We learn much about Old Testament redemption in Leviticus 25. There we find that people were given the opportunity to redeem three things: a close relative, a slave, a possession. When a person lost his land or a family member was forced into slavery, the obligations of redemption were written on two scrolls. Seven seals were placed on one scroll, and the scroll was put into a private place. The other scroll was kept public in the Tabernacle. Later only one scroll was necessary, written on both sides within and without, and rolled into a tube sealed with seven seals. On the outside one could read the qualifications, the obligations to be met. The possessions described in the scroll could not be redeemed before the year of Jubilee (every fiftieth year) unless a qualified person—a redeemer kinsman—was willing to pay the price of redemption and break the seven seals. On the fiftieth year, however, all receive back their property.

Under the Law, a new owner could not hold onto the land if the original owner came up with either the means to redeem it or could find a redeemer kinsman to take it back for him. God had this to say about the Holy Land: The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me. And in all the land of your possession ye shall grant a redemption for the land. If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold (Leviticus 25:23-25). This was the procedure taken before judges, a document prepared which stated that the land had passed from the debtor to the one to whom he was in debt. The transfer was not permanent because a redeemer kinsman could reclaim it.

The Redeemer Kinsman

God specified three requirements for a redeemer kinsman: The redeemer must be fit, willing and able. To be fit meant the person should be closely related—not a distant cousin—to the one in need of redemption for himself, his family or his property. Secondly, one could not be forced to be a redeemer kinsman; he must meet the obligation willingly. Thirdly, he must have the means with which to pay the debt. A person thinking to qualify as a redeemer kinsman could go to the court of the Tabernacle, read the terms of the redemption found in the open public scroll. Although he could study the outside of the scroll, he could not break the seals. Bringing the price for redemption, the prospective redeemer kinsman would then go to the priest or the judge to demand that the sealed document be opened, the debtor freed and his property returned to him.

Jeremiah as a Redeemer Kinsman

In the Old Testament we find examples of this redemption. Jeremiah the weeping prophet became a redeemer kinsman for his cousin. Jeremiah had received a revelation from God, letting him know that although Israel was going to lose the land, they would one day return. And Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee, saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is thine to buy it. So Hanameel mine uncle’s son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD. And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle’s son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver. And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances. So I took the evidence of the purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open: And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle’s son, and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison. And I charged Baruch before them, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed, and this evidence which is open; and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days. For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land (Jeremiah 32:6-15). Jeremiah’s cousin had fallen into bondage and lost his possession. Being a first cousin, Jeremiah was related closely enough to be a redeemer kinsman. He was willing to redeem, and he had the silver required.

This is a true picture of what was to come. We are not able to redeem ourselves, but we have a Redeemer Kinsman, Jesus, whom God will accept, a Redeemer meeting all the qualifications for our redemption.

A Redemption Love Story

The book of Ruth presents a perfect picture of Earth’s mortgage being met by Jesus. The story of Boaz and Ruth is a most beautiful love story, with Boaz as a type of Christ and Ruth a type of the Gentile Bride on Earth in our day.

Naomi was Ruth’s mother-in-law. Naomi and her husband had left the land of her people and gone into Moab. While there, Naomi’s husband as well as her two sons died, leaving Naomi and her two daughters-in-law widows. Naomi decided to return to the land of her people. The daughters-in-law started out with her; but one was not dedicated and consecrated to God, one hadn’t accepted the True and Living God of Israel. When she began to think about the price of giving up her gods and serving the True and Living God, she decided she wasn’t going. Naomi, wanting to make sure that Ruth was serious about serving God, tried to convince her to turn back, too: Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God (Ruth 1:15,16).

Naomi saw the love Ruth had for the Lord God of Israel, and they continued the journey together. When they arrived in the land of Israel, Naomi’s property was gone. Someone had taken it over; it was in bondage, and Naomi needed a redeemer kinsman. Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth (Ruth 2:1). He was Boaz. Boaz was willing to redeem the land, but someone was more closely related—the nearest of kin, remember, had first choice to redeem the possession.

Boaz went to the closer kinsman, explained the situation: Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance (Ruth 4:5). The nearest kinsman counted the cost and said he couldn’t pay it lest he mar his own inheritance. This illustrates the helpless condition of man, wanting to redeem, but unable. But Boaz had the means; he was fit, willing and able to be the redeemer kinsman for Naomi and Ruth. He took Ruth, a Gentile girl, as his bride.

