THE 6 SEALS OF THE BOOK OF JUDGMENT

The Six Seals of the Book of Judgment

 6:1-17

Introduction

 

The Setting for the Opening of the Seven-Sealed Book

The throne of judgment has been set in the heavens. The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Lamb of God, has prevailed to open the seals of the book. This book is the title deed to the universe, and Christ has the only right to break those seals and take possession of His earth that has been so long usurped by interlopers. All created intelligences of heaven and earth wait expectantly for the performance of this most dramatic of all scenes, the taking of the book and the opening of the seals. The Church is now about to witness from above the event for which she has prayed, longed for, and labored through the centuries.

The Series of Seals are Opened in Almost Strictly Chrono­logical Order

There are really two series. The first four, the four horsemen, deal with the earth; while the last three portray the heavenly aspect. The first seal is opened and the deed is unrolled, followed by the events it portrays; then the next seal is broken and the scroll is unrolled a bit further, unleashing the events it contains. Then the third seal is broken, the book is unrolled still further, unloosing the events it guards. So it continues through­out the breaking of the seven seals. The breaking of every seal is dramatic with interest and the spectators wait with bated breath to see the tremendous effect that will follow. Heaven is the witness to these events and the earth is the one which experiences these providential movements of the Son of God.

The Symbolism of the Seals and the Horses are Particularly Important

The seals are the legal protection for the title deed through the centuries. That title deed had long been made by a transaction between the Father and the Son, of Judah it is predicted, in Gen 49:8-12, 1 Chron. 5:2, Psa. 2:7-8, and the deed had been filed away until the appointed time. After the passing of centuries and when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the law, and He went to Calvary, where He actually redeemed the earth at awful price, the price of His own life's blood. Now He is fully qualified to open the seals and enter into possession of his own property.
"I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee." "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession."

The horses sent forth on their errand of judgment, by the opening of the first four seals, signify strength and power (Job 39:19-25; cf. 2 Kings 6:15-18; Zech. 1:8-10; 6:1-8). They are agents of God in bringing judgment upon the world.

The Significance of the Opening of These Seals and the Events Following May be Described as Providential Judg­ments

Christ is not appearing immediately in the earth to execute judgment, such as He will do when He returns in glory (Ch. 19). But He is allowing the world of sinful men to take its course, which amounts to its own undoing. The spiritual state of things following the rapture of the church leads from one woe to another until finally cosmo­logical disturbance runs its course through the entire fabric of nature, announcing to men the approach and appearance of the day of wrath.

The 70th Week of Daniel, yet Unfulfilled, will Begin With the Rapture of the Church and the Opening of the Seals

"Hereafter" of 4:1 is the time signal for the beginning of the opening of the seals. The catching away of the church ushers in the tribulation period (2 Thess. 2:6-7). This week of years has particular relation to Israel and the working out of God's purpose among the nations. Again will the Lord deal with Israel and the nations as He did in Egypt. A particular cycle will run its course again. God has been dealing with the nations by invitation, explanation, exhortation, demonstration. But during that period God will resort to compulsion. In this chapter we will note God vindicating Himself by means of judgment. This will explain in part some of the reaction noted in chapter 7.
"And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time." "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way."

Chapter 11:1-3 provides the chronological framework. Chapter 6:1-2 provides the inception. Events of Chapters 6-19 require seven years for fulfillment.
"And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein." "But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months." "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth."

The Similarity of the Seals to Matt. 24:3-29 is Very Meaningful

(1)   White horse  Rev. 6:2  Matt. 24:5 Those coming in the Name of Christ.
(2)   Red horse - War Rev. 6:4  Matt. 24:6-7a Wars and rumors of wars.
(3)   Black horse - Famine Rev. 6:6, 8  Matt. 24:7b Famines, etc.
(4)   Pale horse - Death Rev. 6:8  Matt. 24:6-7 This naturally follows.
(5)   Souls under altar - persecution  Rev. 6:9 Matt. 24:9-10
(6)   Cosmological Disturbance  Rev. 6:12-14 Matt. 24:29
(7)   Seventh Seal - 7 trumpets, 7 angels, 7 vials Matt. 24:30-31 In the song that is now sung, echoing and reechoing through the corridors of heaven, is the fulfillment of God's purpose in Grace (Eph. 1:5-6, 12, 14). They praise him because in his grace he has redeemed them from utter loss and has exalted them to the highest of all posi­tions. Rev. 1:6; 20:6 would support this position.

The Three Series of Sevens and Their Relation to One Another

Two Prominent Theories are Extant to Explain These Three Series of Seven

1)     That these three series traverse the same ground and are therefore simultaneous. The same thing is presented in three different ways.
2)     That these three series cover different areas of time and are to be understood as successive. This means that the same thing is not being said in three different ways.

The Second Method of Interpretations is Correct

The three series present the progressive events  in the unfolding of the tribulation years.

• The seven seals are opened in order.
• The seven trumpets come out of the seventh seal. The seven vials are last in the series (Rev. 15:1, 5-8).

The three series present the successive move­ments in the history of the tribulation week.

• Ordinals are used of the seals, trumpets, and vials which mark a series in succession. "Another sign" (15:1) marks another in suc­cession, and this one the last. "And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God."

The three series present an increasing intensity  in the judgments being administered.

• The 6th seal is worse than the preceding 5 (Rev. 6:12-17).
• The 7th seal is worse than the preceding 6 (Rev. 7:1; 8:1).
• The last three trumpets are worse than the first four and are called woes (Rev. 8:13).
• The seventh trumpet is worse than the preceding because it contains the last plagues (Rev. 11:14-17; Rev. 15:1) and in these last plagues is filled up the wrath of God.

A Different Setting for Each Series of Seven