The Olivet Discourse

The Olivet Discourse

A few days after Christ rode on a donkey into Jerusalem and was hailed as the King of the Jews, four apostles, namely Peter, James, John, and Andrew, met with Christ on Mount Olives and began to inquire about the temple and the day of His coming. These disciples sought to know when the Kingdom of the Messiah would begin, and Christ began to tell them many things that until their deaths; most were not witnessed, and some were not properly understood. In the discussions that Christ had, the template for understanding the word of His patience was encoded.

 

Christ gave them one of the longest discourses and expositions in His walk before His passions. In certain ways, in this discourse, He outlaid a scheme or model to understand prophecy and the end of days. It's with this same template that the book of Revelation was unfolded to the beloved John, in a sense.

 

When we consider Christ’s eschatology (Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21) and other passages in the four Gospels, we would see that the things of His coming have different manifestations or descriptions, which in certain ways signifies that they are different from each other and thus have to do with different instances. There are several events that will precede the coming of Christ and the end of the age. The coming of Christ that the disciples inquired about has to do with the one that brings an end to this present age. But in Christ’s exposition, He hinted at other manifestations of His coming that have to do with the rapture of the saints. Let’s make some considerations.

 

Over the many centuries of Christianity, there have evolved several positions and doctrines about the coming of Christ and the rapture of the saints. Most of these positions and doctrines have their own scriptural backing. Out of these, we shall consider four of them, which we shall seek to align with the model in Christ’s discourse:

1. Pre tribulation Rapture

2. Mid tribulation Rapture

3. Post tribulation Rapture

4. Post millennium Rapture

To understand these things we would have to define the term “tribulation” in the context of this study and Christendom. The Tribulation is a reference to the 70th week of Daniel 9:27

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Daniel 9:27

It is a seven year period when a certain prince, who is also revealed to be the antichrist shall confirm a covenant, and being broken in the midst shall translate into great troubles for the children of Israel, as other parts of Daniel’s prophecy revealed.

And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 

Daniel 12:1

And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. 

Daniel 12:7

Therefore, considering the rapture positions, the pre-tribulation rapture declares that the coming of Christ shall occur before the 70th week begins, the mid-tribulation rapture declares that the coming shall occur in the midst of the 70th week, and the post-tribulation rapture declares that it shall be at the end of this 70th week. And all these positions have their scriptural references and interpretations as supports and proofs. Even more are those that hold to the possibility of more than one rapture occurring in light of the necessity of the fulfilment of all scriptures.

The Rapture and the Second Coming

The term “rapture” is not directly used in scriptures, rather it emerges from the interpretations surrounding Christ’s return when we consider Paul’s writings. It has to do with our being caught away to meet with Christ in the clouds.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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. 

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17

The revelation about the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in the passage above, is in certain sense distinct from the context of Christ’s prophecy about His coming when we consider the questions that the four disciples asked. Remember, Christ as He prepared to enter into His passions did tell the disciples how that there were many things that were too hard for them to understand, but that when the Holy Spirit the Spirit of Truth shall come, He shall guide them into all truth; revealing what He receives from the Father through Jesus Christ (John 16:12-13). Thus, even the disciples that walked with Christ on earth didn’t grasp the fullness of some of the things he told them until after He had ascended and the Holy Ghost came. The prophecy that Christ gave about His return was more directed to answer the disciples inquiry about His return to establish the kingdom of Israel looking at Acts 1, nevertheless, in these prophecy were indications of the coming of Christ that Paul later expounded as revealed by the Holy Ghost.

In Matthew 24, we would first highlight the things of His Second Coming before we highlight hints about the Rapture that fits the Pauline revelation.

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 

Matthew 24:29-31

Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. 

Revelation 1:7

In the above passages, we see the return of Christ with the host of angels which shall be visible unto all that dwell upon the earth.

For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 

Matthew 24:38-42

Further details given in the other gospels about the coming of the Lord immediately after the tribulation, reveals significant difference between the coming of the Lord immediately after the tribulation and the one described in the passage above, where things will go as normal, so that some will be eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage and Christ comes unawares.

And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 

Luke 21:24 – 27

We are told in Luke 21:24-27 how that there will be signs in the sun, moon and stars and there will be distress and perplexity of nations, and much fear in the hearts of men. This is in direct contrast to a situation and environment where people are eating and drinking, sleeping, grinding at the mill and going about their normal activities, and in the midst of these things, the coming of Christ is rather described as involving a selecting and a taking away of some out of the midst of others. And this aligns with the same sense of Paul’s revelation about the coming of Christ in 1 Thessalonian 4, which is termed as the rapture or catching away of the saints. The coming of Christ immediately after the tribulation would have some suddenness, but with men looking after those things that are coming upon the earth, which is distinct from men going about their normal business and suddenly in a time of peace and safety some are caught up away.

But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 

1 Thessalonians 5:1-3

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. 

Luke 21:34 – 36

From the above passage, we can understand that the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to bring restoration and redemption to the nation of Israel as the disciples enquired twice on mount Olivet, before and after His resurrection, is a process that shall involve the taking away of some amongst others first. As Paul reveals later by the Holy Spirit, the taking away of some amongst others is of the saints being caught up to meet with the Lord in the air to be with Him forever. Apostle Paul by the Spirit also gives more light about the fullness of Christ coming which aligns more to the expectations of the disciples in their twofold inquiry. And in this Christ is fully manifest, landing upon the Mount of Olives like the two men in white declared in Acts 1:9-11.

