THE OPENING OF THE FIRST SIX SEALS
REVELATION 6
After the rapture of the church of Christ, maybe after a small interval, there will be seven years of great tribulation to bring to a head the 490 years of God's dealing with the nation of Israel since Daniel's time (interrupted by the Church age) , and re-establish Jerusalem, attaining the following objects2 (Daniel 9:24):
- To finish the transgression of Israel,
- To make an end of sins,
- To make reconciliation for iniquity, i.e. the rejection by Israel of the Messiah,
- To bring in everlasting righteousness,
- To seal up vision and prophecy (both limited to the nation of Israel, for, once fulfilled, she will be in communion with God forever),
- And to anoint the Most Holy, when Christ will sit upon the throne in the new millennial temple in Jerusalem.
This period of seven years is mentioned abundantly in the Bible, and is given various names (see previous chapter). It starts exactly when the prince who is to come (called the beast, antichrist, etc.) confirms a covenant with many (Jews, the State of Israel) for one week, and he appears on the opening of the first seal.
These are the results of the opening of the seals:
1st SEAL: this first horseman riding a white horse (strength and speed), with a bow (no arrows, he attacks with cunning), given a crown (dominion), went out conquering and to conquer.
2nd SEAL: there is no longer peace on earth, so the first world war of the tribulation takes place, also revolutions within countries and personal fights.
3rd SEAL: food becomes scarce, prices rise; medicine is not affected.
4th SEAL: the violence, the famine, the epidemics, the attacks of wild animals will reduce the earth's population by a quarter.
5th SEAL: while all this takes place, there is great persecution and slaughter of the saints: those who are faithful to the Word of God and bear testimony of their faith. The souls of those slain are under the altar (indicating sacrifice) and ask when judgment will come upon mankind. They are provided with the clothing of salvation, and told to wait a little longer, until their number is completed.
6th SEAL: the earth is shaken with violent cataclysms, amidst a complete blackout, causing people to try to hide themselves, recognising that the Day of God's Wrath has arrived.
1 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."
First Seal: The Conqueror
2 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.
Second Seal: Conflict on Earth
3 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come and see."
4 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.
Third Seal: Scarcity on Earth
5 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.
6 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."
Fourth Seal: Widespread Death on Earth
7 When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come and see."
8 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.
Fifth Seal: The Cry of the Martyrs
9 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.
10 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?"
11 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.
Sixth Seal: Cosmic Disturbances
12 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.
13 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.
14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.
15 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,
16 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!
17 "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
Rev 6:1-17 (NKJV)