What are The Seven Seals in the Book of Revelation?
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The seven seals, trumpets, and bowls depicted in the book of Revelation represent the final judgments of God that are poured out on an unbelieving world in the end times.The fifth chapter of the book of Revelation shows a scroll being presented to Christ in heaven. This scroll has seven seals, indicating things that will occur before and during Christ’s second coming.
The opening of the first four seals brings four angels riding horses; these are commonly referred to as the “four horsemen of the apocalypse.” People on earth cannot see these angels or their horses.The word apocalypse comes from the Greek word apokalupsis, meaning “disclosure” or “revelation.” So the phrase “the four horsemen of the Apocalypse” means the four horsemen of the book of Revelation.
First seal—a white horse
I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” I looked and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. (Revelation 6:1-2)
Who is the “Rider” upon this White Horse? He is not Christ, as some claim, for Christ, as the LAMB, is holding the “Seven Sealed Book” and breaking its “Seals.” Christ does not appear as a White Horse Rider until chapter 19:11-16, when He comes with the armies of Heaven to engage in the Battle of Armageddon.
In other words this White Horse Rider is the ANTICHRIST. He is the “PRINCE WHO IS TO COME” of Daniel’s Vision of the “Seventy Weeks,” and who will confirm the Covenant for “ONE WEEK,” the last or “Seventieth Week,” with Daniel’s people the Jews. Dan. 9:27. And Scriptures clearly teach that there is some day to arise a human being who shall be the embodiment of all Satanic power. He will be known as the “WILFUL KING” because he shall do according to his own will. He will be the Czar of Czars. He will have no respect for sacred things or places. He will cause a throne to be erected in the Most Holy Place of a Temple that the Jews will build at Jerusalem, and, seating himself upon it, he will proclaim himself God, and men will be commanded to worship him; and Satan will give unto him his power and his seat (Throne) and great authority.
Second seal—a red horse
When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword. (Revelation 6:3-4)
The Spirit of WAR is the second angel entering the world scene. War is a common response to the aggression that accompanies a spirit of conquest—as seen coming from the first seal. This angel rides a red horse.The red horse may symbolize the color of blood (red) and it was allowed to send war and take peace away from the earth. Jesus taught concerning this time, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” He then described the starvation that is depicted in the next Seal, “There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.” (Matthew 24:6-7)
Third seal—a black horse
When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!” (Revelation 6:5-6)
The Spirit of FAMINE causes a catastrophic food shortage. Wheat and barley are basic food requirements; people are paying their entire salary to feed themselves.
Fourth seal—a pale horse
When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth, to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth. (Revelation 6:7-8)
The Spirit of DEATH, with authority to kill … over a fourth of the earth comes forward. This fourth angel is “Death.” This angel rides a pale horse—the color attributed to a person near death. Many people will die because of plague or pestilence, a possible reference to disease-causing microorganisms, which are increasingly resistant to antibiotic treatment. This also could be a reference to biological warfare.
Fifth Seal – The Call for Justice
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed. (Revelation 6: 12-17)
Those in heaven see the release of the four horsemen, and know this event signals the start of the end-times. The martyrs ask, “How long … until you judge those who murdered us?” The martyrs are told to wait patiently until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed. In other words, there are still more believers to be martyred. Just as Israel poured the blood of sacrificed animal at the base of the altar (Exodus 29:12; Leviticus 4:7), in a similar manner, the souls of sacrificed martyrs were under the altar in heaven.
Sixth seal—cosmic disturbances
I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” (Revelation 6:12-17)
The spilling of innocent blood has stained the earth blood red. The people on earth soon see another planet that appears covered with blood, the moon. When the sun is blotted out (turned black) during a lunar eclipse, the moon really does turn a blood red color. The moon turns a metallic red resembling the color of iron in blood. At that time, the entire world, to include every mountain and island, shakes. (Revelation 6:14) This event is punctuated by a worldwide earthquake, likely caused by meteorites slamming into earth, one after another, similar to how figs drop to the ground from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.
These events should shake the world to its senses. God wants people to confess sin—repent—and turn to him. Even unbelievers will know that scripture foretold this event. People will also know that this event precedes the outpouring of God’s wrath.
The seventh seal—the wrath and mercy of God
“When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them” (Rev 8:1-2).
And the seventh seal contained the seven trumpets as we read “Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them” (Rev 8:6) and these are seven judgments for the earth’s inhabitants (Rev 7:13) that are poured out on all who have not yet been sealed (or saved) by God (Rev 7:2-3; 9:4).
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