Prophecy 6

The Six Seals –
Revelation 4:1-6:17

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A Short Summary of the Seven Seals

Sometimes, it is good to have a bird’s eye view of a topic that is quite involved. Therefore, a short summary of my understanding of the seven seals might be helpful before we proceed. The first seal was broken in 1798. This seal is a campaign that promotes salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone. This campaign is controversial because it is in conflict with all of the religions of the world. In fact, millions of Christians have been led to believe that salvation comes through rituals, sacraments, or church affiliation. None of this is true. Salvation comes through faith, obediently surrendering our will (go-be-do) to the will of Christ. The campaign begun with the first seal will continue until the time when the seventh trumpet is about to sound. The second seal was broken in 1800. This seal concerns the translation, publication, and distribution of the Bible – the only book on Earth that speaks authoritatively for God. This campaign will become very controversial during the Great Tribulation because Bible truth is opposed to the desires of the carnal nature. The third seal was broken in 1844. This seal reveals the concept of a pre-advent judgment. Jesus began judging the dead in 1844 and He will judge the living during the Great Tribulation. This campaign has been controversial, in part, because it rejects the idea that a person is judged at death and sent immediately to Heaven or hell. The fourth seal will be a campaign that reveals the sovereign authority of Jesus. This campaign has not begun yet, but when it does, a great controversy will erupt as to what constitutes the will of God. The breaking of the fourth seal will mark the beginning of the Great Tribulation. Billions of people will learn after the fourth seal is broken that everyone on Earth is required to worship Jesus as Creator and Redeemer. Of course, this will be controversial. The fifth seal will be a campaign that reveals the faith of Jesus. There will be millions of martyrs for Christ when the fifth seal is broken. These martyrs will demonstrate the peace and resolve that only comes through faith in Jesus. The sixth seal will be a campaign revealing Christ’s authority as Almighty God. When the sixth seal is broken, Jesus will appear in clouds of glory at the Second Coming. He will return to Earth to destroy the wicked and rescue the righteous. Finally, the seventh seal will be a campaign that reveals the eternal deity of Jesus. The whole universe will learn that Jesus is equal to the Father in every way. After Jesus destroys the wicked and the Earth with fire, He will create a new Heaven and a new Earth. The saints will then watch as Jesus humbles Himself again. Jesus will return the power and authority which the Father gave Him. Once again, Jesus will become submissive to the Father’s will. Jesus will do this because of His great love for the Father and His creation.

The seven seals reveal Jesus:

• Seal 1: The salvation of Jesus
• Seal 2: The teachings of Jesus
• Seal 3: The judgment of Jesus
• Seal 4: The sovereign authority of Jesus
• Seal 5: The faith of Jesus
• Seal 6: The glory of Jesus
• Seal 7: The deity of Jesus

When Jesus is revealed for all that He is at the end of the 1,000 years, the universe will see that the three members of the Godhead are inseparably united. They are submissive to each other. They are one in purpose, plan, and action and they love their children with as much love as they love one another. They are mirrors of each other.[40] When Jesus came to Earth at His First Advent, most of the world was unaware of His arrival. When Jesus comes to Earth the second time, the result will be much different. Every eye will see Him.[41] The whole world will know who He is. The saints will rejoice and the wicked will perish.

The First Seal – The Salvation of Jesus

Revelation 6:1

And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

{6:1} After the songs of praise came to an end, everyone was seated and silence fell upon the throne room. A sovereign Jesus sat beside the Father on the throne.[42] I watched closely as the Lamb broke open the first seal.

The seven seals represent a seven step process that will, at the end of the 1,000 years, reveal everything about the love and full identity of Jesus Christ. The Father has ordained that everyone in the universe should know that Jesus Christ is Almighty God, just like Himself. Jesus is made of the same eternal substance as the Father and He has the same powers and prerogatives as the Father. Jesus is a separate, distinct, co-eternal member of the Godhead. Yet, Jesus was willing to lay aside His powers and prerogatives and surrender Himself to the will of the Father in order to save mankind. The humility of Jesus is also seen in the Father. After Jesus received the book sealed with seven seals, the Father took “a back seat.” The Father gave Jesus sovereign authority so that the drama of sin and the exoneration of God’s government of love could be brought to a successful conclusion. Jesus still continues to carry this enormous responsibility today.

The seven seals can be compared to seven political campaigns in the sense that the purpose of a political campaign is the exposure of a candidate with his or her ideas on “the way government should run.” The purpose of the seven seals is a seven-step exposure of Jesus as the savior of sinners, Almighty God, Prince of Peace, King of kings, and Lord of lords.

{6:1 – continued} After Jesus broke the first seal, He spoke for a few moments to the first living creature that had a face which looked like a lion. Then the first living creature spoke to everyone seated in the courtroom. His voice boomed with great authority. It sounded like thunder as he said, “Come and see the assignment the Lamb has given me.”

