READ THE FIG LEAVES
Signs of the Times
PART 2 HAPPENING NOW—As it Was in the Days of Noah
Time-Frame One: Happening Now—First Five Seals—And Other Events
Prologue
There are so many end-time things happening in our world today that it is impossible for any individual to keep abreast of all developments. Signs of the times are everywhere; but today’s news is tomorrow’s history. In this Part 2, I write about things that are happening now, things which will continue until Jesus comes.
In addition to the wars and rumors of wars on earth, the chaos caused by the riders from the first four seals in Revelation, and the beginnings of a one-world government, mankind continues to fight spiritual wars that began in the Garden of Eden. While those things visible seem to cause most of the trouble in the world, the unseen encapsulates the root causes and reasons for those problems; but these wars will continue to be spiritual and in the heavenly places until the rule of the Antichrist. When the great red dragon is thrown down from heaven by the angel, Michael, then those spiritual wars will become physical and on the earth; and it will not end until Satan’s final destruction. Jesus is coming soon. He will destroy Satan.
We must read Matthew chapter twenty-four to become conscious of what is happening in our world today that Jesus prophesied would happen. Then we must compare what Jesus said with current events. Correctly making those comparisons should help us to understand that the end of time is near. In addition to the wars and the chaos of the riders of deception, war, famine and pestilence, and death, people continue to be martyred for their Christian beliefs—fifth seal souls under the altar. Just as Jesus said, we are now in the beginning of ‘birth pains.’ MATTHEW 24:8 Things will get worse; but then, a worsening of world conditions is a prelude to the end of time as we know them.
TOPIC 5—SPIRITUAL WARS
The Forces We Battle Today
These are the forces we battle today—“…against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil…” EPHESIANS 6:12 Daniel and John see the beginning of deliverance from these evil forces. Daniel prophesied, “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.” DANIEL 12:1 John confirms it is Michael who begins deliverance from the forces of evil.
John says, “… war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.” REVELATION 12:7-8 So Satan was thrown down to earth REVELATION 12:9 where Sheol beneath is stirred up to meet him. Once more he will make the earth tremble, shake kingdoms, make the world like a desert and overthrow its cities before he is destroyed. ISAIAH 14:16-17 “…But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” REVELATION 12:12 Now all of the forces of evil are on this earth. This is the beginning of the end for evil. Jesus will destroy all of the forces of evil and will imprison Satan at his second coming.
Spiritual War in Heavenly Places
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. EPHESIANS 6:13
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. EPHESIANS 6:12
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, II CORINTHIANS 10:3-5
All spiritual wars are in the heavenly places. We cannot see Jesus Christ in the natural realm nor can we see the devil in that realm; but we can see and know the effect Jesus has on this world, in our lives, and in the spiritual wars. Satan has never had and will never have a victory over Jesus Christ or in heaven; but we can see the effects of the devil’s victories on earth. All sin is a victory for him. The heavenly places referred to in Ephesians chapter six and verse twelve refers to the second heaven where he is the accuser of the brethren and the earth’s atmosphere where he is the prince of the air. Soon he will be thrown from the second heaven by the Archangel Michael and then later purged from earth’s atmosphere and the earth by God’s wrath. Until then, spiritual war is in the heavenly places.
War on Earth Against Evil
My pastor, Doctor Jack Hester, in a sermon on the end-times, said, “Our battle on earth is spiritual, not physical. God’s battle on earth [in the End-Time] is physical, not spiritual.” Spiritual wars in heavenly places will become physical wars on earth when the Archangel Michael throws Satan down to earth. Although Satan will continue his war in the first heaven—earth’s atmosphere, the physical war against evil will begin in earnest on earth.
As will be seen in a future chapter, the devil will incarnate a man, the Antichrist, and for the last three and one-half years of Tribulation, The Great Tribulation, all wars with the him will be physical and on the earth. At Armageddon the devil will once again seek to destroy Jesus Christ. This battle will end with the Antichrist and his false prophet being thrown into the lake of fire. Then God will send an ordinary angel with a big chain to bind Satan and cast him into the bottomless pit. The army that has assembled will be destroyed with the Word from the mouth of Jesus Christ. Evil will be removed from the heavens and from the earth.
TOPIC 6—THE OLIVET DISCOURSE—PROPHECY—HAPPENING NOW
Weather Forecasters v Reading Fig Leaves
And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' And in the morning, 'It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. MATTHEW 16:1-3
Jesus told the Pharisees and the Sadducees that they could look at the sky and tell what the weather would be; but they could not interpret the signs of the times. For the most part they missed the first coming of the Messiah; for they were looking for a sign from heaven and missed the fulfillment of prophecy in the Old Testament that Jesus totally fulfilled. They were looking for signs in the wrong place!
