The seven seals in the book of Revelation relay the the horrific judgements unleashed onto the earth. These are described in the Revelation after Jesus gives his letters to the 7 churches. Before the seals are opened, John sees into the throne of heaven. This is significant because this establishes where these judgements originate. In addition, the Revelation provides the Bible’s third and final depiction of the throne of God. Moreover the most detailed.
The Living Creatures
Equally important it provides the second place in Scripture which describes the living creatures before the throne. Ezekiel Chapter One provides the first. Finally the living creatures play a major role in the unleashing of the seven seals. A significant parallel to the book of Ezekiel is thus established.
Ezekiel
Ezekiel, one of the Bible’s major prophets lived during the Babylonian captivity. His father was a priest. When Nebudchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem in 434 BC, he exiled Jehoiachin King of Judah along with his family, the nobility and 10,000 captives. The prophet Ezekiel was one of the captives. Exhiled around 593 BC, in part he predicted the destruction of the first temple. This occurred in 587 BC by Nebudchadnezzar II.
Revelation Chapter 4 records
4 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.
2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
. The Scroll
The Scroll which is sealed is presented in Chapter 5:1. It describes:
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.
It is similar to the scroll in Ezekiel 2:9-10 reads:
9 Now when I looked, there was a hand stretched out to me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10 Then He spread it before me; and there was writing on the inside and on the outside, and written on it were lamentations and mourning and woe.
Both scrolls are delivered from the hand of God. In addition, both have writing on the inside and on the back. Ezekiel’s elaborates that written are “lamentations, mourning and woe.”
Scrolls contain curses and God’s judgments
This is most evident in Zechariah’s vision of the flying scroll (Zechariah 5:1-4). This scroll measured 30 feet by 15 feet. This was an actual scroll that flew through the earth and brought a curse. Zechariah’s flying scroll confirms that Biblical scrolls send judgment.
Vision of the Flying Scroll
5 Then I turned and raised my eyes, and saw there a flying scroll.
2 And he said to me, “What do you see?”
So I answered, “I see a flying scroll. Its length is twenty cubits and its width ten cubits.”
3 Then he said to me, “This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole earth: ‘Every thief shall be expelled,’ according to this side of the scroll; and, ‘Every perjurer shall be expelled,’ according to that side of it.”
4 “I will send out the curse,” says the Lord of hosts;
“It shall enter the house of the thief
And the house of the one who swears falsely by My name.
It shall remain in the midst of his house
And consume it, with its timber and stones.”
Books in the Bible
Books Mentioned in Bible
The Books mentioned in the Bible not only include the Biblical books, but the Word references other works that you will see in the list below When you examine the New Testament, many of the Old Testament books are referenced. While the list below provides references, for some of the books there are so many references that only a few are mentioned. Such as books of the Chronicles.
Book of the generations of Adam Genesis 5:1
Memorial in a book Defeat of Amalek Exodus 17:14
The book of the covenant Exo 24:7
Thy Book Exodus 32:32
Book of the Wars of the Lord Numbers 21:14
The Law of Moses or the Book of The Law Deu 28:58, Deu 30:10, Deu 31:24, Deu 31:26, Jos 1:8, Jos 8:31,34, Jos 23:6
Book of Jasher-references sun and moon darkening and teaches use of the bow Jos 10:13, 2 Sam 1:18
Samuel’s book of the ordinances of the Kingdom 1 Sa 10:25
Acts of Solomon or called Book of the acts of Solomon 1 Ki 11:41
Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel 1 Ki 14:19, 1 Ki 15:31, 1 Ki 16:5,14,20.27
Also the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah 1 Ki 14:29, 1 Ki 15:23
Nathan the Prophet’s book called Book of Nathan the Prophet reference acts of Solomon 2 Ch 9:29
Book of the Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite reference acts of solomon2 Ch 9:29
Iddo’s Book called Book of the Visions of Iddo the Seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat, reference the acts of Solomon and geologies 2 Ch 9:29
Shemaiah’s book called Book of Shemaiah the Prophet -Acts of Rehoboam, first and last, genealogies 2 Ch 12:15
Jehu’s book called Book of Jehu 2 Chronicles 20:34
Book of the records Ezra 4:15
This might also be the book of Life-Book of the Living Psa 69:28
Nahum’s vision in Book of the Vision of Nahum the Elkoshite Nah1:1
Book of Remembrance Mal 3:16
Book of Life Phl 4:3, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 13:8 Rev 20:12,, 15, Rev 21;27, Rev 22:19
The Books Revelation 20:12 “their works”, Daniel 7:10
Prophecy of this book Revelation 22:7,9-10,18-19
John and Jeremiah
It should be noted that both John (Revelation 1:11)and the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 36:2, Jeremiah 30:2are instructed to write their visions in a book. One book instructed so by God the father, and the Revelation by God the Son.
