Last week we saw the wondrous rejoicing in the Throne room where the 24 Elders representative of the Raptured Church wearing their Crowns. The Angels and the living creatures stood before the Throne of God which Brilliantly exploded with His Glory. In His hand was the Sealed Deed to all the Earth—no one or creature in heaven or earth could open the seal. That is no one except for Lamb like Lion, the King of Judah who had paid the ransom price for all the earth. As He, Jesus enters the room in all His Majesty, everyone bowed before Him. Then He takes the sealed deed within His hands and will begin to unseal it. As He opens each seal, we see the Coming Storm which must play out on earth below.
That is for all those who do not seek Shelter in Jesus. Will you not seek Him today? Perhaps as you see the scene unfold, you will. Or as you begin to understand why it must be, perhaps then?
See the Coming Storm, as the seals are opened
Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. Revelation 6: 1-2 NKJV
The white horse carried the Antichrist. He was all white to appear as though perhaps he was the messiah’s steed. Yet, notice the rider wore a crown as he went out to conquer all the world. Initially, this was all through peace agreements and treaties. Everyone came to believe he was the one who would finally bring world peace. Note he has a bow but no arrows with him.
Second Seal: Conflict on Earth
When He (JESUS) opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.” Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword. Revelation 6: 3-4 NKJV
Although translated here as Great Sword (for its power). The Greek word was machaira. This type was sword was dagger like sword used in close combat. Therefore, the red horse brought division and strife. People killing people. Just as we see today, distilling strife and division throughout the world by words and dangerous rhetoric throughout conversations and news feeds. There is no reason not to believe, this is the same rider as we are not told the rider has changed, only the horse he is riding.
Third Seal: Scarcity on Earth
When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scale in his hand. And I heard 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 the wine.” Revelation 6:5-6 NKJV
Next the horse he rides is that of famine and rationing for the peoples of the earth. That is for all except the elite who are with the Antichrist. Note do not harm the oil and the wine.
Fourth Seal: Widespread Death on Earth
When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth. Revelation 6:7-8 NKJV
Once in power, peace became eroded into famine, killing, pestilence, and even the starving animals roaming in search of food. Remember, conquering with peace as the antichrist began; he now has become very powerful. It is the controlling of environments, much as the WHO and the World Economic Forums attempt to do today. Keep everyone in submission. But some refuse as we will see when the next seal is opened. But for these, it is death with Hades close behind for all those who continue to deny Christ. Note all these plagues were brought on by men governing men. The wisdom of humanity always leads to failure.
Fifth Seal: The Cry of the Martyrs
When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed. Revelation 6:9-11 NKJV
Some refused to bow down to the government. Instead, they miraculously chose to place their trust in Jesus Christ. Were they the ones who heard the gospel and miraculously after the rapture began to read the Word? Never doubt that your testimony may have long lasting impact well into the future. Also, notice they are pleading God judge and avenge the evil now. Yet, God is so gracious and patient. He places their white robes of righteousness on them and asks they wait as more will be joining them before the end comes.
Sixth Seal: Cosmic Disturbances
I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.
Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” Revelation 6:12-17 (NKJV)
Yet, they did not repent. They merely tried to hide themselves from the only one who could save them. Never did they desire to change their ways. Instead, they run in fear. Furthermore, they do not accept that it was their own actions that lead to all this.
John McArthur explains this as follows:
The force described in this seal is overpowering fear (cf. Luke 21:26). While the first 5 seals will result from human activity God used to accomplish His purposes, at this point He begins direct intervention (cf. Matt. 24:29; Luke 21:25). The previous 5 seals will be precursors to the full fury of the day of the Lord which will begin with the sixth seal (v. 17). The events described in this seal unleash the seventh, which contains the trumpet judgments (chaps. 8, 9; 11:15ff.) and the bowl judgments (chap. 16). great earthquake.
There have been many earthquakes prior to this (Matt. 24:7), but this will be more than an earthquake. All the earth’s faults will begin to fracture simultaneously, resulting in a cataclysmic, global earthquake. moon became like blood. Accompanying the earthquake will be numerous volcanic eruptions; and large amounts of ash and debris will be blown into the earth’s atmosphere, blackening the sun and giving the moon a blood-red hue (cf. Zech. 14:6, 7).1
With all this sorrow, pain, and destruction—we are given an interlude in Chapter 7, lest we lose all hope. God is very patient, loving, and kind. Therefore, we must not lose sight of what He is doing even when all looks lost.
