A Journey through Revelation: The Triumph of God s People Lesson 8: The Seven Seals

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1 A Journey through Revelation: The Triumph of God s People Lesson 8: The Seven Seals 1. Given what we have learned so far when does the opening of the seals occur? a. The opening of the seals occurs after the and of Christ in Heaven. i. This suggests that the opening of the seven seals covers the historical era from the of Christ and His elevation to the throne of the universe to the, when Christ will return to the earth in His full capacity as king and judge. 2. What needs to be understood about the events of Revelation 6? a. That the events of Revelation 6 do not describe the of the seals, rather the of Christ s breaking the seals in heaven. i. Although the seals are opened in the impact is felt on. 3. Is there an Old Testament pattern seen in this chapter? a., Revelation 6 follows the - pattern often used in the Old Testament. The scene portrayed in the opening of the first four seals describes the or preliminary intended to God s people and lead them to repentance and restoration. i. 1 st Peter 4:17 - For the time has come for judgment to begin at the ; and if it begins 1

2 with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 1. We can conclude that the opening of the seals describes the ongoing through which God leads His people to become from the ascension of Christ all the way through to the Second Coming of Christ. 4. Does the opening of the first seal accurately reflect the early history of the Christian church at that time? a. Revelation 6:1&2 - Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the 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. i. In ancient times the white horse is a symbol of a especially during that time period, as the victorious general would ride in to a subdued territory on one. In this scene the gospel is victoriously spreading throughout the whole conquering the hearts of men and women for Christ with the truth of the gospel. 1. In Revelation 19:11-12 Christ rides a and is going forth to war and some scholars suggest that in Revelation the color white is consistently a symbol of Christ, something associated with Christ or of spiritual victory. 5. How is the red horse different from the first? a. Revelation 6:3&4-3 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, Come and 2

3 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. i. Where the white horse was a symbol of conquest, the red horse was a symbol of. The red horse portrays the experience of the church during the second, third and part of the fourth centuries after Christ. 1. The preaching of the gospel can also have the effect of removing from the earth. Matthew 10:34 - Do not think that I came to bring on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 6. What does the Black horse and rider represent? a. The black horse represents a time period of spiritual and. i. During the fourth century on through the fifth century and a major part of the sixth century dense moral combined with theological settled upon the church. 1. Additionally during this time the people were for the pure truth of the gospel and false doctrines were rampant as more and more people joined the church bringing with them practices. ii. What s amazing is that even during this spiritual famine and darkness the order is voiced to hurt not the oil and the wine v.6). In scripture oil symbolizes the and wine symbolizes the atoning of Jesus Christ, therefore what is suggested in this verse is 3

4 that despite how bad things look there would still be those who would be under the of the Holy Spirit and by the blood of the Lamb. 7. What is the next event that is shown in Revelation 6:8? a. So I looked, and behold, a horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And 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. i. It s clear from the text that this time period spoken of would be a time of and of God s people. The church now in a full-blown state of apostasy and under papal supremacy began killing millions in the name of Jesus Christ. Some scholars believe that an estimated people were martyred for their faith and their sentences were carried out in the name of Jesus. 8. How does the fifth seal draw our attention back to the sanctuary? a. Revelation 6: 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. 4

5 i. Following the calamities that have taken place during the opening of the first four seals the fifth seal opens to reveal the martyrs of Jesus crying out for. Now this as with other parts of the book must not be understood, rather the imagery used here draws us back to the. 1. The altar of burnt offering was the place where the sacrifices were offered and burnt. The most sacred part of the sacrifice was blood that symbolized life and the blood would be drained out and poured beneath the altar. Thus the faithful martyrs were beneath the altar because their blood symbolically cries out for from the earth. 2. The white robes that were given to these martyrs is a sign of their from God and their of eternal life. 9. What event does the series of natural disasters that the opening of the sixth seal unleashes prelude? a. 12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the 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 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, 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! 5

6 17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand? i. A great. ii. The darkening of the. iii. The darkening of the as. iv. The falling of from the heaven. b. Notice the parallels from Jesus own words in Matthew 24:29&30-29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. i. We can conclude then that the opening of the sixth seal portrays events that will happen prior to the of Christ. c. This also echoes an Old Testament prophecy found in Isaiah 13:10&13 For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be darkened in its going forth, and the moon will not cause its light to shine Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth will move out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts and in the day of His fierce anger. 10. What happens when the seventh seal is opened? a. Revelation 8:1 - When He opened the seventh seal, there was in heaven for about half an hour. i. There is in heaven and it serves like a after the storm of destruction released at the opening of the sixth seal. 6