03.10-III. THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE HEREAFTER

III. THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE HEREAFTER

We have now come to the Third Division of the Book. The Three Divisions of the Book do not overlap nor are they concurrent. The word translated “hereafter,” would be better translated “after these things.” The word “hereafter” permits a “time space,” while the words “after these things” refer to the things that shall immediately follow the completion of the “Church Age,” as prefigured in the Messages to the Seven Churches. The Church disappears from view with the close of the third chapter and is not heard of again until the nineteenth chapter, where her marriage to the Lamb is announced. Revelation 19:7-9. The removal of the Church at the end of the third chapter opens the way for God to renew His dealings with Israel, and take up the broken thread of Jewish History. That the portion of the Book from chapter three to the end of chapter nineteen is largely made up of symbols taken from the Old Testament, as the Tabernacle, Ark of the Covenant, Altar, Censer, Elders, Cherubim, Seals, Trumpets, Plagues, etc., is conclusive evidence that we are here back on Jewish ground, and that the Parenthetical Dispensation of the Church is complete, and that the last or “Seventieth Week” of Daniel’s “Seventy Weeks” is in course of fulfilment. It is clear therefore that we must look for the explanation of these symbols to the Old Testament.

Chapters four and five are introductory and preparatory to the “Prophetic Action” of the “Seals,” “Trumpets” and “Vials,” and must be considered first.

1. THE HEAVENLY DOOR.

Revelation 4:1.

“AFTER THIS I looked, and, behold, a DOOR WAS OPENED IN HEAVEN: and the first voice which I heard was as it were a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter” (after these). The scene now changes from earth (Patmos) to Heaven. John tells us that After This, after his Vision of Christ in the midst of the “Seven Candlesticks,” and his foreview of the history of the Christian Church, as reviewed in the Messages to the Seven Churches, which carried him down to the end of the Church Age, he looked, and behold a DOOR WAS OPENED IN HEAVEN, and the same voice that spoke to him from the midst of the “Seven Golden Candlesticks,” which was the voice of Christ (Revelation 1:10-13), said with the clearness and sweetness of a trumpet-- “COME UP HITHER
AND I WILL SHOW THEE THINGS WHICH MUST
BE HEREAFTER” And John adds “IMMEDIATELY I WAS IN THE SPIRIT: and, behold, a Throne was set in Heaven, and ONE sat on the Throne.” The experience of John was similar to that of Paul, who was caught up into Paradise. Whether in the body or out of the body they are uncertain, at least Paul was. 2 Corinthians 12:2-4. The difference between them however was, that, while Paul heard words that he was forbidden to speak, John was told to “WRITE IN A BOOK” the things he saw and heard, and send them to the Seven Churches in Asia. In this “Rapture” of John we have a type of the RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH, and it is at this place in the Book that the “RAPTURE” of the Church takes place.

After the confession of Peter at Caesarea Philippi, that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:13-28), and Jesus had said that upon the rock of that confession He would build His Church, He said to His Disciples’--“Verily I say unto you, there be some standing here which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of Man COMING IN HIS KINGDOM.” And then we read in the next chapter (and there should be no chapter division), “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, and was TRANSFIGURED BEFORE THEM.” Matthew 17:1-9. Now this “Transfiguration Scene” is a type of the Second Coming of Christ, Moses being a type of the “Resurrected Saints,” and Elijah of the “Translated Saints.” As the promise of Christ to His Disciples that some of them should not “taste of death” until they saw in vision a rehearsal of the manner of His Second Coming, was fulfilled in the “Transfiguration Scene,” so the statement made to Peter as to John, “If I will that he TARRY TILL I COME” (John 21:20-23), finds its fulfilment in John’s being caught up in vision and beholding before his death, what he would have witnessed and experienced if his life had been prolonged until Jesus came back. Thus John was permitted to live, until, in vision, he saw the Return of the Lord. The “Rapture” of the Church is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. “For the Lord HIMSELF shall descend from Heaven with a SHOUT, with the VOICE OF THE ARCHANGEL, and with the TRUMP OF GOD; and the DEAD IN CHRIST shall rise first: then we WHICH ARE ALIVE and REMAIN shall be CAUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM in the clouds, to meet the Lord IN THE AIR: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Note how John’s taking up corresponds with this. He was summoned by the “VOICE OF CHRIST,” and it will be the “SHOUT of Christ” that shall summon the saints at the Rapture. It was with a “LOUD VOICE” that Jesus called Lazarus from the tomb. John 11:43. And as it was a Trumpet Like Voice that summoned John, so it will be a TRUMPET CALL that will summon the Saints at the Rapture. As confirmatory proof that the Church is “caught out” at this time and place, we have in the description of the Throne, the statement that the Holy Spirit in the Seven-fold plentitude of His power, is BACK IN HEAVEN. In none of the Epistles is the Holy Spirit invoked along with the Father and the Son, except in 2 Corinthians 13:14, because He is viewed as abiding on the earth with the Church, convicting of sin, comforting believers, and gathering out the elect, but here He is no longer on the earth but back in Heaven, and before the Throne. This is the strongest kind of evidence that the Church at this time has been “caught out” and is no longer on the earth, for when the Holy Spirit goes back to Heaven He will take the Church WITH HIM. And the presence of the Holy Spirit in Heaven is conclusive evidence that the events that follow are to take place after the Church has been caught out, and therefore the Church is not to pass through the Tribulation.

