DON'T LOSE YOUR HEAD?

  Part 3

  Doug Fortune

I believe we can see another illustration of this spiritual principle of 'beheading' or 'severing' the carnal mind portrayed in a different way in the breaking the seven seals in the Book of the Revelation. As we look at this we must keep in focus our context in the Book of the Revelation, which is the REVEAL-ation of Jesus Christ or Christ revealing Himself in the midst of the Candlestick, which is the Church.

"And I 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) In this passage, we are introduced to a scroll or book, sealed with seven seals. This book is in the RIGHT HAND of Him who sits on the throne. Once again, thrones obviously speak of authority. The right hand is symbolic of power or strength and oath or covenant. Father made a covenant with Abraham, "For the promise, that he should be the HEIR of the WORLD, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith." (Romans 4:13) We are heirs of that covenant, "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3:29) So we see that this scroll or book is tied closely with covenant. Now when this speaks of a scroll sealed with seven seals, according to the custom of that day, it is meaning seven scrolls sealed within each other. In other words, you had to open each scroll to get to the next one, like layers of an onion. If we look at Revelation chapter 10, we find that when the seventh seal is broken open and the seventh angel (messenger or message) sounds the trumpet, "the mystery of God should be finished..." (Revelation 10:7)

The word finished is teleo in Greek, meaning complete or revealed. If we allow the Scripture to interpret itself, we know that the 'mystery' spoken of is Christ in us; "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ IN YOU, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:26-27) Since the mystery that is revealed in the breaking of the seventh seal is Christ IN US (plural, corporate), I believe the scroll or book also is really a spiritual picture of us as living epistles that multiply into the Book of Zoe Life. We are the Book of re-MEMBER-ance spoken of in Malachi 3:16, as Jesus Christ re-MEMBERS His many-membered Body.

Were we to read further in Revelation chapter 10, we would find the angel instructing John to eat the 'little book' or scroll. Jesus said for us to eat His Body in re-memberance of Him. As we partake of each other, as He mingles our lives together, then the 'mystery' is revealed... which is Christ in US (plural, corporate body). It is this re-membered, many-membered Body of Christ with Jesus the Head, who is the heir or possessor of the Abrahamic covenant to inherit the world, as we read in Romans 4:13.

Notice that the scroll is written on the inside and the outside. As living epistles, we are to not only have His Word hidden in our hearts, but the Word is to become flesh in us to manifest Christ to the world on the outside. For the most part, I believe that what is written on the outside of the scroll is the destiny of the outer/ carnal man, and what is written on the inside of the scroll is the destiny of the inner/ Christ man. The seals of carnality must be broken to reveal what is written on the inside, in the inner/ Christ man! Also, there are character traits He has written upon us that on one side, when submitted to Him, manifest the nature of Christ... on the other side, when not submitted, manifest the destructive nature of the beast, the Adamic man.

The ONLY One who can loose the seals and reveal the mystery (Christ in us) is Jesus Christ Himself. No human activity, no matter how noble, can reveal Christ, but He chooses to reveal Himself to the world through US. Only the Lion /Lamb of Revelation 5:5-6 can loose the seals and bring forth the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant; "And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou was slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood men of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation, and madest them to be unto our God a kingdom and priests; and they reign upon earth." (Revelation 5:9-10)

Most of the prophetic Scriptures have different layers of meanings and applications. However, it is acceptable within the bounds of orthodoxy to explore fresh prophetic understanding, as long as it is Scripturally sound and does not insist on being the only true interpretation. With that in mind, may I suggest that there are seven seals of the SELF-LIFE that are loosed or broken in the progressive REVEALation of Jesus Christ in the church?

Let us now look to the Book of the Revelation for this progressive REVEALation of Jesus Christ in the church! Here is the order of the living creatures; "And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle." (Revelation 4:7)

First Seal- Dominance vs. Dominion (Revelation 6:1-2)
It is the first living creature, the Lion, who announces the conquering horse. The self-life, the Adamic lion seeks dominance and control over others. We need look no further than the daily news (or many Church by-laws, for that matter!) for evidence of this. As this 'seal' is loosed or broken, then true dominion that operates in mercy and truth, seeking not it's own, but rather the Christ-Life of the Lion / Lamb is established. This servanthood dominion draws the nations to repentance and restoration. "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon thee... And nations shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising." (Isaiah 60:1,3)

Second Seal- Strife vs. Servanthood (Revelation 6:3-4)
The second living creature, the Ox, announces the horse that takes peace. The selfish Adamic ox is bull-headed, he always has to be 'right'. Those with other ideas are viewed as a threat that must be eliminated... strife and bitterness are his yoke-fellows as he plots their destruction. As this seal is broken, then compassionate understanding and the heart of Christ within us to serve is released to manifest to the world.

