In this post we will look at the signs of the times predicted by Jesus in His teaching commonly known as the Olivet Discourse and how they compare to the first five seals of Revelation. Why do we bother? Jesus gave these signs for the benefit of the body of believers so that they might be better prepared for His return. I am reminded that He berated the Pharisees for not recognizing the signs of His first coming as recorded in scripture.
Matthew 16:1–3 “The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?”
It is significant to note that Jesus gave this information to the disciples because they desired to know what to expect and He did not want them to be deceived by people or circumstances.
Matthew 24:3–9 “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.”
It’s interesting to note that the wording implies a significant gap in time by referencing the signs in plural—“many” shall come in my name, wars and rumors of wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes. The signs are also referenced as the beginning of “sorrows,” a term that is used to reference the labor pains of childbirth. This indicates that these signs will continue to increase in frequency and intensity until the end, the time of fulfillment.
The fact that many will be deceived is a clue that Satan will be fully engaged in using whatever powers God has allowed him during the intervening time to equip these impostors to convince those who are ignorant of his devices and of God’s truth.
The first sign given is that many impostors will come claiming to be Christ. The first seal opened in Revelation 6 is a representation of the person in whom this deception will ultimately culminate, the man who comes in the full power of Satan, the man we know as the Antichrist.
Revelation 6:1–2 “And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
2 Thessalonians 2:8–10 “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
The second sign Jesus gives is that of wars and rumors of wars, nation rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom. The second seal opened in Revelation is a representation of the prevalence of war between races or tribes and between kingdoms.
Revelation 6:3-4 “And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.”
The third sign mentioned by the LORD Jesus was famines. The third seal opened in Revelation makes direct reference to famine so severe that enough grain to make a loaf of bread will cost the equivalence of a day’s wage.
Revelation 6:5-6 “And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine."
Next in the list of signs given by Jesus are pestilences and earthquakes. These disasters in addition to the previous two will result in the death of over a fourth of the people on planet earth during the time period included according to the corresponding verses in Revelation concerning the fourth seal.
Revelation 6:7-8 “And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.”
I think history reveals that these signs have continued to occur throughout the years with greater frequency and intensity—especially since the beginning of the 20th century.
It is clear to me that these seals have been opened in specific sequence and that their impact is quite broad ranging. I will never declare to know without a shadow of a doubt when these seals were/will be opened. I have been thinking quite a bit recently about the possibility that these seals were opened shortly after Jesus returned to heaven to await the end of the time allotted for God’s plan to continue to unfold and to culminate in His return to earth to take His throne. It is my understanding of the fifth seal that has prompted this line of thinking.
I will pick up at this point in the next post.
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