When seal 6 is opened, many things begin to happen. We don’t have time to go into all of the details here, but since Revelation is a vision, these may depict literal events, or they may depict figurative ones.

 

 

The earthquake in verse 12 may be literal, or it may represent “ground shaking” political changes, such as a one world government coming to power. (It might also represent all of the above.)

 

Many scholars have remarked on the parallels between verse 12 and Joel 2, which speaks of events that will take place before the Day of Yahweh (which is likely the Cup/Bowl judgments).

 

 

The sun becoming darkened and the moon becoming “like blood” may be a reference to the effects of a nuclear blast, which throws large amounts of debris into the air. This makes for a “red moon” and a “nuclear winter,” in which the sun is obscured. This might also explain the “sky departing like a scroll,” as many scholars have remarked how mushroom clouds “scroll” up into the air (and also have the effect of “tearing” the atmosphere). The “mountains and islands” which are “moved out of their places” may be a reference to governments and national leadership structures, which would be altered if there was a nuclear exchange in the Middle East, and the people demanded that a one world government rise to power, in an effort to prevent any more nuclear exchanges. This scenario would also explain why the rich men would hide in caves/shelters.

 

Many scholars believe Seal 6 marks the beginning of what is popularly called the “great tribulation.” Yeshua mentions this time of great tribulation in Matthew 24. In verse 9, Yeshua tells us the believers will be hated by all nations for His name’s sake. However, Yeshua was addressing this to His Jewish followers, and as we will see, this might apply primarily to those who are living in the land of Israel when it take place (although there will certainly be persecution on His followers everywhere).

 

 

The idea that Yeshua is addressing those who live in the land finds support in verse 15, where Yeshua tells us that when we see the “abomination of desolation” standing in the set-apart place (i.e., the temple mount), those in Judea should flee to the mountains, because this will begin a time of great tribulation, such as the earth has never seen, or will see again. Obviously, this might not apply to those who live outside of the land.

In verse 22, Yeshua says the tribulation will be so bad that unless Yahweh shortens those days, no flesh will survive. However, Yahweh will shorten those days for the sake of the elect. What this says is that the elect will remain here on earth (rather than being “raptured out”).

 

We can also expect to see many false messiahs and false prophets, who will show great signs and wonders, in an attempt to deceive the elect.

As we will see in a later chapter, the coming of the Son of Man in verse 27 refers to Yeshua’s triumphal return on His white horse at Revelation 19:11, where He will slay the enemies of Israel at the Battle of Har Megiddo (Armageddon). This Battle of Har Megiddo is also the first war of Gog and Magog, which is described in Ezekiel 39. (Ezekiel 38 is the second war of Gog.)

 

We will also see that the gathering of the eagles in verse 28 refers to the Wedding Feast, where the birds of the heavens will come to feast upon the slain of the enemies of Israel. The word in Greek is “aetoi” (αετοι). This word is usually translated as “eagles,” but it can also be translated as “vultures,” as the New American Standard Updated (NASU) renders it.

 

 

In verse 30, Matthew tells us that immediately after the tribulation, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the heavens, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. As we will see later, this probably refers to a second nuclear exchange that takes place at the time of 7^th trumpet, and/or the cup/bowl judgments (which take place after the 7^th trumpet). Then we are told that the “sign” of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and that all of the tribes of the earth will mourn.

The “tribes of the earth” that mourn may be a reference to all gentile nations, but it may also be a reference to the Israelite tribes which are scattered all around the world. This might also be the time when Judah repents, and accepts Yeshua.

 

 

As we have pointed out in other places, the only people who are in the Land of Israel at this time, who can fulfill this passage, are the (unsaved) Jewish people.

 

Next, Matthew 24:31 tells us that Yahweh will send His messengers (angels) with the sound of a trumpet, and they will gather His elect from the four winds. This cannot be a reference to the rapture, since we have already seen that the elect will remain on earth during the millennium, (verse 22, above, and Revelation 5:10).

 

As we will see in a later chapter, what Yeshua may be saying is that either at the time of the 7^th trumpet (or at His return, at Revelation 19:11), His people will begin making their way back to the land of Israel, in what is called “the Ingathering.” This will likely be the second exodus, mentioned in Deuteronomy 30, in Jeremiah 16, and elsewhere.

 

The parallel account in Luke 21 tells us that the time to flee Judea is when one sees Jerusalem surrounded by armies.

 

 

At some point Jerusalem will be surrounded by armies, overrun, and an abomination of desolation will be set up on the temple mount. As we will see later, a “man of sin” will also offer sacrifices. This will last until the “times of the gentiles” are fulfilled, which Revelation 11 tells us spans some 42 months (3-1/2 years).

 

2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months."  

 

There is presently an abomination of desolation on the temple mount, called the “Dome of the Rock.” This is a Muslim mosque that stands where the temple used to stand. As we will see, it would fulfill all of the legal requirements over the abomination of desolation, except for the fact that no one is presently offering sacrifices there. We will discuss this in more detail as this study progresses.

 

Next we need to discuss the “rapture,” or the “great catching away.”