Third Seal- Judgment vs. True Justice (Revelation 6:5-6)
The third living creature, the man, announces the black horse of judgment. The self-life, the critical Adamic man with scales in his hands, judges after the sight of his eyes. He judges others to see if they 'measure up' to his spiritual standards. Wheat and barley are symbolic of harvest, bounty and fruitfulness. The Adamic religious man says you must PAY THE PRICE, you must EARN God's blessing; "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) The word translated as 'hurt' in that verse is adikeo, meaning to be unjust. Oil and wine are symbolic of the anointing and joy of the Holy Spirit. The cry of the Adamic religious man is "Do no injustice by drawing upon the anointing and joy you have not 'earned' by sacrifice and works, you must pay the price!" As this seal is broken, then the ABIDING anointing, that anointing that comes by virtue of faithfully abiding and RESTING in the finished work of Christ within is released, and mercy and love that covers a multitude of sin flows from the Throne to heal the nations. Yes, it is the Corporate Man seated in the Throne of David that releases mercy and justice; "And in mercy shall the Throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David..." (Isaiah 16:5)

Fourth Seal-Death vs. Spirit Life (Revelation 6:7-8)
The Fourth living creature, the eagle, who is symbolic of Spirit Life, announces the pale horse of death and hell. The Adamic man, who is reaping death by feeding on the Tree of Knowledge, is killing by the sword, hunger, death, and beasts of the earth. Words of death, like a sword proceed from his mouth as he reaps a harvest of what he has sown with his lips. Starvation is evidenced by his air bloated belly, rather than gushing forth living waters from his belly. He is devoid of the true Word of the Lord; indeed a famine for the Word. Just like murderers of old who would have their dead victims strapped to their back for a punishment (the decaying corpse eventually killing them), so the self-life carries the dead Adamic nature strapped to it's back, it's decay killing with death. The Adamic man has the earthly /beast nature, whose rule is 'survival of the fittest'... many suffer death at the hands of earthly /beast nature. As this seal is broken, the Spirit Life of Christ that soars far above the temporal is released. This Spirit Life speaks words of Life, not of death, which satisfy the hunger within us as deep calls unto deep. This Spirit Life has buried the dead man (Adam), and no longer carries him around. Because this Spirit Life is already crucified in Christ (yet living), the earthly /beast has no power over him, for Spirit Life is eternal

Fifth Seal- Psuche vs. Zoe (Revelation 6:9-11)
The fifth seal releases the truth of martyrdom. "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." (Matthew 16:25) As long as we grasp firmly to this temporal 'psuche' life, we will not gain zoe Spirit Life. For some the breaking of this seal means actual physical martyrdom, and their blood cries out for the consummation of all things in Christ. For many this is a 'living' martyrdom, reckoning the death of the soulish temporal life.

Sixth Seal- Government of God vs. Government of Man (Revelation 6:12-16)
The Adamic man seeks domination, power, and control for selfish gain. The sun, moon, and stars are symbolic of earthly government, which we see falling as the kingdoms of this world ARE become the Kingdom of the Lord and His Christ. As this seal of self-serving government is broken, we shall see kings and great men hiding as Jesus Christ reveals Himself in a people who sit upon the Throne of David, ruling in mercy and justice.

Seventh Seal- Fleshly Activities vs. Rest (Revelation 8:1)
The breaking of the seventh seal brings silence, fleshly activities stop. This is entering into the REST of the Seventh Day /Seventh Seal. This rest in the work "...finished from the foundation of the world" (Hebrews 4:3) brings forth seven messages (trumpets) that complete the revealing of Jesus Christ. As the seventh message (trumpet) of the seventh seal is sounded, then the mystery is revealed (Revelation 10:7). And that mystery is CHRIST IN US (plural), the Corporate Man... THIS is the REVEALation of Jesus Christ! (Revelation 1:1)

The Lord Jesus Christ is breaking these seals of the self-life that He may REVEAL Himself in a people. These people are spoken of in Ephesians 4:12-13, and the Scripture tells us this is a result of five-fold ministry; "His intention was the PERFECTING of the saints... unto a PERFECT (teleios in Greek) MAN, unto the measure of the stature of the FULLNESS of Christ." Remember that Revelation 10:7 said "the mystery of God should be finished...", and the word translated as 'finished' is teleo in Greek, meaning complete or REVEALED.

As the seals are broken, the trumpets (messages) sounded, and the mystery revealed, THEN a FRESH PROPHECY is made; "Then they said to me, You are to make a fresh prophecy concerning many peoples and races and nations and languages and kings." (Revelation 10:11 Amplified Bible) I believe that THIS is that fresh prophecy; "And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed... But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever... the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom... And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him." (Daniel 7:14-27)

THIS is our divine destiny as the seals of the self-life are broken and the mystery is revealed, "this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ IN YOU (plural, the Corporate Man), the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27) Truly, it is THROUGH this people that have been 'beheaded' of the carnal mind, that have allowed the 'breaking of the seals', that "The kingdoms of this world (kosmos in Greek) ARE BECOME the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ..." (Revelation 11:15) THIS is the REVEALation of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:1) as He takes His rightful place as HEAD of the many-membered Body of Christ. You've heard it said, Don't lose your head!... I say, Lose it!