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The Apocalypse is the last and most mysterious book of the Bible. The Holy Fathers hardly interpreted it. The text of the book is not read during services in Orthodox churches. And at the same time, many of its symbols are widely known. But how much do we understand their meaning?
Holy Jerusalem will descend from heaven and receive the faithful to God. There will be no death, no crying, no illness in him. Only Divine light, a pure river of life and the bliss of saved peoples...
With this vision the Apocalypse ends. Joyful - contrary to the popular belief about the gloomy prophecy of John the Theologian. His Revelation is the last book of the Bible. A book, when reading which, according to Vasily Rozanov, your tongue burns and your breathing is interrupted. She always amazed the imagination and raised many questions. Why did the text about the salvation of Christians become synonymous with terrible disasters? For what reason is the Apocalypse not read in Orthodox churches? How to understand his images?
There are exactly seven seals, because this is an important number for the Biblical tradition
Needless to say, the 7 seals of the apocalypse are not a random number. In the Jewish tradition, we met it regularly: 7 days of creation, 7 years of Jacob’s labor for Rachel, fasting for 7 days, and so on.
But the seven itself is much older than the Bible. It appears in many of the most important elements of culture and the world around us:
- 7 days of the week;
- 7 notes;
- 7 colors of the rainbow.
7
a number that occurs frequently in our world and has permeated many cultures
Eastern traditions will tell you about the seven chakras, etc., etc. What is important is not this, but the fact that people from ancient times decided that 7 was a special number in our world, and therefore treated it with respect.
The Book of Revelation of John the Theologian is built from chains of sevens:
- Seven Seals;
- Seven angels who sound trumpets;
- Seven bowls.
We are successively described to what each element of these sevens corresponds to. In other words, let's say the angel poured out the cup - something happened.
After every sixth element there is a small compositional digression, and every seventh element launches the next seven. This is how the book of Revelation is interestingly structured.
Woman Clothed with the Sun
And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun; under her feet is the moon, and on her head is a crown of twelve stars. She was with child, and cried out from the pains and pangs of birth (Rev. 12:1–2).
From ancient times to the present day, a woman clothed with the sun has been interpreted as an image of the Church. This understanding has deep biblical roots. In the prophetic books of the Old Testament, the relationship between the God of Israel and His people was presented as marital, hence the numerous images of Israel as a wife. This tradition continues in the New Testament writings with the only difference that Christ appears in the role of the Bridegroom or Husband (Matthew 9 :14-15; 25 :1-13; John 3:29 ; Eph 5 :22-33; 2 Cor 11 :2 ; Rev 19 :7–9; 21 :2, 9).
The differences between the ancient and modern understanding of the symbol of the wife clothed with the sun concern the interpretation of the image of her son. If for the Hieromartyr Methodius of Olympus and Saint Andrew of Caesarea the son is a generalized image of a Christian born with grace by the Church, then for most modern biblical scholars he symbolizes Christ, incarnate in the bosom of the Old Testament people of God.
Vision of the ap. John the Theologian "woman clothed with the sun." Miniature from the Apocalypse. XIII century (Bodl. Douce. 180. Fol.)
In Revelation, Jesus Christ, in the form of a lamb, opens these seals from the book
The author of the revelation describes a certain lamb, that is, a lamb. This is not a random and very ancient symbol. The fact is that our ancestors treated large herbivores with special respect. Somewhere it was a cave bear, but it was exterminated. Large horned animals were predominantly venerated, as evidenced by rock paintings and other signs such as primitive altars.
At some point, the idea arose that revered animals should be killed and sacrificed. The ancestors left no clues about why this was done. But their descendants interpreted the custom in their own way - and the ritual of sacrificing such animals spread throughout the world.
The Lamb represents Christ, for animals have been associated with God since ancient times.
Lambs and kids are among the most common sacrificial animals. They were often killed as a substitute sacrifice - that is, instead of themselves, as the closest to God, a sacred animal. And, for example, in ancient Canaan the idea that an animal is close to God was not recognized. There they sacrificed their firstborn in their place.
One way or another, the parallel between God and a horned animal has survived to this day. In Christianity we can find it, say, in the image of a cross between horns. Jesus in the guise of a lamb is an echo of ancient symbolism. On the one hand, this emphasizes the divine nature of the Messiah, and on the other hand, it illustrates His sacrificial position as the One who suffered for the sins of others.
Two animals
And I stood on the sand of the sea, and I saw a beast come up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns: on his horns were ten crowns, and on his heads were names of blasphemy (Rev. 13:1).
And I saw another beast coming out of the earth; he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon (Rev. 13:11).
In the 13th chapter of the Apocalypse two beasts are presented: one coming out of the sea, the other from the earth. Their activities are described in detail, so understanding these images in the most general sense is not controversial. The two beasts are representatives of humanity, receiving their powers from the dragon-Satan and serving him. All their activities are aimed at fighting God.
A beast emerging from the sea. The Angers Apocalypse (fragment), Jean de Bondolle and Nicolas Bataille, 1373-1381,
The first beast is the embodiment of pride, blasphemy and violence. The second performs various kinds of wonders and signs; his main task is to seduce people. And, according to the text, the second beast successfully copes with this task, so that the people, shocked by its miracles, bowed to the first beast. It is characteristic that in the further narration of the Apocalypse the beast that came out of the earth is called a false prophet (Rev. 16:13; 19:20; 20:10).
This pair of images is interpreted in two ways, due to their extreme complexity and ambiguity. So, for example, in two animals they see both images of specific carriers of evil, and images of godless states or social institutions. Some interpreters saw in the image of the first beast a symbol of the Roman Empire, which subjected Christians to persecution, and in the image of the second - a symbol of the institution of priesthood of the imperial cult.
