In this chapter Jesus the slain lamb will open up the first six seals of the scroll. Each seal reveals a different event that symbolizes various aspects of the end times, God’s judgement, and salvation.
Reminder the overcomers have been raptured and are with Christ in heaven.
Matthew 24: 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Do not think that what we see going on in the world now or have taken place in the past is the great tribulation.
Great tribulation is a period of time where everyone will experience great persecution, disasters, famine, wars, torture, and suffering. These judgements will affect all creation. These judgements are divine acts of God.
Great tribulation is a period of time when a multitude of people will turn from sin and find faith in Jesus Christ. It is a time when the children of Israel will recognize their Messiah and receive salvation. People will have time to repent but some will not. The tribulation is a time when God will be glorified and many will repent and become children of God. The tribulation will last seven years. The first half the tribulation for 3 ½ years and great tribulation for 3 ½ years.
Daniel 12: 4-7 4“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
5Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that riverbank. 6And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?”
7Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.
Time: One Year
Times: Two Years
Half a time: Half of a Year.
Time, times, and half a time is 3 ½
Vs. 1 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.
Christ opened the first seal, and one of the angelic beings with a voice of authority told John to come and see what was going on.
Vs. 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
We know it is not Jesus because He is holding the book and opening the seals.
John looked and saw a white horse:
White horse:
An imposter that is pretending to be someone else in order to deceive others.
White represents purity, but this rider's intentions are not pure at all.
He is a false messiah.
Bow:
The rider is to conquer.
The rider is to make war.
Rider Given A Crown:
The rider is given authority.
He will be victorious in his conquest.
Who is this imposter? The antichrist. He tries to appear like Christ and act like Christ, but he is against Christ.
I John 2: 22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.
II Thessalonians 2:4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
I John 4: 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
What are some spirits of the antichrist?
To deny that Jesus is the Christ:
Some believe He is a prophet but not the Christ.
To deny He is not the Son of God.
To deny that He is God and was born of flesh.
If you deny Jesus, you deny His Father.
2 Thessalonians 2: 8-9 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders.
Lawless one: One who disregards divine or moral laws and leads a rebellion against God.
With All Power: He is not God that has all authority, but it is all power that Satan can use.
Signs: Miracles not from God but by working of Satan
Lying wonders: Deceptions that caused people to believe them.
The first horse represents the antichrist who will deceive many.
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. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword. Christ opened the second seal and John saw a fiery red horse.
The second seal was opened and a fiery Red Horse went out:
The flaming red horse represented bloodshed.
Represented war rather than peace on earth.
Because peace does not exist, people will kill each other.
Given To Him A Great sword: Power to kill and abundant bloodshed.
The second seal represented:
War
Destruction
Violence and Conflicts
Bloody Deaths
Vs.5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So, I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.
Christ opens the third seal and John sees a black horse.
Black Horse: Represented famine, suffering and sorrow.
Pair of Scales: Represented limited food that was weighed for ration.
Vs.6 And 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; and do not harm the oil and the wine.”
A quart of wheat and three quarts of barley for a denarius:
Food alone cost a day’s work and it was not enough.
Black horse also represents famine.
Do not harm the oil of the wine:
Basic food was very scarce and expensive.
Oil and wine are considered luxury items
Oil and wine was not harm, which represented social injustice.
Only the wealth or those in charge could buy the finer things.
Vs. 7-8 When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” So, I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.
Christ opened the fourth seal and John saw a pale horse.
Pale Horse: Represents death. Dying flesh.
Hades followed with him: The grave, the place of death.
Acts 2: 27 For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
Acts 2: 31 He, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.
Want to make it clear that Hades is the grave and not hell.
Christ rose from the grave.
David tells of Christ's resurrection from the grave.
Death had power over fourth of the earth: Death would be through war, famine, and wasting away, plagues, and wild animals.
The pale horse is death.
Review of the four seals of judgements that were opened by Christ
First Seal:
Antichrist which is conquered by lies, deceit, and a false peace.
Second Seal:
No peace which destroyed the people's sense of false peace or their comfort.
No peace caused the people to kill each other which caused major bloodshed.
Judgement of violence and war.
Third Seal:
Judgement of severe famine.