After pronouncing woes on the scribes and Pharisees and as Jesus and his disciples were leaving, Jesus’ disciples pointed out the buildings of the temple to Him. Jesus answered them with prophecy about the destruction of the temple. They then asked Him, “…Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” MATTHEW 24:3 Then Jesus started His “Olivet Discourse.” It included answers to those questions by his disciples—the sign of his coming and of the end of the age. He concluded with, “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.” MATTHEW 24:32-33 We must learn the lesson of the fig leaves, then when we see all those things He talked about, we will know that He is near and the end of the age is near. We can learn to be weather forecasters or we can learn how to read the fig leaves—to read the signs of the times!
Signs of His Coming and of the End of the Age
And Jesus answered them, “‘See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.’” MATTHEW 24:4-7
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” MATTHEW 24:9-12
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.” MATTHEW 24:14-16
For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. MATTHEW 24:21-22, 24
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” MATTHEW 24:29-31
Scripture says it best. The preceding verses are the heart of Jesus’ “Olivet Discourse.” In it He gives signs for many of the end-time events, some that are happening now. Some will happen in the Tribulation. For those happening in the Tribulation, there is a Revelation parallel. Those events that are happening now are still in the beginning of birth pains.
Many Antichrists—In the World Already
And then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand. MARK 13:21-23
Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. I JOHN 2:18 [NKJV]
In Jesus’ discourse, recorded in Mark, Jesus warned his disciples that “Many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and they will lead many astray.” MARK 13:6 They were told to “be on your guard” against them. John calls those “false christs” the antichrists. Note what he says, “…as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming…” [and that] “…even now many antichrists have come…” I JOHN 2:18 [NKJV] John is reminding his readers that the [capital A] Antichrist ‘is’ coming; but many antichrists [plural, little ‘a’] have come. They are still here. The antichrists started while Jesus Christ was on the earth; for all who opposed or denied Him then and those who oppose or deny now or in the future are antichrists. So we should beware of antichrists that are here in our day. And we should be vigilant in looking for signs of the emergence of the Antichrist.
Power of Antichrists Increasing
and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. I JOHN 4:3 [KJV]
John is the only writer, in the Bible, who used the word “antichrist;” but all of the Apostles warned the early church in differing ways that there were already antichrists in the world. Even in Jesus’ day there were false prophets trying to pervert the Word of God. From the beginning there has been deception. That is what the serpent did in the Garden. He deceived Eve by making his word sound a lot like God’s Word—with only a slight perversion. Thus meaning something very different. Deception is everywhere. In the Old Testament, there were people who were against God; but there were no antichrists. After the Law was given, many “sects” eventually formed. At a later date these became some of the first antichrists; for they vigorously opposed Jesus Christ.
God is truth. Satan is a liar. The thing most often used by antichrists is deliberate deception. As most know, deception is not considered a lie by those perpetrating the deception; but deception causes one be deceived. So deception is a lie. Deception is a part of Satan’s character. Again, he is a liar. The Antichrist will make deceit prosper. DANIEL 8:25 As deception increases, chaos, confusion and calamity will also increase—and so will the power of the antichrist. Never at anytime in history has there been so many discordant sounds and so much deception. Antichrists then and now are defined by their name. Antichrist is the definition of what antichrists do.
Centuries after the first antichrists, the Catholic Church came into being. To chronicle all the ways they have been antichrist, and the ways they have deceived people, and perverted the gospel would take volume of books. Since their inception, they have interfered with an individual’s relationship with God by constricting those in their control to their rituals and liturgies. It took centuries of religious domination before people began to break away from the Catholic Church. For personal religious freedom, it was necessary that Protestants leave the Catholic Church; but then the Protestants divided themselves into an unbelievable number of denominations and kept many of the idols and doctrines of the Catholic Church. While antichrists are perverting truth with their false doctrines in some churches, that is not the only place where antichrists have been at work.
In the place of God and his plan, government, with the help of mass media, started promoting evolution, humanism, and religious tolerance. Doctrines of evolution attempt to destroy the truth of creation by a divine and intelligent Creator. Humanism teaches man to put himself first instead of God. Religious tolerance is the false doctrine that there is more than one way to God. While the proponents of religious tolerance believe that this false doctrine is a way to peace among religions, the controversies have only increased. Some very radical religions, that claim to be the ‘only way,’ have caused chaos and terror in many places. All of these doctrines are “anti Christ.”
These false doctrines of humanism, evolution, tolerance are now widely accepted because of governmental pressures and influences and the distribution of collaborative rhetoric by the news media to promote these doctrines. Politicians, news commentators, secular educators and others in positions of power seem to be totally convinced that many things once considered wrong are now totally acceptable. Abominations are supported! They no longer find it necessary to disguise their false doctrines. In fact, in some cases it has gone beyond deception; for they no longer attempt to hide their blatant lies.
