Revelation 5
Though the experience of the seven seals are felt on earth, the backstage events that led to it was in Heaven. A book was sighted in Heaven, in the hand of Him who sat on the throne. It has writings inside and out but was sealed with seven seals. In the ancient world, seals were used to secure letters or other documents until they are received by the rightful person to whom it is addressed or who should read it. In Heaven, this book was sealed and there was nobody who was qualified to open or read it. But the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, was worthy. He alone was worthy. His worthiness is attributed to His redemptive work- the shedding of His blood as the ransom for sinful mankind. Halleluyah! When He took the book, the hosts of Heaven, particularly, the twenty four elders and the four living creatures, with harps (musical instruments) fell down in worship as they sang of His glory and His work of redemption. After the session of worship, the Lamb began to open the seals. Let us be reminded that what Heaven does not open, earth cannot receive. What Heaven does not loose, cannot be loosed on earth. The things that shall follow were by the decree of God therefore no one can stop them in their season.
Revelation 6
The 1st Seal
- a white horse
- he that sat on him had a bow
- a crown was given unto him
- he went forth conquering, and to conquer
A conqueror ‘ruler of the world’; imitator of Christ-riding on a white horse (Rev 19:11). At first, He shall make wars and will be victorious probably without bloodshed (bow without arrows). He was already crowned, he would be a man of great power to defeat his opponents. This perhaps is the entry of the person called Antichrist. This period is a time of establishing himself as ruler.
The 2nd Seal
- another horse that was red
- power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth
- that they should kill one another
- there was given unto him a great sword
While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape” 1 Thess 5:3. More about this later during the reign of the Antichrist.
The 3rd Seal
- a black horse
- he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand
- And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine
For a whole day’s work, the wage would be 1 penny which is able to purchase 1 measure of wheat or 3 measures of barley. It is a state of scarcity where people lived barely by the minimum- what could support a man of average appetite. Think about the implications of such scarcity in the society. Reflecting on the famine which occurred in the days of Elisha, people went as far as eating their own children.
The 4th Seal
- a pale horse
- his name that sat on him was Death
- Hell followed with him
- power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth
Wars will be everywhere. The result of that will be hunger and death. Even the beasts will have their fill. What a terrible time.
The 5th Seal
- I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held
- they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
- white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Here was a revelation of the spiritual world of martyrs crying for vengeance because of injustice and murder. But we learnt from the response that there will be many more martyrs to complete the number. Who are these who would be martyrs? They are fellow servants (minister of the Gospel) and brethren (believers in Christ). Perhaps a hint that believers would still be around at this time.
The 6th Seal
- there was a great earthquake
- the sun became black as sackcloth of hair
- the moon became as blood
- the stars of heaven fell unto the earth,
- the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together
- every mountain and island were moved out of their places
- the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains
- said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb
- For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
The events of the sixth seal are similar to events relating to the great and terrible day of the LORD as recorded by Joel chapter 2:30-31 and one prelude to the coming of the Son of Man, predicted by Jesus Christ Himself according to Mk 13:24-25. We may conclude that the sixth seal points to coming judgment or wrath preparatory to the LORD’s return. Are you prepared? Will you be ashamed when He shall come or you will be bold to stand before Him?