2. THE HEAVENLY THRONE.

Revelation 4:2-3; Revelation 4:5-6.

“And immediately I was in the SPIRIT: and, behold, a THRONE was set in Heaven, and ONE sat on the THRONE. And HE that sat was to look upon like a Jasper and a Sardius stone: and there was a Rainbow round about the THRONE, in sight like unto an Emerald. . . . And out of the THRONE proceeded Lightnings and Thunderings and Voices; and there were Seven Lamps of Fire burning before the THRONE, which are the SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD. And before the THRONE there was a Sea of Glass like unto crystal.” The first thing John saw in Heaven was a THRONE. The Throne was not vacant, but One sat upon it, upon whom to look was like looking at glistening gems, such as Jasper and Sardius. The occupant of the Throne was no other than God Himself. In Revelation 21:10-11, John in describing the New Jerusalem says, that its light is the “GLORY OF GOD.” A light like unto a stone most precious, even like a JASPER stone, clear as crystal. This corresponds with John’s declaration in 1 John 1:5, that “GOD IS LIGHT.”

Ezekiel in describing his vision of the “Throne of God” says--“Above the Firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a Throne, as the appearance of a Sapphire Stone: and upon the likeness of the Throne was the likeness as the appearance of a MAN above upon it. And I saw as the color of Amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of His loins even upward, and from the appearance of His loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. As the appearance of the Bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the GLORY OF THE LORD.” Ezekiel 1:26-28.

Now there are two things in Ezekiel’s Vision that correspond with John’s Vision of the “THRONE OF GOD.” First that the form of the one who sat on the Throne could not be clearly distinguished or described, but that it was RESPLENDENT WITH LIGHT, which veiled the form or person; and secondly, that there was a RAINBOW ROUND ABOUT THE THRONE. The person of God then, as He sits upon His Throne, is veiled in a Glory that can only be compared to the shining of some beautiful gem. But one of the remarkable things about the Throne of. God is, that it is surrounded by a “RAINBOW” that is emerald in color. The first mention we have in the Bible of a Rainbow is in Genesis 9:13-17. “I do set My BOW in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a COVENANT between Me and the Earth.” A Covenant that God would not destroy this earth again by a Flood. But that Rainbow was only SEMI-CIRCULAR, such as we see in the heavens in summer after a shower; but the Rainbow Ezekiel and John saw around the Throne of God was CIRCULAR. In this world we only see half a Rainbow, or the half of things, in Heaven we shall see the whole of things. The Rainbow is the sign of a Covenant based on an accepted Sacrifice, the Sacrifice of Noah (Genesis 8:20-22), and the Rainbow about the Throne of God is the sign of a Covenant based on the accepted Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. The difference between Noah’s Rainbow and the one around the Throne of God is, that Noah’s is composed of the seven primary colors, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet, while the one around the Throne of God is EMERALD. What does this “CIRCULAR GREEN RAINBOW” about the Throne of God signify? It signifies that God is a Covenant keeping God, that His promises as to this earth shall be fulfilled. Even though He is about to bring great judgments upon it, He will not destroy it, but it shall pass through those judgments safely. He will redeem it, and bless it, until its hills, and valleys, and plains, shall teem with the green verdure, fruitful orchards, and bountiful vineyards of the long Millennial Day that is to follow those judgments. If the Rainbow did not encircle the Throne as a “Halo,” it might by its reflection in the “Sea of Glass” appear to John to be round. The “Throne” was not the “Throne of Grace” for out of it proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices, that remind us of Mt. Sinai, and proclaim it to be the “THRONE OF JUDGMENT.”

Before the Throne was a “SEA OF GLASS.” This “Sea of Glass” was unoccupied, but later is seen mixed with fire (Revelation 15:2-3), and occupied by martyrs of the Tribulation Period who get the victory over the Beast, and who have harps, and sing the Song of MOSES AND THE LAMB. This “Glassy Sea” reminds us of the “Brazen Sea” that stood before Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 7:23-45), and thus was in front of the Ark of the Covenant, the “Mercy Seat” of which was the earthly Throne of God in Old Testament days.

