THE
SEVEN SEALS
Lesson 13
page 2 of 2The four
horses
The four horses of
Revelation are not unique to Revelation.
Zechariah saw four horses having the same
colors. Zechariah was told the four horses
represent the four spirits of heaven that stand
in the presence of the Lord of the whole
world. Zechariah 6:5 These go out throughout
the earth at God’s command to accomplish His
will. Zechariah 1:10,11
Zechariah saw the black
horse go north, the white horse went west, the
pale horse went south and the red horse by
inference went west. Zechariah 6:6 These four
horses go throughout the whole world. These
four horses symbolize the four living creatures
that stand in the presence of God. These
four living creatures might be thought of as
“senior angels” having great
responsibilities. They are appointed to carry out
special services throughout the universe of
God. These angels insure that God’s
desires are carried out.
(For more detailed study
on these four creatures and their
responsibilities read Ezekiel 1 & 10.)
The seals begin
Each horse and rider
represents the works or actions of the four
living creatures. As Jesus opens each seal,
He commissions a specific process that leads to
the conclusion of the plan of salvation. Very
important point: The effect and
influence of the seals is both cumulative and
associative. This means that the conquering
begun in the first seal one is concluded in seal
6. The process begun in seal two reaches
its climax during seal five and the understanding
of seal three prepares some “teachers”
for the events that transpire during seal four.
(See diagram at the end of this study.)
In other words, a seal
doesn’t begin and end so that the next seal
can begin and end. Rather, the first three
seals begin certain processes that remain in
motion until their counterpart concluded their
work. It was for this very reason that Jesus was
given sovereign power! He starts three
processes upon earth that He must personally
manage.
Even more, He must manage
the outcome of each process so that the gospel
accomplishes its task. Just as a rider of each
horse controls the action of the horse, Jesus
sends the four living creatures to earth with
special assignments. As each “senior
angel” prepares to do his work, John is
invited to observe. They each say to John,
“Come.”
First seal
“I watched as the
Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I
heard one of the four living creatures say in a
voice like thunder, ‘Come!’ I looked,
and there before me was a white horse! Its rider
held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode
out as a conqueror bent on conquest.”
Revelation 6: 1,2
The first horse and rider
(senior angel) goes out of the heavenly sanctuary
to conquer something on earth. Nothing is
conquered in the first seal. No special event in
heaven or on earth marks the opening of this
seal. Rather, this seal marks the beginning
conquest of Jesus. In 1844, Jesus our High
Priest set out to conclude the sin problem by
revealing more truth about the everlasting
gospel. Time has come to put the everlasting
gospel in final form, for soon, it must go to
every person on earth.
The great revival in
Protestant America in the early 19th
century prepared the way for understanding the
arrival of 1844. The work that began under this
seal sets the stage for the final presentation of
the gospel. The entire world must hear the
full gospel! John saw the consummating
victory of the gospel. He saw the victory of the
144,000 and the great multitude that no man could
number. He says, “And I saw what
looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and,
standing beside the sea, those who had been
victorious over the beast and his image and over
the number of his name…” Revelation
15:2
Second seal
“When the Lamb
opened the second seal, I heard the second living
creature say, ‘Come!’ Then another
horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider
was given power to take peace from the earth and
to make men slay each other. To him was given a
large sword.” Revelation 6:3,4
The second horse (senior
angel) goes out of the heavenly sanctuary with a
large sword. This sword eventually causes
men to slay each other. A number of Bible
students are reluctant to identify this event as
having a heavenly origin. But Jesus told
his disciples, “Do not suppose that I have
come to bring peace to the earth. I did not
come to bring peace, but a sword.”
Matthew 10:34 The sword of Jesus is the power of
truth. Hebrews 4:12 says, “The word of
God is living and active. Sharper than any
double-edged sword…” Paul said,
“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword
of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Ephesians 6:17 In Revelation 2:12, John describes
Jesus to the church in Pergamum as, “Him who
has the sharp, double-edged sword.”
Jesus said to this church, “Repent
therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to
you and will fight against them with the sword of
my mouth.” Revelation 2:16
We will study the war and
bloodshed that occurs all over the earth in
lesson 18 and 19 as a result of the work done by
this senior angel. The coming war will be a
contest between truth and falsehood. This
seal points forward to a time when people will
kill one another over truth! Here is a
subtle but very important point. Notice that
the text describing the second seal does not have
to mean that the slaying occurs at the time the
second seal is opened. (Neither is the conquering
described in the first seal accomplished during
the time of the first seal.) Rather, the
consequence of the second seal is seen when peace
is taken from the earth and men slay each other
on account of the sword!
What is the sword?
