King David a parable about a rich man who took a very loved lamb from a poor man. David burned with anger at hearing the story. Then David was told he was that rich man. Thus David was made to understand before it was revealed to him that the sin was within himself. Hearing this David repented.

In a very similar way, symbolism is being used in Revelation. The theme of Revelation is that the Bride must make herself ready for Christ to return (Revelation 19:7). Each and every one of the seven letters to the seven churches says, “He who overcomes” will inherit the kingdom, or some description thereof. (Overcoming sin is not about salvation. It’s about inheriting the kingdom.) Today, most Christians don’t understand Revelation because of the symbolism. They think they are ready for Christ to return. Most Christians expect to either skip over the great tribulation, or they believe the great tribulation is only figurative or historic. When the trumpet-plagues begin, however, the righteous will repent. But those in the churches whose hearts have been hardened will remain wicked and will deny God’s call to repent.

Each and every one of the seven letters to the seven churches says, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” This confirms that Revelation 1:20 is an allusion to Matthew 13:11, Mark 4:11, and Luke 8:10. Originally, this comes from Isaiah 6, which was Isaiah’s call to preach.

Ephesus: Revelation 2:7 KJV He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Smyrna: Revelation 2:11 KJV He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Pergamum: Revelation 2:17 KJV He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Thyatira: Revelation 2:27 KJV He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Sardis: Revelation 3:6 KJV He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Philadelphia: Revelation 3:13 KJV He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Laodicea: Revelation 3:22 KJV He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Isaiah 6:8-11a NIV Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

He said, “Go and tell this people:
“‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding;
be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’
Make the heart of this people calloused;
make their ears dull
and close their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed.”

Then I said, “For how long, O Lord?”

Notice that Isaiah asks, “How long?” How long is the gospel to be preached? God does not give the answer even to Isaiah. God only gives a sign. This aspect of the mystery is hidden until the time of the end. We will see the signs and we will know when Christ will return. We will know how long these mysteries will remain hidden from the wicked. So, not even the wise understand how long it will take. But the mystery of God’s timeline will not remain a mystery to the wise of the end-time generation.

The Mystery of God’s Timeline

As a summary of the Mystery of God’s Timeline, consider the following dialog that happens in Scripture. The dialog begins with Daniel and two angels in his last vision. The dialog continues with Jesus and the disciples. And the dialog ends in Revelation with John and an angel.

Revelation 3:3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If therefore you won't watch, I will come as a thief, and you won't know what hour I will come upon you.

First Angel: He was above the water. He asks, “How long will it be before the resurrection is fulfilled?” (Daniel 12:6, 2, 13)

Second Angel: He was also above the water. He holds up his right hand. He holds his left hand up towards heaven. He swore by him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times, and half a time.” (Daniel 12:7)

Daniel: I don’t understand. (Daniel 12:8)

Second Angel: You are not supposed to understand. It’s a mystery. Seal the words until the time of the end. At that time, only the wise will understand. The wicked will not understand. It will be a time when there will be great increase in knowledge and travel. (Daniel 12:9,10, 4)

Second Angel: But here is a sign. From the abomination of desolation it's 1290 days to the resurrection. (Daniel 12:11) Once you see the abomination, there is no more mystery. You will then be able to compute the day of the resurrection. But only the wise will understand to do so.

The Disciples: “When will all this happen?” (Matthew 24:3)

Jesus: No one hath known. It’s still a mystery. But here are some signs. (Matthew 24:36, Acts 1:7)

Paul: The Mystery of God is about the resurrection. Jesus was raised from the dead; and so shall we. We will get spiritual bodies just like Jesus. Also, part of the Mystery of God is that Gentiles are included, and that the Jews were hardened until the full number of Gentiles come in. (1^st Corinthians 15:51, Ephesians 1:9-10, 3:1-13, Romans 11:25)

Angel: He was standing on the sea (water) and the land. He shouts. (Revelation 10:3)

Seven Thunders: They speak, but John is told to seal the words. No doubt they have something to do with a “time, times, and half a time.” The timing of the resurrection was still sealed when John wrote Revelation. (Revelation 10:4)

Angel: He holds up his right hand toward heaven. He swore by him who lives forever, saying, “There is no more delay. The Mystery of God is accomplished in the days of the seventh trumpet.” (Revelation 10:6,7)

Related to the seven thunders of Revelation 10, we find an angel who stands on the land and the sea, who swore by him who lives forever (Revelation 10:5). We also find this in Daniel 12:7. The angel in Daniel lifts his right hand, and his left hand towards heaven. The angel in Revelation lifts his right hand toward heaven. This is not exactly the same, but it’s close enough to rule out coincidence. Both the angel in Revelation and the angel in Daniel “swear by him who lives forever.”

Revelation 10:2, 5-7 He had in his hand a little open book. He set his right foot on the sea, and his left on the land. ... (5) The angel who I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to the sky, (6) and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there will no longer be delay, (7) but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as he declared to his servants, the prophets.

