Revelation #5 The Loosing of the Seven Seals Revelation 6:1 - 8:2

Revelation #5- Loosing the Seven Seals, 6:1 - 8:2  The book of Revelation is a great building climax of one extraordinary vision after another.  The Throne Scene of chp.4 with God is all His glory builds to the entrance of the One worthy to open the Book….  In chp.5 the Lion/Lamb of Judah enters as the only One worthy to break the seven seals which bound the Book….  And now in 6:1 - 8:2 these seals will be opened.

Revelation #5- Loosing the Seven Seals, 6:1 - 8:2  The preceding chapters have been introductory to this moment: >the Letters to the Seven Churches showed the character, temptations, and rewards of the faithful church. >the Throne Scene reassured persecuted Christians of the sovereign power of God. >the Worthiness of the Lamb to carry God’s eternal plan into fruition by opening the Book gave hope.

Revelation #5- Loosing the Seven Seals, 6:1 - 8:2  With breaking of the seals, and the opening of the Book, the great Apocalypse actually begins.  We will see several things in it: >pictures of the suffering of the church >divine judgments upon her enemies &>the ultimate triumph of Jesus Christ as the Conqueror.

Revelation #5- Loosing the Seven Seals, 6:1 - 8:2  Here’s the breakdown of this section: 6:1-17 the breaking/loosening of the first six seals of the Book 7:1-17 An Interlude- Provisions for Faithful >144,000 sealed >great multitude coming out of tribulation 8:1-2 The Seventh Seal & Silence in Heaven

Revelation #5- Loosing the Seven Seals, 6:1 - 8:2 I. 6:1-17 The Breaking/Loosening of the First Six Seals of the Book  The First Seal- White Horse, 6:1-2 -Must be identified by color and description of the rider since no lines or activity is given. -Seems to represent Christ or the Cause of Christ: >also pictured as being on a white horse, 19:11-16 >white seems to represent purity >the crown suggests royalty >the bow represents a means of overcoming- which is exactly what He does.

Revelation #5- Loosing the Seven Seals, 6:1 - 8:2  The Second Seal- Red Horse, 6:3-4 -Wherever Christ enters, the sword of persecution usually follows, 2Tim.3:12 -The rider of this horse was sent to take peace from the earth. This probably refers to the persecution of Christians more than wars between nations. -The “sword” is interesting because it is machaira (a sacrificial sword, cf. Mt.10:34) rather than pomphaia (a sword of warfare, Rev.6:8). This again emphasizes persecution / sacrifice rather than war per se.

Revelation #5- Loosing the Seven Seals, 6:1 - 8:2  The Third Seal- Black Horse, 6:5-6 -The rider carries a pair of scales, v.5. -And says a measure (enough for one person for one day) of wheat for a denarius (a day’s wage). -Thus, a whole day’s wage for enough wheat or barley for one person for one day. -This represents economic hardship which sometimes follows persecution, cf. Acts 8:1,4 > Rom.15:25ff; 1Cor.16:1ff. -It is not famine, as one could get all he could buy. -Oil & wine represent the comforts of wealth.

Revelation #5- Loosing the Seven Seals, 6:1 - 8:2  The Fourth Seal- Ashen/Pale Horse, 6:7-8 -The rider was named “Death” and Hades (the realm of the dead) followed. -The horse’s color represents the sickly color of disease and death. -Because of the persecution and economic hardships that had already come, disease, hunger, and death followed. -Thus the agonizing pleas of the souls under the altar (Christians) seen in the fifth seal can be easily seen.

Revelation #5- Loosing the Seven Seals, 6:1 - 8:2  The Fifth Seal- Martyred Saints, 6:9-11 -These had been killed for their faith, cf. 2:10,13. -They cry, “How long?” until they are avenged not revenged (such would not be proper, Rom.12:19). -They are given white robes- symbols of righteousness and victory; as martyrs, their fight is over. -But they must wait until the number of martyrs who will join them is complete. -The Lord will come with vengeance upon the enemy, but not just yet- all things in God’s time.

Revelation #5- Loosing the Seven Seals, 6:1 - 8:2  The Sixth Seal- Earthquake/Judgment, 6: Remember this is symbolic or figurative language. -The disasters, both natural and unnatural, which are depicted are not necessarily real, but represent the Judgment of God. -From such, six classes of men try to hide: (1) Kings, (2) Great Men (princes), (3) Commanders, (4) Rich, (5) Strong, (6) Slave/Free Men. -Men of all stations of life who have refused to serve the Lord will prefer the “mountains to fall on us”. “Who is able to stand?” is answered in the next scene.

Revelation #5- Loosing the Seven Seals, 6:1 - 8:2 II. Provisions for the Redeemed, 7:1-17 [As before stated, chp.7 is an interlude between the sixth and seventh seals.]  Before God’s wrath is poured out, the saints must be protected, 7:1-3 -The four angels were ready to “harm the earth and sea” v.2b -But the “seal” of God must first be placed upon those that are His- those who will be preserved, v.3.

Revelation #5- Loosing the Seven Seals, 6:1 - 8:2  144,000 are thus sealed, 7:4-8 -Why “144,000”? -The number 12 (representing God’s covenant people) is multiplied by itself; and then by the multiple 10 (representing the complete number) to attain 144,000. -The number then comes to represent every single servant of the Lord, cf. 2Tim.2:19a. -If this number is literal as some suggest, then: (a) Why only Jews?; and (b) Why were Dan and Ephraim left out? It is symbolism.

Revelation #5- Loosing the Seven Seals, 6:1 - 8:2  The Church Triumphant, 7:9-17 -After this suggests that John now sees the church from a different point of view…. >no longer cowering beneath the mighty hand of Roman persecution crying “How long?” to the Lord; >but in a triumphant scene before the throne of God Himself! -It is a scene of great encouragement showing the then (and now) persecuted that they will overcome if they remain faithful!

Revelation #5- Loosing the Seven Seals, 6:1 - 8:2  The Seventh Seal, 8:1-2 -What a dramatic conclusion to this glorious scene…. -After the redeemed have been spared from the great tribulation the angels Lord will throw down upon the earth in vengeance, -And after they have praised and worshipped the Lord with great throng of heaven…. THERE IS REVERENT SILENCE IN HEAVEN!!! -Next will come the depiction of God’s wrath being poured out in judgment upon the earth.

Revelation #5- Loosing the Seven Seals, 6:1 - 8:2  Conclusions -The worthy Lamb/Lion of Judah was found to open the Book of God’s plan to save man. -The faithful, despite being sorely persecuted and killed, were spared from the greater destruction of God’s wrath. -So great is the coming destruction that even great men cry out for the mountains to fall upon them knowing such is preferred to God’s punishment. “Yes,” being a faithful Christian may be hard…. but nearly so hard as God’s wrathful judgment!