Allowing the Bible to interpret itself, we must
conclude from the texts above that the sword
represents the “Words of God.”
Can we look back to the
time period following 1844 and find anything to
mark the opening of this seal? Yes! The
formation of the Bible societies during the mid
to late 19th century by Protestants
fulfills the meaning of this seal!
Remember, the gospel commission belongs to them
after 1798. The translation and distribution
of the Bible into every nation on earth has grown
immensely since 1844. In those days a large
number of Protestant churches in Europe and North
America formed Bible and Missionary Societies to
carry the gospel to the entire world! The
late 19th century marks a
“high-water mark” for the establishment
and activity of mission service by Protestant
denominations. People gave liberally to the
printing and distribution of the Bible. In
fact, no book on earth has ever been translated
and distributed to the extent the Bible
has. No other book on earth has ever
overcome the popularity of the Bible and the
Bible will be the book upon which the great
controversy will be focused!
Third seal
“When the Lamb
opened the third seal, I heard the third living
creature say, ‘Come!’ I looked, and
there was a black horse! Its rider was holding a
pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard
what sounded like a voice among the four living
creatures, saying, ‘A quart of wheat for a
day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for
a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and
the wine! “ Revelation 6:5,6
The third horse (senior
angel) goes out of the heavenly sanctuary with a
pair of scales and a message. The scales
imply a judgment or decision-making process. We
know from Daniel that the books of record were
opened in 1844 and that Jesus began an
investigation of the records of the dead. The
work of the third senior angel is to see that
people on earth become aware of what Jesus is
doing in the heavenly sanctuary. During the
past 158 years, the understanding and awareness
of the investigative judgment has grown around
the world. Even though general knowledge of
the ongoing judgment process is not yet
widespread among the populations of the earth,
several million people already know about
it! Those who understand this truth will
soon be in a position to explain the even more
important judgment process that is coming: the
judgment of the living!
The message that
accompanies this seal is twofold. First,
wages are promised to those who will help spread
this special message and secondly, a warning is
given to those who should hear it. Even
though many years have passed since the judgment
hour message first began, and those who first
preached the judgment hour message are now dead,
all who have helped to carry this message
throughout the earth will receive their due
reward!
The portion of this
message counsels those who hear the judgment hour
message not to reject the understanding of
1844. Oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit
(Zechariah 4), and wine symbolizes doctrine or
teachings (Revelation 17:2). The admonition
“don’t harm the oil or wine”
apparently means, “Receive the Holy Spirit
and the truth concerning the ministry of Jesus in
the heavenly sanctuary.” (For an Old
Testament parallel on the use of wheat, barley,
wine and oil as wages, see II Chronicles
2:10-15.)
First three seals set
global stage for the next three seals
These three seals have
been opened. As each seal is opened, there
is a progressive revelation of Jesus in heaven
and on earth. Who Jesus is, what He is and
how He intends to conclude the gospel commission
becomes clearer to the watching angels and to a
growing number of people on earth. Truth is
ever progressive and the seals demonstrate just
that. The first three seals were opened
over a short time period beginning in 1844. By
1864, the judgment hour message was understood
well enough to be proclaimed abroad! And for
more than a century, the activities described in
these three seals have influenced the earth, in
effect, setting the stage for what is about to
happen!!!
Fourth seal
“When the Lamb
opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the
fourth living creature say, ‘Come!’ I
looked, and there before me was a pale
horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades
was following close behind him. They were
given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by
sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts
of the earth.” Revelation 6:7,8
The opening of the fourth
seal brings global devastation. This senior angel
is the angel of death. Perhaps this is the same
angel that flew over Egypt and killed the
firstborn children and animals of the Egyptians.
Exodus 12-13 Perhaps he is also the same angel
that killed 185,000 of Sennacherib’s army.
II Kings 19 Regardless of his identity, his
influence upon the earth is unmistakable.
Jesus sends this senior
angel to earth with four terrible judgments to
arrest the attention of the world. These
judgments are identified as: sword, famine,
plague and wild beast. 25% of the earth will
perish in these judgments! For deeper study
on these four dreadful judgments, you must read
Ezekiel 14:12-23.
The fourth seal is the
next one to open. This is
self-evident. From the perspective of
chronological timing alone, the devastating
results of this seal have not been observed upon
earth since the seals began opening in
1844. We will see that the events during
this seal are a great catalyst marking the
beginning of the judgment of the living! The
death and destruction attending the 4th
seal is fully explained in Revelation’s
story on the seven trumpets and the seven last
plagues. These will be studied in considerable
detail in future lessons.
One last point. The first
four seals are actions carried out by senior
angels (the four living creatures). The followers
of Jesus on earth carry out the fifth seal, and
Jesus Himself carries out the sixth seal!