The Earth Is under a Curse

Adam lost his inheritance of a perfect Eden when he sinned against God; he forfeited his right as head of the creation God had put him in charge of. Turning away from God, Adam fell into sin. No longer did he have a right to that place God had given him. He was now under the curse, separated from God.

We read in Genesis 3:17,18 that God said to Adam and Eve: Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field. Then in verse 14, And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this [persuaded Adam and Eve to disobey God], thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life.

The effects of this curse led Paul to write in Romans 8:22, For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. The whole creation groans under great bondage, much suffering—not just humanity, but also the animals, the ground and the vegetation as well. Under a curse from God, the earth is full of storms, earthquakes, pestilences, plagues, famine.

The Old Testament is a schoolmaster bringing light to the New. You will never understand the New Testament without the Old. To rightly divide the Word of truth, you must have both. To understand the earth’s redemption from its curse, one must understand both the seven-sealed book of Revelation and the Old Testament’s Law of redemption involving the redeemer kinsman.

The Earth Is Waiting to Be Redeemed

This mortgaged Earth needs a Redeemer Kinsman in order to enter the Perfect Age of a thousand years. No sickness, no disease, no death, not even bugs, thorns or thistles will exist then. Isaiah 35:1,7 describes the redeemed Earth. The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. No more deserts; no more poor soil.

In the South when a patch of ground was infertile we described it as not even being able to grow peas. That meant that life had gone from the land. The Perfect Age will have no lifeless ground. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt (Amos 9:13). Amos through the Spirit of God is saying the harvest will be so great that before it can be reaped, planting time will arrive again. This is redemption for the earth. What a pleasure it will be to live during that time!

And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely (Hosea 2:18). Here the creeping things, the birds and animals receive their redemption. God will honor His covenant of deliverance with them.

And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land (Ezekiel 34:27). The fruit shall be safe from destructive insects. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD (Isaiah 65:25). The lion will eat meat no longer, but dust will be the serpent’s meat—the Lord remembers what the serpent did in the Garden.

The earth is meant to belong to the saints of God one day. God did not make the earth for the devil, the unholy. Jesus said, Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). Many have not understood that promise, but Jesus meant just what He said. The earth will belong to the saints of God who are going to rule with the Lord right here on Earth in the Perfect Age. The terms of Earth’s redemption are contained in this seven-sealed book of Revelation. It is important to understand it.

A Vision of Redemption

In Revelation we find that John in a vision has been taken up to Heaven where he saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals (Revelation 5:1). God is the One sitting on the throne; He holds a strange-looking little book sealed with seven seals. John knows what is in this book, for he knows the Old Testament’s law of redemption. He is well aware of the importance of a qualified person being able to break the seals in order to redeem that which was lost. Can Heaven find someone fit, willing and able? What qualifications would be expected of a person for the redemption of the whole Earth? No human could meet those qualifications; man cannot redeem himself. Man cannot forgive sin. And I [John] saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much (verses 2-4). John wept when it looked as though a redeemer couldn’t be found. He knew that redemption was promised the earth, but he saw no one capable of bringing it about. What about the earth? What about the animals? Would the curse ever be lifted so Earth could become like the Garden of Eden once again?

The seven-sealed book of Revelation is a book of redemption for the whole earth. At the time of John’s vision, recorded in the fourth chapter of Revelation, John was in Heaven, a type of the Bride of Christ. The soul and body had been redeemed through the blood of the Lamb, but the earth had not received its redemption yet.

The earth’s redemption was to begin with the judgments of God in the Tribulation Period so the earth, purified, could then enter the Perfect Age when the Lord would reign with His saints on Earth for a thousand years. With great anticipation John looked forward to that Perfect Age.

In his vision, John saw Heaven searching for someone to meet the redemption’s qualifications, looking not only in Heaven and Earth, but under the earth as well. But now it appeared as though no one worthy could be found in Heaven to open the seven-sealed book.

John continues: And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. This is Jesus taking the book out of the hand of God. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth (Revelation 5:4-10).

Jesus Our Redeemer Kinsman

Forgiveness for sin comes only through Jesus Christ. He is the only One to be found worthy, able and willing to redeem the earth as well as man and those possessions lost in the fall from grace in Eden. Our father, Adam, lost his sinless nature foolishly; and he couldn’t buy it back. He wasn’t able. He didn’t have a Redeemer Kinsman. The Redeemer Kinsman was about four thousand years in the making.