Daniel 12:5-7 Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, there stood other two, the one on the brink of the river on this side, and the other on the brink of the river on that side. (6) One said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? (7) I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

In Daniel, the angel says, “It will be for a time, times and half a time.” This is in response to the question, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?” Looking back to verse 2, and forward to verse 13, we see that “these astonishing things” includes the resurrection. The question is, “How long will it be before [the resurrection]?” The answer is, “A time, times, and half a time.” Daniel, of course, does not understand the answer. The angel tells him that the words are sealed until the time of the end. In other words, Daniel is not supposed to understand. It’s a mystery to Daniel. Only the wise at the time of the end will understand.

Compare this with what happens in Revelation. When the angel shouts, the seven thunders speak. But John is told, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.” This is almost exactly what Daniel is told. Daniel is told the words are sealed. John is told to seal the words. So, that which the seven thunders say is probably related to the answer given to Daniel, which is “A time, times, and half a time.” It’s an indication of how long it will be from Daniel’s vision until the resurrection.

Until the time of the end, the day of the resurrection is unknown. It’s the Mystery of God. But Daniel is given a sign. From the abomination of desolation, there are 1290 days to the resurrection. Once we see the abomination, the wise will be able to compute the days and thus know the date of the resurrection. When we see the abomination, the Mystery of God will be over. It will no longer be a mystery for the entire Church. But the wicked will continue to be wicked, and will not understand. This is what Daniel is told in Daniel 12:9-10.

Daniel is also told, “Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1335 days.” The 1290 days is the number of days from the abomination until the resurrection. Those who are dead don’t have to wait for and reach the end of the tribulation. (The tribulation is spoken of in Daniel 12:1.) Since they are dead, they don’t have to wait 1290 days. But those who are alive have to wait 1335 days. Paul says that we who are still alive will be caught up together, in the clouds, along with those who are resurrected, to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). And Paul says the resurrection happens before the gathering (1 Thessalonians 4:15). So, apparently the resurrection is 45 days before the coming of Christ and our being gathered to him.

In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2, Paul associates the day of the Lord with his (Parousia) coming. It’s also associated with our being gathered to him. The Old Testament speaks of the day of the Lord as being the day of God’s wrath (Isaiah 13:6-13, Joel 3). And the day of the Lord is generally spoken of as an age. In other words, the day of the Lord is always the 1000 years of Revelation 20. In Revelation 20:4, the dead are raised and reign for 1000 years. So, the dead are raised on the day just prior to the start of the millennium.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 NIV (1) Concerning the coming [Parousia] of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, (2) not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come.

Revelation 20:4b NIV And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

In 1 Corinthians 15:51, the resurrection happens at the same time as when those who are still alive are changed into spiritual bodies. So, this must be on the 1290^th day from the abomination. We also know that the resurrection is on the “last day” (John 6:39,40,44,54, 11:24, 12:48). So again, the resurrection is on the last day before the millennium. It’s also the last day of the 1290 days. Then Christ’s (Parousia) coming, and our being gathered to him, is on the 45^th day of the millennium. During these 45 days, the bowls of wrath are poured out. But those who are in Christ are protected in the midst of the wrath, because we will have spiritual bodies.

Day 1	Days 2-1289	Day 1290	Days 1291-1334	Day 1335
			Days 1 - 44 of the Millennium	Day 45 of the Millennium		The rest of the Millennium
Abomination of Desolation	Reign of the Antichrist	The Last Day	Six Bowls of Wrath	Christ Appears		Seventh bowl of wrath
The seventh trumpet sounds		The Resurrection	The Day of the Lord Begins	The Rapture	The Wedding Banquet	Armageddon
The Mystery of God is no longer a mystery		Those still alive are changed	The Millennium Begins			Antichrist and False Prophet Defeated

Let’s go back to the original question. How long will it be before the resurrection? When will all this happen? The angel in Daniel says, “It will be for a time, times and half a time.” The angel in Revelation says, “There will be no more delay!” (NIV Revelation 10:6b). The KJV translation of this verse says, “There should be time no longer.”

The idea that time will be no longer sounds a bit strange. That’s why most modern-day translations say, “There will be no more delay.” But the KJV is more literally correct. And there are other Greek words that mean ‘delay.’ The Greek word used here for ‘time’ is ‘chronos.’ It means a space of time, and is distinguished from the Greek word ‘kairos’, which means a fixed or set time. In other words, right now the day and hour of Christ’s return is unknown. So, we are in a ‘chronos’ period of time. When we see the abomination of desolation, the time will be known or fixed. The seventh trumpet is blown when the unknown amount of time (‘chronos’) is no longer, and the time of the resurrection becomes fixed (‘kairos’) and known. At this point in time, the Mystery of God is no longer a mystery.