Fifth seal
“When he opened the
fifth seal, I saw under the alter the souls of
those who had been slain because of the word of
God and the testimony they had maintained. They
called out in a loud voice, ‘How long,
Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge
the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our
blood?’ Then each of them was given a white
robe, and they were told to wait a little longer,
until the number of their fellow servants and
brothers who were to be killed as they had been
was completed.” Revelation 6:9-11
The opening of the fifth
seal ushers in a period of martyrdom. Why would
Jesus allow martyrdom to come upon His people?
There are two reasons. First, persecution
separates pretense from substance. When the price
for being a Christian is great, who will be
willing to bear the cross and follow the
teachings of Jesus? The pure in heart that love
God’s truth and are willing to give their
life for truth.
In America, the cost of
being a Christian has been for the most part,
easy. We have religious liberty. We can
worship without intimidation or fear. We have
freedom of speech. We can teach and believe
whatever we want. We are truly blessed! But this
blessing has brought a curse. We have become
lazy, weak and in many instances, corrupt.
Christianity today is comprises of many
fair-weather Christians filled with external
piety. Protestant America has become
degenerate and looks more like a hospital for
sin-sick people than an army of soldiers prepared
for the final conflict with Satan!
The second reason the 5th
seal brings martyrdom is that when the 5th
seal is opened, Satan is personally upon the
earth claiming to be God. Those following Jesus
will recognize the devil for what he is and will
do everything possible to tell the world of this
supreme deception. Think of it! With
much of the world receiving the evil impostor as
God, those who fearlessly identify the impostor
as the devil will not be looked upon favorably!
How would you feel if
someone called your God “the devil?” If
ever there was a holy war, this will be it. Those
killing the followers of Jesus (who remains in
heaven until the sixth seal is opened) will
actually be told the evil impostor they are doing
God a service!
Sixth seal
“I watched as he
opened the sixth seal. There was a great
earthquake. The sun turned black like
sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon
turned blood red, {13} and the stars in the sky
fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree
when shaken by a strong wind. {14} The sky
receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every
mountain and island was removed from its place.
{15} Then the kings of the earth, the princes,
the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every
slave and every free man hid in caves and among
the rocks of the mountains. {16} They called to
the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and
hide us from the face of him who sits on the
throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! {17} For
the great day of their wrath has come, and who
can stand?” Revelation 6:12-17
The opening of the sixth
seal brings Jesus to the rescue of His people.
The opening of the sixth seal is the second
coming. John describes King Jesus as riding on
the white horse, having the title, “King of
kings and Lord of lords” upon His sash.
Revelation 19:11-16
Just as the work of the
first seal began on a white horse in 1844, so the
work of the sixth seal is concluded on a white
horse. Jesus set out to conquer in 1844 and at
the second coming, he conquers! John says,
“I saw standing open and there before me a
white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and
True. With justice he judges and makes
war… Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword
with which to strike down the nations. He will
rule them with an iron scepter…’”
Revelation 19:11,15
Seventh seal
“When he opened the
seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for
about half an hour.” Revelation 8:1
The opening of the
seventh seal occurs at the end of the 1,000 years
and the story within the book of life – now
unsealed – is fully exposed. The importance
of this seal will be seen again in later lessons.
Summary
The first three seals
prepare the world stage for the development of
the next three seals. The relationship
within the seals becomes apparent when compared
to their counterpart. The breaking open of
each seal reveals a new dimension in the work of
Jesus as our High Priest in the heavenly
sanctuary!
The opening of each seal
moves us chronologically towards the second
coming and the great day of reckoning at the end
of the 1,000 years. In the next lesson, we will
study the consequences of the seals in more
detail. You will see how the opening of the 4th
seal marks the beginning of the judgment of the
living! Review this lesson carefully for
those who study Bible prophecy study the deep
things of God.
Seals open
- White
horse
- Red
Horse
- Black
Horse
- Pale
Horse
- Martyrs
- Second
Coming
Open 1
Open 2
Open 3
Open 4
Open 5
Open 6
1844
Today
The first three seals
mark the beginning of three processes that
prepare the world for the next three seals.
As each seal is opened, Jesus and His everlasting
gospel are more clearly revealed.
The
First Six Seals
Quiz
- Do
you think John and Daniel saw the same
scene that occurred in 1844?
- When
did Jesus receive the book sealed with 7
seals?
- What
is in the book sealed with seven seals?
- What
is proven when the book of life is
finally opened?
- Which
seals have been opened?
Memory Verse:
“None of the wicked will understand, but
those who are wise will understand.”
Daniel 12:10
Notes:
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