B. 6l,§6(8)10
Book Revelation §6,(8,)10, Seals Explained: Fifth Seal (+ seals 1,2,3,4.)
Shalom,
^ The seals are a package of secrets revealed in at least two different ways. So far, I have primarily described the symbols of the seals as events of the entire Christian society [S].
But between the lines it could be noted that first the secret of one seal had been revealed in the local churches/congregations of that church age. The teaching of one seal in the revival of one church age [s] (6h§6(8)10; see also 14_Compilation).
Prayer of them who want to bear fruit {Mat. 13:(1-)23}, Bert
1$Ss,1s: The first seal was both generally and locally connected to the revival of the first church age, the Ephesian church age, from 53 till at least 170 (6i§6(8)10, 1-7$).
During that time, the Holy Spirit had warned about the antichrist spirit in some Christians {6h§6(8)10, 1John 2:18-19}.
2$s: In the revival of the second church, of Smyrna, (170 – 312…), local antichrist church leaders were emerging (according to the secret of the red horse of the second seal). False apostles of false churches, who were Satan's synagogue {Rev. 2:(8-) 9 (-11)}.
Within (as well as outside) the churches there were terrible persecutions.
3$s: In the revival of the church age of Pergamum (312 – 606…) in the Western and Eastern Roman Empire emperor Constantine declared freedom of religion with the Edict of Nantes in 312/313 AD. Everywhere (according to the black horse seal secret) many so called Christian political leaders emerged. There were large gatherings, but in reality these gatherings represented the seat of Satan, where church and state had been too much connected together (Rev. 2:13).
Just being religious and worshipping God, or even having a genuine manifestation of the Holy Ghost is not enough. If one is truly filled with the Spirit of God, he/she will stand behind the profetic Word for the day in which he/she lives.
4$s: In the revival of Thyatira (606 – 1520…) the prophetess Jezebel and her teaching was a type of the church. In the Bible, a woman is, among other things, a symbol of a church. The local (and worldwide) church would be more important than God’s Word. In God's eyes there was only death (Rev. 2:18-29).
The born-again experience was rejected in favor of church joining. Though, God knows what is in our hearts. Stand up for the Word, even unto death!
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¤ Here is my summary of the fulfillment of the four seals world-wide:
1-2$1S (6h§6(8)10): In the Ephesian church age, Satan's antichrist spirit had influenced some of the ordinary believers to leave the churches. In the following church age of Smyrna, this spirit also influenced some of the church leaders. As a result all kinds of conflicts arose between the churches, and many churches separated from each other.
3-4$2S (6i§6(8)10): In the church ages of Pergamum and Thyatira, 312 – 1520…. , Satan’s religious spirit was embodied in archbishops and popes, who committed fornication with kings and leaders. Satan had taken control of both the state and the church and could do whatever he wanted. Then he had the power to kill anyone who disagreed with him. Thus, through the Dark Ages millions of true believers were slaughtered.
5-6$3S (6j§6(8)10): In the church ages of Sardis and Philadelphia, 1520 – 1906…. , this spirit embodied itself in the political leaders of Europe, from what many wars followed. And as for other parts of the world, Roman Catholic Church representatives entered into adulterous relations with cults of all kinds of local idols.
7$4S (6k§6(8)10): In our Laodicean church age, many leaders of all kinds of churches and movements have been anointed with a wrong spirit. It has caused a terrible spiritual tribulation worldwide. Then, in the greater tribulation time, this spirit will anoint the antichrist person as world leader.
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5$s: In the fifth church age, in the Sardisean revival, 1520 – 1750…. , the Holy Spirit had begun to speak of the secret of the fifth seal, Rev. 6:9-11, <And when it [the Lamb] opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they had upheld. 10. And they cried out in a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You avenge our blood and judge those who dwell upon the earth?” 11. Then each of them was given a white robe and told to rest a little while longer, until the full {number} of their fellow servants, their brothers, were killed, just as they had been killed.>
With the Reformation, also many Jews came to faith, and began to learn, what had long been hidden under the cover of Roman Catholicism. According to the secret of the fifth seal, they began to understand what was said to their murdered relatives, and why. Once, they, the Jewish people, were hardened/blinded so that believers from the Gentiles could be saved (Rm. 11:25-29).
5S: Brother Branham had in addition said that the fifth seal applies to the orthodox Jews. They had their Law, ‘Word of God’, and they stuck to it. Therefore they died as martyrs. This fulfillment of the seal will continue until the end of the greater tribulation period (3b§12/7d§67₁14, Zec. 13:6-9 and Mat. 26:31).
Jesus had summarized the seal in this way, <Mat. 24:9-13, <“…. Then they will deliver you over …. 13. But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. ….”