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Chapter 10: The Seven Seals
The seven seals will be actual events that will begin to take place when the Antichrist comes to power, and they are also an overview of the order the rest of the events described in the book of Revelation. Each seal will have a double fulfillment, one will occur early in the seven year period, and one later. We will call the second fulfillment the overview fulfillment. The book of Revelation is not written in chronological order. You cannot read it through from start to finish, and expect that the events described in it will come to pass in the order that they have been written down. The book of Revelation gives us individual accounts of the major people and events that will dominate the world scene during the last seven years before the return of Jesus Christ. Many of the events described in the book of Revelation will overlap each other, and some will be occurring at the same time. In order to understand the book of Revelation we have to take all of the individual accounts of the people and events described there and place them in the order revealed to us by the seven seals. Once this has been done the events in the book of Revelation can be studied in the order that they will happen during the tribulation period. Listed below is the overview order of the events described in the book of Revelation as revealed by the seven seals: YEAR 1. ANTICHRISTS PEACE PACT WITH ISRAEL AND THE WORLD. YEAR 2. PEACE IS TAKEN FROM THE EARTH, THE WARS OF ANTICHRIST. YEAR 3. FAMINE ON EARTH, THE TWO WITNESSES WITHHOLD THE RAIN. YEAR 4. DEATH FROM WAR, FAMINE AND DISEASE. YEAR 5. MARTYRDOM OF CHRISTIANS AND JEWS. YEAR 6. THE TWO WITNESSES DIE, THE FIRST RESURRECTION OCCURS. YEAR 7. THE WRATH OF GOD AND THE RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST. Revelation 4:2-3 & 5:1-2 "At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. "Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, `Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?'" After John has seen the heaven open and heard the sound of the trumpet, he is in the spirit and is viewing a scene in heaven in which the Lord is seated on a throne and being worshipped by heavenly beings. A mighty angel is asking the question "who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll." Christ, the Lamb who was slain, is found to be the only one worthy to open the scroll. When the scroll is opened, the first set of judgments described in the book of Revelation will begin. The Arrival Of Antichrist
Revelation 6:1-2 "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." When the first seal is opened, the Antichrist will appear on the world scene, and will seem to be a man of peace. This is what the rider on a white horse represents, a king with great power coming to bring peace to the world. But, the Antichrist will be a false Messiah. In the book of Daniel we are told that he will make a seven year covenant with Israel and many other nations. This pact will probably include the United States. (Dan 9:27 NCV) That leader will make firm an agreement with many people for seven years. Before the time arrives when the seven seals begin to be opened, the Antichrist will only control Europe and the nations who voluntarily submit to him. The signing of the seven year pact will be the event that will increase his stature and dominion to world wide proportions. War
Daniel 7:24 The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. After a short time of peace, probably about 6 months, the Antichrist will attack three nations, and subdue them. This will be the first fulfillment of the second seal. Later, (about 3 1/2 or 4 years into his reign) the people of the United States will refuse to worship him, and he will attack us and two other nations. Britain and Israel may be the other two nations, as they are usually our allies. This will be the overview fulfillment. Satan always inspires the non Christian world in general to hate the United States, Britain, and Israel because we worship the God of the Bible. Famine
Revelation 6:5-6 "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!'" Food prices will skyrocket when the third seal is opened. This will be the first fulfillment. Later, the Two Witnesses will withhold the rain and a worldwide famine will be the result. This will be the overview (2nd) fulfillment. According to 2 Esdras, a book from the Orthodox bible, food will be so inexpensive and abundant when Antichrist first comes to power that people will believe that they are living in the prophesied golden age. But, it will be short lived. Then calamities will come. 2 Esdras 16:18-23 The beginning of sorrows, when there shall be much lamentation; the beginning of famine, when many shall perish; the beginning of wars, when the powers shall be terrified; the beginning of calamities, when all shall tremble. What shall they do, when the calamities come? Famine and plague, tribulation and anguish are sent as scourges for the correction of humankind. Yet for all this they will not turn from their iniquities, or ever be mindful of the scourges. Indeed, provisions will be so cheap upon earth that people will imagine that peace is assured for them, and then calamities shall spring up on the earth—the sword, famine, and great confusion. For many of those who live on the earth shall perish by famine; and those who survive the famine shall die by the sword. And the dead shall be thrown out like dung, and there shall be no one to console them; for the earth shall be left desolate, and its cities shall be demolished. Note: the reference to not damaging the oil and wine may mean that Antichrist will protect the economies of Israel (symbolized by olive oil) and of Italy and possibly France. (the wine making centers of Europe) Or, it may mean that he will protect the rich people and let the poor suffer, in the spirit of Marie Antoinette, who said, “Let Them Eat Cake.” Or, it may mean something else entirely. Death
Revelation 6:7-8 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." The natural result of war and famine is death and disease. During the opening of the seven seals it appears that the first fulfillment will for the most part affect Europe and the Mid-East, the kingdom of Antichrist. Later, after the arrival of the Two Witnesses and the beginning of the trumpet judgments, the plagues will be worldwide. Martyrdom
Revelation 6:9-11 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. The Antichrist will blame all of the worlds problems on the uncooperative Christians and Jews who are denouncing his policies and rejecting his claim to be the Messiah. First he will persecute and murder the believers in Europe and the Mid-East, and then later, after he demands to be worshipped, the persecution will spread around the world. The price of salvation will become death, except for those few people whom God has chosen to live until the time when the first resurrection takes place. The Wrath Of The Lamb