Books Vs. Scrolls
The scroll is significant in that it differs from other books mentioned in the Bible. When examining the various books in the Bible, it becomes evident that the God of the Bible is about books. It is no wonder that we have a Bible that He wrote and is His Word.
Scrolls differ from books because they deliver judgement. In addition scrolls are delivered from the hand of God, from his throne, Moreover they have a supernatural element meaning they exist in the spiritual realm. In conclusion, this is in line with the the God of the Bible about books, and his spoken and written word. John 1:1 states, in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God.
The 7 Sealed Scroll
Unlike the flying scroll of Zechariah, or the scroll presented to Ezekiel, the Revelation Scroll is sealed with seven seal. No one in God’s creation of angels, cheraphim or of men and women are worthy to open it. This isn’t just any scroll, this is a plan of God. Revelation 5: 1-6
Only Jesus is Worthy to open the seals
Jesus takes the scroll from the right hand of God. The living creatures and 24 elders sing that he is worthy because he has redeemed us to God by his blood. “And have made us priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 5: 7-10
Jesus’s redeeming man to God and by His shed blood makes Him the only one worthy to open the seals and release the plan of God.
Sealed Books
Daniel 12:4 confirms that God’s future plan is sealed and Isaiah 29:11 also makes reference to sealed books they read:
Isaiah 29: 11 states, “And the vision of all is become to you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee and he said, I cannot, for it is sealed.
Daniel 12:4
But thou, O Daniel shut up the words and seal the book even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
Jesus Opens the Seals
When Jesus opens the seals something extradionary happens. As he opens the first four seals each of the four horsemen of the apocalypse are released. But, as Jesus opens the First Seal it is the first living creature that says come and see.
1st Seal Jesus opens-1st living creature——–white horse with rider with bow and crown
2nd Seal 2nd Living Creature——fiery red horse with rider with sword
3rd Seal 3rd Living Creature black horse with scales
4th Seal 4th living creature pale horse-ridden by Death and Hades
The 4 horseman of Zechariah 6, compare to the four of the apocalypse in their colors except for the dappled horse. These are sent to judge Babylon and the other nations that came against the land. These are sent by “the four spirits of heaven who go out from their station before the Lord of all the earth.” Zechariah 6:5.
The four spirits of heaven can very well be referring to the living creatures. Thus again another reference of judgment coming from the throne of God.
Zechariah 6 New King James Version (NKJV) Reads:
6 Then I turned and raised my eyes and looked, and behold, four chariots werecoming from between two mountains, and the mountains were mountains of bronze. 2 With the first chariot were red horses, with the second chariot black horses, 3 with the third chariot white horses, and with the fourth chariot dappled horses—strong steeds. 4 Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?”
5 And the angel answered and said to me, “These are four spirits of heaven, who go out from their station before the Lord of all the earth. 6 [a]The one with the black horses is going to the north country, the white are going after them, and the dappled are going toward the south country.” 7 Then the strong steeds went out, eager to go, that they might walk to and fro throughout the earth. And He said, “Go, walk to and fro throughout the earth.” So they walked to and fro throughout the earth. 8 And He called to me, and spoke to me, saying, “See, those who go toward the north country have given rest to My Spirit in the north country.”
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
There was a time I thought the four horsemen were figurative. After much study and examination these are literal horses. These horsemen exist in the spiritual realm. They are actually set forth onto the earth during the Tribulation. There are many glimpses into the parallel realm in Scriputure and in them we see heavenly objects or animals. For example, the chariot of fire Elijah went to heaven in, The heavenly army that protected the prophet that was seen by an invading Assyrian king. The heavenly fire around the throne. The lake of fire. In addition, the chain that covers the abyss and binds Satan for 1000 years. These are some of the many examples.
Thus begins the first of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. Keep in mind this is relayed by the first living creature. Based on Zechariah 5, the living creatures may very be the four spirits of God that send these horses out. These are actual horses and according to the passage each have a rider that is a demonic entity.