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4

This is that coming where Christ shall come to redeem Israel from the hold and power of the antichrist that shall oppress them in that day, similar in a sense to the oppression that the Jews endured under the Romans in the days of Christ’s first advent. 

The Resurrection at His Coming

In Paul’s writing in 1 Thessalonians 4, we are shown about the resurrection of the dead at the taking away of the saints to meet with the Lord in the cloud. It is noteworthy that in Christ’s eschatology in Matthew 24, He did not mention anything about the resurrection of the dead. From the details revealed in the book of Revelation, we understand that they shall also be a resurrection of the dead at Christ’s return to execute judgment, to destroy the antichrist and bring redemption and restoration to the nation of Israel. 

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 

Revelation 20:4-6 [Emphasis Mine]

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. 

Revelation 11:15-18 [Emphasis Mine]

This is the resurrection of those that shall be slain during the tribulation and like the things of Christ coming in the clouds at the first, the saints alive shall also be caught up to meet with the Lord. Therefore, we conclude that in both manifestations of the coming of Christ, but His coming wherein some are taken away in the midst of peace and safety and in the times of great tribulation, there shall be a resurrection of the dead. It also reveals that at both manifestations of Christ coming there shall be a rapture of the saints. For Christ shall send His angels unto the four winds of heaven to gather His elect as noted in the scriptures below

And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 

Matthew 24:31

The gathering of the elect from the four winds of the heaven as it applies to the saints is established when we consider the 144,000 in Revelation chapter 7. It is interesting that the sixth seal of Revelation 6 has several semblance to what Christ described will occur immediately after the tribulation. And this is followed with Christ declaring that He shall send His angels to the four winds of heaven to gather His elect, in the similar other of the 6th seal followed by the gathering of the 144,000 of Revelation 7. The 144,000 shall be considered in our studies with greater details, it represents the totality of the saints in all that shall be redeemed before or after the tribulation of the 70th week.

And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. 

Revelation 7:1-4

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 

Revelation 7:9-10

The gathering of the elect in the light of other scriptures has more than one application, when we consider the twofold meaning of the elect in scriptures. For the elect is applied both to the saints /believers of our Lord Jesus Christ as can be seen in several of the apostolic writings (Rom. 8:33, Col. 3:12, 2 Tim. 2:10), even as the church is become the Israel of God. It is also applied to the natural Jews as can be seen in Romans 9 – 11. For the church which includes the gentiles are engrafted into the Olive tree, were the Jews are the natural branches.

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. 

Matthew 24:21-22

While the elect has an application to every believer both Jews and Gentiles in Christ Jesus, it is rooted in that in which the Jews shall be saved according to the election of God’s gifts and calling which are without repentance (Rom. 11:29). 

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.

Isaiah 27:13

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. 

Luke 21:28

In light of the redemption of the nation of Israel, the original focus of the disciples enquiry, we would see that the gathering of the elect also has to do with the gathering of the children of Israel that have been scattered all over the world in times past, and those that shall be dispersed in the days of the tribulation in captivity.

And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. 

Luke 21:24

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. 

Isaiah 11:11-12

Understanding the Tribulation.

Firstly, we have defined the tribulation which is the basis of the different rapture positions to refer to the time of great trouble for the nation of Israel during the last seven years of Daniel’s 70 weeks of prophecy. Let’s consider Christ’s eschatology for more and deeper understanding of the tribulation in light of other scriptures, to further help us in understanding the last days in applying the prophesies therein. 

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 

Matthew 24:15-16

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. 

Matthew 24:21 – 22

In the above passages, we would consider, emphasis and examine some key elements to help in our studies. Firstly, we are given a marker which is the abomination of desolation that Daniel speaks about being made to stand in the holy place. We are should that this shall make the beginning of the era of great tribulation never known before on earth. The second key element we would also consider is that the days of this great tribulation shall be shortened for the sake of the elect. We have seen that there is a dual application of the elect referring to both the spiritual Jews and the natural Jews. The shortening of the days for the sake of the elect would thus apply to both these two set of Jews.

However, we shall consider the other gospels for more details about the same discourse on the mount Olivet. In Luke’s version, we see a greater focus on the natural Jews.

And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Luke 21:20 – 24

And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 

Revelation 11:1-3

In the above passage, we see that the Jews particularly shall be led away captives into all nations and Jerusalem shall be trodden under foot by the Gentiles. This aligns with what is seen in Daniel 12, Revelation 11 and 12. In History, we would see that on the basis of these same words, the early Jewish disciples also escaped out of Jerusalem when it was surrounded with armies. And as a result of the siege, by AD 70 Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed and the Jews were led away captives into many nations. In this we see a partial fulfilment, serving as a template and shadow of the full and future manifestations. 

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. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. 

Matthew 24:8-14

But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. And the gospel must first be published among all nations. 

Mark 13 : 9 – 10

Considering the above passages from Matthew and Mark, we shall understand that the gospel of the kingdom being preached in all the whole world shall be as a result of the affliction and persecution of the saints when they shall be delivered to the councils and brought before kings and rulers of the nations. And Christ notes that after this is accomplished then shall the end come. Although the tribulation of the natural Jews shall also involve the affliction of the saints, the above passages points to a tribulation that is distinct from the trampling of the holy city for three and a half times. For the end that shall come or begins has to do with the peculiar tribulation of the natural Jews as noted in the passage from Luke above, and it shall have to do with the establishment of the abomination of desolation, and before this establishment is the gospel must be preached in all nations. This points to that in which there shall be a tribulation of the saints (the spiritual Jews) which shall be followed with the tribulation of the natural Jews. Both tribulations shall also involve the judgment of this world both during and after these seasons of tribulation, for God shall avenge His elect speedily.