Right here it might be well for us to remember that the earthly Tabernacle erected by Moses, with all its vessels and instruments of service and mode of worship, was patterned after the “Heavenly Tabernacle.” Hebrews 9:23. A knowledge then of the Tabernacle and its various parts and vessels of service, will help us to understand John’s Vision of the “Heavenly Tabernacle.” Like John, Paul was “caught up” into Heaven, and saw the “Heavenly Tabernacle,” and he most beautifully and clearly makes a comparison between it and the “Mosaic Tabernacle” in his Letter to the Hebrews. The “Throne” that John saw in Heaven corresponds with the “Mercy Seat” of the Ark of the Covenant. The “Four Beasts (Living Ones)” with the “Cherubim” that guarded the “Mercy Seat.” The “Four and Twenty Elders” with the “Priestly Courses” that officiated in the Tabernacle. The “Seven Lamps (Spirits)” before the “Throne,” with the “Seven Branched Candlestick” of the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. The “Sea of Glass” with the “Brazen Laver” for cleansing, that stood in front of the Tabernacle. The “Altar” under which John saw the “soul of Martyrs” with the “Altar of Burnt Offering.” If the “Throne” section of the “Heavenly Tabernacle” corresponds with the “Most Holy Place” of the “Mosaic Tabernacle,” and the “Four and Twenty Elder” section with the “Altar of Incense” and “Seven Lamps of Fire” corresponds with the “Holy Place,” then the “Sea of Glass” and the “Altar” should correspond with the “Court” of the Tabernacle. This will help us to relatively locate what John saw in the Heavenly Tabernacle.

It is also profitable and instructive to compare the “Heavenly” and “Earthly” Tabernacles with the “Tabernacle of Man.” See the Chart of “The Three Tabernacles.” Here we see that the “Spirit”
The Heavenly Tabernacle
The Three Tabernacles part of man corresponds to the “Most Holy Place” of the Tabernacle, the “Soulish” part to the “Holy Place,” and the “Body” part to the “Outer Court.” As the only entrance from the “Holy Place” into the “Most Holy Place” of the Tabernacle was through the “Veil,” so the only entrance from the “Soulish” part of man into the “Spirit” part is through the “Gate of the Will.” And it is only when the “Will” surrenders to the Holy Spirit that God can take up His abode in the “Spirit” part of man, as He took up His residence in the “Most Holy Place” of the Tabernacle on the “Mercy Seat,” and man become a regenerated soul.

3. THE FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS.

Revelation 4:4.

“And round about the Throne were Four and Twenty Seats (Thrones): and upon the Seats I saw Four and Twenty Elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads Crowns of Gold.” Who are these “Elders” and what do they represent? They are not a heavenly and unfallen order of beings, like the angels or “Living Creatures” that surround the Throne, they are the representatives of redeemed mankind. The name Elder is never applied to angels, neither do angels have “crowns” and sit on “thrones.” Only redeemed MEN are promised “Thrones” and Crowns.” Matthew 19:28. Revelation 3:21. Revelation 20:4. Revelation 2:10. 1 Peter 5:2-4. 2 Timothy 4:8. These “Elders” then must be representatives of the Old and New Testament Saints, that have been redeemed by the BLOOD OF CHRIST. This will be made more clear as we consider their position, dress, and song.

They are seated on “thrones,” not ordinary seats, and remind us of Daniel’s Vision of the Judgment.

“I beheld till THRONES were placed and ONE that was ANCIENT OF DAYS did sit; His raiment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like pure wool; His Throne was fiery flames, the wheels thereof burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him, thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and 10,000 times 10,000 stood before Him; the JUDGMENT was set, and the ’Books’ were opened.” Daniel 7:9-10 R. V. This is Daniel’s foreview of the “JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST.”

While the “Thrones” were placed (ready for those who should be found worthy to occupy them) they were as yet unoccupied. Their occupancy awaited the outcome of the Judgment. Now as the “Thrones” that John saw were occupied by crowned Elders. Then those Elders must have passed the “fiery test” of the Judgment of Reward (2 Corinthians 5:10, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15), and received their crowns. Those Crowns are five in number. The “Incorruptible Crown.” 1 Corinthians 9:25-27. The “Crown of Life.” Revelation 2:10. The “Crown of Glory.” 1 Peter 5:2-4. The “Crown of Righteousness.” 2 Timothy 4:8. The “Crown of Rejoicing.” 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20. See the Chart--“Judgment of Reward.” That these “Elders” were REDEEMED MEN is further evidenced by the “Song” they sung.
The Judgment of ’Reward’

“And they sung a NEW SONG, Saying, Thou art worthy to take the Book, and to open the Seals thereof, for thou wast slain, and hast REDEEMED US TO GOD BY THY BLOOD, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God KINGS and PRIESTS; and we shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:9-10.

Now this could not be said of angels, or any other created heavenly beings, for they have not been redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb, nor are they to be “Kings” and “Priests” on the earth.

