Seven Seals of Revelation
The Signs of His Coming Jesus is coming back…twice. His first return is to rapture the Church and bring them to heaven for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Seven years after the church is raptured, Christ will return to the Mount of Olives, splitting it in half. Then the war begins. What are the signs of his return? Have you accepted him as your Savior? Today is the day to turn your life over to Christ! John Hagee: "The Battle for Jerusalem"
The seven seals of Revelation, come from the Scroll that only one person
can open; the Lamb of God who was slain, Jesus Christ. And as the
apostle John, saw the Lord open them, he saw the events of each of its
seven sections, and recorded what he saw according to the direction of
the Lord. These seven seals lead to and include the rapture, as the 6th
and 7th seals are the rapture.
Please
read the verses and commentary, and see the events leading up to the
rapture unfold showing correlation with other sections of Scripture.
As the
Lord opens the first four, each of the four living creatures, call unto
John to “Come and see” as each of the first four Seals revealed are
four horses with riders with very distinctive purposes. The 5th seal
shows a huge martyrdom situation on earth. And the 6th and 7th, show a
facet of the rapture itself.
The events of the seven seals, correlate with Matthew 24:1-51, Mark 13:1-37, Luke 17:20-37 and Luke 21:5-36.
SEAL #1 / Revelation 6:1-2 "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." 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."
The
wicked one is "given" a crown and he is riding a white horse, but he is
not Christ. He is the "Antichrist," meaning a false-Christ (Matthew 24:4-5)
who does not claim that "he is Jesus" but that "Jesus was not the
Messiah" because he will come as "the long-awaited Messiah." An
imitation Christ - an imitation Messiah. The devil always wanted to be
like the Most High God and now he sends his top evil one, to deceive the
Jews, the world and if possible to deceive even Christians that do not
know their Bible and have a strong relationship with God. He is given a crown. He is given the time. It is not of his own might or power but allowed by God. Mankind will be given over to what they want. (See the biblical definition of "antichrist" at 1 John 2:18-22, 4:3, 2 John 1:7). Also see the article,Two White Horses, Two Very Different Riders, Two Very Different Times.
SEAL #2 / Revelation 6:3-4 "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."
We know from Revelation 13:1-18 and
other Scripture, that he will head a one world empire. Like all leaders
that lie, he will come on the scene to bring good, but he will be a
master of deceit (Daniel 8:25). While he will speak peace, he will be conquering. And when peace is removed, it will be uglier than ever (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:6-12, I Thessalonians 5:3). The seven seals truly correspond with Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. Here is one section of verses in particular.
- Matthew 24:3-14 "Now
as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately,
saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 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. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."
Does this sound like Christians will not go through perilous times? Not only will it be so, but it is necessary to “endure to the end.”
SEAL #3 / Revelation 6:5-6 "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. 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 short review first: The 1st seal, white, imitation Christ, authority given to conquer and goes out conquering The 2nd seal, fiery red, as in anger, peace is removed, stress in a large sense... The 3rd seal, darker and bleaker times, food scarce and expensive.
- Mark 13:8, "And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles."
Direction
was given to them not to harm the oil and the wine. This is also a
possible sign to remind us that those who trust in the Lord will be
helped as Elijah was helped by the ravens and the Zarephath widow with
the unending flour and oil (1 Kings 17:8-16). SEAL #4 / Revelation 6:7-8 "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."
By
pale horse, it is meant pale like the pallor of sickly. The colors of
the horses have gone from imitation white, to fiery red, bleak and dark
and now pale like the pallor of a sick person. From alleged peace to
people killing each other and wars, to inflation and now ¼ of the earth
will be inflicted with death by sword, hunger, death and beasts of the
earth. It is no wonder that people do not want to believe that
Christians would have to go through this. However if God calls us to it,
He will bring us through it.
Once again, notice "the power" was given to them. This is allowed by God. The King James Version says, "famine and plague" as the New King James says "hunger and death."
- Matthew 24:7-10 "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.”
SEAL #5 / Revelation 6:9-11 "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. 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?" 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."
This
is clearly Christians who died for their faith. Slain for the Word of
God and the testimony which they held. White robes are given to them.
This is only possible for Christians. And they asked how long it would
go on? The answer is, a little while longer, until the number of
brethren, fellow servants of the Lord are killed as they had been, until
the number of them is complete.
SEAL #6 / Revelation 6:12-17 "I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like 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. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place."
