And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.  Ex 33:19  

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The Mercy Place
Gluckstadt Ministries, Inc.
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Madison MS 39110

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BREAKING THE SEVEN SEALS

REVELATION 6:1 – 8:1

SEALS 1 – 4: THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE; 6:1-8

Keep in mind that the historical event of the Lamb slain precedes the opening of the seven seals.  Most interpreters would agree that in chronological time the seals begin following the cross/resurrection event.  Can we determine where the seals end?

Revelation 6:12-17 is typical of Old Testament passages describing final judgment.  For example Is. 2:2-19; Hosea 10:1-8; Is.34:1-4; Joel 2:28- 3:3; Mal. 3:2.

My own interpretation is that the sixth seal represents final judgment.  Chapter seven can be seen as an interlude showing the saints in heaven during and/or after judgment on Earth.  The Seventh seal, Revelation 8:1 is silence in Heaven, or THE END!

Further:  Chapter 6:17 says, “For the great day of their wrath HAS COME.”      Chapter 7:17 says, “And God will wipe away all tears…”

This relates to Rev. 21:4,6.  NO teacher of Revelation suggests that God will wipe away all tears before the end of the age.

So, the seals represent a panoramic view of life on Earth during the end time, the church age, the age of grace, the time of the gentiles, or the parenthesis.  All of these terms are synonymous for the period of time from the ascension of Christ into heaven until His return.

Yes, I am suggesting that the seals begin with the cross/resurrection event and end with final judgment as Christ assumes His rightful place as King of Kings and Lord of Lords upon the Earth.

Further, I am suggesting from scriptural evidence that the Trumpets parallel the seals rather than following them.

The seals represent an overview of life for the followers of the Lamb while the trumpets represent an overview of partial judgment that comes during that same period of time but relates to those who have rejected the Lamb of God and are followers of the Dragon.

1.               The first seal opened – a white horse; 6:1-2

2.               The second seal opened – a red horse; 6:3-4

3.               The third seal opened – a black horse; 6:5-6

4.               The fourth seal opened – a pale horse; 6:7-8

 

SEALS 5 – 6:

CONTRASTING VIEWS IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH; 6:9-17

5.               The fifth seal opened – martyred souls; 6:9-11

6.               The sixth seal opened – judgments; 6:12-17

             a.     A crashing universe; 6:12-14

             b.     A frightened human race; 6:15-17

 

THE SEALING OF THE SAINTS: 7:1-16

7                 The first interlude: Care of the faithful; 7:1-17

             a.     The church militant, safe in midst of judgment; 7:1-6

             b.     The church triumphant, save above judgment; 7:9-17

                                                              i.     The redeemed in heaven; 7:9-10

                                                            ii.     The angels, elders, and living creatures join; 7:11-12

                                                           iii.     The glorious state of the redeemed; 7:13-17

 THE END: 8:1

7.               The seventh seal opened – silence in heaven; 8:1

  

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

  1. Keeping in mind that scripturally the seals broken begin sometime after the historical event of the ‘lamb slain’; can we determine where the seals end?  (Consider these O.T. passages:  Isaiah 2:2-19; Hosea 10:1-8; Isaiah 34:1-4; Joel 2:28-3:3; Malachi 3:2)

  2.   Will God ‘wipe away tears’ more than once?  Compare the language of

       Revelation Chapter 7:13 ff. and the language of Rev. 21:4, 6.  see 7:17                          

  3.  Where do the events described in Chapter 7 occur?

  4.  What is the significance of the 7th seal; 8:1?

 

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