While the “Elders” sit on Thrones and wear Crowns, they are not dressed in royal robes but in “white raiment,” the garment of a Priest. They are the members of a “ROYAL PRIESTHOOD.” 1 Peter 2:9. That the time has not yet come for them to reign is clear, for they are engaged in Priestly duties, having “Golden Vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints,” in their hands. Revelation 5:8. These saints are not the saints of the Church, but the Jewish saints on earth during the “Tribulation Period,” whose prayers are so beautifully prewritten in the Psalms. That the “Elders” will be given the right of Judgment is clear. Writing to the Corinthians Paul says--“Do ye not know that the Saints shall JUDGE THE WORLD. . . . Know ye not that We shall JUDGE ANGELS.” (The Fallen Angels.) 1 Corinthians 6:2-3. The time when this right of Judgment is conferred on the “Elders” (Saints) is given by John as after the binding of Satan, and just before the Millennium--“I saw THRONES, and they (the First Resurrection Saints--THE ELDERS) sat upon them, and JUDGMENT was given unto them.” Revelation 20:4. The word “Elder” in the majority of places where it is used in the Scriptures means the representative head of a city, family, tribe or nation, so the “Four and Twenty Elders” are representative of the redeemed human race. But why 24 Elders? Twenty-four is the number of the Priestly Courses as given in 1 Chronicles 24:1-19. When David distributed the Priests into “Courses” he found there were 24 Heads of the Priestly families, and these 24 Heads he made representative of the WHOLE PRIESTHOOD. As the “Elders” are representative of both the Old and New Testament Saints, and the Old Testament Saints are represented by the Twelve Tribes of Israel, and the New Testament Saints’ by the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb, they together make up 24 representative characters. This distinction is clearly brought out in the description of the New Jerusalem, where the 12 Foundation Stones are named after the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb, and the 12 Gates after the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Revelation 21:10-14.

While the Four and Twenty Elders are representative of the Old and New Testament Saints, they do not, as a whole, represent the Church, for the Church is composed only of New Testament Saints. The Old Testament saints are merely the Friends of the Bridegroom. But the fact that the New Testament Saints, as represented by the Twelve Apostles, are required to make up the 24 representative characters (Elders), is additional evidence that the Rapture of the Church takes place before the Tribulation.

4. THE FOUR BEASTS.

Revelation 4:6-11.

“In the midst of the Throne, and round about the Throne, were FOUR BEASTS full of eyes before and behind. And the First Beast was like a LION, and the Second Beast like a CALF, and the Third Beast had a face as a MAN, and the Fourth Beast was like a FLYING EAGLE. And the four Beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within; and they rest not day or night, saying, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, WHICH WAS, AND IS, AND IS TO COME.” The word translated “Beasts” should be translated “LIVING CREATURES,” as in the Revised Version. The word here translated “beast” (Zoon), is not the same as the one translated “beast” (Therion) in chapters eleven, thirteen, and seventeen. The word here used means a “living being” or “creature,” while the word used in chapters eleven, thirteen, and seventeen, means a wild, untamed animal. They are not angelic beings, for they are distinguished from the angels, who are mentioned as a class by themselves in Revelation 5:11. Neither are they representative of redeemed human beings, for they do not join in the Redemption Song. Revelation 5:8-10. The word “they” in this passage does not refer to the “Four Living Creatures,” but to the “Four and Twenty Elders.” The “Four Living Creatures” are not in the same class with the “Elders,” for they have no “thrones” or “crowns” or “harps” or “golden vials.” They are the “Guardians” of the Throne of God, and accompany it wherever it goes. Ezekiel 1:24-28. They are four in number, which is the “earth number,” and therefore have something to do with the earth. That is, they are interested in the “re-genesis” of the earth to its former glory before the Fall. They have eyes before and behind and within, which reveals their intelligence and spiritual insight of things past, present, and to come, and they are tireless in their service, for they rest not day nor night, saying, “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” The first time these “Living Creatures” are mentioned in the Bible is in Genesis 3:24, where they are called “CHERUBIM,” but are not described. They were placed at the entrance to the “Garden of Eden” to prevent the re-entrance of Adam and Eve, and to keep the way of the “Tree of Life.” It would appear as if at the place where they were stationed there was a Tabernacle, a place of worship to which Cain and Abel resorted to make their offerings, and that it was from there that Cain went out from the “PRESENCE OF THE LORD.” Genesis 4:16. When Moses was given on the Holy Mount the pattern of the Tabernacle, he was instructed to make the “Ark of the Covenant” with two Cherubim upon it. Exodus 25:10-22. These Cherubim were guardians of the “Mercy Seat,” or the place of God’s PRESENCE when He in His “Shekinah Glory” visited the Tabernacle. But it is not until Ezekiel had his vision of the Cherubim (Ezekiel 1:1-28; Ezekiel 10:1-22), that we have a description of what they are like. See the the next page.
The Cherubim

