The Good Word Of The Day

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

SEVEN SEALS

THE STORY OF THE
SEVEN SEALS

Revelation 6:1-8:1

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part I

First Four Seals

Part II

Who Opens the Seals?
The First Seal
The Second Seal
The Third Seal
The Fourth Seal
The Fifth Seal
The Sixth Seal
The Seventh Seal




Part II

Who Opens and Reads the
Messages of the "Seven Seals?"

To understand the story of the "seven seals" we need to understand who is worthy to receive and open the "seven seals." No one was found worthy before Jesus to "open the book, and to loose the seals thereof."
At last the "the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof" (Revelation 5:5).



The "Lion of Judah" does not actually open the scroll. The metaphor changes. The "Lamb" who opens the seals, however, is the same person. Hence, it was to be opened to our Lord’s eyes, for he alone was worthy "to open the book" and "to look thereon." It is not our privilege to do so. However, the Lamb has invited the John Class to share some of the insights of what is contained on these scrolls.

We get a second-hand look at this sealed information through the angel showing it to John. Not because we are "worthy" to look thereon. The "worthy Lamb" has, in his mercy and kindness, allowed us a peek into these "sealed" mysteries.
We must always remember that this information was secured by the "worthy Lamb" at great cost to himself. He alone "is worthy." It is with great mercy and condescension on his part that we are given such information.
We must never forget this information was designed primarily for the "Lamb" himself. He was to look upon the "scrolls" and to be privy to the information contained therein. When he understands each "sealed" message, he then sends a message to the "angel" of each church.

Admittedly, the story of the "seven churches" precedes the story of the "seven seals" in the Revelation narration. In reality, however, Jesus opened each seal and received the information contained therein before he wrote to the angel of each "church."


Jesus cared for the saints in each period of the Church through a chosen angel or messenger.




It was necessary for Jesus to receive and understand the information on these "scrolls" so he could speak respecting the needs of each church. It was his responsibility to care for the saints in each period. He fulfills that responsibility by addressing each "church" through its angel.

Part I

The seven seals contained secret information known only to God until the Lamb was found worthy to open the scrolls and to look on the contents. What is contained therein was only for the eyes of the Lamb.
However, through his kindness and willingness to share this information with the saints, we find the conditions and circumstances that would take place in the time frame of each seal. Most of the seals tell of the antichrist's activities and lend encouragement to the saints of each period.

First Four Seals

The first four seals describe how the four horses (doctrines) of the early church time periods changed from white to red, then to black and finally to pale. This doctrinal deterioration was brought about by the influence of antichrist.
The most commonly held view usually describes these four horses of the Apocalypse as an end-time Armageddon scene. Nothing could be further from the truth.







Four horses (doctrines) represent
four time periods of the early church.




These four horses describe the first four stages of the church. It is not an end time vision at all. It makes nice magazine covers to picture death and hell riding dramatically forth into the world. However, the truth be told, the first horse and horsemen refer to the historical situation in the Ephesus period of the church. The next three horses and horsemen pertain to Smyrna, Pergamos and Thyatira, respectively.
The story of these first four seals is the decline of pure doctrine and the ascent of false teachings. Notice that Jesus does not try to head off the apostasy as it thunders forth. Rather, he strengthens the faithful and encourages them with wonderful promises.

The evidence seems quite clear that Jesus, the Lamb, opened the seven seals before he wrote to the angels of the seven churches. Jesus said in Revelation 1:18, before he wrote to the angels of the seven churches,

"I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."


The resurrected Lamb that opened the "seven seals."

"And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

"And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne." Revelation 5:6, 7:

The "Lion" of the tribe of Judah prevailed to open the book. Notice the change of metaphor. It is not the Lion that opens the seals. It is the Lamb who receives the book or scroll. The Lamb opens all the seals.


The Lamb




Just because the messages to the seven messengers appear first in Revelation is no proof that Jesus sent his message to each angel before he opened the seals that covered the events of each church. Revelation was written to conceal from most people its message, as well as to reveal to those living near to him.
Hence, the "seven Spirits of God" are first described in Revelation 4. But in Revelation 1:4 John gives us the greetings of these seven Spirits.

"Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne."

This proves John saw Revelation Chapter 4 before he wrote Chapter 1.