For the most part, the political news media of the world is carefully deliberate in its deceptions; but it no longer reports the unbiased news. Political commentaries have always been a ‘spin.’ Now the ‘spin’ has infected the reporting as well. News organizations, news commentators, and reporters distort and spin their perceived truth until it is no longer resembles the facts. Your choice of a political party or politician may be a choice of who, one thinks, lies less.
Our government now practices selective racism. To make sure nothing is missed, they now consider themselves to be “woke”—alert to any injustice or discrimination. Hiding under this same bed is the promotion of their liberal agenda. They are alert to anything or anyone in our society that may hinder their liberal ideas and agendas and governmental racism. They no longer require proof to persecute or prosecute; for perception has supplanted hard evidence. The political “correctness” police have forced a new and stronger push to promote many liberal ideas that conflict with the gospel of Jesus Christ. They enforce their policies of rights for those whose life styles violate God’s statues; but no one has a “right” to sin against God.
In our time Satan , father of all antichrists, has the formidable weapon of mass media and Artificial Intelligence. Now false prophets are able to exponentially spread their false ‘truths.’ Antichrists oppose truth on many fronts. Government is no exception. In my lifetime I have seen governmental campaigns to remove God from public speech, public schools—from all public entities. And they now support many things that God considers an abomination. The effect has been to add to the deception in the world with the intent of silencing all truth; but the work of antichrists, using their ‘formidable weapons,’ will increase exponentially in the future.
Lies and idols are the devil’s favorite weapons. They are being promoted in our world today. Lies are used to gain power, authority, and control. Those gains in power, authority, and control then become idols to those that seek them. Both tangible and intangible idol worship is more prevalent now than in Old Testament times. Give the humanists an idol and they will worship it.
Nothing and no-one has promoted evil and idol worship more than use of the cell phone. It is the number one idol in America. While cell phones have many good and practical uses, the evil that they can facilitate is unprecedented. Nothing since the beginning of time is so easily converted to the use of antichrists. They are used to advance false doctrines. Cell phones are used to buy-sell and promote drugs and sex, to commit crimes, and for any perverted thing that the human mind can conceive; and they are used to worship sports, entertainment, social media, and materialism. Most cannot do without their cell phones.
While none of this has been subtle, the American mind is oblivious to the abomination this can cause; but the world continues to worship this idol without a thought. The cell phone is just another one of the many idols in America. The antichrist’s powers are increasing; and the cell phone is just one device he is using. Do not allow it to become an idol to you.
And then there are all of the other problems of the world—economic, social, medical, wars—the list could go on and on. All things that take us away from worship of Jesus Christ—is antichrist. This is the perfect environment for a person posing as a “man of peace” and a man with all the answers to take over. We should see it is men who have caused those problems and no man has been able to solve them. For one thing, there are more people creating problems than there are working on solutions. We are almost at the moment in time when people of the world will try anything—even a man who we have been told will be Satan’s incarnate.
A Worsening of World Conditions—Prelude to The Antichrist
The antichrists in the world today and the Antichrist of the last three and one-half years of The Great Tribulation are certain to creep into all serious discussions of the end-times. It is a worsening of world conditions that will introduce the Antichrist to the world. That is happening now and will continue to happen until the Antichrist is revealed to the world. Those things Jesus named in His Olivet Discourse that would be happening in the “beginning of birth pains” are happening now. Things are bad now. When they get bad enough, mankind will seek an answer from a man instead of from God. That total dependence on the “arm of flesh” will began the downfall of our world as we know it.
There are now wars and rumors of wars. The lack of peace will be a catalyst that will bring the Antichrist to a notable position in the world; for he will broker peace treaties that will catapult his image as a man of peace. Then his ‘answers’ to every problem confronting the world will secure his position as a world leader. The beginning of the end has started. The Antichrist may be emerging now. Soon after he emerges, he will be revealed. Then all will know—this is our sign—Jesus Christ is at the gate!
The First Five Seals Happening Now
The first five seals are happening now; but just as in labor pains they will intensify and will become more frequent after the start of the Tribulation. The first five seals parallel events recounted in Jesus’ discourse in Matthew chapter twenty-four verses four through eleven. We can see for ourselves in world events and personal experiences that all of these things are now occurring. I believe John may have seen the opening of the first five seals in past tense; for I believe that after Jesus ascension to heaven, he did more than start adding mansions in the New Jerusalem for the Church—his bride. He started opening the seals on the scroll with seven seals. I believe Tribulation will have a precise start time; for some of the prophecies have precise time frames. And I believe these riders in the first four seals will continue their rides into Tribulation and the martyring of Christians [fifth seal] will also continue until Jesus Christ’s second coming—the Great Multitude that John saw is evidence of this. The first five seals have been opened!
