The seven seals

September 20, 2023

Contrary to popular futurism beliefs, the seven seals described in the book of Revelation are a prophetic timeline of the church's circumstances between the first and second advents of Christ.

The first seal
“And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.” (Revelation 6:2 KJV).
The man riding this horse is Jesus, and this seal resembles the early apostolic church led by Christ to victory over the pagan and godless world. However, once the early apostles passed away, the world began to depart from the true saving faith.

The second seal
“And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.” (Revelation 6:4 KJV).
The red horse resembles the bloodshed from the pagan-led persecution by emperor Constantine of Rome, the rider. The emperors of Rome executed many early Christians and even outlawed the Bible. The true Christians holding their faith would meet underground in Roman catacombs for fellowship to avoid persecution. However, the Christian faith was still rapidly spreading, which would later lead to a change in thought in the Roman leaders’ views.

The third seal
“And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.” (Revelation 6:5 KJV).
A black horse, the opposite of the color white, resembles the depression during this period. The balances in the rider’s hand resembles the scarcity of God’s word, being grieved out by weight. Pagan philosophy spread rapidly and even found its way into the Christian church. Soon, the church will join forces with the state for absolute authority over the people.

The fourth seal
“And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.” (Revelation 6:8 KJV).
A pale horse resembles death. This seal represents the Dark Ages period when the Roman Catholic Church and the state joined forces and persecuted millions for intolerance and not accepting the authority of the Pope. Everyone suffered during these times, including Catholics, Jews, Protestants, and anyone else holding to their beliefs. It is truly a blessing to have religious freedom today in western culture, at least for now.

The fifth seal
“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:” (Revelation 6:9 KJV).
This seal resembles the martyred victims who died during the Dark Ages until the seventeenth century. The saints who witnessed for the faith with their blood cry out to God: “How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” (Revelation 6:10 KJV).

The sixth seal
“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 unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places” (Revelation 6:12-14 KJV).
The sixth seal opened when the Lisbon earthquake occurred on November 1, 1755. Just as God explained it in His word, the Lisbon earthquake was one of the most brutal and destructive earthquakes that man has ever felt. It was estimated to be a magnitude nine quake and lasted nearly six minutes.
On May 19, 1780, the sun mysteriously became dark. It became known as the Great Dark Day. Scientists can’t figure out exactly what happened that day, but God warned us ahead of time by nearly 1700 years! Once nightfall came that same day, the moon appeared as blood.
Finally, on November 13, 1833, the stars in the night sky fell over the Americas as the most gigantic shooting star scene ever witnessed. Witnesses described it as numerous, bright fireworks blazing throughout the sky. The night sky was so bright that just the light emitted was enough to see and read a newspaper. This event lasted for nearly four hours.
Currently, the world today is living at the very end of the sixth seal, and we are simply waiting for the last End Times events to take place very soon. Four angels standing at the four corners of the earth are holding back the wrath of God so that the saints of Christ can receive the seal of God in their foreheads (Revelation 7:1-3). Precisely 144,000 individuals with the seal of the living God will be protected through the entire duration of the Great Tribulation and will not suffer from the seven last plagues.
Afterward, Jesus will return in the clouds in great glory to destroy the wicked and take all of His people, the living 144,000, and the resurrected "great multitude" to heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17).

The seventh seal
“And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.” (Revelation 8:1 KJV).
There will be silence in heaven because no one will be there! Jesus and all the holy angels will leave heaven to come to earth in the clouds to take all the elect to heaven (Matthew 24:30-31). This event marks the end of the church period on earth, beginning the Millennium in heaven with Christ where the saved will take part in judging the wicked before their resurrection (1 Corinthians 6:2).
Will you be prepared to meet the Lord after these final prophetic events are rapidly fulfilling? Accept God’s free gift of salvation today so that you can have complete assurance for eternity with the Lord that awaits.