Beast from the earth.
The book from which the seals are broken is a scroll
We are used to presenting books as we see them. But it is worth remembering that bound books and codices appeared later than the Revelation of John the Theologian was recorded. The author, having seen the bound book, would hardly have called it a book at all. Obviously, he meant the scroll on which the seals are located.
Well, a seal is, of course, not an ink mark that is placed to confirm the authenticity of documents. Seals are usually wax locks that prevent the scroll from being opened without leaving a mark. That is, it is implied that only one worthy person can open that very Book of Revelation - Jesus Christ.
Now that we have covered all these points, there will be no difficulty in understanding what the author is writing about:
“And I cried a lot because no one was found worthy to open and read this book, and even to look into it. And one of the elders said to me: do not cry; Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome, [and can] open this book and open its seven seals. And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures, 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 out into all the earth.”
(Rev. 5:4–6)
Similar scrolls were used in the ancient world; it is on such a book that the seals in the Revelation of John the Theologian are found. Photo: stmegi.com
Four animals
And in the midst of the throne and around the throne were four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind. And the first living creature was like a lion, and the second living creature was like a calf, and the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. And each of the four animals had six wings around, and inside they were full of eyes; and they have no rest day or night, crying out: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come (Rev. 4:6–8).
These four animals are generally understood as the highest orders of angels. Moreover, their description combines the features of the cherubim from the book of the prophet Ezekiel (chapters 1 and 10) and the seraphim from the book of the prophet Isaiah (chapter 6). From the cherubim they have four faces and many eyes, from the seraphim they have six wings, and also the fact that they proclaim to God “holy, holy, holy.” The symbolism of the number “four” (four cardinal directions), combined with faces representing four different living beings, may indicate the fullness of the created world, united in worship of its Creator.
Vulgate. Swiss National Library. Around 820
The first seal - the appearance of the first horseman of the apocalypse
Each seal not only brings the narrator closer to the opening of the mysterious scroll, but also reveals to him the terrifying events of the Book of Revelation. Removing the first seal results in the appearance of a mysterious character:
“And I saw the Lamb open the first of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come and see.” I looked, and behold, a white horse, and a rider on it had a bow, and a crown was given to him; and he went out [as] victorious, and to conquer.”
(Rev. 6:1–2)
White color is associated with something divine. And the character himself is described quite attractively. Many interpreters support each other that this is Jesus Christ. But at the same time, how can it be Him if at the same time the Messiah in heaven is busy opening the seal?
Philip Jacob Lutherburg Jr., "The Opening of the Second Seal." The painting depicts the first horseman of the apocalypse, and behind him appears the second - he is usually identified with war. Photo: fermer.ru
If you think about it, yes. After all, Christianity most often represents Christ as God or the Son of God, but not as a man. Can the laws of time and space limit Him? And in general, the Revelation of John the Theologian is a symbolic book; is it correct to evaluate its facts rationally?
But since the four horsemen of the apocalypse are mentioned together, isn’t it logical that they are all of the same nature? The next three are clearly dangerous phenomena for humans. Why would a rider on a white horse be considered something good? His godlike appearance may be a deception, and therefore many interpreters consider this horseman to be the Antichrist.
Signs of the apocalypse and its 4 horsemen
Difficulties of interpretation
Revelation was not included in the circle of Orthodox church reading. Rus' adopted Christianity from Byzantium, and there they treated the Apocalypse with caution. Yes, it contains many impressive prophetic visions, but are they really that important for believers? Is their author really John the Theologian?
These doubts explain the unusual fact: the Orthodox have only one patristic interpretation of the book. It was compiled in the 6th century by Saint Andrew of Caesarea. It is concise and leaves many questions. At the end of the 19th century, scientific theology arose in Russia, and Russian biblical scholars began to study Revelation. But their work was interrupted by the revolution.
As a result, almost all works on the Apocalypse were written by Catholics or Protestants. Our research resumed not long ago. An authoritative specialist was the professor of the St. Petersburg Theological Academy, Archimandrite Iannuariy (1943-2017). His book “And I Saw a New Heaven and a New Earth” can be found on the website predanie.ru. In Moscow, Revelation is being studied by a group of teachers from the Orthodox St. Tikhon University under the leadership of Professor Anton Nebolsin. Their articles and monographs are available on the website apocalypse-st.ru.
Vision of St. John the Theologian. 16th century icon kept in the Monastery of St. John the Evangelist on Pa
At the end of his life, the Apostle John lived in exile on the island of Patmos. The Roman emperor at that time was Domitian, a zealous admirer of Jupiter and Minerva. Before this, Nero brutally exterminated Christians in Rome. Domitian began persecution throughout the empire. The believers felt themselves on the verge of death.
During this difficult period, a miracle happened on Patmos: Saint John heard a voice from above. He turned around and saw the Lord. His eyes were like fire, his voice was like thunder, his face shone like the sun. John fell on his face and heard: “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last, and the living; and he was dead, and behold, he is alive forever and ever, Amen; and I have the keys of hell and death.” Possession of the keys to hell means that the Creator of the world rules over everything, which means that evil is doomed to defeat.
God began to dictate messages to the Apostle to the Christian churches of Asia Minor. This is not only praise, but also accusations of “fornication”, of loss of spiritual burning. Particularly harsh words are addressed to the Laodicean church, which is outwardly prosperous and rich: “You are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold... I will spit you out of My mouth.”
What have the believers done wrong? According to the theologian Archimandrite Iannuariy (Ivliev), their main sin is betrayal of God, serving idols. They lived among pagans who feasted, ate the meat of sacrificial animals, and praised the Roman deities. Not participating in this, staying apart was risky. And some Christians pretended that they were the same as everyone else. God convicts them and gives them a stern warning. Severity is one of the manifestations of His love. “Those whom I love I rebuke and punish,” says Revelation.