Ezekiel describes them as having the likeness of a man, with 4 faces, and 4 wings, and feet like a calf’s foot, and hands like a man’s hand under their wings on their 4 sides. Their 4 faces were different. The front face was that of a MAN, the right side face was that of a LION, the left side face was that of an OX, and the rear face was that of an EAGLE, and their whole body, back, hands, and wings, were full of eyes round about. Ezekiel 10:12. In John’s Vision of the “Cherubim” or “Living Creatures” they are described as like animals, the first was like a LION, the second like a CALF, or a young Ox, the third had the face of a MAN, and the fourth was like a FLYING EAGLE. John’s “Living Creatures” had 6 wings, while Ezekiel’s “Cherubim” had only 4. In Ezekiel’s vision, the “Cherubim,” or “Living Creatures,” were accompanied by the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 1:12) and traveled on wheels, which shows that they were on some tour or mission, attended by the Lord, who sat on His Throne over their heads (Ezekiel 1:25-28), but the wheels are absent in John’s vision, for the scene is in Heaven, the permanent home of the Throne of God. In the camping and marching order of Israel in the Wilderness, there was a fixed relation of the Twelve Tribes to the Tabernacle. In camp the Tabernacle rested in the middle. The Camp of Judah, composed of 3 Tribes, rested on the East, with its Standard bearing the figure of a LION. The Camp of Ephraim, composed of 3 Tribes, rested on the West, with its Standard bearing the figure of an OX. The Camp of Reuben, composed of 3 Tribes, rested on the South, with its Standard bearing the figure of a MAN. The Camp of Dan, composed of 3 Tribes, rested on the North, with its Standard bearing the figure of an EAGLE. Thus the Tabernacle in the centre of the Camp, the place of God’s Presence, was surrounded and protected by Standards that bore the figures of Ezekiel’s and John’s “Living Creatures.” The dissimilarity between Ezekiel’s “Living Creatures,” and John’s “Living Creatures” can only be explained on the supposition that there are different orders of “Living Creatures” or “Cherubim,” each adapted to the service he is created to perform. In Isaiah’s Vision in the Temple of the Lord seated on His Throne, he saw a heavenly order of beings that he called the “Seraphim.” They had 6 wings, like John’s “Living Creatures,” and cried “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of Hosts: the whole earth is full of His Glory” (Isaiah 6:1-4), but they stood above the Throne, while Ezekiel’s Cherubim supported the Throne, and John’s “Living Creatures” were in the midst or around the Throne. Whatever significances there may be in the different forms the “Cherubim” or “Living Creatures” took, it is clear that they do not represent the Church, but are attendants or officials attached to the Throne of God, for they summon the four Horsemen to appear (Revelation 6:1-8), and one of them hands to the “Seven Vial Angels,” the “Golden Vials” filled with the “Wrath of God.” Revelation 15:7. And when they give glory and honor and thanks to Him that sits upon the Throne, who liveth forever and ever, the “Four and Twenty Elders” fall down before Him that sits upon the Throne, and worship Him . . . and cast their crowns before the Throne, saying, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:9-11.

5. THE SEVEN-SEALED BOOK.

Revelation 5:1-14.

“And I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the Throne a Book written within and on the back, sealed with SEVEN SEALS. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the Book, and to loose the SEALS thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the Book, neither to look thereon. And one of the Elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDA, the ROOT OF DAVID, hath prevailed to open the Book, and to loose the SEVEN SEALS thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the Throne, and of the Four Beasts, and in the midst of the Elders, stood a LAMB as it had been slain, having SEVEN HORNS and SEVEN EYES, which are the SEVEN OF GOD sent forth into all the earth. And HE came and took the Book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the Throne.”

What is this “SEVEN SEALED BOOK”? Writing to the Ephesians (Ephesians 1:13-14), Paul said--“Ye were SEALED with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the REDEMPTION of the PURCHASED POSSESSION.” Then there is a POSSESSION that is to be REDEEMED. What this is, Paul tells us in Romans 8:22-23. “We know that the WHOLE CREATION GROANETH AND TRAVAILETH IN PAIN TOGETHER UNTIL NOW. And not only they (all earthly created things), but ourselves also, which have the “First fruits of the Spirit,” even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the REDEMPTION OF, OUR BODY.” (This will take place at the First Resurrection).