John tells us the antichrist was in the world in his time. “and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” I JOHN 4:3 [NKJV] And, “For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.” II JOHN 1:7 There is no reason to believe the antichrists left us after the early church—just listen to all of the antichrist rhetoric and see the actions of states, churches, and individuals. The antichrist is riding now. This parallels the opening of the first seal in Revelation.
In Matthew chapter twenty-four, Jesus tells us in verse six and the first part of verse seven that we will hear of wars and rumors of wars. And that nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. All we need to do is to look at world history from Jesus’ time until now to see this prediction has happened and is happening today. It is and getting worse; for the peace of the world is under almost constant threat. We have had two World Wars; and some nation or another seems to be in constant conflict today. This will intensify and the wars will become more frequent when Tribulation starts. This parallels the opening of the second seal in Revelation.
In the last half of verse seven in Matthew twenty-four we read, “…and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.” World hunger, famines, and earthquakes in various places are often mentioned on the nightly news. Currently [August 2025] there is a ‘war’ famine in Gaza.
Jesus never said that famine would be worldwide, although it may be in the end-times. He said it would be in “various places.” Revelation chapter six does not mention famine and earthquakes in the scripture about the opening of the third seal; but Jesus mention them together, with other events, in his discourses. So I believe famines and earthquakes will continue happening now and throughout the future. Just as they have since the days of Jesus.
A look on the USGS, United States Geological Survey, reveals there are several earthquakes every day. Although many are unnoticed, some are quite strong with many over 5.0 on the Richter scale. A look back at the last five years will reveal there has been several major earthquakes with major loss of life.
Famine in various places shows that the rider on the black horse is already riding. The opening of the third seal in Revelation has happened. In Tribulation he will ration food further, for much, if not all, of the world will experience famine.
“And there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.” LUKE 21:11
The fourth seal will bring about more death and more famines and pestilences. Pestilences are “fatal epidemic diseases;” or as we define them—a pandemic. The recent [2020] Covid 19 pandemic is a pestilence in the middle of those that have already happened and those yet to come. One notable pestilence of the past is the bubonic plague. Without modern measuring methods, the percentage of the people of Europe who died from that plague cannot be accurately determined; but the number has been place at as many as fifty million people or 50% of the population of Europe who died from this one pestilence.. There are more deaths to come and more pestilences. This parallels the opening of the fourth seal in Revelation. [1]
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.” MATTHEW 24:9 Christians have been martyred since the time of the early church. It continues today; for through the news media, we often hear about martyrs and sometimes see Christians being martyred. A few years ago the terrorist organization ISIS executed twenty-one Christian men on a beach in Libya. They made a video of those murders so the world could see their atrocities. Thousands more have happened without that publicity. With those who hate Christians continually increasing in number, this killing of Christians will continue. They increase in frequency when Tribulation starts. These Christian martyrs are revealed when the fifth seal is opened in Revelation. I believe they have been revealed and that “ … they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.” REVELATION 6:11 They are waiting on The Great Multitude from every nation, those who are martyred after Jesus appearing in the clouds—those who are martyred during the great Tribulation. REVELATION 7:9-17
The Beginning of Birth Pains [Sorrows]
Jesus often spoke in parables; but in the following scripture Jesus gave the best comparison that could be given when he compared “birth pains” with events to come. In verse eight, after scripture that parallels the first four seals, He says, “All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.” MATTHEW 24:8 [ESV] So with these seals the pains of birth began and they have been continually increasing in frequency and intensity.
Most women know that birth pains in the beginning can be subtle. They may start, then stop for a while. Sometimes there are even false alarms; but when the baby is about to be delivered, the pains become regular and more frequent, they last longer, and the pain gets stronger. So it will be with end-time events.
Birth pains started slowly. At first, only the astute noticed their implications; but those pains are now increasing in frequency and intensity each day. They are now more noticeable. When Tribulation starts they will escalate further. As we get deeper into Tribulation “birth pains” will increase even further. The pains of The Great Tribulation will be almost unbearable; for the destruction and pains of the seven trumpets and the seven bowls of God’s wrath will be indescribable. Jesus says that after the abomination of desolation, “…then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.” MATTHEW 24:21 Birth pains will then be at their greatest. Jesus says, “And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.” MATTHEW 24:22 When all of this has happened, a righteous kingdom will be birthed; for then the kingdom of this world will be delivered to our Lord and His Christ!
