The Seven Seals 

• The Outline… vs. 1
  • 1^st – Set of Three…
    • THREE sections – Revelation 1:19
      • PAST – John wrote the things he HAD seen – vison of Jesus – Revelation 1
      • PRESENT – the things which ARE – the SEVEN churches – Revelation 2-3
      • FUTURE – AFTER these things – Revelation 4-22
    • THREE events…
      • The RAPTURE – Revelation 4-5
      • The WRATH – Revelation 6-18
      • The RETURN of Jesus Christ – Revelation 19-22
    • THREE judgements…
      • The seven SEAL judgments – Revelation 6-8
      • The seven TRUMPET judgments – Revelation 8-14
      • The seven BOWL judgment – Revelation 15-18
  • 2^nd – The SEVEN seals…
    • Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals!
      • Picking up where we left off in Chapter 5 – Jesus [the Lamb] has the scroll in His hand…
      • He is WORTHY to open the SEALS – to REDEEM the lost world…
      • And to REVEAL the plan of God – written down before the world began – Revelation 13:8
      • From the perspective of John – this must have been an exhilarating moment…
      • But what he likely would NEVER have imagined – is the DEVASTATION that came with it…
      • For the opening of the SEALS – is the beginning of the SEVEN years of TRIBULATION!
    • The last SEVEN…
      • Beginning with the command to Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem [445 B.C.] – Nehemiah 2:1
      • Israel was given 490 years before God would establish His Kingdom – Daniel 9:24-27
      • But after 483 years – the Messiah came and was killed [32 A.D.] – Luke 19:41
      • Leaving SEVEN final years left on the CLOCK – before God brings an END to SIN!
      • We have been living in this PAUSE – for over 2000 years – the CHURCH age…
      • But the CLOCK is getting ready to restart – the final SEVEN years is ready to begin!

• 1^st – The FIRST seal… vs. 1-2
  • 1^st – The FOUR horsemen… vs. 1
    • I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder – Come and see!
    • When Jesus broken the SEAL – NOTHING happened in heaven…
    • But one of the CHERUBIM [four angels] commanded John to go and SEE [imperative]
    • Something was taking place on EARTH – the FOUR horsemen of the Apocalypse!
  • 2^nd – The White Horse… vs. 2
    • I looked – and behold – a white horse!
    • When John LOOKED – what he saw he also wanted us to SEE [imperative]
    • A WHITE horse – the FIRST of FOUR that come when the SEALS are broken…
    • There is some DEBATE over the identity of this FIRST horseman…
    • The fact he comes on a WHITE horse – lead some to believe this is Jesus…
    • Although Jesus will RETURN riding on a WHITE horse – Revelation 19:11
    • This is NOT Jesus – he is an IMPOSTER – a FALSE Christ – he is the ANTICHRIST!
  • 3^rd – The Antichrist… vs. 2
    • He who sat on it had a bow – and a crown was given to him!
      • Unlike Jesus who has a SWORD – the Antichrist has a BOW [only here NT]
      • And he is GIVEN [passive] a CROWN – he is allowed [by God] to RULE!
      • He will be a leader [crown] who will rise out of Europe – the little horn – Daniel 7:8
      • He will make a treaty with Israel for SEVEN years after the Magog invasion – Ezekiel 38
      • There is a good chance he will have Jewish heritage – God of his fathers – Daniel 11:37
      • He will make PEACE by offering to rebuild the THIRD Temple for Israel – Daniel 9:27
      • North of the Dome of the Rock [monument] – in a place called the Dome of the Spirit…
      • He will rebuild the Temple – and Jews will embrace him – John 5:43
      • The rise of the Antichrist – is the KEY event the starts the Tribulation!
      • II Thessalonians 2:3 – “Let no one deceive you by any means – for that Day will not come unless… the man of sin is revealed…”
      • Yet he cannot be revealed until the church is RAPTURED – II Thessalonians 2:7
      • If he revealed himself now – we would all know who he is – tell the world not to follow!
    • He went out conquering and to conquer!
      • What is the GOAL of the Antichrist – he goes out [νικάω] CONQUERING [present] the world…
      • But there is no guarantee he will have [νικάω] VICTORY [subjunctive]
      • In fact – he ONLY gets SEVEN years – his time is LIMITED…
      • Because he is only ALLOWED [passive] to RULE for as long as God lets him!
      • COMMUNISM was founded on the idea – men do NOT need God [opium for the masses]
      • It sought to be the SALVATION of men – giving them a perfect life [utopia]
      • But what they actually got – was a ruthless regime – that controlled their lives…
      • They got a homicidal maniac in Stalin – who slaughtered millions!
      • It turns out people do not learn their lessons well – history is quickly forgotten…
      • The world is still looking for a SAVIOR – anyone other than Jesus Christ…
      • The Antichrist will be God giving them what they SAY they want…
      • But what they will find again – is a brutal dictator – the worst in all of HISTORY!