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

1 Peter 4:17-19

And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls. 

Luke 21:16-19

The Tribulation of the Saints

From our considerations so far, we see that the gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a testimony unto all nations. It would not be preached by the natural Jews solely rather the spiritual Jews (which includes the natural Jews that believe) who would be persecuted for the sake of the name of the Lord. The letters in the book of Revelation unto the churches in several places highlights and describes the nature of the things the saints shall face prior to the coming of the Lord. And these things agree with the details that Christ gave in the Olivet prophecies.

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 

Revelation 2:10

I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. 

Revelation 2:13

For in the persecution and affliction of the saints in the days that are to come that the gospel shall be preached in all the world for a testimony unto all nation. And the salvation of those that shall endure unto the end is that which shall be the rapture or catching away of the faithful.

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 

Matthew 24:13

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Revelation 3 : 7 - 8, 10

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 

Revelation 7 : 9 – 10

The Two Manifestations of the Lord’s Coming

From our studies so far, it can be seen that they shall be two manifestations of the Lord’s return, with similarities in the resurrection and rapture in both instances, but they have their differences. For the first does not involve a visible manifestation of the Lord unto all the people of the earth, in the second, all eyes shall behold Him. In considering the different rapture positions of the saints, and in the light of our studies, we would see that the pretribulation rapture which is stated to be the catching away before the reign of the beast shall involve tribulations. For each of the resurrection is a form of a birthing forth, and like Christ’s resurrection, there are birth pains. This birth pains is what is manifest as tribulations, tests, trials and temptations both unto the spiritual Jews leading to the rapture and the rebirth of the natural Jews leading to the millennial reign of Christ.

Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. 

John 16:19-22

The Difference between the two.

Looking at the descriptions and details that Christ gave concerning His coming, we would see that unto one, there would be deceptions, wherein it shall be said that He has come and is in the desert, and that He has come and is in an inner chamber. This is in contrast to the other wherein there would be signs in the sun, the moon and the stars and men would be in fearful expectations of the things that are coming from heaven upon the earth. For the coming of Christ shall come with visible signs like the lightning that signs from the east to the west. We would understand these things when we consider the testimonies of Elijah and Elisha, especially that which has to do with the mantle and the anointing and empowering of the kings.

Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 

Matthew 24:26-27

The above passage relates with Elijah on the mount Horeb, for the Lord sends him to go forth and anoint three others before him. The anointing of Hazael in the way the desert relates with that in which it shall be said that Christ is in the desert. The anointing of Jehu in an inner chamber relates with that in which it shall be said that Christ has appeared and is in the inner chamber (1 Kings 19:15-16). 

The coming of Christ likened to the shining of the lightning from the east to the west aligns with the things of the mantle of Elijah on Elisha. The coming of Christ is as that in which as Elijah passed by, he cast his mantle upon Elisha who was with the twelve yoke of oxen (1 Kings 19:19). It is also as the things wherein after Elijah and Elisha crossed over the river Jordan, as they talked on, suddenly a chariot and horses of fire appeared and parted both of them, and Elijah ascended into heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11-13). And this is as that in which Christ said that in the day that He comes, the rapture will be a selection of some from amongst others, wherein two will be in the field and one will be taken, two will be grinding and one will be taken. This is similar to the selection of the living creatures that entered into Noah’s Ark (Matthew 24:37-41). 

We also see the coming of Christ as the likeness of lightning that shines from the east to the west, in the things of Elisha on his death bed, and the encounter that the Joash the king of Israel had with him. For Elisha did place his hand on his hand as he shot through the window eastward. And what we see shortly after Elisha’s death, wherein his bones did revive a dead young man that was thrown into his sepulcher goes to foreshadow the things of the resurrection of the dead at the coming of Christ (2 Kings 13:14-21).

For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 

Matthew 24:28-31

The descriptions and details given in the passage above relates to what is shown in the sixth seal. And we see the gathering of the eagles at the place where the carcase is in Matt. 28:29 followed by the coming of the Son of man relate also with what we see in the 6th vial leading unto the seventh vial. The gathering of the eagles to the carcase is as that in which the armies of the beast shall be gathered to a place called Armageddon. 

And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. 

Revelation 16:16-17

Further in looking at the details of the sixth vial, we would see that there shall also be deceptions by the lying spirits that shall be unleashed from the mouth of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet. This deception shall result into the gathering of the whole earth against the nation of Israel unto their destruction at the coming of Christ.  

CHARIOTS AND HORSES

The strength of an army is usually described by firstly the number of Chariots, then the horses and lastly its foot soldiers (1Chr 18:4). When we talk about the LORD’S army, chariots and horses also come on view.