In the days when the seventh trumpet is about to sound, the wise will know the day of the resurrection. This is the mystery of God (Romans 11:25, 16:25, 1^st Cor. 15:51, Eph. 1:9-10, Eph. 3:1-13, Col. 1:26-27, 2:2, 4:3, 1^st Tim 3:16, Rev. 10:7). The mystery includes the fact that Gentiles are included in Israel, and that God will bring to himself a people after his own heart, where God’s law is written on our hearts. The mystery of God centers around a people for which God’s law is written on our hearts. Daniel did not understand the mystery of God. He was told to seal the words of the scroll. After the advent of Christ, the mystery of God was better understood, but the timing of the climactic resurrection was not understood (Matthew 24:36, Acts 1:7). But according to Daniel 12:9-10, the mystery of God, including the timing, will be understood at the time of the end, especially when we see the abomination of desolation. There may even be other aspects to this mystery that will be understood as we approach the abomination and the day of the Lord.

Revelation 10:7 but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as he declared to his servants, the prophets.

Revelation 11:15 The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!"

The Seals of the Scroll are Broken

In Revelation 4:1, John is told to “Come up here, and I will show you the things which must happen after this.” This verse, of course, is not the rapture. It’s part of John’s vision and is the start of the events of the end times. Also, it’s probably an allusion to Exodus 19:20. Moses is told to come up to the top of the mountain, and God came down to the top of the mountain to meet him. However, as we will see, Exodus 19 is an allusion to the rapture. But the people are not yet ready for the rapture. Only Moses is called up the mountain. Only John is told to “Come up here.” The people could not go up the mountain. The people are not yet ready for the rapture.

Exodus 19:16-20 It happened on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud trumpet; and all the people who were in the camp trembled. (17) Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the lower part of the mountain. (18) Mount Sinai, all it, smoked, because Yahweh descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. (19) When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice. (20) Yahweh came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. Yahweh called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

Exodus 19 has many allusions to the rapture. In verse 17, Moses leads the people out of the camp to meet with God. They don’t go up the mountain, because they are not ready. Anyone who even touched the base of the mountain was to be killed. On the top of the mountain there was a thick cloud, and the sound of a trumpet blast. Again, this is an allusion to the rapture. But more precisely, it’s an allusion to the time just prior to the rapture. In Revelation, the church is not yet ready. The church begins to get ready during the trumpet-plagues. During this time the church is being built. But the church will not be ready until we have first gone through the desert of the great tribulation, during the reign of the antichrist. (See the section titled, “The Woman About To Give Birth.”) Only then can we enter “God’s Rest” in the Promised Land (Hebrews 4).

In verses 15 and 16, Moses tells the people to abstain from sexual relations, and to prepare themselves for the third day. This is about the church getting holy. It’s about the Bride getting ready for the wedding banquet. Just as the resurrection of Christ was on the third day, the resurrection of the Church is on the third day. The resurrection of Christ is a type for the resurrection of the Church. For more information, read the section titled, “The Third Day”, in the article titled, “Problems with Amillennialism.”

Verse 16 says that on the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning. In Revelation 4:5, John sees lightening and he hears “voices of thunder.” This theme is carried over to the seventh trumpet, which is when the building of the church will have been completed. When the seventh trumpet is sounded, voices in heaven say, “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!" In other words, this is what is accomplished during the time of the trumpet-plagues. Then, John sees the Ark of the Covenant in the temple of God in heaven. Also, John sees lightening and hears thunder, just like in Revelation 4:5. This connects the time before the seals are opened, to the time after the seventh trumpet. The opening of the seals starts a process that concludes with the seventh trumpet. The church is built, and the kingdom of the world becomes the kingdom of the Lord. But this doesn’t literally happen at the seventh trumpet. The church must first go through the desert of sanctification. Yet it’s considered accomplished at the seventh trumpet.

Revelation 4:4-5 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones. On the thrones were twenty-four elders sitting, dressed in white garments, with crowns of gold on their heads. (5) Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders. There were seven lamps of fire burning before his throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

Revelation 11:15-16, 19 The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!" (16) The twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God's throne, fell on their faces and worshiped God ... (19) God's temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the Lord's covenant was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an earthquake, and great hail followed.

At the seventh trumpet John sees the Ark of the Covenant, in the temple of God in heaven. Perhaps there is a literal temple in heaven. But if so, it’s only symbolic of the true temple, which is the Church. In the Old Covenant, God’s law was written on stone. We get the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20, which is right after these events in chapter 19. Under the New Covenant, God’s law is written on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-33, Hebrews 8:8). But this doesn’t happen overnight. It’s the process of sanctification. It’s all about the Church taking sin seriously. It begins with the opening of the seals. And it’s accomplished by the seven trumpet-plagues. So, at the seventh trumpet, John sees the Ark of the Covenant in the temple of God. This is symbolic of the completion of God’s law being written in the hearts of Church, which is the temple of God.