• 2^nd – The SECOND seal… vs. 3-4
  • 1^st – The Red Horse… vs. 3-4
    • When He opened the second seal – I heard the second living creature saying – Come and see!
    • Another horse – fiery red – went out!
    • RED [πυρρός] – 2x in NT – also used to describe SATAN [dragon] – Revelation 12:3
    • It is likely this is the SAME rider – we are still talking about the Antichrist…
    • Who is just like his MASTER – he has the same COLOR as SATAN…
    • And AFTER the Antichrist begins to RULE – the RESULT is WAR!
  • 2^nd – No Peace… vs. 4
    • And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth!
      • It was GIVEN [passive] to the Antichrist – to take PEACE [εἰρήνη] from the earth…
      • Following the chaos of the RAPTURE – and the MAGOG invasion…
      • The Antichrist will rise to power on a message brining PEACE!
      • I Thessalonians 5:2 – “They say – Peace and safety! [But] then sudden destruction comes!”
      • He takes PEACE – by removing the worship of Jesus…
      • He will demand to be WORSHIPED as the ONLY god – Revelation 13:8
      • But the moment Jesus is removed – there can be NO peace – Ephesians 2:14
    • That people should kill one another. and there was given to him a great sword!
      • The RESULT of not having Jesus – is men KILL [subjunctive] one another…
      • The whole world erupts in VIOLENCE – men live by the [μέγας] sword!
      • The moment fruit is cut off from the branch – it begins to ROT…
      • It can be slow at first – but eventually it become rancid – foul – terrible!
      • Psalm 14:1 – [Men] are corrupt… there is none who does good!”
      • The moment men are cut off from God – their true nature come through…
      • The result of REJECTING Jesus – is hey become decayed – rancid – foul…
      • What God created to be GOOD – ROTS spiritually apart from Him!
      • John 15:5 – “For without [Jesus] – we can do nothing.”

• 3^rd – The THIRD seal… vs. 5-6
  • 1^st – The Black Horse… vs. 5
    • When He opened the third seal – I heard the third living creature say – Come and see!
    • I looked – and behold – a black horse!
    • BLACK [μέλας] – 3x in NT – specifically of permanent black ink…
    • Again this likely this is the SAME rider – we are still talking about the Antichrist…
    • But this speaks of another RESULT that will come from the rejection of Jesus – FAMINE!
  • 2^nd – Famine… vs. 5-6
    • He who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand!
      • SCALES [ζυγός] – usually refer to a YOKE used to bind animals together – Matthew 11:30
      • But here it carries the idea of a BALANCE used to weigh out FOOD…
      • Because God knows how to get our attention – and NO food works if an effective way! 
    • I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying:
      • A quart of wheat for a denarius – and three quarts of barley for a denarius.
      • But do not harm the oil and the wine!
      • One of the Cherubim declared what FOOD would COST…
      • A KILO [liter] of rice [wheat] will COST – an entire days wage [δηνάριον]
      • THREE kilos [liter] of barley [tastes like dirt] will COST about the same amount…
      • But do not HURT [raise the cost] of the OIL and the WINE [people still need to get DRUNK]
      • The COST of FOOD will be VERY high during the TRIBULATION…
      • Because without the BLESSING of God – there is no guarantee we have enough to EAT!
      • Luke 12:31 – “But seek the kingdom of God – and all these things shall be added to you.”

