07.08. Book with the seven seals (5:1-8:1)
Book with the seven seals (Rev 5:1-14, Rev 6:1-17, Rev 7:1-17, Rev 8:1) The Lamb then opens the seven seals that are on the scroll that God the Father gave to Jesus. This reflects back to the first verse where God the father gave the revelation to Jesus.
A white horse with one that conquers and overcomes went out.
A red horse went out and the rider was to take peace from the earth and make men slay each other.
A black horse, appears and the rider has a pair of scales. There is a lack of food and consequent famine.
Ashen horse with Death riding on it and Hades following behind. They kill ¼th of the earth with sword, famine, pestilence and wild animals.
John sees martyrs that are under the alter asking how long will God refrain from judging and avenging their blood? Each is given a white robe and told to rest longer.
When the sixth seal is broken, there is a great earthquake, the sun became black, the moon became like blood, the stars fell to the earth, the sky split apart, the mountains and islands moved out of their place and people hid themselves. This is an extremely catastrophic event, which obviously has not happened yet, so this is definitely in the future. After this, 144,000 of Israel sealed. The rapture must have taken place prior to this since the only believers left are the 144,000 Israelites that were sealed. While it is not possible to pinpoint the exact time of the rapture, it is most likely prior to the sixth seal being opened. (Many would place it prior to the first seal). A great multitude from all nations and tribes stand before the throne – these come out of the great tribulation which is about to occur. John MacArthur writes:
The elder’s description of these believers as having come out of the great tribulation clearly distinguishes them from any other group of redeemed people in history. The term great tribulation refers to a specific time in the future that is unique in all of human history. It refers to the future eschatological day of divine judgment immediately before Jesus Christ returns to establish His earthly kingdom. v
The seventh seal ushers in the seven angels with seven trumpets. Another angel takes a censer filled with fire and throws it to the earth. Lightning, thunder, and earthquake follow.
No specific judgment is mentioned when the seventh seal is broken. The narrative moves directly to seven trumpet judgments. From this we infer that the seventh seal consists of the seven trumpets.
W. Graham Scroggie states, “The trumpets, therefore, do not double back over all or some of the seals, but lie under the sixth seal, and proceed from it” (The Great Unveiling, p. 111). He also holds that the bowls of the wrath of God (chap. 16) “do not double back over the seal and trumpet judgments” (p. 112) vii
C.A. Blanchard holds the same position: “The series of three sevens are really included in one series of seven, that is, the seven trumpets are included under the seventh seal and the seven bowls are included under the seventh trumpet, so that we have in fact a single series in three movements” (Light on the Last Days, p. 58).viii