The Second Seal - the arrival of the second horseman of the apocalypse
If there are questions with the first rider, there are usually no doubts about the second. It is identified with war:
“And when he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, Come and see. And another horse came out, a red one; and to him that sat on it was given power to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another; and a great sword was given to him"
(Rev. 6:3–4)
These are the horrors of the last times that the Word of God promises - but this is just the beginning!
The Dragon
And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail carried away a third of the stars from the sky and threw them to the ground (Rev. 12:3–4).
The interpretation of this image is already given in the Apocalypse itself. According to the text, this is the ancient serpent called the devil and Satan (Rev 12 :9). It is important that he acts as the original enemy of the Church, mobilizing his minions from among humanity, represented in the form of two animals, to fight it.
The Dragon. The Angers Apocalypse (fragment), Jean de Bondolle and Nicolas Bataille, 1373-1381,
The third seal - the appearance of the third horseman of the apocalypse
The opening of the third seal predictably ends with the arrival of the third horseman:
“And when He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, Come and see. I looked, and behold, a black horse, and its rider had a measure in his hand. And I heard a voice among the four living creatures, saying: A quinix of wheat for a denarius, and three quinixes of barley for a denarius; But thou shalt not spoil the oil and wine.”
(Rev: 6:5–6)
This character is identified with hunger.
The third horseman. He appeared after the third seal was opened. 13th century illustration from Apocalypse de Douce. Photo: fermer.ru
The Great Whore of Babylon and the Bride and Wife of the Lamb, New Jerusalem
And one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke to me and said to me: Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters; The kings of the earth committed fornication with her, and those who dwell on the earth were drunk with the wine of her fornication. And he led me in spirit into the desert; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns (Rev. 17:1–3).
And one of the seven angels came to me, who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues, and said to me: Go, I will show you a wife, the bride of the Lamb. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, holy Jerusalem, which came down out of heaven from God (Rev. 21:9–10).
These two undoubtedly grandiose images are opposed to each other. The New Jerusalem is a symbol of the perfect unity of Christians with God in the next century, when nothing sinful or evil can disrupt this unity. The description of the city is dominated by the symbolism of the number 12 (It has a large and high wall, has twelve gates and twelve Angels on them; on the gates are written the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel (Rev 21:12 ), traditionally associated with the image of the Church (12 tribes of Israel, 12 apostles).
On the contrary, Babylon is an image of the atheistic unity of people in sin, an image, if you like, of the “anti-Church.” It is no coincidence that the harlot is shown sitting on a scarlet beast, in which one can recognize the beast that came out of the sea, although some interpreters saw in him the dragon-devil himself. This satanic union of sinners is shown as a life focused on satisfying their sinful passions. In addition, the image of the great whore of Babylon demonstrates the seductive power of evil.
Babylonian harlot riding a beast. Miniature from the Apocalypse. Before 1072 (Paris. Lat. 8878. Fol. 52v)
The fourth seal - the coming of the fourth horseman of the apocalypse
The fourth seal opens the way for the last of the horsemen of the apocalypse:
“And when He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature, saying, Come and see. And I looked, and behold, a pale horse, and its rider, whose name was “death”; and hell followed him; and power was given to him over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with the sword, and with famine, and with pestilence, and with the wild beasts of the earth.”
(Rev: 6:7–8)
In the original, the color of his horse is pale green, but the translators felt that for the Russian reader, pale would be more associated with death, since this color corresponds to the impression that a pale green horse made on ancient readers.
Hell is a mistranslation. In the original - hades, that is, the kingdom of the dead in principle, and not a place where sinners languish.
By the way, this is the only rider whose name (meaning) is given.
On the Polyptych of St. John (1470s) Hans Memling depicted, instead of hell, which follows the 4th horseman of the apocalypse, a certain demon - the personification of hell. This is an illustration of the breaking of the fourth seal. Photo: fermer.ru
The time is near
The fate of the last book of the Bible is paradoxical. In church life it is rarely addressed: its text is not heard in churches, there are no sermons on the topic of what has been read. Many pastors believe that the Gospel and the Apostolic Epistles are enough to save the souls of the laity, and that mysterious visions can lead to spiritual delusion. And at the same time, the symbols of Revelation are widely known. We meet them in books and films, among talented artists and in the tabloid press. The Apocalypse is referred to by the authors of far-fetched sensations and frightening theories, which in fact turn out to be the result of ignorance and superstition.
However, there are also real signs of a growing threat. In 1947, American nuclear scientists created the Doomsday Clock project. The proximity of the minute hand to midnight reflects the likelihood of a nuclear conflict or global catastrophe. Every year the position of the needle is adjusted, leading experts from different countries participate in this. In 1947 there were 7 minutes left until midnight, in 1991 - 17. Today - 2 minutes.
“History will end when evil subjugates the life of humanity,” Patriarch Kirill explained in the television program “The Word of the Shepherd.” — As long as there is good in the world, the Lord gives us time for repentance and change. But we shouldn't be naive. Irreversible processes can begin at any moment.
“The time is near” - these words are spoken twice in the Apocalypse: at the beginning and at the very end. They call Christians to special spiritual attention and to the fight against evil. The test of loyalty to God takes place here and now.
Mikhail Ustyugov
The fifth seal is the observation of those killed for the word of God
The pattern stops working for those who expected to see the next horseman behind the fifth seal. The author depicts those killed for the word of God. From the context, it appears that these are people who have yet to be killed at the time of writing, although this is not explicitly stated. It is possible that this means all those who suffered for their faith.