The opening of the seals starts the process of letting the Church know we are the end-time generation. Today, many Christians believe we will see the return of Christ. Combine this expectation with the shock of the trumpet-plagues, and the true Church will emerge and get holy. Back in the section titled, “God’s Mystery in Parables and Symbolism,” we discussed how the symbolism of Revelation is used very much like parables. Both are “mysteries” that are being revealed. Both have the purpose of bringing holiness to the church, as well has hiding God’s truths from the wicked. The righteous understand, but not the wicked. Therefore, this process starts with the breaking of the seals. And it concludes with the seventh trumpet.

After the seventh trumpet, no more work can be done (John 9:4). After the seventh trumpet, there will be the “Night” when the antichrist rules. During that time, the saints will be turned over to the antichrist. It’s a time of the desert for sanctification. But for now, let’s focus back on the breaking of the seals.

John 9:4 I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work.

Revelation 5 and 6 are about the breaking of the seals of this scroll. In Revelation 5:3, it says that no one in heaven or earth can look inside the scroll. This is analogous to Matthew 24:36 where it says that not even the angels in heaven knew when the day of Christ’s return (and the resurrection) would be. But due to the triumph of Christ, he is able to open the scroll so that we will begin to understand the signs of the times and how they are related to the words of the prophecies.

Revelation 5:3 No one in heaven above, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look in it.

Matthew 24:36 But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Revelation 5:6-7 I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. (7) Then he came, and he took it out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne.

Zechariah 3:9 For, behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua; on one stone are seven eyes: behold, I will engrave its engraving,' says Yahweh of Armies, 'and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

Zechariah 4:9-10 "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house. His hands shall also finish it; and you will know that Yahweh of Armies has sent me to you. (10) Indeed, who despises the day of small things? For these seven shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. These are the eyes of Yahweh, which run back and forth through the whole earth."

In Revelation 5:6, Christ is described as having seven eyes. This comes from Zechariah 3:9, where the Rock (Christ) has seven eyes. Here we see that Christ “removed the sin of the land in a single day.” In order for the resurrection to happen, Christ had to die on the cross. In Revelation, this is mentioned in the context of the opening of the scroll, which is the revealing of the Mystery of God. In other words, for the Mystery of God to be revealed, Christ had to die on the cross. And much of that mystery was revealed to the New Testament writers.

After the resurrection, we will have a face-to-face relationship with God (1^st Corinthians 13:12). This face-to-face relation with God was lost in the Garden of Eden. “He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life” (Genesis 3:24 ESV). The tree of life is found in Revelation 22:2,14,19. But right now cherubim guard the way back. The cherubim are seen on each side of the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:18-20, 1^st Samuel 4:4, Psalm 99:1, Isaiah 37:16), guarding the way back into the holy of holies.

In Revelation 4:6-8, we have the description of the four living creatures. By comparing this description with Ezekiel 10, we see that the four living creatures are cherubim. In other words, they are like the cherubim that guard the way back to the Garden of Eden. They are in the center and around the throne of God (Revelation 4:6). The seals have prevented the angels and us from knowing the time of the resurrection. And the cherubim guard the way back to the tree of life, and the face-to-face relationship with God. So, it’s fitting that when Christ begins to open the seals of the scroll, that it would be four cherubim who guide John to witness the opening of the first four seals. The opening of the scroll is about revealing God’s Mystery, which is the resurrection and eternal life. So, it’s about the time when we are figuratively let back into the Garden of Eden, guarded by the four living creatures (cherubim).

The End Must Be Soon

Matthew 24 begins with a question asked by the disciples. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3 NIV). Daniel was told, “Go your way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end” (Daniel 12:9). Both the disciples and Daniel wanted to know when the “end” would occur.

Daniel 12:13 gives us the definition of the “end.” It’s the time of the resurrection, when Daniel himself will be resurrected. So, right before the time of the end, the wise (righteous) will understand the answer to the question of Daniel 12:6, about the timing of the resurrection. But before that time, the words are “sealed.” Daniel is told to “shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run back and forth, and knowledge shall be increased” (Daniel 12:4). Today is like no other time in history when many go here and there and increase knowledge. Are the words of the scroll today being unsealed, so that we can understand? Also Jesus said, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14 NIV). Today is the first time in history when it’s even possible for the gospel to be preached to all nations within our generation. Depending on how it’s measured, one could say this has already been accomplished. So, the end must be soon. Are the words of the scroll being unsealed, so that the wise can understand?

Daniel 12:4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run back and forth, and knowledge shall be increased."

Matthew 24:14 This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

The following table shows three very clear verses that indicate this generation is the end-time generation. No other generation in history can claim verses that are this clear-cut.

Daniel 12:4 NIV	But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.
Matthew 24:14 NIV	And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Luke 21:24 NIV	They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

In Luke 21:24, we see that Jerusalem was to be trampled on by the Gentiles until the time of the Gentiles is fulfilled. This trampling began in 70 AD. What happened in 70 AD was reversed in 1967. Today, Jews are again in control of Jerusalem. Some will point out that these Jews are not Christians. But the Jews of 70 AD were not Christians either. This verse is clear evidence that we are the end-time generation.