Revelation 6:12-17 "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 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?" The sixth seal primarily looks forward toward the end of the sixth year of the seven year tribulation period, when "the wrath of God" will be poured out. everything described after verse twelve until the end of chapter seven pertains to events that will occur just before and just after the first resurrection. God will begin to show signs in the heavens that the time of his wrath has come. The church will be spared from his wrath because the first resurrection will take place as soon as the next event described is completed. The Sealing Of The 144,000
Revelation 7:1-4 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the Earth, holding back the four winds of the Earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel. The 144,000 Israelites will be sealed to supernaturally protect them from the wrath of God that is about to be poured out upon the Earth. They will not be taken up in the first resurrection, so they must be protected so they can live through the time of "Jacob’s trouble," and be alive on the Earth to welcome and worship Jesus Christ at his return. God will leave these people on Earth because they are the descendants and inheritors of the promises God made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David. That is, the promises of a kingdom on Earth in Israel, with the Messiah reigning over them. God has sworn by himself to keep his word, and he cannot lie. (see Titus 1:2) The First Resurrection
Revelation 7:9-12 "After this, I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: `Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb. 'All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, saying: `Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!' When the sealing of the 144,000 Israelites is completed, the first resurrection will take place. It will happen at this point in time so that the church will not endure the "hour of temptation," the wrath of God, that is about to be poured out upon an evil and unbelieving world. Christ has promised the church of Philadelphia that they will not have to endure the time of God's wrath. He took upon himself the wrath of God at Calvary, and it will not be poured out upon his bride, the church. The Two Witnesses, the church, the saved of all ages, and the living believers, will all be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. They will celebrate the marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven for one year, while the people on the Earth are experiencing the wrath of God. Revelation 7:11-17 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!" Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes--who are they, and where did they come from?" I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Those believers who die at the hand of Antichrist during the time of his persecutions will be singled out and bestowed with special honors in front of their brethren at the marriage supper of the Lamb. The verses above also prove that the sixth seal pertains to the time of the end because they state that the people being described have come out of the "Great Tribulation," meaning that we are seeing what will be happening at the end of the tribulation period. This proves that the seven seals are an overview of the tribulation period, just like the letters to the seven churches were an overview of the history of the church. The Day Of The Lord
Revelation 8:1 "And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour." The silence is due to a short respite from war and plagues, (probably about 6 months) that will occur when the Two Witnesses arrive on the scene. They will preach the gospel to the world, but the world will reject it. This will be the first fulfillment, and then the trumpet judgments will begin. There will be another pause in the action when the seventh trumpet sounds and the first resurrection is taking place, just before the wrath of God begins to be poured out. This pause will be the overview fulfillment. The Millennium
Following the return of Christ, one thousand years of peace will begin, which is known as the Millennium. Christ will return and destroy the armies of the world at Armageddon. After the one thousand years of peace are completed the last judgment will take place. At that time, Satan, his angels, and the unbelievers from all ages will be cast into the lake of fire forever. Then the eighth day, eternity, will begin. The seven seals have shown us the first series of events that will take place when Antichrist comes to power, and the order of the events of the tribulation period. The rest of the book of Revelation will focus in on the particular people and events individually, and with greater detail. The list below presents a simple outline for the future events predicted in the bible. Future Events According To Biblical Prophecy
1. The true church, called "Philadelphia,” will be reviled by the world. It may be taxed. 2. The false dead church, called "Laodicea" will become the dominant church on the world scene. 3. The seven seals begin. Antichrist, war, famine, and disasters. 4. The Two Witnesses arrive on the scene and preach for 3 1/2 years. The 7 trumpet judgments begin. 5. After 3 1/2 years the Two Witnesses will be killed. 6. 3 1/2 days after their death, they will be raised from the dead and ascend to heaven. 7. Shortly afterward the "first resurrection," will take place. 8. The Jews will realize that Jesus is the true Messiah when they miss the first resurrection. 9. The marriage supper of the Lamb will begin taking place in heaven. 10. The church and the old testament saints will celebrate with the Lord in his kingdom and receive rewards. 11. The Jews begin to pray for Jesus him to return and rescue them from the Antichrist. 12. The seven bowls of God's wrath will be poured out on the earth for a period of one year. 13. Evil demonic powers will gather the armies of the world to Armageddon 14. The Lord will return with his armies and his saints and destroy the armies of the world at Armageddon. 15. Satan is bound for 1000 years. 16. The millennium begins, 1000 years of peace on Earth under the rule of Jesus Christ. 17. Satan is released for a short time to test those born during the millennium. 18. Satan gathers those who hate Christ to Jerusalem for the final battle, a repeat of Armageddomn. 19. Satan and his armies are defeated. The final rebellion has been put down. 20. The 2nd resurrection takes place and the last judgment occurs. 21. Eternity begins - God has new projects for us to participate in. His kingdom expands forever. This is a simple outline of the future. All of the events listed will occur someday, according to the bible. The order of their occurance is an educated guess on the authors part. |