Revelation 6:2

Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.{2} As I watched, the first living creature transformed Himself into a rider on a white horse. I was astonished until I remembered that Zechariah also saw the work of the Holy Spirit represented by four horses.[43]

In his vision, Zechariah saw white, red, brown, and gray horses pulling chariots. When Zechariah asked his attending angel what the horses and chariots represented, the angel said, “These are the four spirits [the four living creatures] of Heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world.”[44] The colors of the horses are associated with a specific direction in Zechariah’s vision. The white horses went toward the west. The red horses went toward the east. The black horses went toward the north and the dappled (gray) horses went toward the south. When viewed in their entirety, the color and identity of the horses in Zechariah’s vision and the horses in John’s vision are identical. The difference is that in Zechariah’s day the horses were pulling chariots. In John’s vision there are no chariots. There is only a rider on a horse. I believe this indicates the Holy Spirit must travel faster and farther, because there is less time. In both visions the four living creatures go throughout the Earth toward the four points of a compass.

After the first living creature was transformed into a rider on a horse, He left the throne room in a hurry. He departed on a mission that will not end until the door to salvation is closed.[45]

The four horsemen in Revelation 5 represent four campaigns which the four living creatures (the Holy Spirit) conduct. Each mission is associated with one of the four faces that John saw. Each campaign builds upon the accomplishments of the previous campaign and when the final campaign is completed, the whole world will not only know about Jesus, but it will also know who Jesus really is. Currently, even though three seals have been initiated, most of the world still does not understand who Jesus is. When the fourth seal is broken, progress will abruptly improve. At that time, the groundwork laid by the first three campaigns will prove to be very effective. Jesus will soon shatter the religious paradigms of the world. He will break the fourth seal and a display of divine wrath will turn the whole world upside down. (Note: The first four trumpets in Revelation 8delineate these horrific events. This topic is examined in Prophecy 8.) When God’s wrath is unleashed on Earth, billions of people will hear the message given by God’s servants (the 144,000) and thoughtfully consider a gospel that is unlike anything ever heard!

Daniel 7:9-14 aligns with Revelation 5. Daniel saw Jesus exalted to the throne (in 1798) and given sovereign power. John also saw Jesus receive the book sealed with seven seals (in 1798) and given sovereign power.[46] These two scenes align for several reasons, but primarily because sovereign power is bestowed upon Jesus in both visions. When Jesus broke open the first seal, the Holy Spirit (the first living creature with the face of a lion) began a campaign in Europe and the New World (the United States). The Holy Spirit opened up the hearts and minds of people to their great need of salvation through faith in Jesus. This was a difficult, but an important transition. For more than twelve hundred years, the Roman Catholic Church had claimed that salvation came through obedience to the traditions and sacraments of the Church. When papal power was broken in 1798, the time had come for the world to hear the truth about salvation. The Bible teaches that salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone. No ritual, clergy, or church can save a sinner. A person’s connection to Christ does not come through a priest, preacher, rabbi, or cleric. Rather, a connection with Jesus is available to every person through the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus speaks to us through the Holy Spirit and Jesus offers salvation to any person willing to obey His teachings and voice.[47]

After the power of the papacy was wounded in 1798, the Holy Spirit put a compelling desire within Protestants to broadcast salvation through faith in Christ around the world. When it comes to revealing all that Jesus Christ is, the doctrine of salvation through faith in Christ (justification and sanctification) is the first and greatest teaching of Christ. The bow carried in the rider’s hand is not a weapon of war as artists commonly portray it. The Greek word toxon indicates the bow is made of fabric which indicates the bow carried in the rider’s hand is a winner’s ribbon. This bow indicates the victory that is given to everyone who abides in Christ. (See Appendix B.) In fact, victory over the carnal nature is only possible through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. A believer can overcome the power of sin through the power that Jesus will send him through the Holy Spirit! The gospel of Jesus always produces division and conflict when it is proclaimed with clarity and power. Lucifer and his demons will be sure of that!

The opening of the first seal initiated a sevenfold process revealing who Jesus really is. The first living creature (the one having a face like a lion) went throughout the Earth searching for souls. The Holy Spirit caused a great awakening in the United States and Europe and many people rejoiced to learn that salvation comes through faith in Christ alone. After breaking the first seal, the work of the Holy Spirit took off and the gospel of Jesus began to grow. This work will continue until the seventh trumpet occurs.

The Second Seal – The Teachings of Jesus

Revelation 6:3

And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.{3} The Lamb spoke to the second living creature, the one who had the face like an ox. (Oxen are known for their great strength.) The Holy Spirit spoke in a loud voice, “Come and see the assignment the Lamb has given me!”

 

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