Inflation of basic foods.
Social injustice.
Fourth Seal:
Judgement of death.
One fourth of mankind killed.
(Discussion)
Vs. 9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.
When Christ opened the fifth seal, the angelic being did not speak to John to come see what was going on.
John did not hear the voice of the angelic being, but he heard the voice of those who had died for their faith in Christ.
John's vision shifted from earthly judgements to heaven where those who had suffered for Christ sake were.
The Soul of Those Who Had Been Slain For the Word of God:
Under the Altar:
They had been sacrificed.
Represents the altar of sacrifice where sacrificial blood was poured.
When an animal was sacrificed, his blood was poured down to the bottom of the altar and under it.
These are those who sacrificed their lives rather than denying Christ during the tribulation.
Leviticus 4:25 The priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour its blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering.
Jesus’s blood was poured for the slain that John saw.
Their souls are at the foot of Jesus.
The Testimony That They Held:
They lived according to God’s word and shared the gospel even though it caused them their lives.
They testified that Jesus is Lord even if they would be killed.
They were killed for their faith and evangelizing the gospel.
Vs.10 And 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?”
Martyr’s asked God how long would it be before He avenged their blood?
They did not question God for allowing them to be killed.
They knew God had the right to allow them to be killed because He is Sovereign.
They knew that God did nothing wrong and He does not make mistakes.
Those that had been martyrs for Christ during the tribulation and now were around the throne of God cried out for justice from the ones who had taken their lives.
They trusted God’s is perfect and would bring ultimate justice
They trusted that God would right the wrongs they had endured.
They were seeking divine justice.
How long, O Lord:
They were aware of the ongoing nature of suffering on earth.
They had to wait on God’s appointed time of judgment.
Hebrew 10: 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.
Vs. 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
White Robe Given To Each of Them:
Represent their purity.
They are overcomers.
Rest a Little While Longer:
Rest in My peace.
Rest until the complete number of fellow servants and brethren that are just like you are killed.
Rest until the number of overcomers will be killed just like you in the Great Tribulation.
God was letting them know He would take vengeance according to His plan and time.
God had a set amount that would be killed for His name sake, and that amount was not completed yet.
Romans 11: 25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
Just like God hardened the Jews heart, so that we could be saved.
He will send judgment during the great tribulations so that a multitude will be saved.
The fifth seal represents the martyrs who had been killed for their faith in Christ.
Vs. 12-13 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.
When Christ opened the sixth seal, John saw an earthquake, darkening of the sun, and the moon became like blood.
Dramatic natural disasters will take place including a great earthquake, total ellipse, and the moon will turn blood red.
Matthew 24: 7-9 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.
Great Earthquake:
A great shaking of the heavens and the earth.
Judgment day will bring a shaking of the heavens and the earth.
There have been shaking by God before but these are new occurrences that are to come.
Exodus 19: 16-18 16Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thundering and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and [c]the whole mountain quaked greatly.
Acts 16:25 25But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. 27And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”29Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”31So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.
God has sent great earthquakes before but none will be like the earthquake that comes from the loosen of the sixth. This earthquake caused a dramatic change in the world structure.
Sun Become Black As Sackcloth:
Sackcloth is cloth worn during mourning and grief by the Israelites.
It was made of black goat’s hair that was thick, rough, and coarse material.
A time of hardness and distress.
The Sun would not give light anymore which means no more day and night, no more seasons, no more planting and harvesting, and no more cold or heat.
Moon became like blood: A blood moon happens in a total lunar eclipse. Can only happen during a full moon when the sun illuminates the surface.
Isaish 13:10 For the stars of heaven and their constellations Will not give their light; The sun will be darkened in its going forth, And the moon will not cause its light to shine.
Ezekiel 32:7 When I put out your light, I will cover the heavens, and make its stars dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, And the moon shall not give her light.
The moon will be blood red and no longer serve as light.
Stars In Heaven Fell To The Earth:
The stars will fall.
No longer any light from the stars.
Joel 2:10 The earthquakes before them, The heavens tremble; The sun and moon grow dark, And the stars diminish their brightness.
Isaiah 34:4 All the host of heaven shall be dissolved, And the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll; All their host shall fall down As the leaf falls from the vine, And as fruit falling from a fig tree.
