Second Seal

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This article is one in a series of studies on the Seven Seals - you are currently on the topic that is in bold:

William Branham preached a series of sermons in March 1963 on the Seven Seals of the book of Revelation. This article contains a summary of these sermons as taught by William Branham, who taught that each seal identifies a religous disturbance. Much of William Branham's teachings on the Seven Seals can also be found in the works of Clarence Larkin, a dispensational Baptist author.

Each seal opens a new chapter in the book sealed with seven seals. This page reviews William Branham's commentary on the second seal.

Revelation Chapter 6 Verse 3
And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.

The Lamb worthy to open the Seals

Once again it is the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, who opens the seal as he is the only one worth.


The Second Beast

The second six-winged beast, which looks like a calf, says "Come and see." William Branham taught that like the Gospel of Mark (the second of the four books protecting the testimony of Jesus Christ, and giving witness to the book of Acts), the calf testifies of the labour of Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, a calf was one of the sacrificial animals. Under the anointing of the calf (or ox), the Medieval Christians laboured against the persecutions of papal Rome to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, and often laid down their lives for their convictions.


Revelation Chapter 6 Verse 4
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 6:3-4)

A red horse, and him that sat thereon

William Branham taught that a horse represents a power, and red represents bloodshed. The rider is the same rider that rode the white horse of deception. Crowned with power, he demands the blood of any person opposed to his Nicolaitan spirit.


Power to remove Peace

When Jesus was born, Angels declared his presence by singing "Peace on earth" (luke 2:14). Paul taught that the kingdom of God was "Peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Romans 14:17).

William Branham taught that to take peace from the earth is to take the Holy Ghost from the earth. The only way to remove the Holy Spirit from the earth is to remove Christians from the earth, and remove access to the Holy Spirit (i.e. the scriptures) from the people.

Scriptures on peace in the Bible include:

  • Psalm 120:7 I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.
  • Isaiah 48:22 There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.
  • John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
  • I Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
  • I Thessalonians 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.


Power to kill, and the gift of the sword

Jesus spoke of those who did not teach the truth when he said "Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." (Matthew 15:14) Saint Augustine of Hippo wrote on the same subject, but concluded "Why ... should not the Church use force in compelling her lost sons to return, if the lost sons compelled others to their destruction?" (The Correction of the Donatists, 22–24, d. 430 A.D.).

William Branham taught that just like the rider in the first seal was given a crown (but didn't start out with a crown), the rider in the second seal was given a great sword (but didn't start out with a sword). Inspired by the theology of teachers like Augustine, the Roman Church first courted kings, emperors and princes to do its bidding, and eventually acquired its own military.

Charlemagne, the first Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, converted the Saxons with the sword and enforced the doctrine of the Roman Church. Other kings loyal to Rome followed similar "evangilism" campaigns against the pagans in Northern Europe, and against the Saracenes (Muslims) in the south of Europe - all the while enforcing Rome's doctrine. After the split of the Eastern Church in 1054 A.D., Pope Urban II launched the first crusade to reclaim the Holy Land from the Seljuk Turks in 1095 A.D. These crusades marked the start of Rome's own military might, including the following Orders:

  1. Knights Templar: 1129 - 1312
  2. Knights Hospitaller 1080 - present (minimized)
  3. Portuguese Order of Aviz 1128 – 1789 (secularized)
  4. Order of Calatrava 1164 - 1838
  5. Order of Santiago – 1171 - 1499
  6. Teutonic Knights – 1198 - present (minimized)
  7. Order of Montesa in Spain 1312 – 1587 (secularized)
  8. Order of Christ in Portugal, 1318 – 1789 (secularized)
  9. Palantine Guards: 1850 - 1970
  10. Noble Guards: 1801 - 1970
  11. Swiss Guards: 1506 - present

After practicing on pagans and Muslims, the Roman Church launched inquisitions against "heretics" (anyone who opposed the official doctrine of the church) in Italy, Spain, Portugal, and India. The brutality of the Spanish exporers in South America and the Carribean must also be remembered. According to Smucker's Glorious Reformation, 68,000,000 Christians were martyred at the hands of the Catholic church.

He's going forth a sword in his hand, riding red horse, wading through the blood of everybody that disagrees with him.
Sermon: The Second Seal


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