We see from these references that there is something that was lost to mankind and the earth that is to be redeemed, and we do not have to go far to find out what it was. It is the inheritance of the earth and of immortal life given to Adam and Eve, and that was lost in the Fall of Eden. When Adam sinned he lost his inheritance of the earth, and it passed out of his hands into the possession of Satan, to the disinheritance of all of Adam’s seed. The forfeited Title Deed is now in God’s hands and is awaiting redemption. Its redemption means the legal repossession of all that Adam lost by the Fall. Adam was impotent to redeem the lost possession, but the law provides (Leviticus 25:23-34) that a kinsman may redeem a lost possession. That KINSMAN has been provided in the person of JESUS CHRIST. To become a kinsman He had to be born into the human race. This the Virgin Birth accomplished. Jesus paid the REDEMPTIVE PRICE, which was His own BLOOD, on the Cross (1 Peter 1:18-20), but He has not as yet claimed that which He then purchased. When the time comes for the Redemption of the PURCHASED POSSESSION Jesus will do so. That time and the act is described in the scripture we are now considering. The “SEVEN SEALED BOOK” is the “TITLE DEED” to the redeemed inheritance. In Old Testament days when a kinsman desired to redeem a property he took his position, with ten men (Elders) as witnesses, in the gate of the city and advertised his purpose. This is beautifully illustrated in the story of Boaz and Ruth. Ruth 4:1-12. The kinsman who redeemed the property was called the “Goel” or REDEEMER. When the “strong angel” proclaimed with a loud voice--“WHO is worthy to open the Book, and to loose the Seals thereof?” that was the advertisement for the “KINSMAN REDEEMER” to appear. But, said John, there was no MAN (redeemed man) in Heaven; nor in Earth, neither under the Earth, who was able to open the Book, neither to look thereon. It was not a question of the worthiness of some angelic being, as Michael or Gabriel, to open the Book, but of a MAN. When John saw that there was no one worthy to open the Book he wept. Some say he wept because he was disappointed that he could not satisfy his curiosity as to the contents of the Book, but such a statement is puerile. A man under the influence of the Holy Spirit would not be so foolish. John wept because he knew what the Book was, and that if there was no one to open that “BOOK OF REDEMPTION,” that all hope of the redemption of the earth and of man was gone. But John’s sorrow was of short duration, for one of the Elders said--“Weep not: behold, the LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH, the ROOT OF DAVID, hath prevailed to open the Book, and to loose the ’Seven Seals’ thereof.” And John saw, what he had not noticed before a LAMB, as it had been slain, standing in the midst of the Throne, and of the “Four Living Creatures.” John had not seen the Lamb before, because it (He) had been seated on the Throne with the Father, and advanced out of the Glory of the Throne as the Elder spoke.

John looked for a “Lion” and saw a LAMB. But the Elder was right in calling it a “Lion,” for Jesus was about to assume His Title as the LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH, and reign and rule with KINGLY POWER. That the Lamb was not an animal is clear from verse seven, where it says--“And HE (the Lamb) came and took the Book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the Throne.” This is the sublimest individual act recorded in the Scriptures. On it the redemption of the whole creation of God depends. It is still future and takes place after the Church has been “caught out” and Judged, and before the Tribulation Period begins, and you and I, if we are redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb, will witness the scene, and take part in the “Song of Redemption” that follows. Revelation 5:8-10. THE “SEVEN-HORNED” LAMB. This is the “DUE TIME,” when the “MAN” CHRIST JESUS, who gave Himself as a “RANSOM” (on the Cross) for the redemption of the lost inheritance, will be TESTIFIED TO before the Throne of God, by redeemed mankind, angels, and every creature in Heaven and Earth, and under the Earth. 1. Tim. 2:5-6; Revelation 5:8-14. When the Lamb leaves the Throne to take the Book, His Mediatorial Work ceases, and His REDEMPTIVE WORK begins. When our “KINSMAN REDEEMER” is handed the “Book,” the “TITLE DEED” to the “Purchased Possession,” He has the right to break its SEALS, and claim the “Inheritance,” and DISPOSSESS the present claimant SATAN. This He will immediately proceed to do, as He breaks the SEALS. Satan is not evicted at once. He contests the claim and it is only after a prolonged conflict that he is finally dispossessed and cast into the Lake of Fire. In the Gospels four titles are given to Jesus. He is the Son of David; the Son of Abraham; the Son of Man; and the Son of God.

The manner of redemption of a lost inheritance is beautifully set forth in the Old Testament. A property could not be alienated from the original owner or his heirs for a longer period than 50 years, at which time it reverted to the original owner. If however for some reason the owner was forced to sell it, it could be redeemed by the next of kin on the payment of the proportionate amount of its value due until the next “Year of Jubilee.” Leviticus 25:8-17. Two illustrations of this method of redeeming a forfeited possession are given in the Old Testament; one in Ruth 4:1-12, where Boaz redeems the possession of Elimelech, the other in Jeremiah 32:6-12, where the Prophet Jeremiah purchased the possession of his cousin Hanameel. The “Deed” was written on a parchment roll, and when the inside was filled, the outside was used, but enough space was left to not show the writing when the parchment was rolled up and sealed, and on the outside of the roll that showed, the Title of the Deed, and the names
Map :The Royal Grant to Abraham of the subscribing witnesses were written. Two copies of the “Deed” were made. One was sealed, and the other left unsealed for the purpose of reference. These deeds were handed to the purchaser in the presence of witnesses, and either kept by him, or intrusted to a custodian, or placed, as in the case of Jeremiah, in an earthen vessel, that would neither rot nor rust, to be preserved until the end of the Seventy Years of Captivity that the Prophet had foretold was to be. This method of taking title, explains the meaning and purpose of the “Seven Sealed Book” that John saw written within and on the back. The “Seals” were not in a row along the edge of the Book or Roll, but a Seal was broken and the parchment unrolled until the next seal was reached, and so on until all the “Seals” had been broken. We are not told that what happened as the “Seals” were broken was read out of the Book. The contents of the “Book” are not disclosed. We are simply told, as the “Seals” are broken, that certain things happened. They doubtless were preliminary to the Lamb’s taking possession of the Purchased Possession. It is not until chapter 10:1-6, that Christ, as the “MIGHTY ANGEL,” puts His right foot upon the sea, and His left foot on the earth, and cries--“There shall be time no longer,” that is “NO LONGER DELAY,” that He takes formal possession, but as the claim is disputed further steps, as we shall see, are necessary to secure possession.