The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels; the lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. Thou hast descended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; year, for the rebellions also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.
Ps 68:17-18

Prophet Elijah and Elisha was parted by chariots and horses of fire after they had crossed the river Jordan (2Kings 2:6-14) and was taken to heaven by a whirlwind. Our LORD Jesus Christ was taken up into heaven in a cloud as the over 500 witness looked on (Acts 1:9-10). From scriptures we understand that both the chariots and horses of fire, the whirlwind and the clouds are all manifestations of the LORS’S chariots which are identified as the Cherubim of Ezekiel’s visions even furthermore as God reveals (Ps 104:4)

In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire” Heb. 1:7 NIV

In Ezekiel’s vision, we see that these chariots are both four living creatures with four heads each and in the design of the ark of the testament, they are two creatures and in the war of Rev 19 it is but a creature; a white horse. And the palmist tells us that the LORD’S chariots are twenty thousand even thousands of angels. These creatures having eyes all about them going to and fro the earth. And these are those angels by which eyes of the LORD, the seven spirits of God operates all over the earth. And from the analysis of the various manifestations of their number we would understand that by the power of the Spirit of the LORD upon them, there are empowered to multiply, not to reproduce but carrying out different activities in different locations by the command of the LORD at the same time. For the four chariots that goeth from standing before the LORD is the living creature and the horse on which He rides and the white cloud on which He site.

The prophet Zechariah in the visions did show how these chariots in their operation are of the Spirit of the LORD even the breath of life in the four wind of heaven.

And the angel answered and said unto me, these are the four spirits of the heavens, when go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth... Then cried upon me, and spoke unto me, saying, behold, these that go toward the north country have my spirit in the north country.
Zech. 6:5-8

This their ability to be duplicated as necessary to carry out their activities is as that force and power of the wind whose action can be felt in different places at the same time. Furthermore in this particular vision of Zech. 6 after the vision of the four chariots of the LORD, we can say that each of the chariot consists of four horses even as the prophet Ezekiel saw each of the living creatures having four head each. After this visions of chariots in the same chapter we see that God instructs that about five crowns be made for five persons and the first one was distinguished from the rest four in Zech 6:9-15

Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, a d set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech the high priest; And speak unto him, saying, thus speaketh the LORD of hosts saying, behold the man whose name is the basket; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and he shall be a priest upon his throne! and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the LORD.
And they that are for off come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.
Zech 6:10-15

We note that these five crowns were given for empowerment and authorization for the building of the temple of the LORD. The first for Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest who also is sitted upon a throne and his name called the BRANCH. And we know that this Joshua, the high priest is a picture of our LORD Christ who is our Apostle and High Priest.

Wherefore, holy brethren, partners of heavenly calling, consider the apostles and high priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.
Heb 3:1

Studying furthermore on the New Testament, in the writings of Paul and with one of our opening scriptures even as we read.

Wherefore he saith, (when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended in the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things)  And he gave some, apostle; and some prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of man, and coming craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
But speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things which is the head, even Christ.
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that whom every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Eph 4:8-16

The activities of the four chariots of the LORD is deeply connected to the fivefold ministry gifts of our LORD Jesus Christ. These gifts were manifest unto the church by the reality of his ascension into heaven on the mount olive even as typified in Elijah’s ascension into heaven as it is written.

And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, ask what I shall do for thee, before I been taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
And he said, two hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, they appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
And Elisha saw it, and he cried, my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan
2king 2:9-15

So also our LORD Jesus Christ even as in the last times before his death on the cross with the eleven apostles, he began even to say

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. John 16:17
Hither to have you asked nothing in my name! ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
John 16:24

The Holy Spirit is as the mantle of Jesus Christ even as Elijah to Elisha even a double portion of the spirit and power of Elijah. The ascension of our LORD Jesus Christ as it was manifest at the mount of olive, it was also manifest at the foot of the cross in a sense that in the dying on the cross we are told
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is to say, my God, My God why have you forsaken me? Some of them that stood there when they heard that , said, this man calleth for Elijah. And straight way one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a read and gave him to drink. The rest said, let be, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him Jesus, when he had cried again with aloud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rock rent;
Matt 27:46-51

Notice how the renting of the temple veil into two when Christ yielded the Ghost is foreshadowed in Prophet Elisha renting of his own clothes into two after his master was taken into heaven. Also this reveals how that while Christ was on the cross, he first ascended into heaven in spirit even as he descended at the cessation of the breathe.
And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Luk 23:46

The human (personal) spirit or soul of our LORD Jesus Christ in those three hours of darkness after he was hung on the cross- the Son of man being lifted up came into heaven with filthy garments, and Satan stood at His right hand resisting him for He had now become sin; bearing our sins in his body on that tree. These thing show a fulfilment of the shadow shown in Zech. 3, and being come into heaven in such appearance, the Father being so holy did forsook him but He yielded up his ghost and the sacrifice was completed. His blood by the eternal Spirit offered up to God without spots being acceptable, his filthy garments were removed and our sins purged, even so the inner veil of the temple which represented that in which our sins separates us from God is removed.

For afterwards Elijah’s mantle fell unto Elisha, and he took it after he had rent his clothes. Even so also, the grace of our LORD Jesus Christ was manifest after the veil of sin was torn away and this was seen in the power of the Spirit breaking upon the graves unto the quickening of the dead bodies of the saints at His resurrection.
Now these filthy garments were taken away by those angel who we can say are as the Seraphs of Isaiah’s purging, doing so by the offering of the blood of Jesus Christ which was offered upon the altar of heaven.