Ezekiel 32:4 When I put out your light, I will cover the heavens, and make its stars dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, And the moon shall not give her light.
As A Fig Tree Drops Its Late Figs When It Is Shaken By The Wind:
Late figs appear in the winter which is the off season for figs.
Winter figs grow under the leaves and do not ripen at the proper season but hang on the tree in the winter.
The figs fall easily and in great numbers.
The figs represent a great number of stars falling down on earth.
The sixth seal represents great nature disasters.
Vs. 14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it was rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.
The Sky Receded Like A Scroll: The sky will be hidden, just like a scroll when it is rolled the content in it is hidden and cannot be read.
Every Mountain and Island Was Moved: Represent the end of the current order of creation.
Vs. 15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains.
Kings of the earth 5. Mighty men: Military warrior
Great men: High Officers 6. Slave: Own by someone
Rich Men: Wealthy 7. Free men: Independence or not owned.
Commanders: One who leads a war.
No matter what position or status a man was, he was not saved from destruction.
They all tried to hide in the caves and behind rocks of the mountains.
They could not hide from God.
The natural disasters caused great fear among mankind, and they tried to hide from God to escape His wrath.
Vs.16 And 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!
The men asked the mountains to fall on them, so that they would be hidden from the judgment of Christ.
They wanted the boulder rocks from the mountains to fall on them.
They wanted to die rather than face the judgment that had come upon the earth.
They did not want to face the anger of God.
Review of the Fifth and Sixth seal.
Fifth Seal:
Shift from earthly to heavenly view.
Souls of those killed for their faith.
God has a divine plan that will be fulfilled.
Sixth Seal:
A disturbance to nature. Earthquake, Blood Moon, Fallen Stars, Hidden Sky, and Mountains and Islands moved.
Fear from judgment of God
The reality of divine judgment.
The Great Day of His Wrath Is Come:
Last judgment.
No more mercy or grace.
Who is able to stand? Who can stand justified and not be condemned before Christ the judge.
No one will be able to hide from the wrath of God because God’s judgment has begun.
CHAPTER 7
This chapter is about God’s protection, salvation, blessings, hope, reassurance to believers during trials that God will see them through and give them complete joy.
Vs.1 After these things, I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree.
After these Things: After the opening of the sixth seal.
Four Angels Standing At The Four Corners of The Earth: The angels stood on the north, south, east, and west.
They had the authority to hold back the four winds.
Four winds: Represents God’s judgment and destructive forces from every direction, and God’s judgment over every area on the earth.
Wind: Is Judgement.
The angels were to hold judgment and destruction from being released on land, sea, or trees.
Vs.2 Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea.
John saw an angel coming from the east carrying the seal of the living God.
He came from the direction of the sun which represents light.
He came from Christ who is the light.
Carrying The Seal of Living God: In the Bible time, documents were folded and tied with a knot. A lump of clay was pressed over the knot. The person sending the message would stamp the clay with his signet ring or roll it with a cylinder seal. The cylinder let the receiver know it was genuine and, and it also protected the message.
Seal: Signified security, ownership, and authority.
The angel from east (from God) cried out to the four angels in each compass of the earth that were given power to harm the earth and sea.
Vs. 3 saying, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”
The angel carrying the message of God told the four angels not to release destruction and judgment until God’s servants were sealed on their forehead.
Matthew 24:31
And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Vs.4 And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousands of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed.
144,000 were sealed from the nation of Israel.
These are Jews that will not bow to Antichrist during the Great Tribulation.
Vs.5-8 of the tribe of Judah twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Reuben twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Gad twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Asher twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Naphtali twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Manasseh twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Simeon twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Levi twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Issachar twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.
The 144,000 are the Jews that will be saved during the great tribulations and not the number of people that will go to heaven.
12,000 from each tribe of Israel are sealed.
Vs. 9 After these things, I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
John saw a great multitude that were too many to count that came out of the great tribulation as overcomers.
They were from every nation, tribe, people, and languages, and they were standing before Christ who was seated on His throne.
Clothes In White: Symbolizing that they were overcomers.
Palm Branches: The branches were used for victory celebrations and festive occasions.
