The
Seven Seals (part 1) - Revelation 6:1-6
We
see the Lord Jesus breaking each seal in turn.
The 7th seal will be broken in chapter 8.
The 1st Seal
A mighty
thunderclap as Jesus opened the seal.
A angelic being calls John to take a closer look.
He must understand the true significance of this vision.
He sees a rider on a white horse.
Notice he has a bow, but no arrows.
This symbolizes false peace.
The Antichrist will conquer the world without weapons.
Some see the rider as Christ or Christianity.
This idea does not fit the context.
This is the beginning of the Antichrist years.
Many will think he is Christ.
The 2nd Seal
A second angelic being asks John to view the next vision.
He sees a rider on a red horse.
This rider is sent to remove peace from the earth.
A time of terrible world war.
Man will be demonically inspired to kill.
The "Great Sword" may represent the worst of weapons.
The world will be brought to the brink of nuclear war.
The 3rd Seal
The third angelic being points John to the third vision.
He sees a black horse.
Its rider holds a pair of scales.
This is symbolic of a massive famine.
After the false peace comes a terrible war.
If nuclear weapons are used famine will result.
Famine of food and water.
Speaks of economic disaster.
Speaks of worldwide inflation.
Notice the oil.
Oil and fuel
prices will skyrocket.
Will it be a Middle-east war?
Rationing will be introduced.
Is this when the "Mark" is introduced?
The Seven Seals (part 2) - Revelation
6:7-17
The 4th Seal
Behold the fourth seal.
Pale horse whose rider is Death.
Hell always follows Death for the ungodly.
Another war and famine result.
Only a quarter of the earth is hit.
Located in Europe?
Wild animals will attack humans.
Demonically possessed animals?
"Beasts of the earth" is literal rather than symbolic.
The 5th Sea
No one tells John to look.
John saw the martyrs under the heavenly altar.
They had been faithful to the end.
Threat of death couldn't stop them serving Christ.
When would Jesus pour out His wrath?
When the very last believer had paid the price.
When the last person to be saved is saved, then His wrath will be poured out.
These martyrs had the righteousness of Christ.
They were not soul-sleeping.
They were very much aware of what was happening. They had to wait a little
longer until God's wrath would come upon the earth.
The 6th Seal
A great earthquake shakes the earth.
May activate volcanoes.
The ash may block out the sunlight.
Maybe the sun will be disrupted.
It maybe a direct act of God as in Egypt in the days of Moses.
Thick darkness terrified the Egyptians too.
Many stars will fall to earth.
Comets, meteors, man-made devices?
"Untimely" speaks of the fact that it will not be expected.
No news report will warn of it.
Climatic changes result.
The sky will roll up like a scroll.
Mountains will be moved.
Islands will sift position.
Must cause great devastation on earth.
Everyone will be terrified.
They will hide in caves and shelters.
They will pray for the mountains to fall upon them.
They will know there is a true God.
They will know He rules in Heaven.
They will know that Jesus is Saviour.
They will believe too late.
Most will have taken the Mark.
They had heard that judgement was coming.
They had heard that God would punish sinners.
They had heard that the world would end.
But they chose to dismiss it.
They had mocked those who spoke of it.
Now it was happening.
But it is too late!