Revelation Chapter Six
Revelation Chapter Six is the chapter of the Seals of the Revelation. Six of them are launched in this passage. The seventh is described in Revelation 8:1.
The Passage Reads:
Revelation 6 New King James Version (NKJV)
First Seal
6 Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the [a]seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” 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
3 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come [b]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
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[c] in his hand. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A [d]quart of wheat for a [e]denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.”
Fourth Seal
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 [f]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
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
12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and [g]behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the [h]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 [i]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, [j]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?”
Seal No. 1-The First Horse of the Apocalypse-The White Horse
The first horse is white and he who sits on it has a bow and a crown. This is thought to be the Antichrist. 1 John references the spirit of the Antichrist. It may very well be the spirit of Antichrist that rides the white horse.
The crown identifies him as a king, a leader, president. The bow in the Bible is a precision instrument of war. The bow aims for specific targets and hits them. The bow in Scripture is always first in the instruments of war. We are told the Antichrist comes to conquer and he conquers, This is represented by the bow. Consider the following verses:
Jeremiah 6:23
They shall lay hold on bow and spear, they are cruel, and have no mercy, their voice roareth like the sea and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion.
Jeremiah 49:35
Thus said the Lord of hosts, Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might.
Jeremiah 50:14
Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about all ye that bend the blow, shoot at her, spare no arrows, for she hath sinned against the Lord.
Jeremiah 50:29
Call together the archers against Babylon all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about, let none thereof escape; recompense her according to her work, according to all that she hath done, do under her; for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel.
Jeremiah 50:42
They shall hold the bow and the lance; they are cruel, and will not show mercy; their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses, every one put in array, like a man to battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon.
Lam 2:4
He hath bent his bow like an enemy; he stood with his right hand as an adversary, and slew all that were pleasant to the eye in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion he poured out his fury like fire.
Lam 3:12
He hath bent his bow and set me as a mark for the arrow.
Hos 1:5
And it shall come to pass in that day that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel
The Second Seal-The Second horseman of the Apocalypse-The Fiery Red Horse
The second horse announced by the second living creature is fiery red. His rider is another demonic entity. He brings war and bloodshed. In addition men killing one another. Finally mens deaths brought on as well by animals. It will be an unprecedented time in the world’s history. Violence will come from every direction, war, man against man.
Animals will Turn on men and women
Another highlight of the passage are the death brought on by beasts or animals. This will include animals that normally do not turn on humans. Animals such as cats, bunny’s mice to name a few
Particular Plagues in response to particular sin
In Egypt the plagues God issued mirrored their gods. This was the area of their sin. In the bowl judgments the various waters turn to blood. Revelation states this is in response to the nations delighting in the blood of the martyrs. Thus, the second horseman is God’s judgement for society’s lust for committing acts of violence. It is as if God is saying through the red horseman, you want violence, I will give you violence.
The Third Seal-TheThird Horseman of the Apocalypse-The Black Horse
The Third Seal has the third living creature announcing the third horseman, the black horse. This horse also has a demonic entity that rides it. The black horseman carries a balance and states:
. 6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A [d]quart of wheat for a [e]denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.”
This horseman launches a great famine. A denarious was a day’s wages in ancient Rome. In addition it should be noted that the quoting of the Roman coinage is a reference to the Final Roman Empire.
The Balances
The balances have always been interpreted as scales in measurement of food. But, upon examining the Scripture, scales and ephods signify judgment. The balances are a symbol of God’s measuring the deeds and actions of those on the earth and finding the wanting.
God commands us to use just balances in our dealings with one another. See the following verses on balances.
Ezekiel 45:10
Ye shall have just balances, and a just ephah, and a just bath.
Hosea 12:7
He is a merchant the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.
In the account from the book of Daniel when Nebuchadnezzar’s son Belshazzar was using the utensils from the Temple for a party. A hand suddenly appeared and wrote on the wall. We see a hand as well, the right hand of God handing the seven sealed scroll to Jesus in the Revelation. The hand writes mysterious words. Daniel is called on by Belshazzar to provide the interprestion. Daniel Chapter 5 provides the account.
Daniel tells him the words “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN” and interprets them for the king: “MENE, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; TEKEL, you have been weighed … and found wanting;” and “PERES, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.
Thus we see that Belshazzar was weighed and the balances and judgement came for his kingdom.