“And when He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they had. And they cried out with a loud voice, saying: How long, O Lord, Holy and True, do you not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth? And white robes were given to each of them, and they were told to rest for a little while longer, until their fellow servants and their brothers, who would be killed like them, would complete the number.”
(Rev: 6:9–11)
The Austrian artist Karl Rossing depicted the horrors of revelation in contemporary Vienna in the 40s. Photo: fermer.ru
The most mysterious chapter
Each image of Revelation has been interpreted many times. What does it mean, for example, a book with seven seals? Modern researcher Veronika Androsova in her monograph “Heavenly Books in the Apocalypse of John the Theologian” indicates several different interpretations: it could be a book of life, a book of the destinies of the world, a legal document, a symbolic will, and even a letter of divorce, with which the Almighty dissolves the alliance with the unfaithful people of Israel.
But the 20th chapter of the Apocalypse caused the most controversy. It says that God will temporarily paralyze Satan and imprison him in the abyss. Later, the devil will come out and try to take revenge, but as long as he is in chains, the righteous will triumph on earth. Here is a description of their triumph: “And I saw thrones and those sitting on them, to whom judgment had been given, and the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast nor his image, nor had received the mark on their foreheads or on their hands. my. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”
Many understood it this way: the saints will become real power, and earthly paradise will come. The righteous will pray and rejoice, and God will provide them with food from the Garden of Eden - an abundance of fruits and berries.
But no matter how much Christians wanted to believe in a bright future on earth, the Church did not accept such a theory. The interpretation of St. Augustine is considered true: the earthly kingdom of Jesus Christ arose from the moment of the creation of His Church. Thanks to the Savior's atoning sacrifice, Satan lost his absolute power over people. Those who are in the Church, who partake of its Sacraments, already today triumph with the Lord.
Sixth Seal - Cataclysms
The opening of the sixth seal triggers terrible cataclysms:
“And when He opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became dark as sackcloth, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree, shaken by a strong wind, drops its unripe figs. And the sky disappeared, curled up like a scroll; and every mountain and island moved from their places. And the kings of the earth, and the nobles, and the rich, and the captains of thousands, and the mighty, and every slave and every free man, hid themselves in caves and in the ravines of the mountains, and said to the mountains and stones: Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb; For the great day of His wrath has come, and who can stand?”
(Rev: 6:12–17)
Although the reader may expect that now there will be another description and the seven seals will end, the author follows a strict composition, where after every sixth element there is a digression. The entire seventh chapter is devoted to a description of events at the throne of God, as well as angels at the four ends of the earth.
Text of the book “2012. Why Apocalypse? Evidence, scenarios, reasons"
2.5. Seven Seals of the Biblical Apocalypse
The above diagram allowed V.P. Babanin to decipher the 7 seals of the Revelation (in Greek - Apocalypse) of John the Theologian, given to him by Jesus Christ (Rev. 1-22).
The expression “behind seven seals” is often used in cases where the conversation is about something secret, hidden, difficult to explain. Zodiac diagram of V. P. Babanin.
The fact is that the Gospel says in the name of God: “Everything must be fulfilled that was written about Me in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalms” (Luke 24:44). And the rest of the prophecies must be fulfilled in the last days.
But neither angels, nor people, nor saints could open this book: Christ alone was worthy to open the book of God's destinies.
Christ is depicted in the Apocalypse as “a Lamb, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes,” which respectively symbolize His strength and the omniscience of God.
The following is the story of the Lamb opening the first six seals one by one.
When these seals are removed, famous horses appear in the Apocalypse. First seal.
Sagittarius – the “white horse” of the Apocalypse First – a white horse, symbolizing the angelic host. A horseman with a sword and a crown signifies the victory of Christ over the false messiahs. “And I saw that the Lamb had opened the first of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, Come and see. I looked, and behold, a white horse, and a rider on it had a bow, and a crown was given to him; and he went out as if victorious, and to conquer” (Rev. 6:1; 6:2). The animal “speaking as if with a voice of thunder” is, of course, a lion. It is represented in the sky by the constellation Leo. But what white horse, rider with a crown on his head and with a bow in his hand, did John the Theologian speak about? The answer is quite simple - the zodiac sign is Sagittarius. He has the appearance of a winged centaur with two faces. He is armed, determined, the arrow is about to fly off the bowstring... He gallops forward to take the next milestone. Who should he defeat? What dangerous threshold must be overcome? It is opposed by the Zodiac sign Scorpio, the next sign after Sagittarius. It is he who is destined for the arrow that is ready to fly out of the bow... In this battle, Sagittarius will be helped by the experience of the past and aspirations for the future, which are symbolically depicted by two faces looking forward and backward. And the wings will allow you to rise above the frailty of earthly life.
Unsealing the Book of God and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Albrecht Durer (Germany, 15th century).
“And I saw the Lamb open the first of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, Come and see. I looked, and behold, a white horse, and a rider on it had a bow, and a crown was given to him; and he came out victorious, and to win... And another horse came out, a red one; and to him that sat on it was given power to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another; and a great sword was given to him... I looked, and behold, a black horse, and a rider on it, having a measure in his hand... And I looked, and behold, a pale horse, and a rider on it whose name was “death”; and hell followed him; and authority was given to him over the fourth part of the earth to kill with the sword, and with famine, and with pestilence, and with the beasts of the earth” (Revelation 6:2-8).
Everything that was said here also applies to humanity, which will live in the era of Sagittarius - from 6310 to 8470 AD.
e. Second seal.