"Make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim worked into it by a skilled craftsman. Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases. Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. Put the atonement cover on the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place
Ex. 26:31-34 NIV

Talking about this curtain, we see that it had works of cherubim entwined in its design. Furthermore in the tabernacle of tents and curtains, we see how that for a wall are curtains used which had embroidery upon them, even the designs of Cherubim. And thereafter in Solomon’s temple and Ezekiel’s temple we see the designs of Cherubim, palm trees and open flowers upon the walls and doors (1King 6:29) even the ceilings and door frames and doors with carvings of Cherubim.
The Mount Sinai of Zion is that which has to do with the spiritual rain of the righteousness, for from thence cometh the law of his testament even the covenant of the blood of Jesus.
The temple of walls and the tabernacle of curtains all a revelation of the LORD’S house, his building, his body which is of His church and the believers, and both doth shows us the deep spiritual relationship of these four creatures; the cherubim to the building of the LORD’S house.
We know that there are twelve apostle foundations of Jesus Christ according to twelve apostles of the Lamb. These twelve apostolic foundations hath much to do with the LORD’S chariots.

LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.
The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before the LORD God of Israel.
Judges 5:4-5

God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. When you went out before your people, O God, when you marched through the wasteland,
Ps 68:7-8 NIV

Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.
Isa 45:8

And they come to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees; and they encamped there by the waters.
Exodus 15:27

There are twelve springs of water and also twelve spiritual covers for a covering and for rain over God’s people which are of the twelve apostolic ministries of the Lamb of God on which the church His body is built, these things are chiefly coordinated by chariots; the Cherubim and Seraphim. The Seraphim are more prophetic in that they are seen give praise and worship to the holy One. While we have understood that the cherubim are of the twelve well/springs of salvation, the seraphim are of the seventy palm trees of the righteousness.
The foundation of our LORD Jesus Christ is apostolic and prophetic (Eph. 2:20)

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophet and Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone, in whom all the building fitly framed together growth unto a holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.
Eph. 2:20-22

All apostles are prophetic but not all prophets are apostolic. The seraphim’s are prophetic and also apostolic, they reveals more of the prophetic foundations of Jesus Christ even in declaring the name of his holiness. The sum of the manifestations of the seraphim and cherubim is of the revelation of the apostolic ministry and priesthood of our LORD Jesus Christ which is expressed in all the fivefold ministry gifts unto his servants in building up His house the church, His temple, the body.
All fivefold ministry gifts have their root in apostles and prophets of the Holy Scriptures.

That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the Holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior
2 Pet. 3:2

The seraphim being seen to be prophetic is seen in their worship of He who sits on the throne along with the twenty four elder and how that in the opening of the first four seals we see how that they calleth to show forth that which is to come. And as these Seraphs declare and show forth that which is to come, the Cherubs are sent forth to execute; the Cherubs being the chariots and horses that execute his commandment. The four angels of the four winds of heaven shown in Rev.7 are a sum of the chariots and horses that executes God’s word. It is this four angels that authorizes the activities of the horsemen seen in the opening of the first four seals. For the horsemen of the first four seals are not of God’s angelic divisions, rather they are of that in which Satan is given limited permission to carry out God’s judgments like in the case of Job.

Their connection and symbolism with the palm tree can be seen in many ways. First, of the seventy elders of the twelve tribes of Israel who did prophesy. Secondly, these Seraphs are as God’s holy bird or holy doves seen in their flying above the throne and the Cherubim are God’s holy beasts or holy horses seen in their running to and fro from under the throne or with the throne. And we know that the birds of the air dwell upon trees mostly and caves of the rock.
The palm branches in Scripture were used in communicating the feast of the tabernacles, in making booths and in praises onto God, such that in Christ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, he was praised with this as we have recorded.

On the next day much people that come to the feast, when palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna blessed is the king of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, fear not daughter of Zion; behold, thy king cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt.
John 12:12-15

Now these waving of the palm branches and leaves in which Christ cometh sited on an ass’s colt corresponds to the six wings of the Seraphim with which they also worshiped God, these wings made to be as instruments of music covered with precious stones of fire which are the eyes seen all about them. We are told in the Psalms of doves coved with silver and their feathers with yellow gold (Ps 68:13). Now after that our LORD Jesus was baptized in the river Jordan the spirit of God did came on him as lightening and as a dove.

And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Mat 3:15-17

Although the Holy Spirit is not a dove but that apostolic anointing with which our LORD Jesus Christ discharged his ministry of Acts 10:38 is that which came forth through the seraphim. For after Isaiah, the son of Amos was ministered to by one of the seraphs, he was sent forth to the people even in that manner which foreshadowed Christ’s ministry. And so the dove that appeared upon Christ is of that in which the Holy Ghost wore the Seraphim as a garment descending upon Him.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
Luk. 2:9

Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Mat 13:13-16

And that anointing and power with which Jesus did work is encapsulated in the seven vials of God’s wine which is given by one of the beasts unto the seven angels on white linen under the sixth seal. For the wine of God’s wrath while it manifests judgments against the enemy, it is unto the empowering of the saints in which they are delivered by judgments in the display of the power of God. For so was Christ anointed to destroy all the works of the devil, even in the judgments of His Cross.

And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.
Rev 15:6-8

The seven seals are of the seven spirits of God. The seven Trumpets proclaims the seven names of the LORD unto the seven churches. The seven seals are those seven things that the lamb is worthy to receive Rev 5:12 which are of God Rev 7:12

These Seraphs in essence are the custodians of the anointing and power of the Holy Ghost. The dove that descended upon Jesus Christ had on them the fire and the eyes of the LORD. These eyes and fire are of the seven Spirits of God by which they operated, and these are the Spirits of the anointing of God upon Jesus Christ.

