The Seven Seals

Intro

Today we are studying the seven seals of Revelation

*Show animal seals and navy seals*

The seals that were on the scroll held by the One on the Throne

*Recap visions in chapters 4 & 5*

Chapter 6 is a continuation; new vision starts in chapter 7 (“After this I saw”)

As the Lamb removes the seals, He takes Creation to its desired completion (all Creation worshipping God)

Pray

The Seven Seals

The four horsemen of the apocalypse (found in Zechariah 1 & 6)

First Seal: White horse and rider with a bow to conquer

Hard to know for certain what this horse represents

Second Seal: Red horse and rider with a sword

Represents war, violence and bloodshed

Third Seal: Black horse and rider with a pair of scales

Economic disaster brough about by famine

Denarius = 1 days wage… prices of food sky high

Fourth Seal: Pale horse who is Death

Kill with sword and famine and pestilence… plague

War, famine and plague are promised by the first four seals

In line with OT prophets (Cf. Ezekiel 14:21)

Not a specific future event; these are the things that have been happening since the Lamb was exalted to the right hand of the Father (1st coming) and will continue until He returns (2nd coming)

*Use examples of war in Ukraine, drought in Europe and southwest US, and… COVID-19*

But the Lamb is still in control:

Jesus is the ruler of kings on earth (Rev. 1:5) even as they make war

Jesus holds the keys (authority) of Death and Hades (Rev. 18) even in the face of famine and plague

Jesus is opening the seals that will bring Creation to where God wants it to be… so do not lose hope

Fifth Seal: Martyrs (read verses 9 - 11)

People have died and will die for beliving in Jesus completely (radical discipleship)

So true for those first hearing John’s words

*Read the Acts of the Scillitan Martyrs (p. 41-42)*

They are crying out for justice and vengeance

How we treat our enemies and how God treats are enemies are two different things.

“Vengeance is mine,” says the Lord (quoted 3 times)

The way of the Lamb is to turn the other cheek, give the shirt off our back, go the extra mile

The first 5 seals are about the here and now

Reality of war, famine and plague

The ongoing wait of martyrs crying out for justice

All of Creation is groaning for the Day of the Lord and the return of Jesus

Sixth Seal: God answers the calls for justice, and Creation unravels (read verses 12 - 16)

NOW we are looking to the future; the Day of the Lord

Borrows imagery from Isaiah, Joel, Ezekiel, Hosea, Matthew, and more!

Takes us to the very end (as happens often in Revelation)

God has heard the cries of the martyrs and brought justice… finally and eternally

Seventh Seal: Silence (read Rev. 8:1-5)

What is the silence for? We don’t really know

It could be to hear the prayers of the saints

Altar = incense altar in the Temple; incense are the prayers of the saints (the calls for God’s justice and desire for the kingdom of heaven to come in fullness)

The angel takes fire from these prayers and throws it on the earth (with accompanying symbols of judgement)

God has heard, and God WILL act

Sealed and Rejoicing

Revelation 7 is an interjection, but it is still connected to the seven seals

Chapter 6 left us with a question: “…the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

Revelation 7 answers this question for us and brings us great comfort and joy in the midst of God’s judgement

(Read Rev. 7:1 - 4)

Four angels, four corners, four winds, etc

Four winds = four horsemen (Cf. Zechariah 6:1 - 5)

Therefore, the sealing of people takes place before the opening of the first four seals

Revelation is NOT chronological; Next John saw vs. next this happened

But, time is still important (need to pick up on context clues)

What is “the seal of the living God” (v. 2)

The seal is later described as the name of the Lamb and of God (cf. Rev. 14:1)

Seal denotes ownership: These people are mine

Part of this ownership is being saved the severe judgement of God

(Seal in Ezekiel 9 -> passover during Exodus)

Looking further in the NT, the seal itself is the Holy Spirit

Cf. Ephesians 1:13-14.

Sealed = guaranteed; passed over.

Who are the 144,000?

Written like a census in the OT of males prepared for battle (like Numbers 1)

Holy battle certainly described later in Revelation

Some have taken this 144,000 to be literal

Literal number: Jehovah’s Witnesses = only 144,000 get to go to heaven

Literal ethnic Jews (or Jewish Christians) because of listed tribes

The descriptors of the sealed are always used of ALL of God’s people elsewhere in Scripture (read Revelation 14:1-5)

Sealed = God’s people sealed by the HS (Ephesians 1:13-14)

Followers of the Lamb = John 10:27-30 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

Redeemed (14:3) = (Galatians 3:13-14 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.”) *Jews and Gentiles*

Firstfruits = 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.”

12 = God’s people; Revelation loves 12s

24 elders (12+12) , wall of New Jerusalem = 144 cubits (12x12); 12 gates (tribes); 12 foundations (apostles)

To the magnitude of 10 = a huge number in Hebrew thinking

Forgiveness… 7 times? No, seventy TIMES seven

Most compelling argument? What John SAW

In Rev. 4 John hears the conquering Lion, and He sees the Lamb that was slain

Here in Rev. 7, John hears the number 144,000 but He turns and sees… (read verses 9 - 13)

Just as the Lion and the Lamb both describe Jesus, the 144,000 and the numberless multitude both describe all the people of God

The 144,000 are a picture of ALL believers ready to overcome with the slain Lamb in holy war

The whole point: The people God sealed at the start are the ones celebrating with Him at the end (read verses 13 - 17)

Great trouble (tribulation); not some special time at the end, but what John was part of (and so are we)

Used 4 times in Revelation; this is the last instance

“Who can stand?” Those who are sealed; those who belong to God

You have nothing to fear from God

Picture in Rev. 7 is the same as the new heaven and new earth in Rev. 21.

Have you been washed by the blood of the Lamb?

*Make fun of Christianese*

But seriously, has Jesus cleansed your soul?

Have you been sealed by the Holy Spirit?

This is your guarantee to be with God forever in the end