• 4^th – The FOURTH seal… vs. 7-8
  • 1^st – The PALE horse… vs. 7-8
    • When He opened the fourth seal – I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying…
    • Come and see – I looked and behold – a pale horse!
    • PALE [χλωρός] – 4x in NT – every other time translated as GREEN…
    • Perhaps with the idea of SICKLY – MOLDY – DECAY…
    • Again this likely this is the SAME rider – we are still talking about the Antichrist…
    • But this is the heaviest of all the judgements – it reveals the END result of following him!
  • 2^nd – Death… vs. 8
    • The name of him who sat on it was Death – and Hades followed with him!
      • The name of the Antichrist is THE [ὁ] death [θάνατος] – the SECOND death…
      • Because wherever he goes – he brings people with him to HELL [ᾅδης]
      • There is ONLY one SALVATION – one victory over DEATH and HELL – I Corinthians 15:55
      • But for those who reject the LAMB – turn their backs on Jesus…
      • There is NO hope – only the terrifying judgment of God – and the Lake of Fire!
      • Hebrews 10:27 – “A fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.”
    • First HALF…
      • These first FOUR seals that are broken – the FOUR horsemen…
      • Are thought to represent the FIRST half of the TRIBULATION…
      • Covering the first 3 ½ YEARS – or 42 MONTHS – or 1260 DAYS…
      • But even in this SHORT period time – a LOT of devastation comes!
    • Power was given to them [four horsemen] over a fourth of the earth!
      • To kill with sword – with hunger – with death – and by the beasts of the earth!
      • POWER [ἐξουσία] – permission to do as they please…
      • GIVEN [passive] to kill FOURTH of the earth during the SEAL judgements…
      • By war [sword] – famine [hunger] – death [suicide?] – and wild beast [no food]
      • And additional THIRD of men will die during the TRUMPETS – Revelation 9:18
      • The population of the earth today is almost EIGHT billion…
      • And let us assume that at least ONE billion are RAPTURED [perhaps hopeful]
      • Then almost TWO billion [fourth] will die during the SEALS judgments…
      • Another TWO billion [third] will die during the trumpet judgments…
      • Meaning by the HALF way point of the TRIBULATION – half of the world is DEAD!

• 5^th – The FIFTH Seal… vs. 9-11
  • 1^st – Tribulation saints… vs. 9
    • When He opened the fifth seal!
      • There is a CHANGE with the FIFTH seal – no angel has to tell John to LOOK…
      • Because what takes place is not on EARTH – it is in HEAVEN!
    • I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain…
      • John saw under the ALTAR – the souls of those who had DIED…
      • There will be MANY people who come to Jesus during the Tribulation – Revelation 7:9
      • But the COST for holding onto the FAITH – will be their lives!
      • Revelation 13:7 – “It was granted to [the antichrist] to make war with the saints and to overcome them.”
    • For the word of God and for the testimony which they held!
      • There is an ALTAR in heaven – much like in the Tabernacle – Exodus 27:1
      • It had been a place where the PRICE was paid – to allow men to come close to God!
      • For those who HOLD onto the WORD of God – the Bible…
      • To those who have a TESTIMONY [μαρτυρία] – where we get the word MARTYR…
      • Although they will LOSE their heads for their faith – Revelation 20:4
      • They will end up in HEAVEN – they will be SAVED!
      • But how much better to believe NOW – and be taken in the RAPTURE…
      • We have everything to GAIN – and nothing to LOSE – II Corinthians 6:2
  • 2^nd – How Long… vs. 10
    • They cried with a loud voice saying – How long – O Lord – holy and true…
    • Until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth!
    • The LOUD [μέγας] and constant [imperfect] CRY of these tribulation MARTYRS …
    • How long – would the MASTER [δεσπότης] hold off and not JUDGE the world…
    • When was Jesus going to come RIDING out of HEAVEN – to execute JUSTICE…
    • When would God AVENGE the death of His people!
    • It is in our NATURE to WANT justice – the world is WICKED – why does God wait…
    • Although we LOOK for VENGEANCE – it is NOT ours to give…
    • Only the Lord has the right to JUDGE – because He is HOLY – what He decides is the TRUTH!
    • Romans 12:19 – “Beloved – do not avenge yourselves but rather give place to wrath. For it is written – Vengeance is Mine I will repay – says the Lord.”
  • 3^rd – White Robe… vs. 11
    • Then a white robe was given to each of them.
    • It was said to them that they should rest a little while longer!
    • A WHITE robe was given [passive] to each of the tribulation saints…
    • The did not EARN them – they were a GIFT – forgiven and CLEAN through the blood of Jesus…
    • They were told to REST [ἀναπαύω] for a LITTLE [μικρός] time – Matthew 11:28
    • When we see them again – they will be worshiping [resting] in Jesus – Revelation 7:9
  • 4^th – More time… vs. 11
    • [God was waiting] until their fellow servants and their brethren…
    • Who would be killed as they were – was completed!
    • But it was NOT yet time for Jesus to return – there were MORE to be SAVED…
    • The phrase – both the number of – is in italics and not in the original text…
    • God was not waiting for a NUMBER – He was waiting for other BELIEVERS…
    • Who would ALSO be killed for their FAITH in Jesus!
    • The PURPOSE of the TRIBULATION is not to JUDGE the world – it is to SAVE it…
    • All of the TRIALS that come as a RESULT of the SEALS being broken…
    • They are GIVEN [passive] by the LORD – so people can see the WORLD is not the answer…
    • A failed ruler – who promises peace – but ultimately bring destruction…
    • A failed morality – where we see the true violent nature of man…
    • A failed economy – where they have to work all day just to be able to eat…
    • A failed life – where all people see all around them is DEATH…
    • And God does not STOP – until He saves as many as He can!
    • II Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise … but is longsuffering toward us not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

