Thus far, we have explored several of Elohim’s convocations. We have studied the transforming message of Passover. We have addressed the inspiring call to be among the First fruits. Next, we delved into the purifying significance of the Week of Unleavened Bread. Through the empowering message of the Day of Pentecost, we glimpsed the promise of the Holy Spirit for Elohim’s last people. The implication of mercy has been presented as accompanying the judgments in the final call of the Feast of Trumpets. Finally, we have emphasized our need for solemn soul-searching before the Day of Atonement. Thus, we have nearly reached the last of the annual holy days, or mo’edim, which the moon was created to herald.

It is most appropriate to next look at yet another aspect of these annual Sabbath rehearsals. We have already studied the spiritual significance of the spring, and most of the fall, mo’edim. We have also addressed the specific spiritual lessons these days teach us. In addition, we have looked at the value of the annual rehearsals in preparing us for the final fulfillments of the mo’edim.

But there is yet another layer to be explored. This is the layer of timing. When will these final and ultimate fulfillments occur? When should we expect to see the final outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Latter Rain of Pentecost? How soon can we expect to see the judgments contained in the seven trumpets begin to be unleashed upon this wicked world? At what time will the final Day of Atonement and the final sealing come? When can we look for the final Feast of Tabernacles, which points to Christ’s return? Finally, when will our first day in the kingdom of heaven, come to be?

The subject of prophetic timing is one that many Christians are inclined to avoid. Perhaps one main reason for this apparent reticence stems from the fact that the Bible states we cannot know the exact day or hour when Christ will return.

While it is Biblically stated that we are not to know the exact day or hour of Christ’s return, this fact should not cause us to avoid studying the final events so that we may recognize when His coming is drawing very near! Christ said that if we can recognize the signs of the changing seasons, we should also be able to recognize the signs of His imminent return.

It is no great surprise that Christ would prepare His people for every step in the final countdown to His return. He promised, through the prophet Amos, that He would never do anything without first telling His studying followers about His plans.

Since the Bible promises that Elohim never does anything for man’s salvation, without first foretelling it through the prophets, we can be certain that Christ has given a great deal of information regarding the signs of His return. In fact, understanding these last events and their placement in the final timetable is a very essential part of being prepared to meet our soon-coming Saviour.

The Biblical description that Christ’s coming will be like a "thief in the night" is not to be applied to Elohim’s people. Christ’s coming will not be a surprise to those who recognize its signs through diligent, prayerful study of the Word.

From this text we find that, while we cannot know the exact day or hour of Christ’s return, we can and will know a great deal about the timing. As we see the final events begin to occur, we should be able to place them in the final prophetic timeline. For the purposes of this study, the term "timeline" will be a more liberal use of the word. In other words, we will be placing the final progression of events into their linear order. The actual timing of the events will be either defined through the corresponding mo’edim, or it will be more loosely defined as merely following a previously defined event.

Just what is the final prophetic timeline? The very last timeline is found in the Revelation account of the seven seals. This account begins in Revelation chapter five. Here is recorded a vision, in which John saw YHWH holding a book (or scroll) with seven seals. But as the residents of heaven were searched to find one worthy to open the book and its seals, no one was found that could do it. John began to weep because the idea that the book could not be opened was too terrible to bear.

The fact that John wept at the idea that no one was worthy to open the book and its seven seals shows that John understood what the opening of this book meant for mankind. As we study the seals and the events they contain, we may see what John saw and understand why this small scroll was so important.

As each seal is broken, another event in the final timeline begins. The final seal is the one, which takes Elohim’s people to His eternal kingdom. No wonder John cried at the idea that no one could open this book.

But, John was not left weeping. A comforting word ended his distress. There was One who was worthy to open this vital book. The Lion of the tribe of Judah, also known as Christ our sinless Lamb, had earned the right to open the book. Through His own precious blood, He was worthy to loose the seals, and bring about the final events in earth’s history. Thus, through our Redeemer, the final events culminating in the Second Coming of Christ and a glorious eternity with Elohim may be brought to fruition.

Praise Elohim, Christ’s sacrifice for fallen man has made Him worthy and able to bring about the final events in the last prophetic timeline, completed by bringing home the redeemed! Thus, through the study of these seven seals and the prophesied events they contain, we may gain a clearer understanding of the exact events to occur just prior to the Second Coming.

The first event of the final prophetic timeline is portrayed by a white horse and matching rider. This prophecy is found in the sixth chapter of Revelation. As the Lamb loosens the first seal, this white horse dashes forth, his rider carrying a bow and a crown.

If we would understand the great event, which takes place in the symbolic riding of this first, white horse, we must begin by using the Bible to decode this description. The Word of Elohim is clear in identifying the Rider upon this white horse. This Rider is Christ Himself, as is explained in the nineteenth chapter of Revelation.

While Revelation chapter nineteen certainly sounds like Christ, we can be absolutely certain that He is the white horse Rider through a key phrase found in Revelation nineteen verse thirteen.

By cross-referencing this title, with the name John uses for Christ in his gospel, we find the Word is another name given for Y’shua, our Saviour.

Now that we have Biblically identified the white horse Rider as Christ, Himself, we see that our Saviour is going to begin some sort of work or message, at the time when the first seal is broken. But we need to identify each article mentioned in Revelation six to be certain about what event is prophesied to occur in the opening of the first seal.

