Scripture reading: Revelation 6:12-17
The sixth mystery or seal is the overshadowing when God covers His people as never before. They will be totally covered so that nothing will harm them or even touch them.
We must understand when we read in Revelation 6:17, “For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” that this “wrath” must take place between the end of the tribulation and the millennial beginning. With the opening of the sixth seal and the wars and the destruction in the earth, man will need a hiding place. This is where the OVERSHADOWING comes in. The sixth seal is the place of the overshadowing. The SIXTH mystery is the overshadowing. God will overshadow His people during this terrible time on the earth.
In the TABERNACLE, the symbolism which depicts the overshadowing are the two cherubims standing on each end of the mercy seat with their wings touching each other and their faces toward each other. Whenever the priest pleased God in his offering, there appeared the Shekinah glory between the cherubims. This appearance showed the glory of God when God was pleased with Israel. If we consider the vastness of the overshadowing, we will understand that this period of time must be the time when the wars and the destruction are coming on the earth. As we have explained, from the beginning of the opening of the sixth seal, there is going to be great destruction and great war and earthquakes and upheavals.
The cherubims on the Mercy Seat, which depict the overshadowing, are made of pure gold, beaten. Gold signifies total Divine Nature. No humanity is in this overshadowing. No other piece of furniture in the Tabernacle was made only out of pure gold. The table of shewbread was wood, covered with gold. Wood typifies humanity and gold typifies divinity. The candlestick, made of pure gold, had a wick (humanity) in order to function. The altar of incense, which was wood, was covered over with gold. The covering over of these things with gold means that the NATURE OF GOD IS SHOWN. The wood, which is humanity, is hidden.
The lid of the ark is called the Mercy Seat and on this Mercy Seat there are the two cherubims made of pure gold. No humanity is in them. Humanity cannot cover humanity. Man cannot deliver man.
Jeremiah 17:5, “…Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm…”
Psalm 91:1, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” “The secret place” of the Almighty is the mercy seat.
Psalm 91:2-4, “I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust. Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”
The cherubims with apparent feathered wings – this is what is meant by God’s “feathers.” “Feathers” is only symbolic language which speaks of the power to fly. He will cover us with the very means which are used to fly – the power to rise from the earth. “Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler.”
Verses 5-6, “Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.”
Isaiah 26:20-21, “Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.”
(Excerpt from The Book of Revelation, Volume 1, pages 133-135)
Thought for today: Let us find our overshadowing under the shadow of His wings, both today as well as when midnight approaches and the Bridegroom shall appear.
Sonlight Devotional 