Second Seal: Bloodshed and the Final World War

3 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come and see." 4 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. (Rev. 6:3-4)

Fiery red: speaks of worldwide bloodshed. The first seal occurs when the nations were at peace (1 Thes. 5:3). The second seal suddenly ends the brief time of world peace.

Great sword: speaks of violence both civil and military. The sword is great by killing great numbers with great severity and devastation using technology that has great strength. This sword that strikes the earth is the counterfeit of when Jesus strikes the earth with a sword (Rev. 19:15).

Jeremiah prophesied of the end-time sword on the nations in context to the second seal.

Take peace from the earth: people will kill one another first in civil unrest, then in oppression by the government (Rev. 13:15), then in international conflict leading to the greatest world war. The nations rejected God’s Lamb but at the age-to-come they will chose to follow the Beast.

Jesus will allow peace to be taken from the earth. This is contrary to what many believe about Him. Jesus will allow the sword to go forth in the second seal. When Jesus spoke Mt. 10:34, He knew He would one day release the second seal to remove the hindrance to true world peace.

Jesus the Lamb is the Prince of Peace who opens the second seal to remove peace from earth. This will cause confusion to believers who do not understand the Scripture concerning God’s end-time purposes. Jesus will use the sword of evil men to bring their hidden evil to the surface and also to remove evil. This will ultimately result in true and lasting peace coming to the earth.

In this hostile environment, all will choose how they will live before God. The Church will be tested and unbelievers will re-evaluate their belief systems and come to Jesus by the millions. Those who love darkness will go into deeper connection with demons.

The Antichrist shall honor the god of military power with gold and silver. His god will be war or military conquest. The god of fortresses is the combination of military and demonic power.

1. He will honor the god of military strength (god of fortresses) by spending unprecedented amounts of money on developing his military.

2. He shall advance the glory of a foreign god who is Satan by promoting leaders who have zeal for Satan. Satan t will help him overcome the strongest fortresses (opposing armies).

The Antichrist will overwhelm many nations (v. 40), overthrow them (v. 41), stretch out his hand against them (v. 42) and annihilate them (v. 42). He will attack Egypt (v. 42).

The Antichrist will have an army of unprecedented strength in terms of people and finances.

Granted: God sovereignly grants the release of this sword and then oversees the entire process.

Come and see: a voice called John to come near to God to see clearly (Rev. 6:1, 3, 5, 7). We receive the same 2-fold call to come near to see more clearly the events that are prophesied. The Church is to receive this command to go deep in our understanding that we may pray and make known its truths. It was a call to exert effort to understand the significance of these events.

Events Coinciding With First Seal

God’s judgment on the Harlot Babylon religious network will happen at time of the first seal.

Paul prophesied of peace immediately before the time of sudden destruction (Great Tribulation). This is a temporary time of world peace that will suddenly end when the Great Tribulation starts. The world will assume their problems are solved by the Antichrist’s skillful leadership. Worldwide peace starts the final 7 years and continues for 3½ years (1 Thes. 5:2-3; Dan. 9:27).

3 When they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them. (1 Thes. 5:3)

The Two Witnesses are prophets anointed with great power for the final 3½ years (Rev. 11:3-6).

Satan will be cast to the earth, then will give his throne to the Antichrist. Hell will be in many places on earth during the final 3½ years (Rev. 12:9; 13:2; 6:8).

9 The great dragon (Satan) was cast out…who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels (demons) were cast out with him…12 Woe to the inhabitants of the earth…! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath… (Rev. 12:9, 12)

The Antichrist’s head wound and apparent healing will be the great catalytic event that thrusts him into worldwide prominence at the first seal (Rev. 13:3, 12, 14).

The Abomination of Desolation will occur when the Antichrist declares himself to be God by setting up his image or idol (which is the abomination) in the Jerusalem Temple (Dan. 8:13; 9:26, 27; 11:31; 12:11; Mt. 24:15; Mk. 13:14; 2 Thes. 2:3-4; Rev. 13:12-18).

The image of the Beast (Antichrist) will be a statue that is demonically empowered so that it will seem to think, talk, breathe, and make laws (Rev. 13:14-16).
The mark of the Beast (Antichrist) will be a public mark on people’s right hand or forehead and will be used to identify the people that worship the Antichrist (Rev. 13:16-17).

God will cause all the nations to gather against Jerusalem (Zech. 12:1-3; 14:2).

2 For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem… (Zech. 14:2)

What the Scriptures Say About Antichrist

The Antichrist is the final world leader in this age. He will wage war against God. He will have the greatest political authority, the most powerful army, the most money and the largest religious network confirmed by demonic miracles of any man in history (Rev. 13). The three main passages on the Antichrist in Scripture are Dan. 11; 2 Thes. 2; Rev. 13.