"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, 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! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" This is the beginning of the rapture! Everything
will be going dark (sun, moon and stars) preparing for the Lord to come
in all His glory as He will illuminate the whole earth. The evil ones
see Him realize the "error of their ways" and know that they are in huge
trouble.
(This might sound strange to people who have gotten
impressions from movies or books or even trusted preachers and teachers
that were wrong themselves, but this is the Bible. This is how it will
be. Read it for yourself and see the truth of the matter.)
- Luke 21:25-28 "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. Then
they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great
glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your
heads, because your redemption draws near."
Why
would we look up and lift up our heads because our redemption is
drawing near if we are not here to be caught up to the Lord?
- Revelation 1:7 "Behold,
He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who
pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him.
Even so, Amen."
- Mark 14:60-62 "And
the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, saying, "Do You
answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?" But He kept
silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked Him, saying to
Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" Jesus said, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."
Please see our article, Every Eye Will See Him. This
is a global event. Heavenly event. Seen even in hell event. This is not
a secret event or a quiet event. This is universal and cataclysmic
event. This is a "woe unto the Lost" and "heaven to the Found."
Six
seals are past and the seventh is on the way. But first something
important must be done! Chapter 6 is the first 6 seals opened and
enacted. And going right away in chapter 7, the 144,000 Jews must be
sealed to protect them during the time of wrath that will soon follow.
- Revelation 7:1-4 "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. 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, saying, "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed:"12,000 from each Tribe of Israel.
Then!
- Revelation 7:9-14 "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, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to
our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" All the angels stood
around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell
on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen!
Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and
might, be to our God forever and
ever. Amen." Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are
these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" And I said
to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
SEAL #7 / Revelation 8:1 "When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour."
The
reason there is the silence in heaven is because this is when they come
with Jesus to claim His own from this earth. This is the time of the
rapture.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
"But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who
have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus."
- 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 "since
it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who
trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord
Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire
taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not
obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with
everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory
of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints
and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony
among you was believed."
- 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 "since
it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who
trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord
Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire
taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not
obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with
everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory
of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints
and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony
among you was believed."
To recap in closing: Seals 1- 4, the four horses of the apocalypse, happen over most of the first 3 1/2 years. But the 5th seal, comes into being, very close to the end and once it happens, the rapture must come quickly. The 6th seal is
the earth and atmosphere giving way, as the sun and moon go dark, even
the stars are effected. This is when the sky rolls up like a scroll.
Many would say this is the second coming and not the rapture, but proof
is in Matthew 24:1-51, Mark 13:1-37, Luke 17:20-37 and Luke 21:5-36 as
Jesus told what would happen leading up to seeing Him coming on the
clouds for His people. Remember, the Battle of Armageddon is at the end
of the 7 year tribulation period and the Lord is on a white horse with
an army on white horses coming to do battle; He will not rapture anyone
up at that time (raptured Christians will already have been in heaven
for 3 1/2 years by then). The 7th seal is the rapture and all that goes with it. The 144,000 Jews must be sealed and much more.
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Then!
- Revelation 7:9-14 "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, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen." Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
SEAL #7 / Revelation 8:1 "When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour."
The reason there is the silence in heaven is because this is when they come with Jesus to claim His own from this earth. This is the time of the rapture.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus."
- 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 "since
it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who
trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord
Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire
taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not
obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with
everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory
of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints
and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony
among you was believed."
- 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 "since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed."
To recap in closing: Seals 1- 4, the four horses of the apocalypse, happen over most of the first 3 1/2 years. But the 5th seal, comes into being, very close to the end and once it happens, the rapture must come quickly. The 6th seal is the earth and atmosphere giving way, as the sun and moon go dark, even the stars are effected. This is when the sky rolls up like a scroll. Many would say this is the second coming and not the rapture, but proof is in Matthew 24:1-51, Mark 13:1-37, Luke 17:20-37 and Luke 21:5-36 as Jesus told what would happen leading up to seeing Him coming on the clouds for His people. Remember, the Battle of Armageddon is at the end of the 7 year tribulation period and the Lord is on a white horse with an army on white horses coming to do battle; He will not rapture anyone up at that time (raptured Christians will already have been in heaven for 3 1/2 years by then). The 7th seal is the rapture and all that goes with it. The 144,000 Jews must be sealed and much more.