Jesus said many would come in His name and claim to be Christ, there would be wars with nation against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and earthquakes and famine in the first part of the tribulation. “All of these are but the beginning of the birth pains.” MATTHEW 24:4-8 Unlike the woman in Isaiah who gave “birth to wind [And] … accomplished no deliverance in the earth…”ISAIAH 26:17-18 These birth pains lead to a Messiah who delivers His people from their sins and will lead to a an end-time kingdom that He will rule for a thousand years.
Birth pains could have these scales:
Seals: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Opening of Seals ends Mid-Tribulation
Trumpets: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Trumpets start at Mid-Tribulation end about 2 ½ years later
Bowls: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Last year of Tribulation
TOPIC 7—THE SCROLL WITH SEVEN SEALS
Ezekiel’s Scroll and Daniel’s Sealed Book
And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe. EZEKIEL 2:9-10
But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase. DANIEL 12:4
I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.” DANIEL 12:8-9
And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed. When men give it to one who can read, saying, “Read this,” he says, “I cannot, for it is sealed.” ISAIAH 29:11
Ezekiel’s description of the scroll that he saw is a good description of a scroll with indictments and judgments. EZEKIEL 2:10 Daniel after hearing things that were to happen in the end-times was told to “…shut up the words and seal the book…” DANIEL 12:4 And when he wanted to know the “outcome of these things,” he was told “the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.” Isaiah says, “And the vision of all this has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed. When men give it to one who can read, saying, ‘Read this,’ he says, ‘I cannot, for it is sealed.’” ISAIAH 29:11 God has shut up some things that will not be revealed until the time of the end. And they cannot be opened until one who is worthy opens them, as it is with the scroll with seven seals.
The Scroll With Seven Seals
Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. REVELATION 5:1-6
The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David Can Open The Scroll
It is Jesus Christ who opens the Scroll with Seven Seals. REVELATION 5:5:7 Jesus Christ is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. REVELATION 5:5 And He is the Root of David. REVELATION 22:16
Lamb Takes Scroll From Right Hand of God—The Lamb is Worthy!
Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” REVELATION 5:1-12
The description of this scroll given to the Lamb is similar in description to the scroll given to Ezekiel. EZEKIEL 2:9-10 “And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it.” REVELATION 5:3 It is noteworthy that not only was no one worthy to open the scroll—no one was worthy to look into it. If this scroll cannot be opened and the indictments and judgments read, then evil would go unpunished and would not be destroyed. But there is one who can open this scroll, the Lion of Judah—the root of David—He has fulfilled the blessing of Israel on Judah. GENESIS 49:8-12 He has conquered. He can break each seal. He can open this scroll.
Further, it is clear that Jesus begins opening the seals of this scroll after his death, burial, resurrection, ascension to heaven and his exultation to the right hand of the Father. The scroll was handed to the righteous judge for execution when he arrived in heaven. No one in heaven was found worthy until he arrived. Only He is worthy! For the slain Lamb of God has become a conquering Lion!
Some Bible scholars long ago decided this scroll is the title deed to earth. When you have title to something—you are the owner. The devil has never owned the earth. Throughout the Bible, God reaffirms his ownership of earth. PSALM 24:1 Rather it is time to evict earth’s squatter—the devil. He will not go easily. It will take the judgments and the wrath of a just God and a final battle to remove all evil.
“The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me.” LEVITICUS 25:23
The Scroll—The Sealed Book—Indictments and Judgments
Although some believe that The Scroll with the Seven Seals is the title deed to earth, Scripture could not be found to support that position. They believe Adam surrendered the deed to earth when he sinned in the Garden of Eden; but he was never given the deed to earth—he was only given dominion over it; GENESIS 1:28 and he was a caretaker of the Garden of Eden—not the owner. GENESIS 2:15 Adam did surrender dominion over the earth; for it was his to surrender. Throughout scripture God declares the earth is His—no one ever gave it to the devil. EXODUS 9:29 & ISAIAH 66:1-2 The devil is just an evil trespasser; and he is not here by choice. ISAIAH 14:12-21 Again, no one can take away the title to earth from its creator.