Luke 21:24 They will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

There have been many times in history when, for various reasons, Christians thought that Christ would return in their lifetimes. Martin Luther worried that Christ would return before he would be able to finish translating the Scriptures into German. And the Protestant Reformation brought about a lot of date-setting speculation. In the year 1000 AD, many people thought the world was coming to an end because of postmillennialism, as it was then understood. Scripture, I believe, teaches all generations to believe that Christ will return in their lifetimes. But I believe today’s generation has these three specific verses of Scripture, which read in very straightforward and clear ways, point to today’s generation as being the generation that will see Christ return. No other generation in history can claim such clear verses. But even if I am wrong, Scripture still teaches all generation to believe that Christ will return in our lifetimes.

In addition to these three clear verses of Scripture, there are other signs, which are in agreement, but are arguably not as unique to this generation. First of all, Matthew 24:6 speaks of “wars and rumors of wars.” The twentieth century has often been characterized as a century of war. Also, the reporting of war (rumors of war) has been, because of television, like no other century. The twentieth century has also seen many famines and plagues (Luke 21:11). AIDS is a good example. And the twentieth century has seen a constant increase in earthquakes (Matthew 24:7). The actual number of earthquakes has not increased. But the magnitude has steadily increased. History’s deadliest tsunami, on Dec. 26, 2004, caused almost 300,000 people in 11 countries to be killed. It was a 9.0 earthquake off the coast of Indonesia. It left 1.5 million people homeless.

Matthew 24:6-8 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren't troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet. (7) For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places. (8) But all these things are the beginning of birth pains.

I believe there is one other rather unique signs of the times, showing that this is the end-times generation that will see the return of Christ. This sign is the appearance of full-preterism, which teaches that Christ will not return. I believe they are the “scoffers” of 2 Peter 3. See the section titled “Those who Deliberately Forget,” in the article titled, “Problems with Full Preterism” for more information.

Many people incorrectly believe the seals are judgments, like the trumpets and the bowls. Instead, the seals are signs related to the opening of the scroll of Daniel 12. The seals show signs of the end-time generation that will see the coming of Christ. To show this, consider the parallelism between the seals and the early signs of Matthew 24.

Fist seal - Revelation 6:2 And behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow. A crown was given to him, and he came forth conquering, and to conquer.	Matthew 24:6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren't troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet.
Second seal - Revelation 6:4 Another came forth, a red horse. To him who sat on it was given power to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another. There was given to him a great sword.	Matthew 24:7a For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
Third seal - Revelation 6:5 And behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a balance in his hand.	(No corresponding verse in Matthew 24)
Fourth seal - Revelation 6:8 And behold, a pale horse, and he who sat on it, his name was Death. Hades followed with him. Authority over one fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword, with famine, with death, and by the wild animals of the earth was given to him.	Matthew 24:7b and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places. Luke 21:11a There will be great earthquakes, famines, and plagues in various places.
Fifth seal – (Revelation 6:9-11) Persecution of the Church. The souls of the martyrs under the altar.	Matthew 24:8-9 But all these things are the beginning of birth pains. (9) Then they will deliver you up to oppression, and will kill you. You will be hated by all of the nations for my name's sake.
Sixth seal – Revelation 6:12-14 I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became as blood. (13) The stars of the sky fell to the earth, like a fig tree dropping its unripe figs when it is shaken by a great wind. (14) The sky was removed like a scroll when it is rolled up. Every mountain and island were moved out of their places.	Matthew 24:29 But immediately after the oppression [tribulation] of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

So, seals are not judgments. They are similar in nature to Matthew 24. They are signs of the beginning of the birth pains. They are signs of the generation that “will not pass away until all these things take place.” The seals are about the signs of end-time generation that will witness the rapid increase in travel and knowledge (Daniel 12:4), the gospel preached to every nation (Matthew 24:14), and the return of Christ (Matthew 24:31).

The next section is my interpretation of the first four seals. Many people have other interpretations. But, consider how much an interpretation relies on Old Testament symbols. Does the interpretation find that symbol in the Old Testament, and then bring its meaning from the Old Testament to show the meaning? Or does the interpretation only look at the symbol itself? Also, many people get uneasy in relating Bible prophecy to recent history. But consider the fact that doing so is only in agreement with these very clear verses of Scripture, which say this is the end-time generation. This is the generation that will not pass away before “all these things” take place.

The Four Horses – Superpowers of the end times

In Scripture, four is the number of the heavens and the earth. The heavens and the earth were created in the first four days. There are four corners of the earth (Revelation 7:1, 20:8). There are four quarters of the earth (Isaiah 11:12). There are four quarters of the heavens (Jeremiah 49:36). The four winds are about all the heavens and the earth (Jeremiah 49:36, Ezekiel 37:9, Daniel 7:2, 8:8, 11:4, Zechariah 2:6, Matthew 24:31, Mark 13:27, Revelation 7:1). So, the four horses are also about the whole world.

