Posted by Elana Janson on February 10, 2004 at 14:02:47:
In the light of my previous post concerning the opening of the “sixth seal” in Revelation we should note how rapidly during January 2004 bird flu has spread across Asia and how, as a result, up to 50 million fowls have been destroyed. To add to this more than 10 000 birds fell to the earth in China’s eastern Jiangsu province. These birds were mostly dead before they hit the ground.
The section of the opening of the sixth seal (as mentioned in my previous post) is followed by the words of Rev 6:15. “And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and every bondsman and every free man, hid themselves in the in the dens and the rocks…” In Rev 19:18 there is a repetition of the sequence “kings”, ”captains”, ”men”, “bondsman” and “freeman”. This verse follows Rev 19:17 that relates to “all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven”. Rev 19:17 “And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;”.
It was shown in the previous post how the words of Revelation seem to reveal the ‘signs’ of the end – signs in “sun, moon and stars”. Why is the large-scale death of birds in the East a sign in 2004?
The words of Revelation are symbols or clues that ultimately reveal the entire meaning of Revelation. When specific words are taken back to Scripture a meaning is found there that relates to the time measurements and meaning of Revelation. It seems as if the signs of the end may also be revealed in this way.
Of significance is the fact that the words “the fowls of heaven “ relate to two verses in the prophecies of Zephaniah and Hosea. It is said in Zephaniah 1:3. “I will consume the fowls of the heaven”. In Hosea 7:12 I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven”. In Zephaniah these words are part of an announcement to Judah of God’s approaching judgement. In Hosea the words are part of a reproof of manifold sins.
Of importance in relation to Revelation is that the words “I will consume the fowls of the heaven” are part of a universal judgement. Zephaniah 1:2-3 “I will utterly consume all things from the land, saith the Lord. I will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fishes of the sea and the stumbling blocks with the wicked;…. This is of significance in Revelation, because Revelation deals with universal judgement in the end times.
Following Rev 19:17, it is said in Rev 19:18 “ That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses and of them that sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both great and small.”
These words may not necessarily mean that we shall see large scale death at this point. Remember we are told that the Coming of Jesus Christ will be “as a thief”. We know in 2004 that Revelation deals with the history of the Christians and Christian nations over 2000 years.
As set out in How near Armageddon, the sequence of the words “kings”, “men”, “captains” etc in Rev 6:15 indicate how the ruling of the Christian nations and peoples moved from the rule of kings (from Constantine in the third and fourth centuries to the last kings of Europe) to ships captains in the age of the discoveries of new lands and military leaders (“captains”) and ultimately powerful men in the twentieth century. The understanding of Revelation that it deals with the ruling of the nations over the past two thousand years was revealed to me through the Divine intervention that I have often mentioned on this website. The times of the riders of the horses of the Apocalypse are fixed to certain times in history. This progression from the rule of kings to the rule of men would bring about a division between state and church and a gradual falling away from the belief that the way to the Father is through Jesus Christ.
The repetition of these words “kings”, captains” etc. is of significance for the repetition of words in the whole of Revelation (1) enhances meaning and (2) relate to the same time or (3)same revelation of where the nations faltered over the past two thousand years.
The repetition of words “kings”, “captains”, etc. in Rev 19:17 enhances the meaning above to show the wrath of God, in the form of plagues, that was upon those that directly through war or other means destroyed or undermined the authority of the teachings of Jesus Christ in the ruling of the Christian nations ( “make war against him that sat on the horse and against his army” see Rev 19:19).
The massive death and slaughter of birds in the Far East, follow the ‘signs’ that were set out in my previous post. Revelation seems to be linking the opening of the sixth seal Rev 6:15 to what is revealed in Revelation 19:17-18.
It should be noted that the words “small and great” do not appear in Rev 6:15, but well in Rev 19:17. Is this an indication of the accuracy of Revelation and why the wrath of God was through the centuries upon those who would add or take away from the words of Revelation (see Rev. 22:18-19)?
The addition of the words “small and great “ to the progression of the words “kings” “men” “captains” etc in Rev 19:17 may be confirming the year 2004. Readers of How near Armageddon will know that the words of Rev 16:16 “small and great, rich and poor, freeman and slave” more of less relate to the 144 years 2004 to1860, measured backwards. “Small and great” (2004), “rich and poor” (the time of the Great Depression) and “free and bond” the time of the American Civil War that brought about the freeing of slaves.
All that has been said above shows how the entire meaning of Revelation is held together by its words.