In Matthew Jesus was tempted and promised the kingdoms of the world. MATTHEW 4:8-9 This was not a promise of a return of the title deed to earth to Him; but rather it was a promise to give him the kingdoms the devil controlled. The kingdoms of idols ISAIAH 10:10-11 and kingdoms of nations HAGGAI 2:21-22 were his to give. After the devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, the devil admits that all he has to give away is the authority and glory of those worldly kingdoms, LUKE 4:5-6 not the deed to them. Although the kingdoms of the devil are on the earth—he is a squatter—not an owner of this earth. It must be noted that the devil has many kingdoms; but God has one kingdom; and His kingdom is not of this world [yet]. JOHN 18:36-37
In the end God will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed. DANIEL 2:44 He will not take over an evil kingdom and change it. After all of Satan’s earthly kingdoms have been destroyed, then the only kingdom in this world that is left—purged by judgments and God’s wrath—will become the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ. REVELATION 11:15
Others believe the scroll is Christ’s last will and testament—last wills and testaments are for dead people, or the covenant for the new earth; but again, I do not see this in scripture. Rather, I read what happens when the Lamb begins to open those seals. To me that is a great indicator of what is written within and on the back of the scroll. REVELATION 5:1
The Lamb took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. REVELATION 5:7 The Lamb that has been slain is Jesus Christ the righteous judge II TIMOTHY 4:8 and since the Father judges no one, he has given all judgment to the Son. JOHN 5:22-23 So the sealed scroll is a legal document with Indictments and Judgments; “for the Lord has an indictment against the nations; he is entering into judgment with all flesh,” JEREMIAH 25:31 and MICAH 6:2 “The Lord has an indictment against Judah and will punish Jacob according to his ways; he will repay him according to his deeds.” HOSEA 12:2 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. JOHN 12:31 You “cast out” a squatter or illegal resident—not an owner. This scripture says the devil is the ruler of the world—not owner; but the world lies in the power of the evil one. I JOHN 5:19 Judgments always follow indictments. It must be noted that the devil will not be judged by the righteous judge at the end of time. He was judged and condemned when he was first cast down, him and his angels.
Further, the book that Daniel saw was sealed until the end-time. DANIEL 12:4, 8-9 The scroll that Ezekiel saw had writing on the front and on the back, just as this scroll does, and there was written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe. EZEKIEL 2:9-10 Judgments! Indictments bring lamentation and mourning. Judgments bring woe! There are three woes in Revelation.
The Lamb will be both prosecutor and righteous judge of all unbelievers. They stand accused of sin. Now they will be officially charged. The sealed scroll is an indictment against all who have rebelled against God. As each seal is broken, He will deliver His indictments against them. They bring lamentation and mourning. His judgments and wrath that follow will bring great woe. There will be a lot of lamentation and mourning and three woes in Revelation. “And I will set my glory among the nations, and all the nations shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid on them.” EZEKIEL 39:21 Final sentencing will be at the great White Throne judgment when the ‘dead’ are judged.
I believe the indictments could be seen on the outside of the scroll and that when all seven seals are finally opened and the scroll is rolled out—the wrath that God is about to pour out on the earth is seen and it causes the 30 minutes of silence in heaven!
TOPIC 8—THE FOUR HORSEMEN of the APOCALYPSE
Prologue—The Seven Seals
Since the riders in the first four seal have already started their rides, it is clear that the opening of the seals started before the start of Tribulation. Also since Jesus’ days on this earth, there have been many killed for their Christian beliefs. Those killings continue until this day. So, I believe, the fifth seal has been opened to reveal those martyrs I believe the opening of the seven seals started when Jesus ascended to heaven and that the sixth and seventh seals will be opened at or near mid-tribulation.
Using Jesus’ comparison of end-time events with birth pains, I believe the early beginnings of those “birth pains” started with the opening of the first seal. When Tribulation starts, they will again increase in frequency and intensity.
The Announcers of the First Four Seals
and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” REVELATION 4:6-8
It still amazes me how we can ‘read’ the Word of God and still overlook important things in scripture. We read but we do not read carefully. I had almost completed this part of my research in Revelation; but then I reread chapter six and noticed for the first time that it is one of the four living creatures [a different one for each horseman] that surround the throne of God that calls for John to look at these four horsemen. [These horsemen have been riding for a long time.] I am not sure what the significance of this is; but since these living creatures are in the presence of God perhaps it is meant for us to pay closer attention to these horsemen. Again, this is amazing; for most of the annunciations are by angels but for some reason the four living creatures that surround the throne are chosen to announce the horsemen of the apocalypse.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer. When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword. When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!” When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth. REVELATION 6:1-8
The opening of the first four seals are visions of riders on horses. Since these horseman bring death and devastation in the end-time, they are often referred to as “The Horsemen of the Apocalypse.” Apocalypse is defined as—the complete and final destruction of the world. These horsemen have been riding for quite a while already. They are now in their last years. Their rides will continue until the end of time; but just as birth pains progressively get worse, so will the destruction by these four riders get worse at the start of Tribulation and continually get worse until Jesus’ second coming.
TOPIC 9—THE FIRST FOUR SEALS
First Seal—Rider on a White Horse—The Antichrist
“Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, ‘Come!’” REVELATION 6:1 This first living creature looks like a lion. REVELATION 4:7 This creature symbolizes the Lion of Judah—he is the Conqueror of all, including this rider that represents the antichrist.