The four horses of white, red, black, and pale (Revelation 6:1-8) can be found in Zechariah 1:8-11, 6:1-8. In Revelation they are single horses with a rider. In Zechariah they are chariots of horses. The chariots of horses go out in the four directions: west, east, north, and south (Zechariah 6:1-8). All go out all at the same time, to see the state of the world. In other words, what are the signs of the world that are observed by these four horses?

The white horse goes west. The red horse goes east. The black horse goes north. And the pale horse goes south. Directions are given from Jerusalem.

Zech. 6:6	Zech. 6:6, Rev. 6:1-7	Revelation 6:1-7	Signs of the generation	After WWII
West	White	Conqueror bent on conquest	Atomic Bomb	United States (The West)
East	Red	Power to take peace from the earth	Atomic Bomb	Peoples Republic of China (The East)
North	Black	Holding a pair of scales in his hands	Bad Economy	USSR
South	Pale	Death and Hades. Kill by sword, famine, plague, and wild beasts	Wars, famine, AIDS, wild beasts	Africa / The World

Zechariah 6:1-7 NIV

I looked up again—and there before me were four chariots coming out from between two mountains - mountains of bronze! (2) The first chariot had red horses, the second black, (3) the third white, and the fourth dappled - all of them powerful. (4) I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these, my lord?”

(5) The angel answered me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world. (6) The one with the black horses is going toward the north country, the one with the white horses toward the west, and the one with the dappled horses toward the south.”

(7) When the powerful horses went out, they were straining to go throughout the earth. And he said, “Go throughout the earth!” So they went throughout the earth.

Right after World War II, the world changed. The United Nations was formed. Israel became a nation in 1948. The United States (West) became a world superpower. The Peoples Republic of China (East) came into power in October of 1949, right after World War II. The USSR also became a world superpower right after World War II. Russia is directly north of Jerusalem.

At the end of World War II, these three nations developed the atomic bomb. This is the “conqueror bent on conquest” (Revelation 6:2 – white horse) in the West, and the “power to take peace from the earth” (Revelation 6:4 – red horse) in the East. For the first time in history, our knowledge has reached the point where we can destroy the entire world. This knowledge is forcing us to move towards a one-world government. At the same time, our knowledge is bringing the world into a global economy. Our technology and global economy have brought about the great increase in travel spoken of in Daniel 12:4.

To the North was the USSR. The Soviet Union is known for failing because of its poor communist economy. Poor economy is described in association with the black horse (Revelation 6:5-6). The pair of scales, associated with the third horse, indicates trade (economy). A quart of wheat for a day’s wages and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages is extremely poor economy. Oil and wine were the cash crops in Biblical times.

The direction of the fourth horse is south. To the south of Jerusalem is Egypt. This rider is on a pale horse. South in the Bible is Egypt, which is symbolic of the world, and Pharaoh is symbolic of the antichrist. This does not mean the antichrist will come from Egypt. However, it’s a possibility.

The fourth horse is the kingdom of the antichrist. "Death; and Hades [are] following with him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth” (Revelation 6:8). What better description is there of Africa? There are constant wars in Africa. Africa has been known for people dying in famine during this generation. AIDS originated in Africa and is now epidemic in Africa. And Africa is known for wild beasts. These four plagues, especially including AIDS, could easily wind up taking a fourth of the world’s population.

This United Nations government rules all the nations of the world, but does not have its own geographical nation. The UN is a government, but it has not had the military power needed to enforce its "resolutions." More and more, however, that is changing. The militaries of the world are shifting to the United Nations. The UN was formed right after World War II. We have been under a one-world government for the entire baby-boom generation. But its power has been only slowly increasing, like the slow boiling of water with a frog in the pot.

So, the four horses are symbolic of the three superpowers, and the UN, which rule the world during the end-time generation. They show a view of the entire world, as the four chariots of horses go out in four different directions. They show a time when knowledge reaches the point of mankind being able to destroy the world. So, the knowledge and fear of weapons of mass destruction are forcing us into a one-world government under the rule of the antichrist. The knowledge increases since World War II has been unbelievable. And it is at time when the global economy has brought the world together, and vastly increased travel.

The Four Beasts – Four kingdoms that control Israel

The four beasts of Daniel 7 are covered here because of how they relate to the four horses. Also, the symbolism of the four beasts continues in Revelation 13:2. It’s important to understand these four beasts to help us understand the beast of Revelation.

Daniel 7:2-3 Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the sky [heaven] broke forth on the great sea. (3) Four great animals [beasts] came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

Daniel 7:17-18 These great animals [beasts], which are four, are four kings, who shall arise out of the earth. (18) But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.

