The Second Seal

Before commencing with this study you must be clear on the timing of the seals in order to understand fully the interpretation of their meaning.

The description of the Second seal is can be found in Revelation 6:3-4;

3. And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.
4. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace form the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

The image here is quite clear, the riders instruction is to cause man to turn to war. To loose all reasoning powers and become almost basic in thought. The population of the world from this point on starts to drop dramatically. The rider is given a GREAT SWORD (translated from 'Machaira') whichis actually a short sword or dagger which is used in personal combat and symbolises not global wars but the dividing of nations against itself, similar to the taking of peace mentioned in Matt 10:34-37, and Micah 7 in the first verses paints a picture of what it will be like in the early stages after the Rapture.

The Angel is given the task of going too-and-fro in the earth giving Satan the power to control the masses, to give them a rage withn and lead them into war. The colour red signifies 'blood' and 'sin' (Isaiah 2:18, revalation17:3-4, 18:12,16) it is also associated with conquest as in Nahum 2:3 and Revelation 12:3. A scripture reputed to coincide with this seal is a passage in Nahum 2:1-4 which speaks of the end times and the opening of this second seal. Verses 1 and 2 introduce the Anti-Christ as being abroad and a warning to watch and prepare then in verse 3 and 4;

3. The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken.
4. The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall jostle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightning's.

Some have translated this to account for road rage and every other form of rage abounding in today's society, whilst others say it is the rage which is running through the world caused by this angel. The day of preparation corresponding to Satan's plans to war with God or the eventual rule of the Anti-Christ.

Anyone who does not know the scriptures and love God will be affected by this angel. This seal will follow the first quite quickly as Satan via the Anti-Christ will cause wars to propel him into the limelight and position of power. The effects of this seal unlike the first will not be for a season but permanent. Mankind will destroy and be destroyed by his own lust for blood. As Lucifer burns within (Ezekiel 28:18) so too will man (Mark 7:21), his will, will be for the Anti-Christ and the lusts of the flesh. Greed and envy will be the driving force, love and friendship will be a sign of weakness and an affiliation with God.

It will be during this period that the Anti-Christ comes to power and with lies and deceit will take control of the nations and religions. His rise will be swift and his authority astounding. He will calm the nations with wide-sweeping influence. The New World Order will become a reality in all its awesome power and the basis for total control of the nations and peoples of the earth will be laid.

It will be at some point here within this seal that the rapture will take place (1 thes 4:17),

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds , to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

..when Christians will see the Anti-Christ come to power. Some may even be fooled and miss out on the rapture because of him (2 Thessalonians 2:3) or the events taking place. This will be the Great Apostacy which will preceed the rapture.

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;