Jesus was the only one who met the qualifications of mankind’s Redeemer Kinsman. He was fit; He had become related to the human race, born of the Virgin Mary. When Jesus took on the form of flesh, He was eligible, fit to be our Redeemer Kinsman. The Holy Ghost overshadowed Mary; that which was conceived within her was of the Holy Ghost. Divine blood, not human blood, flowed in Jesus; for the blood of the child comes from the Father. And at the crucifixion, that divine blood was taken back to Heaven and offered up on the altar of God for our redemption. Jesus became our Elder Brother with an Earth mother, closely related. Willingly He said, I come…to do thy will, O God (Hebrews 10:7). He was able to fill that role because only sinless blood could redeem mankind. Without shedding of blood is no remission (Hebrews 9:22). Without the shedding of blood is no forgiveness for sin.

The type, the shadow of that sinless blood of Jesus was seen throughout the Old Testament under the Law of Moses thousands and thousands of times in the blood sacrifices. The animals slain, a type of Jesus; their blood, a type of His blood offered for the sins of the people. What a price Heaven paid for the redemption of mankind! Sinless blood was offered on the altar of God. Christ became our High Priest for Earth and Heaven, who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself (Hebrews 7:27).

Since Jesus became our Redeemer Kinsman, we no longer have to offer blood for the forgiveness of our sins. He paid the price in blood just like Jeremiah paid the price in silver and gold for his cousin’s land. Jesus couldn’t use silver and gold, only sinless blood that was found nowhere in Earth or Heaven but in His veins. Redemption had been tried with all kinds of animal sacrifices before our Redeemer Kinsman Jesus came. But thank God, Jesus was willing to pay! Had Jesus not met these three qualifications (fit, willing, able), He could not have redeemed us. He didn’t have to do it; no one under the Law, remember, was forced to be a redeemer kinsman. Redemption is exacting; incorporating everything wonderful, great and good for us.

Because Jesus came, we can live free from sin, we can be holy, pure, clean in the presence of God as the eternal ages roll. We can live on Earth one thousand years during the Perfect Age before the earth is renovated. Victory comes through our Redeemer Kinsman Jesus.

Why did God follow the pattern of the Old Testament redeemer kinsman in providing us with the redemption of Christ? Why did John see all Heaven searching for someone worthy to be a redeemer? God wants to emphasize that Jesus is your only Redeemer, the only one worthy, the only one accepted by God the Father to be your sin bearer, your sickness bearer. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

In Review

To review briefly, in John’s vision God holds the scroll containing the price, the conditions for redeeming the earth and returning it to mankind who lost it. The entire creation lies under a curse that must be lifted. The earth has to be redeemed. God made provisions for a possession to be redeemed, and Earth was man’s possession. God gave him dominion over the earth, set up Adam as head; but through disobedience Adam lost his possession, fell into bondage, and with him went all mankind. John knew that the redeemed saints were supposed to return to the earth and reign there, and he weeps because no one has been found to be Earth’s redeemer kinsman.

The root of David was the beginning of the human race, Jesus Christ. I am Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:11), Jesus said in the first chapter of Revelation. As the beginning of man, He was very God. As the Lion of the Tribe of Judah He was related to the human race. Very man and very God prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. Remember, Jesus is the beginning; He is the root. He is very God.

In Isaiah 7:14 we read: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. This verse states the fact that Jesus was very God. Man couldn’t redeem us; it would take very God.

In John 1:1-3, Jesus is called the Word: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. Verse 14, And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. Very God became flesh, our kinsman redeemer. Jesus was both man and God. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star (Revelation 22:16). As the offspring of David, Jesus was very man; and as the root, very God. As the offspring of David, Jesus qualified to be our kinsman: He had become our Elder Brother. As the root of David, He was very God: that made Him able.

And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda. Jesus is the Lamb and also the Lion. You will meet Him in one form or the other. If you meet Him as the Lamb who died for you, you will not have to face Him as the Lion of the tribe of Judah bringing justice and judgment. As unmerciful in judgment as He is merciful in redemption, He will be ferocious, destructive.

Tears in Heaven…redeeming Earth’s mortgage is what John is crying about. He felt great pain to be in that wonderful atmosphere and still cry. But Jesus dried those tears. Jesus came, willing, just like Boaz. Then said I [Jesus], Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God (Hebrews 10:7). Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame (Hebrews 12:2). What was the joy that sustained Jesus on the cross? The joy of being our Redeemer Kinsman to bring us out of bondage, to buy back our freedom from sin. Jesus came to set us free for time and eternity so that we could be like the first man, the first woman, before the fall, perfect and upright. No sickness, no death, no ill feeling—everything was wonderful then. God will have that perfect Eden once again. First He will have it for a thousand years right here on planet Earth, and then for an eternity after He renovates the earth and the new Jerusalem comes down.

