Seals

Revelation 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Romans 13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The Seven Seals: 

God’s judgment will be poured out ALL during the tribulation

God’s judgments will be released onto the earth during the seven year tribulation.  The judgments are described in Revelation as a “book sealed with seven seals”.  (Rev. 5:1)  In the last seal there are seven trumpets and seven vials and three woes which also represent God’s judgment on the earth.

Revelation 5:1
And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

The number seven in the Bible seems to be the number of perfection or completion according to God.  These judgments must be completed in order to complete man’s judgment for rejecting Christ.

How soon does the first seal get opened after the beginning of the tribulation? 

There may be some time between the rapture of the church and the beginning of the tribulation.

Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

Revelation 4:1 talks about the rapture of the church.  John, the writer of Revelation, sees a door opened in heaven.  Then he hears a trumpet that seems to say, “Come up hither”.  This represents the rapture of the church being taken to heaven.  John was taken to heaven in order to write down the events that would happen both on the earth and in heaven during the seven year tribulation.

The actual opening of the seals is not mentioned until Revelation 5:1.  The period of time between when the rapture happens in Revelation 4:1 and where the seal judgments are first mentioned in Revelation 5:1 could be the time between the rapture and the tribulation. 

As we see next, the first seal is actually open in Revelation 6:1.  Jesus the Lamb is the only one worthy to open the seal.

The opening of the seals 

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.

The first seal

Revelation 6:2
And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

The first seal talks about a conqueror on a white horse that is given a bow but not an arrow.  This seems harmless enough.  A bow seems to represent power but without an arrow it doesn’t sound like a threatening power.  This could be describing the antichrist while he is taking over global authority in a peaceful and flattering way.  The antichrist could be humbly persuading people to put him in a leadership position.
Take a look at the phrase “white horse” in Revelation 6:2 and compare it to Christ’s return in Revelation 19:11.  Both the antichrist in Revelation 6:2 and Christ in Revelation 19:11 are sitting on a white horse.  The difference is the conqueror antichrist man in Revelation 6:2 is an imposter trying to look like Christ.  He is trying to deceive everyone into believing he is the Christ.

Revelation 19:11
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

Revelation 19:11 states “he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True,” Revelation 19:11 is talking about Christ’s return at the end of the tribulation.  Don’t be deceived into thinking the antichrist is Christ. 

Give your heart to Jesus now and go to heaven in the rapture.  If you are reading this after the rapture but during the tribulation then give your life to Christ now!!  You may not have another moment to decide. 

 Jesus told his disciples in Matthew not to be deceived when you hear that Christ has come. 

When Christ does come back every one will know and see Him. 

Don’t believe anyone that says they are the Christ.  You WILL KNOW when Christ returns with clouds. 

Matthew 24:23-27
Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.  Behold, I have told you before.  Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.  For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Revelation 1:7
Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

The second seal talks about war.

Revelation 6:3-4 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.

Revelation 6:4
And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

Revelation 6:4 says when the second seal was opened another horse went out that was red.  Red is a color that represents Satan in Revelation 12:3.  The rider on the red house could represent this same antichrist leader but this time with Satan living in him.  This time the rider has the ability to take peace from the earth.  Now the rider has a “great sword”.  Very dangerous.

Revelation 12:3
And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

Here’s the interpretation of the dragon:

Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
 

The third seal talks about famine.  This could possibly be sanctions that are placed on areas that do not accept the antichrist’s laws.  It’s possible that this seal of famine could happen throughout the seven year tribulation.  If possible stockpile food and water while you can.

Revelation 6:5
And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

Revelation 6:6
And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

The fourth seal talks about death.  It’s possible this seal of Death and Hell could happen throughout the seven year tribulation.  Those people that don’t accept Christ as their savior will go to Hell when they die. 

Revelation 6:7
And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.

Revelation 6:8
And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

The fifth seal talks about martyrdom.  It’s also possible this will be happening throughout the seven year tribulation.

Here’s the definition of martyrdom:  “death that is imposed because of the person’s adherence of a religious faith or cause.”

If you die for the cause of Christ you will be a martyr for Christ.  According to Revelation 20:4, if you do die for  Christ then you will live and reign with Christ for a thousand years. 

This means, if  you give your life to Christ and do die as a martyr during the tribulation, first you will go to heaven.  Then you will be resurrected at the end of the tribulation and you will reign with Christ for a thousand years.  This is called the Millennium.  After the thousand years is finished, then eternity future will begin with a new heaven and a new earth. 

Here are some scripture about martyrs.

Revelation 6:9
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
Revelation 20:4
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Opening the fifth seal:

Revelation 6:9
And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

Revelation 6:10
And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

Revelation 6:11
And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Next – the sixth seal