“And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.” REVELATION 6:2 Some views hold this rider on this white horse will be the Antichrist; others that the rider is Jesus Christ. A comparison of the rider in this passage and the rider on a white horse in chapter nineteen of Revelation should confirm this first rider is not Jesus Christ. The rider in chapter six is symbolic and the one in chapter nineteen is literal. The only commonality between these two scriptures is that both say and “…behold, a white horse…” REVELATION 6:2 and REVELATION 19:11 However, there are several differences.
This first rider will have a bow—neither a quiver nor arrows are mentioned. “…A crown was given to him…” According to some commentators this rider wears the garland of a victor—much like the laurel wreaths given to victorious athletes. This could be a crown given to him by Satan for his victories by ‘deception.’ “…He comes out conquering and to conquer.” Since he has no arrows with his bow, his conquests could be his subjugations using the rhetoric of an Antichrist. [1]
The rider on a white horse in Revelation chapter nineteen is very clearly Jesus Christ. For comparisons between the rider in chapter six and scripture in chapter nineteen, I will only compare those things that are comparable. While it is easy to picture the first rider in chapter six as coming out of a gate or a fog at full gallop, the devil only has a limited amount of time, Jesus Christ is sitting on the white horse in chapter nineteen with his armies following him. He has all the time he needs—his is eternity without time.
He is sitting on a white horse when heaven opens REVELATION 19:11 and he is still sitting on his horse after he has slain the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against Him. REVELATION 19:19, 21 Scripture never says Jesus is riding on a white horse; but it does imply that he is riding a white horse, for “… the armies of heaven… were following him on white horses.” REVELATION 19:14 He is able to make war while “sitting on his white horse.” He does not have a bow like the rider in the first seal. He has something better!
“From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down nations, and he will rule with a rod of iron…” REVELATION 19:15 “…and on his head are many diadems…” REVELATION 19:12 Diadems are the crowns of a King, a symbol of sovereignty and of royalty. These are not laurel wreaths that soon decay like those of a victorious athlete. Actually there is no comparison between the two riders, just their weapon, crowns and conquests. Jesus is without an equal and is incomparable! The rider on a white horse in Revelation chapter six will still be riding at the start Tribulation. The One sitting on the white horse in chapter nineteen will end Tribulation.
Some believe a bow without arrows speaks of rhetoric—political and economic power—instead of physical battles and wounds and deaths. Daniel says deceit prospers under the antichrist. DANIEL 8:25 That happens because God sends them strong delusions so they believe what is false, II THESSALONIANS 2:11 just like God did to some false prophets in the Old Testament. I KINGS 22:23 The Antichrist deceives world rulers, all media, cultural elite and academia with his lies of humanism, evolution, tolerance and universalism. This causes terror, calamity and chaos—and Tribulation! With these comparisons of scripture and the definitions of crowns and diadems and the belief that a bow without arrows is rhetoric and deception, the following postulation can be made.
The rider, Antichrist, on the white horse emulating the Prince of Peace is anything but a prince of peace. He comes out conquering. He will go forth to conquer. He will make war on the saints and prevail over them [physically]. He will put them to death. DANIEL 7:21 and REVELATION 13:7 The crown he has, is not a diadem. It is a mock and worthless crown taken in conquest. REVELATION 6:2 He is not Jesus Christ; for Jesus is coming with a sword—not a bow. REVELATION 19:15
Jesus, when asked by his disciples, gave a sequence of events that will happen in the end times. The very first thing he told them was, “…See that no one leads you astray.” MATTHEW 24:4 That is the mission of this first rider. With his false doctrines he started leading people astray in Jesus’ time. The first rider on the white horse conquers people with his deception and rhetoric and will continue conquering them until his final judgment. His ‘ride’ becomes more intense in Tribulation. It culminates with the Antichrist, the wounded head of the first beast of Revelation chapter thirteen, and his ride will not end until his final destruction.
In the place of another ruler shall arise a contemptible person, to whom royal majesty has not been given. He shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. DANIEL 11:21 This is the Antichrist. He rises from unknown man to a charismatic deceiver to satanic ruler for the last three and one-half years of the Great Tribulation.
The beginnings of his Revived Roman Empire could be in the early stages of being formed now. It is possible the person who will eventually become the Antichrist is already living. We should pray that we are able to discern his existence and his rise so we can warn others. If his rise happens after we are gone, then the knowledge of his soon appearance should be imparted to the next generation. In conclusion of the first horsemen, the rider is many antichrists that ends with the Antichrist; and the color of the horse [white] represents conquest and the promise of peace.