And out of the throne proceeded lightening and thundering 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 line unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
Rev 4:5-6

In a sense John the Baptist was Elijah and Jesus Christ being baptized by him was as an Elisha that receives the mantle of Elijah, a double portion of the spirit and power at work in him. So as the ministry of the two witnesses is concluded under the fifth seal, they ascend into heaven in a cloud and their mantle falls upon the remnant (who is as Elisha) in and through the manifestations of the seven vials under the sixth seal.

And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them come up hitter. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies beheld them. And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city sell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Rev 11:13

The tenth part of the city mentioned here is greatly related to the tenth part of the teil tree that is left in Isaiah’s vision

Then said I, lord, how long? And he answered, until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, and the LORD have removed man far away and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land. but yet in it shall be a tout and it shall return and shall be eaten as a tail teil tree and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.
            Isa. 6:11-13

Concerning John’s baptism Jesus saith suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness this John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance.

Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
Mat 3:5-6

And so, if Jesus did fulfil the righteousness of John’s baptism, He must also had been making confession of sins not His own sins for He knew no sin but He made intercession for sinners, for His people of whom He became identified with. And this His commission is as that which Prophet Isaiah typified, how that afterward he saw the glory of God and exclaimed his unworthiness; declaring his uncleanness, the Seraph did manifest unto Isaiah an anointing of fire and purging. And this is as that in which one of the holy doves or the dove (the Seraphim), descending upon the LORD, did manifest the anointing and power of the Holy Ghost by which Jesus was sent unto ministry.

ANGELS: SERAPHIMS AND CHERUBIMS

The book of Ezekiel reveals how that the cherubim which are four living creatures constitute the Lord`s chariots, in  Ezekiel 2 considering the description of these chariots in Ezek. 1and 10 we can observe, that it is in one place seen as one creature and in another four creatures, each having four heads.

And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched from over their heads above.
Ezek. 1: 22

Also out of the midst there of come the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of man.                                                                                         Ezek. 1:5

Then I looked, and behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubim there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as appearance at the likeness of the throne.
Ezek. 10:1

And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubim unto the fire that was between the cherubim, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen; who took it, and went out. And there appeared in the cherubim the form of a man’s hand under their wings
Ezek. 10:7-8

This living creatures or these four living creatures in that description of their activities in which they run and return as flashes of lighting unveils them to be the four chariots that goeth forth from standing before the LORD of all the earth as shown in Zech. 6:5-7. Furthermore the association of the movement of their wings and wheels being associated with the cloud of his glory and the whirlwind unveils them to be the four angels of the four winds of heaven revealed in Rev 7:1-3. These four angels being considered in another perspectives as a single living creature is the white horse that the LORD of host sits upon as seen in Rev. 19

And saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called faithful and truth, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.                                                                                                           Rev. 19:11

Having established these premises, we shall begin to examine the relationship between the seraphim and cherubim. Before we do this, we will need to explore more of what is revealed in scriptures about the seraphim. The seraphim are first encountered in Isaiah’s vision, Isa 6:1-7. Comparing the description of the bodies and their activities with that which is seen in the throne room of Rev 4, we can conclude that the four beasts before the throne of God in Rev 4 were the same that Isaiah saw which are the seraphim.
First of all we are to note that while the seraphim are surrounding the throne and sometimes hovering above it, the cherubim are distinctly seen under the throne.
In Rev 6 and Zech. 6, we see that the four beasts before the throne of God gives authority to four groups of horse riders. Before we go further, let us consider the heads of both the seraphim and the cherubim.

As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side; and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.
Ezek. 1:10

And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast a calf, and the third beast had face of a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
Rev 4:7

The four beast calls John to come see and is show four riders on different coloured horses. These horses were authorized to manifest different judgements. We in considering Zech. 6 discover that these coloured horses have the same colours with the four chariots that goeth from standing before the LORD. Of course the four horsemen of Rev 6:1-7 are different from the four chariots of the LORD. For the fourth horsemen “Death and Hades” are not God’s ally for in Rev 20:14, they are cast into the lake of fire.

Studying the book of Ezekiel unto whom the four living creatures were revealed in great details and the subsequent judgements and prophecies that follows, we will understand that that in which this creatures run to and fro the earth, returning as flashes of lighting do they execute God’s word in the issues of the plagues and judgement which in Ezekiel 14 are summed up into four.

For thou saith the lord GOD; how much more when i send my four sore judgements upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it men and beast.      Ezek. 14:21

And in that day will I make covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safety.                                                                     Hos. 2:18

The seraphim did call John to come and see but we are neither told nor shown that the things which the horsemen received were given to them by these four beasts. We would say that the seraphim in manifesting the opening of the first four seals reveals how that it is through the cherubim in allowing and empowering these four horsemen that these four plagues are exerted against the inhabitants of the earth with the church still in it. In this according to the prophecies of Hosea 2 is the church punished also of their sins and under the fifth seal is she in the wilderness where God allures her and is taken and in the sixth seal, the false bride is judged and in seventh seal the bow, sword and the battle is broken.