And by the time He is done – NO one will have the POWER [δύναμαι] to stand [passive]!

6^th – The SIXTH seal… vs. 12-17

1^st – Great Earthquake… vs. 12-14

I looked when He opened the sixth seal – and behold – there was a great earthquake!

When the SIXTH seal is broken – John sees the result instantly…

LOOK [imperative] there was a GREAT [μέγας] earthquake…

This even is spoken of throughout the Bible – Joel 2:31 – Ezekiel 32:7 – Matthew 24:29

It is appropriate we call natural disasters – and ACT of God…

There is no one else we can blame for an EARTHQUAKE than God…

If people are NOT willing to look to God after the first FIVE seals…

Perhaps a NATURAL disaster will get their attention!

The sun became black as sackcloth of hair – and the moon became like blood!

This was NOT an ordinary EARTHQUAKE – this was unlike anything seem before…

The suggestion is there is also VOLCANIC activity [two are connected]

VOLCANOES can shoot millions of tons of ASH – over 30km into the sky

It is has been well documented – that when there is enough DUST in the air…

It can BLOCK out the sun [black as night] – and turn the moon RED!

The stars of heaven fell to the earth – as a fig tree drops late figs when shaken by a mighty wind!

The EARTHQUAKE was not limited to the earth…

There will also be METEORS [stars] that come along with it…

They fall from the sky – like unripe figs when the tree is shaken by a STRONG wind!

It is possible – this is what CAUSES the seismic activity…

If there was a major collision of a multiple meteors – it would do unspeakable damage…

The kind of event Hollywood has made countless disaster movies about!

Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up!

HEAVENS [sky] were SPLIT in two [used when Paul and Barnabus split] – Acts 15:29

The scene looked to John like the gap in the middle of a rolled up SCROLL!

We do not often think of the SKY being effected by an EARTHQUAKE…

But the emphasis here – is there is NO where to hide from this DISASTER!

Every mountain and island was moved out of its place!

ALL [πᾶς] of them mountains and Islands on earth will be MOVED [passive]

This earthquake will reshape the landscape of the world!

Earthquakes are measured on what is called the Richter scale…

Every tenth of a number is double the intensity – 5.1 is twice as bad as 5.0

The strongest earthquake every recorded was in 1960 in Chili – 9.5

This will be far GREATER – the big 10.0 – nothing will be left standing!

2^nd – Hiding from the Lamb… vs. 15-16

Kings of the earth – great men – rich men – commanders – mighty men – every slave and free man!

Hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains!

When the EARTHQUAKE happens – ALL men will run and HIDE…

From the KINGS of the earth – to the RICH and powerful – to ALL the SLAVES…

What is ODD – is WHERE they chose to go and HIDE – under ROCKS!

The first thing you learn as a KID – is do not go inside in an EARTHQUAKE…

It is far more dangerous – because in the AFTERSHOCKS – it might collapse!

[They] said to the mountains and rocks – Fall on us and hide us…

From the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!

These MEN who did not learn from the first FOUR seals…

They are NOT afraid of the EARTHQUAKE – they want to RUN from the LORD…

They command the rocks to FALL [imperative] on them…

So they can HIDE from the FACE of the FATHER – and the WRATH of the Lamb!

By the time we get to the SIXTH seal – those who are LEFT – do NOT want Jesus…

They are so in LOVE with their sin – they would rather DIE – than REPENT!

John 3:19 – “This is the condemnation… men loved [ἀγαπάω] darkness rather than light – because their deeds were evil.”

3^rd – The Day of Wrath… vs. 17

For the great day of His wrath has come – and who is able to stand!

Which brings us to the DAY of the LORD – the great [μέγας] DAY of his WRATH…