The Antichrist will be the most cruel man that ever lived. It will be impossible to negotiate with him for mercy because he will think like a beast. He is called the “Beast” 36 times in Revelation.

The Antichrist will have authority and worshipers in every nation (Rev. 13:8). However, he will not totally dominate each nation. He will be at war with some nations (Dan. 11:40-45).

The False Prophet will help him to conquer (Rev. 13:11-18) along with a 10-nation confederation that will provide him with the greatest power base in history (Rev. 17:12).

The Antichrist will magnify himself above the Harlot Babylon religion (Dan. 11:36). He will have a total anti-God policy because he will require all to worship him at the cost of their lives.

A king shall arise in the last days when transgression or sin reaches its greatest heights through the Harlot Babylon. At the first seal, the Antichrist will destroy the Harlot Babylon (v. 25).

The Antichrist will initially prosper by deceptive diplomacy that gains him peaceful conquests at the first seal. He will also use demonic signs to win influence over the nations.

Hitler gives us a picture from history of what “peaceful conquest” might look like. The Nazis took over the Rhineland (March 1936), annexed Austria (March 1938), occupied the Sudetenland or German-speaking part of Czechoslovakia (Sept. 1938), then all Czechoslovakia (March 1939).

First Seal: The Antichrist

The Antichrist riding a white horse is a counterfeit of Jesus riding a white horse (Rev. 19:11).

2 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. (Rev. 6:2)

White Horse: the horse speaks of speed and strength and white symbolizes righteousness. The Antichrist’s reign will initially appear righteous and helpful to the nations.

Crown: a symbol of authority over the nations. He will rise suddenly to a place of international authority. Satan and the Antichrist are both described as having crowns (Rev. 12:2; 13:1-2, 7).

Arrowless bow: the Antichrist’s authority will initially increase without any bloodshed. The arrow is an ancient symbol of war that speaks of striking ones enemies from a distance. This rider is pictured as ready to go to war with a bow in hand on a horse. However, since the bow does not have arrows it is understood as a ‘threat of war without war actually breaking out’.

Initially his conquests will be peaceful by using deceptive diplomacy without bloodshed. He will privately threaten international leaders with war while being seen publicly to accomplish his agenda by peaceful means. He uses a sword which strikes up close and causes bloodshed.

Conquering: the Antichrist will have a series of successful conquests unprecedented in history. He will initially conquer only in the political and economical arenas. It will escalate to military aggression that will result in a world war (second seal) leading to a devastating economic crisis and then worldwide famine (third seal). For 3½ years he will seem to be invincible (Rev. 13:4).

Given: his power is given to him. The Antichrist receives his authority first from God, then from Satan (Rev. 13:2) as well as kings who will voluntarily give their authority to him (Rev. 17:17). The phrase “is given” is used 22 times in Revelation. The Two Witnesses, the Antichrist, angels and demons are given authority from God (Rev. 6:11; 7:2; 8:2; 9:1, 3, 5; 11:2-3; 12:14; 13:1-18).

5 And he (Antichrist) was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months…7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation…15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast... (Rev. 13:5, 7, 15)

The Antichrist does not take God by surprise. He is part of the Father’s plan. It is by God’s decree that the Antichrist will be given a specific sphere to operate in for 3½ years to show himself to Israel as their Messiah as Jesus did. Jesus has all authority over all the nations. The Antichrist is God’s tool of judgment on apostate Israel and on wicked nations (Zech. 11:16-17).
18 Jesus spoke saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” (Mt. 28:18)

1 There is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. (Rom. 13:1)

Seven Bowls of God's Wrath

The seven bowls of wrath are the third and final numbered series of judgments (Rev. 16).

First bowl (sores): painful sores on those who worship the Antichrist (Rev. 16:1-2)
Second bowl (food supply): destroying the sea with blood and killing all in it (Rev. 16:3)
Third bowl (water supply): poisoning the earth’s fresh water with blood (Rev. 16:4-7)
Fourth bowl (torment): scorching heat and fire from the sun (Rev. 16:8-9)
Fifth bowl (destruction): darkness on the Antichrist's global empire (Rev. 16:10-11)
Sixth bowl (global guilt): deceiving the nations to come to Armageddon (Rev. 16:12-16)
Seventh bowl (annihilation): shaking by earthquakes and hail stones (Rev. 16:17-21)

They will destroy social infrastructures in the Antichrist’s empire.