These prophecies are found in the faith Book, messages from the faith God. Without faith we will not understand the Word. It’s faith in the Word of God that shows us the way from Earth to Glory. Jesus Christ paid the price for that journey, not with silver and gold but with His blood.

The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin (I John 1:7). What can wash away our sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. The blood is the reason we received redemption for our souls. One day our bodies will be redeemed also, and then the earth. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold…But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (I Peter 1:18,19). Jesus, compared to a lamb without spot or blemish, is coming after the Glorious Church without spot, blemish, wrinkle or any such thing. We’ll be in that place Adam held at the beginning: having dominion over the earth. The Lord will put us in charge of it.

Redemption through Judgment

For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now (Romans 8:19,22). The redemption of the creation. We are redeemed before the Tribulation, but creation’s redemption will not come until after the great Tribulation when the seven seals are broken. Jesus will break one seal at a time, and with each broken seal comes dreadful judgment pouring out on the earth from Heaven. God is bringing war upon planet Earth, upon His enemies.

And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see (Revelation 6:1). John sees the astonishing revelations of the Tribulation Period’s terrifying judgments. Starting with the sixth chapter of Revelation, John’s vision is marked by the judgments of God. God will rain down furious judgments, catastrophes described by using the figures of seven seals, seven lamps, seven trumpets, and seven vials or bowls of the wrath of God. As abundantly as God has poured out His mercy, He will pour out judgment.

False Peace

When the Lamb of God steps forth to break the first seal, John to his amazement sees a rider on a white horse, and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer (Revelation 6:2). John at first must wonder if this rider represents peace, for white is a symbol of peace. No, in this passage the rider on the white horse represents the Antichrist who will present himself to the world as the Christ of God, bringing a false peace. With the Jews he will make a covenant for seven years, as prophesied also in the book of Daniel. The rider on the white horse is the false christ coming in all the splendor, all the power the Jews expect their Messiah to come in. Because Jesus, born as the Babe in Bethlehem, was a humble Lamb, the Jews as a whole would not accept Him.

The Man of Sin

The second seal is broken and another horse—red—comes, plunging nations into the greatest war of all times. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword (Revelation 6:4). Never before has there been such a war.

At first the Antichrist makes a covenant of peace; but by peace he will destroy many. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many (Daniel 8:25). The rider on the red horse reveals himself not as the prince of peace, but as a devilish incarnation in the man of sin. What chaos is coming on the face of the earth! War, war, war! As the second seal is broken the world will collapse in total chaos.

Worldwide Famine

The Lamb of God, Jesus, breaks the third seal; and John sees a black horse. The rider, no doubt, is the same on all the horses, but the horses represent different judgments that will take place. The rider on the black horse holds a pair of balances. A voice is heard: A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine (Revelation 6:6). A measure of wheat is about one quart, or two pounds. A penny was a day’s wages. On today’s market this could mean about $1,000 for just one bushel of wheat. How many will be able to afford food? Not many. A piece of bread will be worth more than gold. Oil and wine represent wealth—don’t destroy the rich at this time. Now the poor and the middle class will suffer; millions will starve. Only as long as the money lasts will people have food. This black horse represents famine, inflation and the results of the scourge of war. Everything will be costly and scarce. This time will see the worst worldwide famine of all history.

The Pale Horse of Death

These multitudes of starving are represented by the pale horse: And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth (Revelation 6:8). Death and hell followed the rider on the pale horse. Think of the multitudes that will be swept from hell on Earth to eternal hell! Power was given them over a fourth part of the earth to kill. A fourth part of the inhabitants of Earth will die during this famine, millions of people. It’s hard to imagine such a thing, and yet the Bible spells it out. Terrible war, pestilence, starvation. People dying all around. We have seen horrifying scenes in some of the underprivileged countries, but nothing like the carnage when a fourth part of the population of Earth is destroyed.

Souls Avenged

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth (Revelation 6:9,10)? These souls are told to wait to be avenged until their fellow servants die.

Judgments from Heaven

The sixth seal is opened, bringing judgments from Heaven: 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; 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. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 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; 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: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand (Revelation 6:12-17)?