Daniel’s Seventieth Week

Daniel 9:1-27. As the events recorded in Revelation 6:1 to Revelation 19:21, are connected with the last, or “Seventieth Week,” of Daniel’s “SEVENTY WEEKS,” it is necessary that we stop here and explain what is meant by Daniel’s “Seventieth Week.” The Prophet Daniel had been 68 years (B. C. 538) in Babylon, and by a study of the Prophecy of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:11), he discovered that the “Seventy Years” Captivity of his people was nearing its end, and so he set his face unto the Lord, to seek by prayer and supplication (Daniel 9:3) to know the exact time of its ending, and while he was praying the Angel Gabriel appeared to enlighten him. (Daniel 9:20-23.) Daniel was concerned about the expiration of the “Seventy Years” of the Captivity, and the restoration of his people to Palestine, and the rebuilding of the City of Jerusalem and of the Temple. But the Angel Gabriel came to disclose to him something more important than that. While he doubtless informed Daniel that God would fulfil His promise as to the “Seventy Years” of the Captivity, which, as we know, He did, he also made known to Daniel that that would not end the troubles of Israel. That while the Jews were to return to Jerusalem at the end of the “Seventy Years” of Captivity, there was a longer period to elapse before the Kingdom would be restored to them, a period of “SEVENTY WEEKS.”
The Tribulation Period, or Daniel’s ’Seventieth Week’, the Reign of Antichrist

“SEVENTY WEEKS are determined upon Thy People (Daniel’s people the Jews) and upon the Holy City (Jerusalem), to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the ’MESSIAH THE PRINCE’ shall be SEVEN WEEKS, and THREESCORE AND TWO WEEKS: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after THREESCORE AND TWO WEEKS shall MESSIAH BE CUT OFF, but not for Himself: and the people (Roman) of the PRINCE THAT SHALL COME (Antichrist) shall destroy the City and the Sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he (Antichrist) shall confirm the Covenant with many for ONE WEEK (the last or Seventieth Week): and in the midst of THE WEEK he (Antichrist) shall cause the Sacrifice and the oblations to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations (the Abomination of Desolation spoken of by Christ. Matthew 24:15) he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” Daniel 9:24-27. This Vision of the “SEVENTY WEEKS” is the most important revelation, in many ways, made in the Scriptures. We are here told that this Period of “SEVENTY WEEKS” was determined upon Daniel’s PEOPLE (the Jews), and upon the HOLY CITY (Jerusalem). This is very important. It discloses the fact that the “SEVENTY WEEKS” have nothing to do with the Gentiles, or the Church, but only with the JEWS and JERUSALEM. It also discloses another important fact that the “SEVENTY WEEKS” only cover the period when the Jews are DWELLING IN THEIR OWN LAND, and does not cover the present period of their Dispersion. We are told in Daniel 9:24 that these “SEVENTY WEEKS” were determined for a SIX-FOLD purpose.

1. TO FINISH THE TRANSGRESSION.

It is the transgression of ISRAEL that is here referred to, and the finishing of it will be the turning away of UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB. Romans 11:26-27. The transgression of Israel has not yet come to an end, and will not until they as a Nation shall be converted.

2. TO MAKE AN END OF SINS. The margin reads to “seal up” sins. The sins of ISRAEL. This may refer to the author of Israel’s sins--Satan, who shall at that time be “sealed up” in the Pit. Revelation 20:1-3.

3. TO MAKE RECONCILIATION FOR INIQUITY. This refers to ISRAEL’S iniquity in the rejection of their Messiah. While atonement was made for their sin on the Cross, its application to Israel as a Nation awaits the day when they shall look on Him whom they pierced (Zechariah 12:10), and a fountain shall be opened to the “House of David,” and the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and uncleanliness, Zechariah 13:1, and a nation, the Jewish Nation, shall be “born again” in a day. Isaiah 66:8.

4. TO BRING IN EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS. When the “Transgression of ISRAEL” has come to an end, and her sins are “sealed up,” then everlasting righteousness shall be brought in. The King will come, and the Kingdom be restored to Israel, and the Millennium will be here, and the “Knowledge of the Lord” shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14.