Scorpio is the “red horse” of the Apocalypse. The red horse is a sign of the shedding of Christian blood and the heartfelt jealousy of those who suffered for Christ. “And when He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, Come and see. And another horse came out, a red one; and to him who sits on it it is given to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another; and a great sword was given to him” (Rev. 6:3; 6:4).
So who was hiding under the red horse and the rider with the big sword? It was the zodiac sign Scorpio. But is Scorpio, which gave its name to the constellation, red? Yes, it is mostly reddish in color with varying shades ranging from brownish yellow to reddish brown. The functions of the “big sword” are performed by a segmented flexible “tail” with a curved poisonous sting at the end. For the small size of a scorpion, its stinger really looks like a large “sword”. When a scorpion moves along the ground, its tail is bent in an arc so that the end with the sword-sting is always pointed forward and ready to strike at any moment. Scorpios are unpredictable and treacherous. Therefore, among the ancients they were considered a symbol of betrayal. This quality of Scorpios was transferred to red-haired people. Many rulers, including Russian tsars, did not allow red-haired people to appear in their circle: they were not trusted, troubles and all sorts of troubles were expected from them. This was probably the statistics from the experience of past generations of peoples and their rulers.
Scorpios are predators.
The lifestyle of Scorpios and their behavior give us the opportunity to assess the living conditions of humanity in the era of Scorpio as arid, full of dangers, volcanic eruptions and searing cosmic radiation. This era will span the period from 8470 to 10630 AD. e. The previous era of Scorpio was during the time of Atlantis and extended from 17450 to 15290 BC. e. The era of Scorpio is similar in nature to the eras of Leo, Aquarius and Taurus. They are accompanied by powerful cataclysms. Third seal.
Libra - the “black horse” of the Apocalypse The third horse is a black horse with a rider who had a “measure (scale) in his hand,” which signifies the falling away from Christ of those who do not have firm faith in Him and “crying for those who have fallen from faith in Christ due to the severity of torment " “And when He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, Come and see. I looked, and behold a black horse, and its rider had a measure in his hand” (Rev. 6:5).
The Zodiac sign in question is obvious: where there is measure, there are scales. But why “black horse”? From the word “blue”! As you know, many types of scales were and continue to be made from durable metal - steel or cast iron. An example of such previously widely used scales is the steelyard. To protect the scales from corrosion and give them a decorative appearance, they were blued.
Libra is a very good sign. It testifies to harmony and balance not only in the world of space, stellar systems and stars, but also in the very personality of a person, in his soul. And here it is important not only to realize the need to achieve such a state of mind and body, but also to strive for it. Harmony is achieved in the process of mental activity. The Zodiac sign Libra depicts a person sitting on a chair on a scales yoke. With his right hand he points to the scales, which are in a balanced state, and with his left hand he points to his head. Thus, he seems to say: “Think, think! Look to the root! Yes, it’s all in the head, in thoughts, in deep thinking, in knowledge... We also sometimes use a similar hand gesture, pointing to our head, when we want to draw the attention of another, so that he thinks better about his actions, words, deeds, so that he strives to harmony even in thoughts. In addition, scales are a universally recognized symbol of justice.
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Matthias Gerung, miniature from the Otthainrich Bible (Germany, 16th century).
“I looked, and behold, a white horse, and his rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him; and he came out victorious, and to win... And another horse came out, a red one; and to him that sat on it was given power to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another; and a great sword was given to him... I looked, and behold, a black horse, and a rider on it, having a measure in his hand... And I looked, and behold, a pale horse, and a rider on it whose name was “death”; and hell followed him; and authority was given to him over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with the sword, and with famine, and with pestilence, and with the beasts of the earth" (Revelation,
6–2–8
).
In the era of Libra, due to the drift of the Earth's rotation axis, the celestial pole will be in the area of the sky where the constellations Cygnus and Lyra are located.
This era will span the period from 10630 to 12790. n. e. The previous era of Libra was during the time of Atlantis. Fourth Seal.
The Virgin is the “pale horse” of the Apocalypse The fourth is a pale horse with a rider whose name is death, which means the manifestation of the wrath of God in vengeance for the pious and in punishment of sinners - these are various disasters of the last times predicted by Christ the Savior. “And when He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature, saying, Come and see. And I looked, and behold, a pale horse, and its rider, whose name was death; and hell followed him, and power was given to him over the fourth part of the earth - to kill with the sword, and with hunger, and with pestilence, and with the beasts of the earth” (Rev. 6:7-6:8).
The pale horse and death rider refers to the zodiac sign Virgo. But Virgo, as a woman, should give life, and not take it away. What's the matter? An explanation for this strange circumstance is given by the ancient Egyptian Zodiac, where Virgo was not alone. She truly gave life, which found its symbolic expression in the shining ear of grain that she held in her hand. But she was followed by the god of the kingdom of the dead, Anubis, with the head of a jackal or dog. Anubis took life from those to whom the Virgin gave it. Virgo and Anubis - life and death... They are nearby. This is not news for us. Everything in the world has a beginning, and everything in the world has an end, so that everything can be repeated from the beginning... The world is eternal!
So it is clear that the horseman followed by hell was Anubis. During the Virgo era, he brought hunger, war, disease and death to the Earth. In Ancient Egypt, Anubis was the god of darkness, the god of the other world. On the Zodiac he is depicted as shorter than the radiant Virgo. It may correspond to a black star - a source of powerful neutron or X-ray radiation, destructive to all living things. It may be a white dwarf, which is formed during the explosion of red supergiants, simultaneously destroying all life in the vicinity of its systems. It is also known that black and white dwarfs are always smaller in volume than hot stars, since the matter in them is in a super-dense state.
Opening of the fifth and sixth seals. Albrecht Durer (Germany, 15th century).