Leviticus 23: 40 And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days.
They were celebrating the Feast of the Tabernacle.
John 12:12-13 The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ The King of Israel!”.
Celebrating Christ's arrival into Jerusalem.
Vs. 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
Salvation Belongs To Our God Who Sits On The Throne And The Lamb:
The overcomers of the great tribulation worship and praise God the Father and God The Son who sit on the throne for their salvation and deliverance.
They were grateful that their source of deliverance and salvation came from the Lord.
They had to be over joyful that they had a second chance and had made it.
Vs. 11-12 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures and fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.
All the angels, saints before and after the great tribulation, the cherubim, and seraphim fell prostrate before God and worshipped Him.
What a celebration in Heaven.
These are the angels that rejoice with one soul repenting and here stood a multitude of souls.
Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might:
A seven-fold praise was given to God by the host around the throne.
Blessing: Praises for God’s favor and grace.
Glory: Praises for God’s manifested splendor, majesty, and perfection.
Wisdom: Praising God for His infinite knowledge.
Thanksgiving: Gratitude and Praise to God for His many blessings.
Honor: Bestowing high esteem, respect, and reverence to God for who He is.
Power: Praising God for His infinite strength, authority, and sovereignty over all things.
Might or Strength: Praising God for infinite power.
They gave God’s praise for who He is because without Him; they would never have made it through the Great tribulation.
Vs. 13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?”
One of the saints before the great tribulation asked John, “who are they dressed in white robes, and where did they come from?”
The elder knew the answer, but he wanted John to be aware of who they were.
He wanted John to be encouraged through his persecutions and trials on the Island of Patmos.
He wanted John to know that his sacrifices for God were not in vain.
Vs. 14: And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So, he said to me, “These are the ones who came out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
John answered the elder by saying you know who they are.
The elder told John that the multitude came out of the great tribulation, and that they have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus.
Those who remain faithful even through persecution will be victorious.
Vs.15 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 dwell among them.
Because they have overcome the great tribulation by being cleansed by the blood of the lamb and remaining faithful, they have eternal life with God.
Serve Him Day and Night: They praise and worshipped God constantly and continually.
On earth we need rest.
We will not grow weary or tired in Heaven.
In The Temple: Place where God’s presence dwells.
Leviticus 26: 11-12 I will set My tabernacle among you, and My soul shall not abhor you. I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.
He who sits on the throne will dwell among them:
Dwell: Fully present in a place or with a person.
Hebrew dwell means tabernacle or to live in a tabernacle or tent.
God will live with the tribulation overcomers, and His present will be with them at all times.
Vs. 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat.
They shall Neither Hunger nor Thirst Anymore:
God will bless and protect the overcomers that are before His throne.
No more famine.
No more being hungry or thirsty.
They will not need anything because all their needs will be supplied by Christ.
The Sun Shall Not Strike Them: No more heat strokes that cause great pain and death from living in the wilderness to escape persecution.
No more pain and death in Heaven.
No Heat: No more suffering from illusions from thirst and heat that cause one to see water that did not exist.
No more suffering in Heaven.
Isaiah 49:10 They shall neither hunger nor thirst, Neither heat nor sun shall strike them; For He who has mercy on them will lead them, Even by the springs of water He will guide them.
Vs. 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Jesus Will Be Their Shepherd:
They will be with Christ forever who is the living water.
No more sorry or despair.
John 10: 11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
Jesus gave his life so that the sheep could live.
Jesus cares for His sheep.
watch over them.
provide for them.
guard them,
and provide all of their needs.
Lead Them To Living Fountains of Water: Fresh and flowing water that will last forever and ever.
The living water will never run out.
Jesus’s love is forever and ever.
They will live with Jesus forever.
God Will Wipe Away Every Tear From Their Eyes:
There is complete and everlasting comfort in Heaven.
No more crying
No more sorrow
No more pain
Complete joy
This chapter should give us hope during trials that God sees and He cares. We know that God is a merciful God. He could have raptured His church and forgotten the loss on earth, but He is so merciful that He will give the people of the great tribulation another chance to repent and be with Him in Heaven where He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. They will have complete joy just like the church that has been raptured before them. What a mighty God we serve.