Concerning the angels, they are some key truth that are revealed in scriptures.
Considering the seal- the four hundred years of the bondage of Abraham seed is as the first four seals- the fifth seal manifesting the two witnesses and their various plagues is as Moses and Aaron exerting those ten plagues even into their journey in the wilderness where the children of Israel are preserved and are thus fed forty years with manna in the company of the two witnesses. Their crossing the river Jordan is that opening of the sixth seal that unleashes the wrath of the Lamb after the seven vials had being poured forth. The sixth trumpet unleashes the four angels of the river trumpeted unto the war of Armageddon.

As Moses and Aaron in the plague led out the Israelites unto the crossing of the Red Sea so the two witnesses in their numerous plagues brings out God’s people from Babylon even as the two angels brought Lot and his family out Sodom. Concerning these two angelic visitors there is much to assert from the previous study, we do see how that the Seraphim orchestrates the activities of the Cherubim.

The Cherubim have four faces on their head, this gives these angelic beings the ability to take any form as necessary to executes God’s command in any of the four classes of living creatures in the heavens, earth and sea. The form, appearance and likeness that angels can take and the multiplicity of their activity is that which is inherent in their nature. Angels can appear as horses, as a lion, as eagle, as man or woman as the assignment may require. In the design of the ark of the testament, we are shown a description of the two covering cherub, that cover the atonement cover with their wings. In the design of the walls and curtains of the temple are embroidered and engraved designs of cherubim having a man’s head and a lion’s head in between the palm trees.

Concerning the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in the appearance unto father Abraham and the angels unto Lot, with scriptural parallelism of similar events, we see in the case of Elisha who was surround with horses and chariots of fire pointing to that in which that these two angels that comes unto Lot are of the cherubim that goeth forth from standing before the LORD. For the men Sodom were struck with blindness even as the host of Syria on coming to surround Elisha habitation in Dothan were struck with blindness after Elisha’s servants eyes were opened to see the vision of horses and chariots of fire.

And he pressed open them greatly, and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did have unleavened bread and they did eat.                                                                                                     Gen 19:3

In the night before Lot and his family were to be delivered from the hand of the People of Sodom and Gomorrah, there was a form of the feast of unleavened bread even as in the night that the children of Israel were to be delivered from Egypt, they have the feast of unleavened bread. The mystery of the body and blood of Jesus Christ in that feast delivereth the saints from Sodom and Egypt.
Now considering the life of the prophets Elijah and Elisha, both function in the same spirit and power and of them both, it is declared “my father, my father, the horsemen of Israel and the chariot thereof. And we see these two prophets’ associated angelic chariot and horses.

And it came to pass, and they still went on, and talked, that, behold, they appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted theme both asunder; and Elijah went up by whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, my father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them into pieces.                                                                     
2Kings 2:11-12

It is not that Elijah was a chariot or a horsemen, both as a prophet and father over Israel, he was a commander of the activities of this angelic host and of such he did possess the spiritual force and power that is a chariot even as it. As there were horses and chariot of fire round Elisha in his environment where he lived so it is to manifest God’s angelic host that manifest territorial authority. So God’s horses and chariots of fire constitutes the divine territorial spirits.
Is expressed illustrated in the scripture below.

And it came to pass in the seven time, that he said behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not ... And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
1King 18:44-46

We note that Elijah was empowered by the hand of the LORD to be faster and be better than the king’s chariot. The phrase “... And gird up your loins” reveals to us the place of the belt of truth in our spiritual armoury and how that it is state and condition influences the character of the spiritual strength and power.
Prophet Elisha who was warning on the spirit and power of Elijah having these angelic hosts of cherubim, horses and chariots of fire ministering to him by asking of the LORD did direct their affairs even is smiting the Syrian host with blindness as the two angels that came to Sodom in Lot’s house. And so our LORD Jesus Christ did say

Thinkest thou that I can now pray to my father, and he shall presently give more than twelve legions of angels?
Matt 26:53

The LORD’S army consists of chariots and horsemen.

The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels; the lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place
Ps 63:17

And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horsed, clothed in fine linen, white and clean
Rev 19:14

According to the different facilities of the human soul, the spirit has varying depths of manifestation from the mind to the emotions explained above.
Concerning the sixth trumpet and the sixth seal were shall usher in the fay of the LORD after the judgement of the seven walls are poured forth are given a detailed description of the Lord’s army in Joel 2
Blow yet the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is right at hand ... The appearance of them is as the appearances of horses, and as horsemen, so shall they run. Like the noise of chariots on the top of the mountains shall they leap, like the noise of the flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.                                                                                                            Joel 2

The astral realm is the realm of the power of the air, it is that which is the interest of the spiritual and physical realities in the air which holds the breathe of life and is defined by imaginations and that which is of our human spirit that flows through our breathe; the breathe of life in our nostrils.

Son of man, prophecy against the prophets of Israel that prophecy, and say thou unto them that prophecy out of their hearts, hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD GOD; woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! They have seen vanity and lying divination... Therefore thus saith the lord God; Because ye have spoken vanity and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the LORD GOD.                                                                                Ezek. 13:1-8

The passage of scriptures shows us the link between our spirits and the human imagination proceeding out of the mind of his heart. In Genesis 6 in the judgement of the flood we see that which associates our imagination with the air, through the breathe of life in our nostrils.

And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.... And the LORD said, I will destroy whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; repenteth me that I have made them.
Gen 6:5-7

And Noah build an altar unto the LORD; and took out every clean beast and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more everything living, as I have done.
Gen 8:5-7

The seraphim, the four beasts before the throne in whose worship, the clouds of God’s glory are manifest are the creatures of the golden altar of sweet incense unto God. These are spirits of the golden altar and constitutes the voice of the golden altar. As these creatures were manifest in the unleashing of the four horsemen of Revelation 6 so are they manifest in unleashing the four angels held on the river Euphrates.