“And when He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who were slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they had... And when He opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became dark as sackcloth, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree, shaken by a strong wind, drops its unripe figs" (Revelation 6:12-13).
Our descendants will live under the sign of Virgo from 12790 to 14950 AD.
e. The previous era of Virgo was during the time of Atlantis, shortly before the destruction of its last remnants. Then the celestial pole was located near the star Vega from the constellation Lyra. And in the future era of Virgo, the celestial pole will also be in this place. Fifth seal.
The Age of Leo is the forerunner of great catastrophes. The opening of the fifth seal is the prayer of the holy martyrs at the throne of God for the acceleration of the end of the world and the onset of the Last Judgment. “And when He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they had. And they cried out with a loud voice, saying: How long, O Lord, holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth? And white garments were given to each of them, and it was said to them that they should rest still for a little while, until their fellow servants and their brothers, who would be killed like them, would be completed the number” (Rev. 6:9-6:11 ).
Judging by the diagram, the next sign after Virgo is Leo. None of the Egyptian Zodiac signs had as many symbols as Leo. This once again emphasizes its significance in the Zodiac - the circle of “animals”. And it’s not surprising: Leo is also considered the “king of beasts” on Earth. I wonder what the “short time” that the souls of “those who were slain for the word of God and for the testimony that they had” must endure could be equal to? And what will the number of “killed” be equal to after it is supplemented by other killed? The “little time” is the time that must pass before the sixth seal is opened from the Book of Life. Then the era of Cancer following Leo will begin and the time of great catastrophes on Earth will come. And here the era of Leo is a kind of forerunner of these catastrophes. “Addition of the number” is due to the fact that with the advent of the Age of Cancer the number 144,000 will be indicated.
The previous Age of Leo was during the time of Atlantis and covered the period from 10970 to 8810.
BC e. It was during this period that its last remnants, the famous island of Poseidon and millions of humanity, perished. Then the celestial pole was the star Vega from the constellation Lyra. The Atlanteans oriented their pyramids towards it, which were built or restored in anticipation of the time of catastrophes. And the Great Pyramids at Giza, the construction of which is attributed to the IV dynasty pharaohs Cheops, Khafre and Mikerin, were one of them. The pharaohs of Egypt only restored them. The next Age of Leo, which our distant descendants will witness, will begin in 14950 AD. e. and will end in 17110. n. e. And again the celestial pole will be the star Vega. Sixth seal.
The Age of Cancer is a time of great catastrophes. The opening of the sixth seal symbolizes the natural disasters and horrors that will occur on Earth in the last period of its existence immediately before the end of the world, the second coming of Christ and the Last Judgment. “And when He opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became dark as sackcloth, and the moon became like blood; and the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree, shaken by a strong wind, drops its unripe figs; and the sky disappeared, curled up like a scroll; and every mountain and island moved from their places; and the kings of the earth, and the great, and the rich, and the captains, and the mighty, and every slave and every free man, hid themselves in caves and in the clefts of the mountains” (Rev. 6:12-6:15).
The trumpet of the sixth angel sets in motion a huge army beyond the Euphrates River, which kills a third of the people (see Revelation 9:13-21).
Thanks to the diagram, we can determine that all these great catastrophes, which are told in allegorical form in Revelation, will begin on Earth after the breaking of the sixth seal, with the advent of the Age of Cancer (aka the Crab in the Egyptian Zodiac image). The era will cover the time period from 17110 to 19270 AD. e.
The previous era of Cancer extended for 2160 years after the destruction of Atlantis - from 8810 to 6650 BC. e.
And who are the Angels who blow trumpets and perform other actions during the apocalypse? This usually refers to the stars of the constellations, sometimes to the constellations themselves. Four Angels and “another Angel” are mentioned in connection with the breaking of the sixth seal. The “Other Angel” can be found in the constellation Hercules, where the celestial pole will be located in the Age of Cancer. Here, “nearby”, is the “head” of the Dragon. Seven Angels with seven trumpets are the seven stars of Ursa Major.
From the text of Revelation we also know that it was after the opening of the sixth seal that “seals were placed on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” Why is this?
Angelic trumpets foretell disasters for humanity - physical and spiritual. But before the disaster begins, the Apostle John sees an Angel placing a seal on the foreheads of the sons of the New Israel (Rev. 7:1-8). “Israel” is the New Testament Church. The seal symbolizes chosenness and grace-filled protection. This vision is reminiscent of the Sacrament of Confirmation, during which the “seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit” is placed on the forehead of the newly baptized. It also resembles the sign of the cross, by which those protected “resist the enemy.” People who are not protected by the seal of grace suffer harm from the “locusts” that emerged from the abyss, that is, from the devil’s power (Rev. 9:4).
The mysterious seal was placed to preserve the righteous from the fate of the wicked (Ezek. 9:4). When listing the 12 tribes of Israel by name, the tribe of Dan was deliberately omitted. Some see this as an indication of the origin of the Antichrist from this tribe. The basis for this opinion are the mysterious words of the patriarch Jacob regarding the future of the descendants of Dan: a serpent on the road, an asp on the way (Gen. 49:17). Thus, this vision serves as an introduction to the subsequent description of the persecution of the Church.
The number of "those sealed was one hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel."
As for the physical disasters and punishments of sinners, often mentioned in the Apocalypse, God allows them for admonition in order to lead sinners to repentance (Rev. 9:21).
But the apostle notes with sorrow that people do not heed the call of God and continue to sin and serve demons. They, as if “having the bit between their teeth,” rush to their own death. The seventh seal.