"And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; these things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God." Revelation 3:1

The seven Spirits of God were shown to be before God’s throne in Chapter 4, but were transferred to the Lamb in Revelation 5:5, 6, and who is then said to have these "seven Spirits." Through him they were to be "sent forth into all the earth." This confirms the principle that "all things" are of the Father "by the Son" (1 Corinthians 8:6).
At the time of sending his message to the "angel" of Sardis Jesus says that he "hath the seven Spirits of God." All "seven Spirits" are sent to all the seven churches, but one at a time. They are sent through the Lamb who was declared "worthy."
What was Jesus going to do with the knowledge opened to him in each seal? He would prepare each stage of the church against the dangers facing it through its "angel." Secondly, he would place before all the churches the promises of the "seven Spirits."







Jesus inserts one of the "seven Spirits'" messages to each stage of the church at the end of each letter. That is how they are all sent forth into "all the earth."
Jesus has two objectives with each message. Warnings are given to the apostates and marvelous promises to the faithful, to encourage and strengthen them.

Signs

Each opening of a seal is followed by some event or series of events.

When each of the first four seals is opened, a horse and its rider appear and are described. These are commonly referred to as the four horsemen / four horses of the Apocalypse.

The opening of the fifth seal is followed by a vision of those that were "slain for the word of God". (Revelation 6:9)

When the sixth seal is opened, there is a "great earthquake," and signs appear in heaven. (Revelation 6:12-6:14) Also, 144,000 servants of God are "sealed ... in their foreheads" in Revelation 7.

When the seventh seal is opened, seven angels with trumpets begin to sound, one by one. The events of the seventh seal are further subdivided by the events following each angel sounding their trumpet. This seal is opened in Revelation 8, and the seventh angel does not sound until Revelation 11.

In summary:

First Seal - Conquest, White horse
Second Seal - War, Red horse
Third Seal - Famine, Black Horse
Fourth Seal - Death, green or pale horse
Fifth Seal - Vision of martyrs
Sixth Seal - Earthquake and the marking of the 144,000
Seventh Seal - Trumpets of Angels and the end of the world

Bible scholars associate the seven seals with the seven Spirits of God,[1] and other Biblical 'sevens'.[2] The seals contain symbols commonly interpreted as death, famine, world wars, martyrdom, earthquakes, and the Antichrist. It also states that there will be "seven trumpets" announcing aspects of the "End Times": mankind being judged, seas turning to blood, sores on people's bodies, plagues, infertility, and the introduction of "seven bowls" (in King James Version called "vials"). These bowls are a third each of the sea, humankind, water, animal life, ships, crops, and earth, all engulfed by an infinite abyss.

Seven seals

Seven seals
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The seven seals is a concept of Christian eschatology, which comes from the Book of Revelation in the Christian Bible, where a book with seven seals is described in Revelation 5:1. The seven seals were opened by the Lion of Judah. New Testament Book of Revelation 5:5; "And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof". Judah was usually the kingdom given to the Crown Prince of Israel. Jesus in Christian traditions is the King of Kings, not the Crown Prince. The Lion of Judah is a deliberate direct reference to a worthy Prince "Of the Blood of Christ". The seven seals were opened, one by one, by the Lamb. Revelation 5:6; "And behold, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.". 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 7th Trump

God’s goodness, love, and grace,

The phrase “God is good, all the time; all the time, God is good” is repeated by many Christians almost like a mantra. I often wonder if they really believe it or even think about what they’re saying. I sometimes doubt God’s goodness—especially when it feels as though God isn’t hearing or answering my prayers. I assume that if others were more honest, they’d admit they feel the same way.

The serpent planted a doubt in Eve’s mind about whether God had been good to her and had her best interest at heart. He said, “God knows that in the day you eat of [the fruit] your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:5). Satan tried to convince her to believe that God was holding out on her and not giving her something really good—more knowledge.

Do you feel as though God isn’t answering your prayers? Are you tempted to doubt His goodness? When I feel this way, I have to remind myself that my circumstances aren’t the barometer of God’s love and goodness—the cross is. He has shown how good He is by giving His only Son Jesus to die for our sin. We can’t rely on our feelings. But day by day as we choose to trust Him more, we learn to believe with confidence that God is good—all the time. — Anne Cetas

When you are tempted to deny
God’s goodness, love, and grace,
Look to the cross of Calvary,
Where Jesus took your place. —Sper


Circumstances aren’t the barometer of God’s love and goodness—the cross is.