And the sixth angel sounded and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden alter which is before God, saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, loose the four angels which are  bound him the great river Euphrates.
Rev 9:13-14

With that understanding which we obtain from this sense in the vision we shall understand, the relationship between the seal and the trumpet that the opening of the seals causes the sounding of the trumpet and in the sounding of the trumpet the beast commands the angel blowing the trumpet to authorize the necessary horsemen/men to execute the determined judgement whose activities on their exertions results in that which is described under the trumpets.
The four living creatures in their names are righteousness and judgement, mercy and truth. These are the four living creatures that are before the throne of God even as God’s chariots and horses are called salvation. These are the exactors of God’s word in the city, Zion. While the seraphs are about the throne, the chariots are about the city.

Clouds and darkness are round about him; righteousness and judgement are the habitation of his throne. A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.
Ps. 97:2-3
Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.                                                                Ps 85:10
Justice and judgement are the habitation of my throne; mercy and truth shall go before thy face. Ps 39:14
Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty… And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach these terrible things.
Ps 45:3-4
...... Thou didst ride upon thine horse and thy chariots of salvation.
Hab. 3:5
For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron; I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.
Isa 60:17

We see one of these seraphs ministering the righteousness and judgements of God for the cleansing of Isaiah’s uncleanness of lips in Isaiah 6. And so these could also be the angels that removes the filthy garments from Joshua the high priest, robbing him with new garments of righteousness and salvation with a crown of glory in Zech. 3. And also they could be the ones that coronate Jesus as the High priest when he ascended into Heaven at His resurrection to offer up his blood even as foreshadowed in the vision concerning Joshua, the high priest.
As these beasts are seen giving vials to the seven angels of Rev 15, coals of fire unto Isaiah, coal of fire unto the man clothed in linen of Ezek. 10. We can say that they are that which shall manifest the garment, robs and crowns of the saints....

Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth those who are the heirs of salvation.
Heb. 1:14

The four unique descriptions of the beast manifest a fourfold revelation of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who is the beast of our salvation even as he is that serpent that Moses lifts in the wilderness.

The face of a man    > The Son of man
The face of a lion     > The Lion of the tribe of Judah
The face of an Ox     > The Lamb of God
The face of an eagle >The Son of righteousness/ Bright morning Star.

Talking about the seals and the trumpet, we shall understand that Moses and Aaron doth typifies the two witness who in going unto the LORD God, standeth against Pharaoh unto the liberation of the Israelites from Egypt unto the wilderness. And after the death of both of them, in that Moses was buried and was no longer found perhaps God taking him- The children of Israel are led up to cross the river Jordan is as the crossing of the river Jordan after which prophet Elijah ascends into the heaven. These and much more shows us how that the ministry of two prophets of Rev. 11 is similar to Moses and Aaron, in that the two witnesses both shall manifests plagues against the people of the beast in Sodom and Egypt and are also as a prophetic covering like the wings of an eagle in the wilderness similar to the Israelites journey in the wilderness for 31/2 years after which they are killed. In the ascension of this two witness, the children of God crosses the spiritual river Jordan and are called up into heaven.

In their death, the fifth seal is fulfilled and in their ascension into heaven, the sixth seal and seven vials are manifest and God’s people crosses into the spiritual Canaan of their inheritance of the earth which is they shall fight through the seven vials unto the day of the LORD in the seventh vial, even as the Israelites fought battles after the crossing into Jordan beginning with Jericho. This Jericho the first, is the strategy in which the saints through the seven vials shall take over the kingdoms of the world under the sixth seal.

THE ANGEL OF THE SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD

We see this angel in Rev. 7:2-3, this is the Angel of Rev. 10 who give John the book to eat. The sealing of the servants of God is in the eating of the scroll. This Angel is an encapsulation of the revelation of the Glory of the LORD even the Spirit moving upon the living creature. The roar of a Lion given by this Angel is that which is spoken in Rev. 7:2-3

And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. Rev 7:2-3

And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:  And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. Rev 10:1-3

The voices of the seven thunders are unto the numberings of the twelve tribes of Israel.

And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. Rev 10:4-8

We see that the cross our LORD Jesus Christ is the seal of the Living God and it is unto that in which we should drink His Cup and be baptized in His Baptism. And so the LORD Jesus admonished His followere to take up their cross and follow Him. For the cross we see that name and title is encrypt of the seal of the Living God. The name “JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS” was written in three languages.

And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.

Joh 19:19-20 

We can see it is written in

            GREEK             à        This has to do with the Father’s name “Alpha and Omega”

            HEBREW          à        The place in Hebrew called “Golgotha, the place of the skull” shows

how the name of the city of our God shall be written upon our heads even on the skull.

LATIN               à        This is the LORD’s new name in Latin “JESUS” as much as we see

how the English Language is fathered by Latin, the language of Rome .

We see how Christ in speaking of the overcomers, He speaks of writing His Father’s name, the name of the new Jerusalem and His new name on them. These are they who watch and pray, keeping the word of His Patience. It is only those who was and keep this word of His patience that will receive the seal of the Living God which should preserve them from the hour of trial that come on the whole world to test them that live on the earth.

Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. Rev 3:9-12