When the atomic bombs were dropped on Japan, such chaos and destruction erupted that Japan with her army of seven million was totally defeated. The land was not even invaded. This was the country that produced the Kamikaze pilots, but in terror of those two bombs, people sought protection in dens, caves. Many committed suicide. The devastation of atomic bombs will be nothing like the destruction when God rains down His judgment.

Up until the time the sixth seal was ready to be broken, God had allowed the Antichrist control. The earth had been turned over into the hands of the devil. But beginning with the sixth seal, the Lord rains judgment Himself, pouring it from the skies. It starts with a great earthquake. The stars fall from heaven, the sun blackens, the moon is as blood, and the heavens depart as a scroll in this awesome onset of terrible judgments from Heaven. Judgment rains down on demons, devils and mankind. God may just roll back the sky and let people have a glimpse of an angry God upon His throne. Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord…The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:30,31).

When the sixth seal has been broken and God starts pouring out His judgments, He will stop at nothing until every enemy is conquered. This great chaos will end with the Battle of Armageddon, with Christ appearing in the sky on a white horse, His children with Him, coming to end the battle. How long He will remain in the air we do not know, but we do know He is coming down to finish the battle. When Christ came to Earth before, He brought love; but now He brings fearful judgment. People wouldn’t accept Jesus as the Lamb, and now He has turned into the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. God is raining judgment, using angels to help Him put everything into perspective for remaining mankind.

And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour (Revelation 8:1). The judgments to come will be so terrible that Heaven is silent half an hour. After that silence, God burns up all the green grass and a third of the trees. A third of the sea becomes blood, a third part of the creatures in the sea perish and a third of the ships are destroyed. The waters become bitter and many die because of it. The sun, moon and stars are darkened for a third part of the day. From the bottomless pit, demons in the form of locusts are released who torment men for five months, the five months in which men will seek death but not find it. Horsemen demons kill a third of the men.

You Can Escape the Tribulation Period

But the redeemed need not see this terrible period of Tribulation; the redeemed can be gone. Even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body (Romans 8:23). We are not waiting for the redemption of our souls, but for the redemption of our bodies.

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality (I Corinthians 15:51-53). For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 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 (I Thessalonians 4:16,17). The Lord shall descend, our Redeemer Kinsman. With the Rapture, our bodies will be redeemed; and with judgments He will redeem the earth. But to be eligible for that Rapture redemption, those on Earth at the time of the Rapture must be saved—have Jesus in their hearts—and baptized in the Holy Ghost.

Jesus Offers Redemption to the Sinner

All Heaven and Earth were searched to find someone worthy to redeem the earth, but only the Lamb of God, Jesus, was found. Only He had sinless blood. Redemption couldn’t come through the angels, only through very God Himself, Jesus our Redeemer Kinsman. Because of Him, one day the obedient will have a new body, one day Earth will be redeemed.

Be grateful to Him every moment you have left, grateful for all eternity. Adore Him, love Him, appreciate Him so much that you would never do anything to bring reflection or shame on His name. He gave you the privilege to carry and use His name; He became related to you.

Many excuses are given today for not living holy, for not following Jesus, but the Bible says there is no other name whereby we can be saved. No longer will the sacrifices of animals atone for sin; Jesus brought a new and living way—a grace way. Redemption comes not through works, but only through the blood of Jesus.

You who are lost and undone without God are in bondage, a slave. If you had been a slave under the Law and were told that a redeemer kinsman had come to redeem you from slavery, wouldn’t you have been foolish to reject freedom? Today Jesus your Redeemer Kinsman has come, and you are still a slave to sin, Sinner. Jesus is saying, “I’m your Redeemer Kinsman; through me you can be free.” Do you want to be free? Man can’t deliver you—no man could—but behold the Lamb of God who John saw in Heaven taking the book of redemption and breaking its seals. He will deliver you; He paid the price. He is fit, able, willing—so willing that He died to take away your sins. If you don’t meet Him as your Lamb, you will meet Him as your judge, the Lion without mercy.

Backslider, come to Jesus. Sinner, Backslider, say this prayer with me: Oh, God, I have sinned against you. I confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He is my Redeemer Kinsman. I do believe that there is power in His precious blood to wash away all of my sins. Come on into my heart, Jesus, come on in! If you meant that prayer He has come. Believe Him, love Him, serve Him with all your heart. Study the Word of God and let Him direct your path as you pray, fast and live in His Word. Seek the baptism in the Holy Spirit, for Jesus is coming soon and we must be ready.