An Interlude before The Coming Storm of the Trumpet Judgements
After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. Then 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 granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” Revelation 7:1-3 NKJV
The Holy Spirits presence in Salvation, amid the coming storm
If indeed, the Holy Spirit, the restraining power was removed from the earth as written in 2 Thessalonians 2: 3-7 (NKJV)
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.
Then how will people be saved? Well, the Holy Spirit’s is still there to do the work of drawing people to Christ for salvation as He remains omnipresent. His special residence may have been removed, but His presence has not. Therefore, those saved during the tribulation are those deemed the martyrs and are not part of the bride of Christ.
Missionaries Sealed before the coming Storm
And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:
5 of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were [a]sealed;
of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed;
6 of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed;
7 of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed;
8 of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed;
of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed. Revelation 7:4-8
Hope Restored Before the Coming Storm
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:
“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
Be to our God forever and ever.
Amen.” Revelation 7: 9-12
Here we are given the glimpse of the multitudes that will be saved during the tribulation. This will be the greatest revival of all times, albeit they will be martyred for their faith. That is all will be martyred except for the 144,000 missionaries who are sealed by God to continue to serve on earth until the time appointed.
Before the Coming Storm—we are shown God’s Grace through the Storm
Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”
And I said to him, “Sir, you know.”
So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7: 13-17 NKJV
The Coming Storm with increasing intensity that some might believe in Jesus
When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Revelation 8:1 NKJV
The throne room was always filled with praise song and hallelujahs until now. As he opens the 7th seal, there is deadening silence in heaven for a period of 30 minutes.
And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake. Revelation 8:2-5 NKJV
How forceful a blow upon the earth, filled with all the prayers of the saints pleading for the evil to cease upon the earth. All the envy, jealousy, evil acts that men perpetrate against men.
No one is prepared for the next set of coming storms
So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. Revelation 8:6 NKJV
First Trumpet: Vegetation Struck
The first angel sounded: And hail and fire followed, mingled with blood, and they were thrown to the earth. And a third of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. Revelation 8:7 NKJV
Second Trumpet: The Seas Struck
Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. Revelation 8: 8-9 NKJV
Third Trumpet: The Waters Struck
Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter. Revelation 8:10-11
Fourth Trumpet: The Heavens Struck
Then the fourth angel sounded: And a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them were darkened. A third of the day did not shine, and likewise the night. Revelation 8:12 (NKJV)
And now the woes increase
And I looked, and I heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpet of the three angels who are about to sound!” Revelation 8:13
The Wrath of Satan Permitted In the Coming Storm
Then the fifth angel sounded: And I saw a star fallen from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. Revelation 9:1-2 NKJV
What angel was a bright star who fell from heaven to earth due to his rebellion? None other than Satan himself as he was described in Ezekiel 38.
So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. And they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. In those days men will seek death and will not find it; they will desire to die, and death will flee from them.
Note: God only permitted them to go so far and no further. They could not kill only torment at this time.
Demons Released as Locusts
The shape of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle. On their heads were crowns of something like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men.They had hair like women’s hair, and their teeth were like lions’ teeth.And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots with many horses running into battle. They had tails like scorpions, and there were stings in their tails. Their power was to hurt men five months. And they had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, but in Greek he has the name Apollyon.
One woe is past. Behold, still two more woes are coming after these things. Revelation 9: 3-12 NKJV
Sixth Trumpet: The Angels from the Euphrates bring the next coming storm
Then the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind.
Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. And thus I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed—by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths. For their power is in their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having heads; and with them they do harm. “Revelation 9:13-19 (NKJV)
Who were these angels? John McArthur explains:
Scripture never refers to holy angels as being bound. These are fallen angels—another segment of Satan’s force whom God had bound but will free to accomplish His judgment through their horsemen (vv. 15–19). God’s control extends even to the demonic forces—they are bound or freed at His command. Euphrates. One of the 4 rivers that flowed through the Garden of Eden (see note on 16:12; cf. Gen. 2:14). Starting with Babel, this region has spawned many of the world’s pagan religions.2
Despite their seeing the Coming Storm, they did not turn to Jesus
But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts. Revelation 9: 20 NKJV
Before we move into the seven bowl judgements, God places another interlude to help us understand further all that has happened and some of the background to it all. Truly, He wants us to understand.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.
Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2025
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
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