The Seventh Seal: A Simple Test
Some time ago, I was told by a friend that they felt strongly that we were in the Seventh Seal, described by John in the Book of Revelation. Because of the setting and timing, I did not offer my opinion. So, I take this opportunity to use this newsletter to offer a simple test as to whether we are, or are not.
In Revelation 12, verse 4, John speaks of the dragon and states that a third part of the stars of heaven are cast to the earth. An estimated 108 billion people have lived on this planet since the creation. Therefore, if John’s verse is to be physically fulfilled, the number of stars cast from the heavens would be approximately half that number (since 1/3 of God’s children in heaven were sent to earth without bodies). I am certain that an event with more than 50 billion “stars” being cast to earth has not occurred at this time, as the destructive power of such a heavenly manifestation would surely have been recorded in the pages of history. So, we are left with two possibilities, either the account of John is symbolic and not something that will actually occur, or that it has not happened yet.
The scriptures are often a proof to themselves, when comparing the prophecies and verses. We can prove that John is speaking of a real, physical event or marker by seeing if this event is mentioned elsewhere. First, in Revelation 6:12-16, we read:
12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
This is a marker that John offers to identify the physical reality and the unfolding of events prior to the coming of the Lord, Jesus Christ. And, it seems to be a real event in that all people are hiding to avoid being crushed by the stars falling from the heavens. Isaiah provides an additional witness in his 2nd chapter, verses 17-21, where again we see that all men will hide in the crack of rocks and caves. The idols he describes as destroyed, will be pounded to dust by the stars that will fall from heaven. In addition, we find that there is at least some small notification, because the people bring their riches with them. In the end, they cast their gold and silver to the moles and the bats. The physical fulfillment that the stars will actually fall from heaven is also prophesied by Daniel chapter 8:
10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
And, finally, we may read in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 88, verse 87:
87 For not many days hence and the earth shall tremble and reel to and fro as a drunken man; and the sun shall hide his face, and shall refuse to give light; and the moon shall be bathed in blood; and the stars shall become exceedingly angry, and shall cast themselves down as a fig that falleth from off a fig tree.
The voice of three Prophets speaks to us of the reality of a singular extraordinary event where there is such a frightening meteor shower, that every man, woman and child flees to hide in the rocks. This event is within the confines of the Sixth Seal, verifying for us that the Seventh Seal is yet to come.