We need to resist false doctrines—to test the spirits to see whether they are from God. I JOHN 4:1 A good test is to see if the doctrine aligns with scripture. II TIMOTHY 3:16 Isaiah says, woe to those who call evil good and good evil. ISAIAH 5:20 We should always look for scripture witness.
Tension—Scriptural Witness—The Antichrist
The word antichrist or antichrists is only mentioned in the Bible five times. All are in the writings of John; but John does not mentioned antichrist in the book of Revelation.
Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. I JOHN 2:18 [NKJV]
Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. I JOHN 2:22
and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. I JOHN 4:3 [KJV]
For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. II JOHN 1:7
In the NKJV of the Bible in I John chapter two and verse eighteen, John says, “…even now many antichrists have come…” and “…that the Antichrist is coming…” This scripture, with the capital ‘A’ Antichrist, is a reference to the “Antichrist” of the end-time—the devil incarnate ruler of the world for the last three and one-half years of Tribulation. John, in his writings, makes it clear that anyone who does not confess the coming of Jesus Christ is an antichrist. Given John’s declaration and other scripture witness, a viable conclusion can be made that our world is now full of antichrists now; but the “Antichrist” is coming. His role in the end-times lies in prophecy in scripture that begins in the book of Daniel. Chapters two, seven, nine, and eleven, discussed further on in this treatise, are end-time prophesies that are the basis for a postulation of an end-time “Antichrist.” A confirmation is given by the Apostle Paul in II Thessalonians, chapter two where the “Antichrist” is called “…the man of lawlessness…the son of destruction.” II THESSALONIANS 2:3 John calls him a “beast” in Revelation.The actions of the subject in Daniel, II Thessalonians, and Revelation, and that is referenced by Jesus in Matthew chapter twenty-four, describe the ultimate—final antichrist, the capital A “Antichrist.”
Second Seal—Wars—Rider takes peace from the Earth
When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” REVELATION 6:3 This second living creature looks like an ox. REVELATION 4:7 This creature symbolizes the sacrifice and service of Jesus Christ who died for all mankind.
The bright, fiery, red horse could represent all of the blood shed in all wars, including wars against the saints and in Tribulation. This second rider has permission to take peace from the earth. He has taken peace from the earth today in many places; but the whole world will be affected in the Tribulation. Murders and acts of terrorism—the new wars, are increasing, as are conventional wars. He is given a great sword to accomplish his mission. REVELATION 6:4 This indicates to me that the blood shed will be monumental. All will be affected by the extent of his great sword. This rider’s ride has already started also and will last throughout all Tribulation—until Armageddon. Jesus will cause any blood shed at Armageddon and He is not the rider on a bright red horse.
The second thing Jesus mentions in his Matthew Twenty-four end-time dissertation was, “…you will hear of wars and rumors of wars…” MATTHEW 24:6 There will be no peace in the end times; but there will be wars upon wars—nation against nation and kingdom against kingdom.
Wars and conflicts are described throughout scripture; and future wars are prophesied to be much worse. Most wars in the end-times will be those wars that involve Israel for she has many enemies; and there are continuing incidents of provocation against Israel. The devil intends to destroy Israel. He will not succeed. The end-time wars of Revelation will be the worst ever. The most notable are the Battle of Armageddon REVELATION 16:16 and Satan’s last rebellion. REVELATION 20:7-10
This rider’s ride includes all wars and rumors of war; but Jesus Christ will end all wars with His final destruction of Satan. From skirmishes among factions within a nations to wars of kingdom against kingdom and wars among nations, all are included in this rider’s journey. He is the rider of ‘terrible war.’ Those wars will include those nations the Antichrist ‘invades’ in his rise to power and the downfall of those three kings in Daniel chapter seven. It will include the Battles of Gog and Magog. EZEKIEL 38-39
Although there are events that are now taking peace from the earth, when the ride of this second horseman intensifies there will be no peace on earth and there will be massive loss of life. In World War II it is estimated between 70-85 million people perished. That’s a lot of people! But in two of God’s judgments, the fourth seal, REVELATION 6:7-8 and the sixth trumpet REVELATION 9:15 about 4 billion people could die. That is one-half of earth’s population. After all of the wars and other judgments, the wrath of God, and the Great Tribulation, Jesus said there would be no human being saved if those days were not cut short! MATTHEW 24:22 With this massive loss of life, all of the inventions and technologies of man and his evil intent will most likely be employed. In conclusion, this second horsemen and his horse will have the power to take peace from the earth and the color of this horse [red] represents war and the shedding of blood. He is riding now.
Written by Mallard E. Guy Jr.
Over a Period of Two + Years
Finished October 28, 2023
Last Edited August 2025