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REVELATION – LESSON 4

I. THE SEVEN SEALS OF THE BOOK ARE OPENED (6:1-8:5)

A. The first seal – white horse (6:1-2)

     1. White: color of heavenly purity (cf. 19:14)

     2. Activity: “conquering and to conquer”

     3. Means: the bow- the mounted bowmen of Parthia were long time formidable foes of Rome (53 B.C. – A.D. 226) (cf. Psalm 45:5, 7:12,   Hab. 3:8-13)

B. The second seal – red horse (6:3-4)  

     1. Red: the color of bloodshed

     2. Activity: rider takes away peace; people of earth slaying one another

     3. Means: “great sword” (MACHAIRA) the shorter butchering sword of sacrifice (Matt. 10:34)

     4. As a result of the gospel, conflict, persecution and sacrificial slaying of the Christian would occur.

C. The third seal – black horse (6:5-6)

     1. Black: the color of grief and mourning

     2. Activity:

         a. A balance is given to rider for measuring.

         b. The cry comes to measure a day’s ration of wheat and barley for an entire day’s wage.

         c. The luxury items of oil and wine not to be hurt.

D. The fourth seal – pale horse (6:7-8)

     1. Pale: (CHLOROS – greenish, leaden color, ashen hue) a sickly color of  disease and Death

     2. Rider named: Death and Hades – as death enters the scene, Hades follows,taking the dead to the realm of the                      unseen (cf. 1:18, 20:13-14)

     3. Activity: 1/4 of earth is hurt; partial judgment. Killing with sword (RHOMPHAIA – large, two-edged sword),                      famine, death (pestilence) and wild beasts (cf. Ezekiel 14:21, 5:16-17)

     4. God’s judgments that fall on society because of idolatry would affect the Christian who must be a member of                      society while being a citizen of  Heaven.

E. The fifth seal – martyred saints (6:9-11)

     1. John sees souls who are under the altar and have been slain for the word of God and they testimony they held.

     2. Martyred saints cry: “How long” before God avenges their blood?

     3. Each saint given white robe (joy, glory, victory, purity) encouraged to rest awhile – other saints to experience                      martyrdom.

F. The sixth seal – judgment of nations (6:12-17)

     1. Earthquake ushers in upheaval characteristic of earthly powers falling:

         a. Sun turns black and sackcloth.

         b. Moon becomes blood.

         c. Stars fall to the earth (cf. Isa. 13:10) – as unripe figs falling during wind.

         d. Heaven departs as rolled up scroll (cf. Isa. 34:4).

         e. Every mountain and island moved (Ezekiel 26:15-18, Matt. 24:29).

     2. Judgment affects all classes: Princes, chief captains, rich, strong, slave and freeman.

     3. Sobering question: Who can stand facing the wrath of the lamb?

II. THE REDEEMED CAN STAND (7:1-8:5)  

A. While Divine retribution is ready to be delivered upon the earth, an angel cries out to hold back until the saints have                  God’s seal placed upon their foreheads (7:1-3).

B. The seal: denotes ownership, certification and protection (Song of Solomon 8:6; Esther 3:12; Matt. 27:66).

C. The 144,000 sealed:

     1. Represents God’s covenant people.

     2. A complete number (multiplied by self and multiples of “10”)

     3. Christians are the people of God’s New Covenant (Gal. 6:16, Rom. 2:28-29 – spiritual Israel).

     4. Sealed: Christians need to know they are not targets of God’s wrath (7:4-8).

D. A great numberless multitude – God’s redeemed people who have already faced the persecution and remained faithful                 (7:9-17)

     1. They serve God before the throne, day and night – God’s comforting tent is spread over them.

     2. No more hunger, or suffering – the victorious lamb is now the providing shepherd for His once suffering people. He          will lead them to the waters of life.

E. The seventh seal opened – silence in heaven for 1/2 hour (8:1-5).

     1.  Hour – a short time – transition to the partial warnings of the seven angels who are given seven trumpets.

     2. God is hearing prayers of saints – the incense is added.

     3. God’s sobering presence seen and heard as an introduction to angel’s warnings.

QUESTIONS:

1. What part do the living creatures play in the opening of the seals?

2. What is the meaning of the “color” of each horse?

3. Who is the rider on the white house?

4. What is the distinction between the meaning of the third seal and the fourth seal?

                                         

5. Who are the souls under the altar?

6. For what do these souls cry?

7. What are the upheavals, seen in the sixth seal, characteristic of in the Bible?

8. What is the purpose of the interlude between the opening of the sixth and the seventh seals?

9. In the Bible, to what does “sealing” something refer?

10. Are “the 144,000” and “the great multitude” two different people, or do they refer to the same people under two different      conditions?

11. What immediately follows the opening of the seventh seal?

12. What is the purpose for the seventh seal?