Zechariah 5 The Woman in the Basket
Similarly in Zechariah 5 we see the woman named Evil thrust into a basket. The woman is Isis who the Israelites are recorded worshiping in Jeremiah 44. Isis was Ishtar of Babylon the Queen mother. The basket is an ephah a weight of measurement.. In addition, ISIS in Egypt was depicted as sitting on a basket.
The Woman’s Judgement in Revelation 18
The woman in the basket was taken to a place that would be her temple or home. This is the Vatican in Rome. Revelation 18 records the harlot’s judgement . Thus the depiction of her in an ephah means she is judged.
In conclusion the balances of the third horseman signify’ s judgment coming in the way of famine.
A YOKE
The word for balances in the Greek also means a yoke. A yoke that is put on cattle. It metaphorically means any burden or bondage, such as in slavery. No doubt the great famine will be a burden too hard for many to bare. It will lead to many deaths.
Leviticus 19:36
Just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have; I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt.
The Fourth Seal-The Fourth Horseman Death and Hades
The fourth living creatures announces the forth horseman. Revelation 6:7-8 describes:
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 [f]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.
While the first three horses bring the perils of war, violence and famine, the fourth horseman ensures that men and women are killed by these plagues.
Death and Hades
Death and Hades rides this horse. In the Bible death always follows Hades. Both are principalities, the ones referred to the apostle Paul. These are the chief principalities directly under Satan. They came in at the Garden when Eve at the apple. The apple changed man’s DNA. It was a DNA changing fruit. God had intended fellowship with man.
The Mission of Death and Hades
The sin at the garden ushered in man’s physical and spiritual death. Without redemption the souls brought in by Death would directly go to Hades. Death and Hades are judged and thrown into the Lake of Fire at the judgment.
The Fifth Seal-The Martyrs
At the launch of the fifth seal we see a turning point. During the launch of the first four seals also come the first six trumpet judgments. The fifth seals shows us a glimpse of the plight of the martyrs. It is not in line with the other seals which are judgment onto the nations. Instead we see the plight of God’s people.
Great Tribulation
Thus the fifth Seal takes us to the start of the Great Tribulation. This is when the abomination of desolation takes places and Antichrist’s siege to Israel. In addition, Antichrist launches the mark of the beast. Those who do not take the mark are killed. Everyone take the mark except true believers.
When the final number has been reached
The martyrs ask how long until their blood is avenged. God tells the until the number of their brethren have been killed as they were. The reason this number is so important to God goes back to God’s conversation with Abraham. If there were 10 righteous people in the city of Sodom and Gomorrah God would not have destroyed it. There will not be one righteous man or woman left, all will be murdered. Thus the final number will be complete and those left will be zero.
The seven bowl judgments
When the final number left on the earth is zero, the seventh trumpet sounds and releases the seven bowl judgements onto the earth. The go out bowl by bowl. The final bowls are accompanied by the three woes, which lead the world to the battle of Armageddon.
The Sixth Seal
At the release of the sixth seal usher in the destruction of the earth. The sun darkens, the moon turns to blood. In addition stars drop from the sky pounding the earth. A giant earthquake levels the mountains and island by causing catastrophic landslides and worldwise tsunamis. In addition the earth experiences 100 pound hail stones. The sun darkening causes the earth to go off its axis, the pummeling by the stars obliterates the earth’s surface to its core. The appearance is of a scroll that is rolled up. A beautiful depiction of the physical scroll nearing ushering its completed judgements and able to be rolled back up.
The Old Testament prophets predicted this day as the Day of the Lord. At this moment the angel proclaims it is done, similar in statement to Christ’s on the Cross, it is finished. Marking the second biggest event since Christ’s death on the cross.
The Seventh Seal-Silence in Heaven
Revelation 8: 1 reads, “When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
The mysterious silence in heaven is not a mystery at all.
The final two seals pair with the days of creation.
God completed the earth on the sixth day and on the sixth it is destroyed.On the seventh day of creation God rested and at the seventh seal is silence in heaven. This last for a half an hour which equates to 7 days. God rested on the seventh day after creating the earth and in its destruction is seven days of silence.
Hab 2:20 reads:
But the Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.
The word used in the Greek means to hush, to command silence. God has just complete a major work. The destruction of the earth ends sin and Satan
‘s reign on earth. Moreover, man is reconciled to God through Jesus Christ’s redemptive work.That is those who accepted Jesus as their savior and his shed blood as the payment for their sin and believed on Him as the Son of God.
Thus completes the seven seals of the Revelation judgments and the profound silence at the work of the Almighty.