Twins - “two witnesses of God” “And when He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for as it were half an hour” (Rev. 8:1). This silence in heaven meant the concentration of reverent attention of the Angels and people standing before the throne of God in anticipation of terrible signs of the wrath of God before the end of this age and the appearance of the Kingdom of Christ. This is the silence before the storm that will shake the world during the Antichrist. Before the onset of disasters, the Apostle John sees saints earnestly praying for mercy for people (Rev. 8:3-5). Disasters in nature. Following this, the trumpets of each of the seven Angels are sounded, after which various disasters begin. First, a third of the vegetation dies, then a third of the fish and other sea creatures, followed by poisoning of rivers and water sources. The fall of hail and fire, a flaming mountain and a luminous star onto the earth seems to allegorically indicate the enormous extent of these disasters. Is this not a prediction of the global pollution and destruction of nature that is observed today? If so, then environmental catastrophe foreshadows the coming of the Antichrist.
The Seventh Seal and the Eight Angels. Miniature from the “Bamberg Apocalypse” (Germany, 11th century).
“And when He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for as it were half an hour. And I saw seven angels who stood before God; and seven trumpets were given to them. And another angel came and stood before the altar, holding a golden censer...” (Revelation 8:1-3).
After the opening of the seventh seal: “And John saw “seven angels standing before God; and to them were given seven trumpets” (Rev. 8:2). The trumpet sounds of all seven Angels are heard one after another, which are accompanied each time by great disasters and executions for the earth and its inhabitants.
“The first angel sounded, and there was hail and fire mingled with blood, and they fell on the earth; and the third part of the trees was burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.”
By hail falling on the ground and “fire mixed with blood,” many interpreters understood a war of extermination.
“The second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea; and the third part of the sea became blood, and the third part of the living creatures that lived in the sea died, and the third part of the ships perished.”
Interpreters gave such a fantastic solution to this picture: a volcano will open at the bottom of one of the oceans, and its fiery lava will fill a third of the earth’s water basins, bringing death to all living things. Others believed that bloody sea battles with the help of newly invented murder weapons were depicted here in allegorical form.
“The third angel sounded, and a great star fell from heaven, burning like a lamp, and fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of this star is wormwood; and a third of the waters became wormwood, and many of the people died from the waters, because they became bitter.”
This prediction was understood as follows: a meteor would fall to the ground and poison water sources, which would become poisonous. After the Chernobyl disaster, they immediately remembered the “Wormwood star,” so vividly did this strange prophecy of a radioactive disaster “lay down.”
“The fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun and the third part of the moon and the third part of the stars were struck, so that the third part of them was darkened, and the third part of the day was not light, neither were the nights.”
This was considered to be the easiest prediction because it speaks of celestial eclipses, which have always terrified people. In themselves they were harmless, but with their mystery they seemed to prophesy terrible troubles.
At the trumpet voice of the fifth Angel, a star fell from the sky, “and the key to the well of the abyss was given to it. She opened the pit of the abyss, and smoke came out of the pit like smoke from a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke from the vault. And out of the smoke came locusts onto the earth...” The story of the locusts (fifth trumpet, Rev. 9:1-11) coming out of the abyss speaks of the strengthening of demonic power among people. It is headed by “Apollyon,” which means “destroyer,” the devil. As people lose the grace of God through their unbelief and sins, the spiritual emptiness that forms in them is increasingly filled by demonic power, which torments them with doubts and various passions.
These locusts, like scorpions, were ordered to torment people who did not have the seal of God on themselves for five months. The description of a monstrous locust, with a head resembling a human head, but with lion teeth, leads some interpreters to believe that this is nothing more than an allegorical depiction of human passions.
Others find similarities between these locusts and airplanes and bombers. The horrors that people will then be subjected to will be such that they will seek death, but will not find it: “they will wish to die, but death will flee from them.”
The trumpet of the sixth Angel sounded - and John saw the invasion of an innumerable foreign army: “the horses and their riders had armor of fiery hyacinth and gray; The heads of the horses were like the heads of lions, and from their mouths came fire, smoke and brimstone.”
By this terrible cavalry army they meant a bloody, merciless war, such as the Second World War that people experienced not so long ago was. And in the horses spewing smoke and brimstone, tanks were easily discernible...
John also notes that before the end of the world there will be a general bitterness and insensitivity of people who survived all these horrors, but did not repent of the works of their hands: “And they did not repent of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of his theft."
Before the last, seventh sound of the trumpet, John saw “another angel, mighty, descending from heaven clothed with a cloud; over his head was a rainbow, and his face was like the sun, and his feet were like pillars of fire,” standing one on the sea, the other on the land. Raising his hand, the Angel swore to those who live forever and ever that “there will be no more time,” that is, the usual circulation of the elemental world will cease, and there will be no time measured by the sun, but eternity will come.
Then John, at the command of a voice from heaven, approached the Angel, and the Angel gave him a book to swallow, which he held open in his hand. “And she was as sweet as honey in my mouth; When I ate it, my stomach became bitter.” This means that John accepted the prophetic gift, as the Old Testament prophets accepted it. And the Angel said to him: “You must again prophesy about peoples and tribes and languages and many kings.”
In the next chapter of the Apocalypse, it was revealed to John that the holy city of Jerusalem would be given over to the pagans to be trampled underfoot for 42 months, or three and a half years, “half a week.” The numbers seven and three and a half - "half weeks" - were considered mystical and were often found in the Old Testament.
The trampling of the holy city, or the Universal Church, for three and a half years means that at the coming of the Antichrist the faithful will be persecuted for forty-two months. All this time, “two witnesses of God” will preach repentance to people and turn them away from the deception of the Antichrist. In the two witnesses of God, the holy fathers see the Old Testament righteous Enoch and Elijah, who, before the end of the world, will come to earth to expose the deceitfulness of the Antichrist and call people to loyalty to God. The Old Testament righteous Enoch and Elijah were taken to heaven alive. At the end of their preaching mission, the “beast that comes out of the abyss,” that is, the Antichrist, will kill the righteous, and throw their corpses on the streets of the great city, where “our Lord was crucified” (Gen. 5:24; Rev. 11:2-12) .
