Revelation: Seven Seals Seven Seals (Rev. 6:1 8:1) General Outline Prologue Epilogue Jesus/John Jesus/John Revelation of J/Christ (1:1 8) Revelation of J/Christ (22:6 21) Christ World 1 Inaugural Vision Church 6 19 6 20 2 3 Judgment Cycle Seven Letters 4 5 Heaven Vision God
Judgment Cycle (6 20) Christ Cycle (6 11) Almighty God & His Christ Dragon Cycle (12 20) Red Dragon & His Beasts Seals 1 4 Seal 5 Seal 6 144,000 Multitude Seal 7 Trumpets 1 4 Trumpet 5 Trumpet 6 Scroll Witnesses Trumpet 7 Conflict Dragon Attack Beast Agents Conquest Prelude Bowls Perspectives Climax Judgment Cycle (6 20) Christ Cycle (6 11) Almighty God & His Christ Dragon Cycle (12 20) Red Dragon & His Beasts Seals 1 4 Seal 5 Seal 6 144,000 Multitude Seal 7 Trumpets 1 4 Trumpet 5 Trumpet 6 Scroll Witnesses Trumpet 7 Conflict Dragon Attack Beast Agents Conquest Prelude Bowls Perspectives Climax Hermeneutical Issues: Prophecy Fulfillment Time Period Subject Timeline of History Idealist Preterist Historicist Futurist A.D. 70, 95, 313 A.D. 95 Current Future 1st/3rd Century Church or Western History End Times Jer., AsMin., Milan Church or Kingdom Tribulation
Hermeneutical Issues: Progression Theories Seals, Trumpets, Bowls Linear: Judgments 1, 2, 3,... 21 Seals... Trumpets... Bowls Telescopic: 1-6, 7 =1-6, 7 = 1-7 Recapitulation: 1-7 x 3 Seals Trumpets Bowls repentance sought (9:20, 21; 16:9, 11) destruction increases (1/4, 1/3, all) conclusions non-conclusive (8:1; 11:15; 16:17) Structure: Repeating Series, s Seals 6:1 8:1 Trumpets 8:2 9:21 Bowls 15:1 16:21 Structure: Repeating Series, s Seals 6:1 8:1 Trumpets 8:2 9:21
Structure: Repeating Series, s Seals 1 4 Seal 5 Seal 6 144,000 Multitude Seal 7 Trumpets 1 4 Trumpet 5 Trumpet 6 Scroll Witnesses Trumpet 7 Eschatological Woes: Synoptic Background Mark 13 Rev 6 1. Wars 1. Wars 2. International strife 2. International strife 3. Earthquakes 3. Famines 4. Famines 4. Pestilence 5. Persecution 5. Persecution 6. Astronomical 6. Astronomical Four Living Creatures: Come! I. Repeated process A. Lamb opens seal B. One of the four living creatures says, Come! C. A rider on a colored horse appears II. Significance A. Seal judgments inaugurate the Judgment Cycle B. Entire Judgment Cycle is messianic action C. Seal judgments tied to previous vision
Four Living Creatures: Come! The coming of the four horsemen brings judgment. But this, too, is a part of the coming of Christ (cf. 19:11 21). Reddish, p. 125 Seals 1 4: The Four Horsemen Seal 1: Conquest Seal 2: War Seal 3: Famine Seal 4: Death Seals 5 6: The Cosmic Finale, Seal 5: Souls/Altar Seal 6: Cosmic Wrath! Four Angels Holding the Four Winds
Seals 5 6: The Cosmic Finale, John is telling the prospective martyrs that their deaths are a necessary part of God s plan for conquering evil.... John has already made clear that God s victory over evil has been accomplished by the death of the Lamb. Now he shows that the deaths of the faithful also contribute to victory. Reddish, p. 132 Structure: Repeating Series, s Seals 1 4 Seal 5 Seal 6 144,000 Multitude Seal 7 Trumpets 1 4 Trumpet 5 Trumpet 6 Scroll Witnesses Trumpet 7 Seal : 144,000 and Great Multitude I. Answering 6:17 who can stand? A. God s sovereignty holds back the winds B. God s security holds fast the persecuted II. Enumeration of Twelve Tribes A. Distinctives: Judah first and Dan omitted Reuben the firstborn, but Judah first listed = emphasis on tribe of Messiah Jewish traditions also omit Dan; Irenaeus starts Dan = tribe of Antichrist tradition B. Order: inconsequential since OT lists vary
Seal : 144,000 and Great Multitude III. Seal of God A. Human: signifies ultimate allegiance to God B. Divine: signifies effective divine protection parallel: name of Lamb/God in foreheads (14:1) protects through tribulation, not from (Antipas) ultimate destiny in God s hands IV. Identity of 144,000? A. Identification: (1) converted Tribulation Jews; (2) all Jewish believers; (3) all believers B. Martyrs how long? = till numbers completed Seal : 144,000 and Great Multitude V. Second Part of Seal A. Scene shifts from earth to heaven B. Time shifts from persecution to consummation VI. Great Multitude Description A. Fulfillment of promise to Abraham B. White robes (purity), palm branches (festival) C. Hymn of praise to God and Lamb overcoming demands of beast (Rev 13) overcoming persecution, death joined by angels, elders, four living creatures Seal : 144,000 and Great Multitude VII. Great Multitude Identity A. Come through the great tribulation (cf. 3:10) B. Washed in blood of Lamb context: sacrificial language explicit ties: Prologue (1:5), Heaven Vision (5:9) significance: Lamb s path is believer s paradigm C. Heavenly temple service tabernacle overspreads (Wilderness theme) no thirst, hunger, hot sun (Isa. 49:10; 25:8) Lamb becomes shepherd (imagery inversion)
Seal 7: Throne Room Silence (8:1)