Daniel 7:11-12 I saw at that time because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke; I saw even until the animal [beast] was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire. (12) As for the rest of the animals [beasts], their dominion was taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

Traditionally, the four beasts are identified as Babylon, Medes-Persia, Alexander the Great, and Rome. The forth beast is seen as Rome, so many argue that Revelation must be about the old Roman Empire. But Daniel 7:17 NIV says, “The four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth.” At the time of this vision, Babylon was only a couple of years away from being conquered by the Medes and the Persians. Babylon, and the Medes-Persians had long since risen from the earth. Also, Daniel 7:11-12 tells us that when the fourth beast is destroyed, the other three will be stripped of their authority but will be allowed to live for a period of time. This verse rules out ancient kingdoms, which will have been long dead when the fourth beast is destroyed.

So, these four beasts cannot be the traditional four ancient empires. And Daniel 7:18, the very next verse, puts the context of the whole vision in the end times. Daniel 7:2-3 speaks of the four winds. As shown in the previous section, four is the number of the heavens and the earth. The four winds are about the entire world. So, the four beasts are like the four horses. Like the four horses, they represent kingdoms that exist in the end times.

However, they four beasts do not represent exactly the same kingdoms as do the four horses. The first three beasts are kingdoms that directly control Israel, and the trampling of Jerusalem, during the end-time generation. On the other hand, the four horses are the superpowers of the end time generation. The fourth beast and the fourth horse is the same. It’s the one-world government that comes out of the three. So the four beasts and the four horses are similar, but do not represent the exact same kingdoms.

Lion	Lion with wings of an eagle. The wings are torn off. It stood on two feet like a man. Heart of a man.	England and the United States
Bear	Three ribs in its mouth. It’s told to eat its fill of flesh.	Russia
Leopard	Four wings like bird on its back. Four heads.	European Union
Fourth Beast	Terrifying and frightening and very powerful. Large iron teeth. Crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. Different from the other beasts. It has ten horns.	United Nations

The Lion (Daniel 7:4) is England and the United States. The Lion has wings of an eagle. The wings are torn off. It stands up on two feet like a man. It is given the heart of a man. The symbol of England is the Lion, standing up like a man. The eagle wings represent the United States, torn off from England at the US Revolutionary War.

The Bear (Daniel 7:5) is Russia. The Bear has three ribs in its mouth. The three ribs are the Baltic States which were absorbed into the USSR. (Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia) These states were absorbed into the USSR unlike any of the other states of the old Soviet Union. The Bear is told to eat it’s fill of flesh. Josephus Stalin executed 1 million political offenders, 14.5 needlessly starved to death. 9.5 million were deported, exiled, or imprisoned in work camps. An estimated 5 million were sent to ‘Gulag Archipelago’ never to return alive.

The Leopard (Daniel 7:6) is the European Union. It has four wings like a bird on its back. It has four heads and is given authority to rule. The EU was originally a series of economic treaties that over time are turning into a federalization of states, similar to the United States. The EU began with the Treaty of Rome, in 1957. These were the four states of France, West Germany, Italy, and Benelux. (Benelux is Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxemburg.) The four wings, and possibly the four heads, are these four original states.

The fourth beast (Daniel 7:7) is the United Nations. The fourth beast is like no other beast. It's different from the former three. The forth beast is terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It has large iron teeth. It will crush and devour its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. This beast has the ten horns. The fourth beast is the kingdom of the antichrist.

Daniel 7:7 ESV After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.

The UN is a government that is different from the other three beasts (Daniel 7:7). This government rules all the nations of the world, but does not have its own geographical nation. The UN is a government, but it has not had the military power needed to enforce its "resolutions." In other words, it does not yet have its teeth. However, the fourth beast will have large iron teeth that will crush and devour its victims. UN resolutions are considered international law, but the UN is not always able to enforce its laws. More and more, however, that is changing. The militaries of the world are shifting to the United Nations. The UN was formed right after World War II. We have been under a one-world government for the entire baby-boom generation. But its power has been only slowly increasing, like the slow boiling of water with a frog in the pot.

The first three horses are the world superpowers of the end time generation. The first three beasts, on the other hand, represent nations which directly influence and control Israel. And the fourth beast is the same as the fourth horse. It’s the United Nations. These four beasts, which influence and control Israel, can be seen in the organization of nations called the Middle East Quartet. This organization was established in 2002 by Spanish Prime Minister Aznar. The Middle East Quartet consists of the same four powers: The United States, Russia, the European Union, and the United Nations. On June 27, 2007, Tony Blair was appointed as special envoy to the Quartet. This was the same day that he resigned as Prime Minister of England.

Representatives of the Middle East Quartet are:
United Nations — Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
European Union — High Representative Javier Solana
Russian Federation — Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
United States of America — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Special Envoy — Tony Blair

The total purpose of the Quartet is to solve the Middle East problems of Israel and the Palestinians. The Quartet is the author of the Road Map for Peace. The peace treaty process should be watched that began in Annapolis, MD in November of 2007. This could turn into a treaty similar to the Oslo Accords seven-year treaty which was signed in September of 1993. That treaty deliberately left out critical issues such as the refugees, Israel settlements, borders, and most importantly, the issue of Jerusalem. This next treaty is expected to cover all the issues, and will probably be more of a unilateral agreement that is enforced by the Middle East Quartet. (In other words, by the four beasts.)

