Mon.’s Devo. - The First Seal

Read Rev. 6:1-2 The Lamb is about to open the first seal of the book. This important book had 7 seals on it. What is the significance of these seals? Sealing a document was equivalent to the signature of the owner of the seal. The Bible is full of seals. Circumcision is a seal, it represents the covenant God made with his people (Rom 4: 11). Believers are sealed with the Spirit, as God's mark upon them (Eph 1: 13; 4: 30). Converts of Paul are the seal of his apostleship, (1 Cor 9: 2). It is proof of ownership and marks a finished work. When Jesus died they found his grave cloths folded up where he had lain. That is what a carpenter does when he finishes his piece, inspects it and finds it perfect: he folds up his apron and lays it on the piece to signify he is pleased with his finished product. These sealed books hold the events of the last days and the end of God’s work on earth. When he opened the first seal, out came a white horse. The rider had a bow (no arrow) and a crown was given him. His job was to conquer. This white horse rider is the Antichrist. The Devil is an angel of white and copies everything God does. God wears white so the Antichrist is going to look a lot like God…. at first. He is minus his sword or arrows because Satin is one big smoke screen. Only Jesus has the Sword which is the Word. This first seal had to do with the first church age. So what was the antichrist of the first church age? The first church age was Ephesus and their fault was being deceived by the Nicolaitans. Remember Nicolaitan means “to conquer the laity”. What started as an idea in one age, became a doctrine in the next ages. They took the Holy Spirit out of the church and gave it to one man. The first organized church was the Roman Catholic Church. Rev. 17 describes her as a harlot. Notice the rider didn’t start out with a crown and ended up with one. The pope didn’t immerge with a crown till many church ages later. He will be revealed for what he is in the last days when the church is gone and the world goes through tribulation. Lord, help us not to get overwhelmed by this book and let us walk in peace and the revelation of who You are.