5. TO SEAL UP THE VISION AND PROPHECY. When the “Transgression of ISRAEL” has ceased and they have uninterrupted communion with God, there will no longer be any need for “Vision” or “Prophet.” It is a noteworthy fact that “Vision” and “Prophecy” has been confined to the Jewish race.

6. TO ANOINT THE MOST HOLY. This probably refers to the anointing of the “Most Holy Place,” or the “Holy of Holies” of the MILLENNIAL TEMPLE, described by Ezekiel. Ezekiel 41. There is great significance in this announcement; for, although the Tabernacle of Moses was anointed (Leviticus 8:10), there is no mention of such a ceremony in the Consecration of either Solomon’s Temple, or the Temple of Zerubbabel, for those buildings were considered merely as continuations of the Mosaic Tabernacle. But when the King comes back and sits upon the Throne of His father David, there is to be a magnificent Temple erected, the like of which has never as yet been seen on this planet of ours. There will be no “Ark of the Covenant” with its “Mercy Seat,” in the “Most Holy Place” of the Millennial Temple (Jeremiah 3:16), but in its place will stand the ROYAL THRONE on which the “BRANCH,” the Messiah shall sit as a KING-PRIEST (Zechariah 6:12-13), and whose anointing is here referred to.

Now as the fulfilment of this “Six-Fold” purpose of the “SEVENTY WEEKS” synchronizes with the things that shall happen at the close of this Dispensation, and that are described in Revelation 6:1; Revelation 19:21, it is clear that the last, or “SEVENTIETH WEEK” of Daniel’s “Seventy Weeks,” covers the “TIME PERIOD” of Revelation 6:1; Revelation 19:21, and confirms the claim that that “Period” is Jewish and has nothing to do with the Church. To prove this it is only necessary to outline Daniel’s “Seventy Weeks.” The “Seventy Weeks” are divided into “THREE PERIODS” of 7 Weeks, and 62 Weeks, and 1 Week. They cover the time from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem, which was the 14th day of the month Nisan (March) B. C. 445, to the Second Stage (The Revelation) of the Second Coming of Christ. The “First Period,” 7 WEEKS, refers to the time required to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, which was 49 years, thus giving us the “Key” to the meaning of the word “WEEK,” for if 7 WEEKS are equal to 49 YEARS, then 1 WEEK is equal to 7 YEARS. Now we are told that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem (B. C. 445) unto the “MESSIAH THE

Daniel’s ’Seventy Weeks’

PRINCE,” shall be 7 WEEKS, and THREESCORE AND TWO WEEKS, or 69 WEEKS, or, if 1 WEEK is equal to 7 YEARS, 7 x 69 or 483 YEARS. Now Jesus, as “MESSIAH THE PRINCE,” rode in triumph into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, April 2, A. D. 30. The difference in time between B. C. 445 and A. D. 30 is 475 years, but, as we have seen, 69 WEEKS equal 483 years, a difference of 8 years. How are we to explain this difference? The 475 years between B. C. 445 and A. D. 30, are Julian or Astronomical years of 365¼ days each, but when we reduce them to Calendar years of 360 days each, the year used in the Scriptures, we find that we have exactly 483 years of 360 days each. This proves that there was no break between the “First” and “Second” Periods of the “Seventy Weeks,” and that the prophecy that there should be 69 WEEKS to the coming of “MESSIAH THE PRINCE” was literally fulfilled. Now as 69 WEEKS of Daniel’s “SEVENTY WEEKS” have already expired, and all that was prophesied to occur during those “SEVENTY WEEKS” has not yet been fulfilled, it stands to reason that the things unfulfilled are still future, and must be fulfilled in the remaining “ONE WEEK,” and that that “ONE WEEK” shall be “SEVEN YEARS” long, for it must be of the same length as the other “WEEKS.” This then gives us the length of time of the reign of the “PRINCE THAT SHALL COME” (Antichrist), who we are told in Daniel 9:27 shall make a Covenant with the Jews for “ONE WEEK” (7 years), the last or “SEVENTIETH WEEK,” and that in the “Middle” of the WEEK he shall break the Covenant and cause the “sacrifice and oblation” that the Jews will have restored, to cease, and then the “overspreading of abominations that maketh desolate,” shall continue until the end of the WEEK. As this is just what is foretold will occur during the reign of Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4) we see that the “Period” between Revelation 6:1 and Revelation 19:21, that we are now about to study, is the “Third Period” of ONE WEEK, of Daniel’s “SEVENTY WEEKS” and that it is to last SEVEN YEARS. From this we see that while there was no “Time Space” between the “First” and “Second” Periods of the “Seventy Weeks,” there is a “Time Space” between the “Second” and “Third” Periods or the 69th and 70th Week, of already (A. D. 1919) 1889 years, or the present Church Age. This was hidden so the Church should not fail to watch. See the “Chart”