Saint John and the Book of the Angel. Albrecht Durer (Germany, 15th century).
“And I saw another mighty angel descending from heaven, clothed with a cloud; over his head there was a rainbow, and his face was like the sun, and his feet were like pillars of fire, in his hand he had an open book... And the voice that I heard from heaven began to speak to me again, and said: go, take the open book from the hand of the Angel standing on the sea and on the earth. And I went to the Angel and said to him: give me the book. He said to me: take it and eat it; she will be bitter in your belly, but in your mouth she will be sweet as honey. I took the book from the Angel's hand and ate it; and she was as sweet as honey in my mouth; And when I ate it, my stomach became bitter” (Revelation 10:1-2; 8-10).
It is in Jerusalem that the Antichrist will establish his kingdom and begin to pose as the Messiah predicted by the prophets. And the infidels, deceived by the false miracles of the Antichrist, will worship him and rejoice in the death of the prophets. But the reign of the wicked will not last long. After three and a half days, God will revive the prophets and take them to heaven. At the same time, as punishment for the infidels, a great earthquake will occur, a tenth of the city will be destroyed and seven thousand people will die, and the rest, overcome with fear, will give glory to God. This will deal a decisive blow to the cause of the Antichrist.
The main content of the Apocalypse is the reign of Christ in the world. After this, the final part of the Apocalypse begins.
Saint John saw “a sea of glass mixed with fire; and those who have overcome the beast, and his image, and his mark, and the number of his name, stand on this sea of glass,” which signifies the multitude of those who are being saved. The sea is mixed with fire, because fire in the Bible has two properties: one – scorching the sinners, the other – enlightening the righteous.
Seven new Angels appeared in the sky. One after another they pour out the seven bowls of God's wrath on the earth, and great disasters befall the human race.
When the first angel poured out the cup, “cruel and disgusting festering wounds appeared on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image.”
When the second Angel poured out his cup into the sea, the water in the sea became like the blood of a dead man, and everything alive in the sea died.
The third angel poured out his cup into the rivers and springs of water, and the water in them turned to blood.
And the fourth Angel poured out his cup on the sun; the sun was given the power to burn people with intense heat.
The fifth angel poured out his cup upon the throne of the beast; and his kingdom became dark. The darkened kingdom of the beast means the gradual decline of its greatness and glory.
The sixth angel poured out his bowl into the great river Euphrates, and the water in it dried up, so that the way for the kings would be ready from the rising of the sun. A map of the ancient Roman Empire will provide an explanation for this prophecy. The Euphrates was like a border, a stronghold preventing the kings with their troops from going to the kingdom of the Antichrist, that is, to Rome, to carry out the judgment of God.
After the sixth angel poured out his cup of wrath, three unclean spirits like frogs came out of the mouth of the beast. These demonic spirits gathered all the forces of evil for war against the forces of good “to a place called in Hebrew Armageddon.” "Mount Mageddo" is a place in Palestine mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. Many battles took place there in ancient times.
These few lines from “Revelation” have been interpreted for many centuries in a row, expecting from day to day Armageddon - the battle of God with Satan, after which all humanity will perish, except for those who have endured everything and are faithful to the Creator.
After the appearance of the three unclean spirits, the seventh Angel appeared and “poured out his cup into the air: and from the temple of heaven a loud voice was heard from the throne, saying: It is done! And there were lightnings, thunders and voices, and there was a great earthquake, such as has not happened since people lived on earth.” From this earthquake “the great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the pagans fell,” which means the final defeat of the kingdom of the beast.
Battle of Angels. Albrecht Durer (Germany, 15th century).
“And the four angels were released, prepared for an hour and a day and a month and a year, to kill the third part of the people” (Revelation 9:15).
One of the seven Angels informs John that the fate of Babylon - the “great harlot” - has been decided, the kingdom of the Antichrist has been destroyed. The early Christians identified Babylon with Rome, which became a symbol of evil and lawlessness.
Many researchers believe that nuclear wars and environmental disasters are quite comparable in scale to what John the Theologian describes.
The seventh seal - the transition to the seven bowls
Every seventh element of the list is a transition to the next list of seven elements. Therefore, the seventh seal has not only a plot function, but also a compositional function. This is what happens when the seventh seal is broken:
“And when He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for as it were for half an hour.”
(Rev: 7:1)
The expression “as if” warns against taking the period of time literally. Then the author writes:
“And I saw seven angels standing before God; and seven trumpets were given to them"
(Rev: 7:2)
So from the seals we move on to the seven trumpets, and from them we move on to the seven bowls.
Two witnesses
And I will give to My two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth (Rev. 11:3).
The interpretation of the image of the two witnesses among modern biblical scholars is very different from how they were understood by ancient authors. Most early Christian interpreters connected the plot of the two witnesses with the final segment of human history. The two witnesses were understood as two specific righteous men of Old Testament antiquity who appeared for the final testimony of Christ before the world.
Saint Andrew of Caesarea saw in the image of two witnesses an indication of two Old Testament righteous men - Enoch and the prophet Elijah. In modern biblical studies, a different perception prevails, within the framework of which the story of the two witnesses is thought of as a symbolic image of the entire history of the Church - from the era of the apostles to the end of the world.
Parable of the Two Witnesses. Miniatures from the Apocalypse. Beginning XIV century (Cantabr. Corp. Chirst. 20. Fol. 25v)