This next treaty with the forth beast might or might not be a seven-year treaty. The covenant of Daniel 9:27 does not have to be interpreted as being with the antichrist, and no other place in Scripture speaks of a seven-year covenant. However, if the coming peace treaty makes East Jerusalem be an international city, controlled by the UN, or if it turns East Jerusalem over to the Palestinians, then it signal the 42-month reign of the antichrist where Old Jerusalem is trampled upon by Gentiles for 42 months (Revelation 11:2). (Old Jerusalem is today East Jerusalem.)

This three and a half year period (not seven), which is the reign of the antichrist, can also be seen here in Daniel 7. In verse 25 this three and a half year period is spoken of as a time, times, and half a time. Under the coming New World Order, the world will be united into ten economic regions of the world, such as the European Union and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that will eventually become ten nations of the world. These are seen here as ten horns on the head of the fourth beast.

Daniel 7:19-28 Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth animal [beast], which was diverse from all of them, exceedingly terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of brass; which devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet; (20) and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke great things, whose look was more stout than its fellows. (21) I saw, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; (22) until the ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. (23) Thus he said, The fourth animal [beast] shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. (24) As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom shall ten kings arise: and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the former, and he shall put down three kings. (25) He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time. (26) But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it to the end. (27) The kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole sky, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High: his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. (28) Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts much troubled me, and my face was changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.

The Fifth Seal – Martyrs bring the gospel to every nation

We have covered the first four seals, which are the four horses. Then we took a little detour to the four beasts. Now, it’s time to return to the seals. Remember that the seals are signs being revealed during the baby-boom end-time generation, which began with World War II.

Revelation 6:9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the Lamb which they had.

"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14 NIV). Can the great commission be achieved during our baby-boom generation? People who study the various people-groups believe that it can be done. Mission activity and its success during this baby-boom generation have been like no other generation in history. And for reasons previously stated, I believe that the success of missions work will climax during the time of the trumpets. Has the gospel already been preached in every nation? By some measures it has already happened. But during the time of the trumpets we will see people from every “nation, tribe, people, and language” (Revelation 7:9) coming to know Jesus Christ. We must all ask the question, “Am I willing to die for Christ?”

The Sixth Seal – The return of Christ

Matthew 24:29 says that immediately after the Tribulation, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give it’s light. This is a quote from Isaiah. Is it literal? Will the moon be darkened just before Christ returns? Isaiah is a book of poetry. When Isaiah speaks of the sun and moon being darkened (Isaiah 13:10), for example, he is not speaking literally. In Isaiah 24:23, the sun and the moon are given emotions. So, this is simply a way of speaking about worldwide changes in through poetry. The moon shining like the sun, and the sun seven times brighter (Isaiah 30:26 NIV) speaks of a time of joy, when the “LORD binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted.” Joel picks up on this in Joel 2:31, with the sun being darkened, and the moon turning to blood. The blood is all the blood at Armageddon. But Joel says this happens “before” the day of the Lord begins. So, what at first seemed figurative now seems more literal. This is the pattern in Scripture. At first a symbol is simply a figure of speech. Later on, it’s fulfilled literally. This gives actual meaning to literal signs that will appear.

Matthew 24:29 But immediately after the oppression [tribulation] of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken;

Matthew 24:32-34 "Now from the fig tree learn this parable. When its branch has now become tender, and puts forth its leaves, you know that the summer is near. (33) Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. (34) Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away, until all these things are accomplished.

Revelation 6:12-14 I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became as blood. (13) The stars of the sky fell to the earth, like a fig tree dropping its unripe figs when it is shaken by a great wind. (14) The sky was removed like a scroll when it is rolled up. Every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

The sixth seal (Revelation 6:12-17) uses almost identical symbolism. So, there is not an absolute requirement that the sun be literally darkened. But it probably will be literally darkened to show the world what is about to happen. The “kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hide in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.” A similar list of people is given in Revelation 19:18, which is about Armageddon. Everyone will be fearful of the “great day of their wrath,” at Armageddon when Christ returns. The “great day of their wrath” is the day of the Lord. It’s at the start of the millennium. This is when the nations of the world will surround Jerusalem in a vain attempt to fight Christ as he returns.

So, the six seals are all about the end-time generation that will see the resurrection (Daniel 12:2) and the return of Christ. The breaking of the six seals allows for the understanding of God’s Mystery. It’s about a time when the wise will fully understand the answer. We will know the day and the hour. But the wicked and the foolish will not understand.

This article is continued in "Old Testament Symbolism in Revelation, Part Two."

Philip Brown
www.newwine.org

Old Testament Symbolism in Revelation, Part One Philip B. Brown ( www.newwine.org )

Old Testament Symbolism in Revelation, Part One
Philip B. Brown ( www.newwine.org )