I (Father) will give You (Jesus) the nations for Your inheritance…You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel. (Ps. 2:8–9)
D.
Jesus will release the seven bowls in a way that parallels Moses releasing the ten plagues of Egypt against Pharaoh (Ex. 12). He will come as the “Greater Moses”. The seven bowls are intentionally similar to the plagues of Egypt. The miracles seen in Egypt will occur in the End-Times (Mic. 7:15; Isa. 10:22-25; 11:12-16; 30:30; Jer. 16:14-15; 23:7-8; Ezek. 38:22; Joel 2:30).

All the bowls will be poured out over a thirty-day period as Jesus marches up through Edom (modern day Jordan) to fight the final battle of the Armageddon campaign in Jerusalem, and to rescue the unsaved remnant of Israel (Zech. 12:1-9; 14:1-5; Isa. 63:1-6; Hab. 3:3-16).

Jesus will march through the city of Bozrah in Edom (Jordan) and Teman killing His enemies on His way to Jerusalem. Their blood will be sprinkled on His robes.

The Seven Trumpets

The seven trumpet judgments are supernatural acts not merely natural or historical acts portrayed in symbolic language. They destroy the Antichrist’s resources and people. The trumpet judgments display the Antichrist’s power as inferior to Jesus’ power. They are supernatural acts of God through nature (the first four) and demons (fifth and sixth ones).

First trumpet (food supply): burning 1/3 of the earth's vegetation (Rev. 8:7)
Second trumpet (food supply): destroying 1/3 of the sea (Rev. 8:8-9)
Third trumpet (water supply): poisoning 1/3 of the earth's fresh water (Rev. 8:10-11)
Fourth trumpet (light, energy): darkening 1/3 of the earth’s light (Rev. 8:12)
Fifth trumpet (torment): releasing demonic locusts that torment for 5 months (Rev. 9:1-12)
Sixth trumpet (death): releasing demonic horsemen that kill 1/3 of the earth (Rev. 9:13-21)
Seventh trumpet (defeat): beginning of Jesus’ Second Coming procession (Rev. 11:15-19).

The first 4 trumpets will release God’s judgment on nature to destroy the natural resources of the Antichrist’s empire (Rev. 8:7-12). Each trumpet destroys a different area, i.e., food (vegetation, meat, fish), sea trade, water supply and the environment: light and heat (sun, moon, stars). The last 2 trumpets release demons on the Antichrist’s kingdom to torment and kill his followers.

The trumpet judgments have a 3-fold purpose (Num. 10): judgment on the Antichrist’s empire, to warn the lost to receive salvation and to signal the certain victory that is soon to come for God’s people (like the trumpets did for Joshua).

The limitation of the trumpets to a partial (1/3) judgment gives opportunity for repentance (1/3 is used 14 times in Rev. 8:2–9:21 (Rev. 8:7[2x], 9[3x], 10, 11, 12[5x]; 9:15, 18).

The Seal Judgments

The seven seals are released by Jesus, the Lamb of God (Rev. 5:5; 6:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12; 8:1).

1 I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals... (Rev. 6:1)

First seal (white horse): Antichrist's political aggression (Rev. 6:1-2)
Second seal (red horse): bloodshed and world war (Rev. 6:3-4)
Third seal (black horse): famine and economic crisis (Rev. 6:5-6)
Fourth seal (pale horse): disease leading to the death of one-fourth of the earth (Rev. 6:7-8)
Fifth seal (prayer movement): prayer movement strengthened by the martyrs (Rev. 6:9-11)
Sixth seal (cosmic disturbances): cosmic crisis (Rev. 6:12-17)
Seventh seal (anointed prayer): prayer movement strengthened to release judgments of Rev. 8-9

There is a recognizable relationship of the first four seals to each other. The points of similarity between them are a horse with a distinct color (white, red, black, pale) with a rider released by a prophetic decree of one of the living creatures. The four horses here are parallel in color to the horses (red, black, white, dappled) seen by Zechariah (Zech. 1:8-11; 6:1-8).

The seal judgments target the kingdom of darkness (Harlot Babylon, etc.). The events include the Antichrist conquering the evil nations that aligned themselves with the Harlot Babylon (Rev. 17:16-17) resulting in a world war, economic crisis, famine and disease, etc. The Antichrist acts against the Harlot with the devastation also affecting the resources in his growing empire.

The first four seals release God’s judgments in an indirect way because God lifts His restraining hand off evil men so they attack and destroy one another’s resources. The restraints on man’s sin are lifted so that the truth of their lawlessness is seen. These judgments involve earthly actions. The fifth, sixth and seventh seals involve heavenly activity (Rev. 6:9-17; 8:1-6).