Naturally, our attention turns to the white horse, upon which Christ is sitting. What further meaning can be gained from this symbol? Horses, when used in symbolic form in the Bible, often represent groups of people, or nations.

The connection between the white horse and the people of Elohim is strongly established in the second chapter of Joel. Here, the prophet tells us that when you see the mighty army of Elohim’s holy people moving through the earth with the swiftness of and strength of horsemen, it is a sign that YHWH’s coming is near.

The idea that Christ and His people go into the world together carrying a message is supported throughout Scripture. This group of people is very special, because they have overcome all sin, through the enabling power of heaven. They are the first fruits unto holiness.

The white horse is a symbol of the 144,000, also known as the Bride of Christ. This is the group that are depicted as being in such total submission to Christ that they follow Him everywhere doing only His bidding, just as an obedient horse submits to the guidance and will of its rider. United with heaven, this holy group will carry the last call offering salvation to the world.

Through the other symbols found in Revelation six verse one and two, we may find additional support for the belief that this first seal prophesies the final preaching of the last offer of Salvation.

Carrying a symbolic bow, this Rider goes forth victoriously conquering. By looking up the original Greek word, toxon, which is translated as "bow" in this text (Strong’s Concordance #5115), we find that it comes from the root word tikto (#5088), which means "a strengthened form of, to bring forth, to be in travail." From these original meanings, we find that the symbol of Christ and His people bringing a bow represents the fact that they are given their strength from heaven. Furthermore, they have come through great travail or persecution and trouble.

In addition, the Rider on the white horse is given a crown. This he carries to the world in His spiritual ride. This represents bringing salvation to the world, as the crown is used in the Bible to represent salvation.

The vital end-time message of salvation, which is to be proclaimed to the world by the 144,000 through the power of heaven, is the light of the fourth angel! The fact that this Rider and his white horse bring a crown of salvation to the world at the beginning of the very last prophetic timeline makes it clear that this message has to be the last to be proclaimed prior to the outpouring of the plagues. This is unmistakably the Fourth Angel’s Message, as explained in the prior chapter on that subject.

As the spiritual ride of this white horse and Rider is the first event on the timeline of the seven seals, it will contain some message of timing. Through the beginning of this key event, we are to recognize that the time of earth’s history is nearly up, as the final prophetic clock has begun the last countdown.

Ultimately, while we certainly see evidence that the events of the first seal are beginning, the full breaking of the seal and the ride of the white horse have not yet taken place. One of the main results of this ride is to be the fourth angel’s light and Gospel message being carried with dazzling glory to every corner of the globe.

The necessary preparation for opening the first seal is already in place. Thus, we are brought to a vital question: When does this first seal open causing the 144,000 to give the fourth angel’s message to the whole world? In effect, we are also asking: What great event will we look for to determine that the first seal has been opened, and the beginning of the End has finally come?

To answer this question, we will return to the spiritual type of the gospel being preached to the entire world. The first time this occurred was a few short years after Christ returned to heaven. The Early Christians, as has already been studied, carried the gospel to the entire then-known world, just as the 144,000 will in the end of time. And just as their gospel commission was given great power through the fulfillment of one singular event, so the end-time gospel commission will follow a similar event. What was the event, which sparked off the global spread of the gospel in the time of the Early Christian Church?

The great gospel commission was given to the early apostles through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Just as Christ was about to be taken to heaven, having finished His ministry and sacrifice, He informed the disciples that the Holy Ghost would come upon them empowering them to carry the message of the gospel to the whole world.

The disciples did wait in Jerusalem, praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Not surprisingly, considering that Elohim has long established a pattern of fulfilling the rehearsals of the annual holy days upon the actual holy day, the Holy Spirit came upon them on the day of Pentecost. (See Acts 2:1-4.)

From this remarkable event, the disciples were empowered to carry the gospel to the whole world. And from this pattern found in the Early Rain, we find a key event to watch for to begin the final gospel commission: The Latter Rain. Just as the Early Christians were enabled to carry the truth everywhere through the power of Pentecost, so the remnant Christians will be empowered through the final fulfillment of Pentecost.

Thus, for the 144,000, the final fulfillment of Pentecost is the big day for which they will be ready and waiting. As the Holy Ghost is again poured out upon Elohim’s faithful followers, they are sealed (earlier than the rest of the world – as they are the first fruits), inspired, and empowered all in one ultimate Pentecostal experience. From that moment, these faithful ones will go forward with the authority of heaven, carrying the final light to every corner of the globe.

Pentecost then, is the great event that marks the beginning of the final prophetic timeline, as proclaimed in the symbolic message of the seven seals. From this final outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the final events of earth’s history will continue in quick succession, bringing us to the longed for return of our precious Redeemer.

• The final prophetic timeline, which culminates in the Second Coming of Christ, is found in the seven seals of Revelation chapters 6-8.
• As John, the Revelator, saw the sealed book in the Father’s hands, he wept at the idea that it couldn’t be opened. Unless the events of the seven seals take place, the redeemed can never be brought into eternity with Elohim.
• Christ alone, because of His sacrifice, is worthy to open the seals and the book, bringing saved man into glory.
• The first event, which takes place in the opening of the first seal, is the final fulfillment of Pentecost. From this empowering event, the 144,000 will carry the light of the fourth angel to the entire world. This is the message of the first seal.
• Thus, at the final outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the proclamation of the fourth angelic message, heaven’s final prophetic timeline has begun its countdown to the imminent 2^nd Coming!