The Scroll Sealed with Seven Seals
Study No. 7
Re 6:1 ¶ Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come and see."
The meeting into which the Apostle John has been called is still going on in this chapter. John has described for us a very majestic scene in heaven, including a dazzling throne upon which God is seated. There are 24 elders seated around the throne, and also 4 living creatures which he described. The living creatures and the elders were praising God. But then John noticed in the hand of God a scroll sealed with seven seals. He hears a strong angel shout, “Who is worthy to take the book and open the seals?” After a very complete search through all of heaven and earth it is concluded that no one worthy one was found. Then from somewhere comes the Lion of the tribe of Judah, in the appearance of the Lamb of God and He is declared worthy to open the seals of the book.
This calls for a time of very high praise. Tens of thousands of angels join in with all of those already present and rejoice in the worthiness of the Lamb of God.
If we go by what John was told just as he was being summoned to the meeting in heaven, the purpose of his presence there will be to hear and see things that involve future events on the earth. Not just future events, but actually future events that are like a countdown to the end of the age as we know it, and the beginning of eternity with God within His kingdom.
So as the Lamb opens the first seal, we are looking at an event that will be coming to the earth at some point in the future.
A note about the 7-sealed scroll
The seven seals would be visible from the ends of the rolled-up scroll. The seals used in Biblical times would have been wax. The writer would complete a section of the parchment, roll it up to where he was presently writing, pour melted wax right from one side to the other. Then he would roll the completed portion onto the wax and let it harden. He would continue writing (depending how long his document was going to be) and repeat the process again. In a simply practical sense sealing the scroll periodically served to keep it from being sprawled all across the floor. In this case the scroll was sealed seven times ... six actually, with the seventh being used to close the complete scroll. The last seal is actually the first one to be opened. Therefore the author new 'the end from the beginning'. That is, he could write the story backwards, since he knew how it was all going to end.
So, as the Lamb opens the first seal, we are looking at an event that will be coming to the earth at some point in the future.
I would like to introduce a few related scriptures that help to give us understanding and perspective.
Jesus was talking about this same future time period in Matthew chapter 24 and also in Mark 13. I want to include one verse:
Mark 13:14 ¶ "So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not" (let the reader understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
What did Jesus mean … ‘Let the reader understand’? Which reader? The person who is reading the words in Mark? No, Jesus is not referring to the ‘reader of Mark 13’ or the reader of Matthew 24. He is referring to the ‘reader of Daniel’. So He is saying, "Whoever is reading about this in Daniel ... study it out so that you may understand. Daniel speaks about this same future event.
What Jesus is inferring is simply this: There are some things that Daniel has said about the end time. But reading will not be enough. You need to understand. Therefore … you will need to analyse, compare, re-read and pray … until you do understand.
So that is what we are doing from here and onward in our study … Our aim is ‘to understand’.
I recognize that each of us is approaching this study with different degrees knowledge that you have picked up in the past. Some of you may be beginners to a study such as this. Some of you may be at the other end of the spectrum, and your head may contain a wealth of facts and numbers and information that all involve the second coming of Jesus.
The last thing I want to do is overwhelm anyone with such a load of information that you decide … “This study is not for me at this time. It is just too much. I can’t get it.”
Nor do I want the study to be a simple overview that some of you have heard time and again and you end up no further ahead.
I am going to try with God’s help to make this study both simple and complete at the same time. (Pray for me!)
Moving on … I am making the ‘claim’ that the contents of the scroll that is about to have it’s seals broken, one at a time, represents the events of a seven year period of time that is yet future. The book of Revelation does not say anything about this. And I don’t want you to take my word for it; so ...
If a person begins to look for help in the form of teaching from any number of Bible teachers … whether they have long since passed on or are still alive and teaching today … you will surely notice that they all make reference to the contents of the scroll having something to do with ‘Daniels Seventieth Week’. (Now what are we talking about!)
There is a reason for that, and I want to direct our attention to something that will help us understand the period of time covered by the seven sealed scroll. Take a close look at the following chart.
The meeting into which the Apostle John has been called is still going on in this chapter. John has described for us a very majestic scene in heaven, including a dazzling throne upon which God is seated. There are 24 elders seated around the throne, and also 4 living creatures which he described. The living creatures and the elders were praising God. But then John noticed in the hand of God a scroll sealed with seven seals. He hears a strong angel shout, “Who is worthy to take the book and open the seals?” After a very complete search through all of heaven and earth it is concluded that no one worthy one was found. Then from somewhere comes the Lion of the tribe of Judah, in the appearance of the Lamb of God and He is declared worthy to open the seals of the book.
This calls for a time of very high praise. Tens of thousands of angels join in with all of those already present and rejoice in the worthiness of the Lamb of God.
If we go by what John was told just as he was being summoned to the meeting in heaven, the purpose of his presence there will be to hear and see things that involve future events on the earth. Not just future events, but actually future events that are like a countdown to the end of the age as we know it, and the beginning of eternity with God within His kingdom.
So as the Lamb opens the first seal, we are looking at an event that will be coming to the earth at some point in the future.
A note about the 7-sealed scroll
The seven seals would be visible from the ends of the rolled-up scroll. The seals used in Biblical times would have been wax. The writer would complete a section of the parchment, roll it up to where he was presently writing, pour melted wax right from one side to the other. Then he would roll the completed portion onto the wax and let it harden. He would continue writing (depending how long his document was going to be) and repeat the process again. In a simply practical sense sealing the scroll periodically served to keep it from being sprawled all across the floor. In this case the scroll was sealed seven times ... six actually, with the seventh being used to close the complete scroll. The last seal is actually the first one to be opened. Therefore the author new 'the end from the beginning'. That is, he could write the story backwards, since he knew how it was all going to end.
So, as the Lamb opens the first seal, we are looking at an event that will be coming to the earth at some point in the future.
I would like to introduce a few related scriptures that help to give us understanding and perspective.
Jesus was talking about this same future time period in Matthew chapter 24 and also in Mark 13. I want to include one verse:
Mark 13:14 ¶ "So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not" (let the reader understand), "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
What did Jesus mean … ‘Let the reader understand’? Which reader? The person who is reading the words in Mark? No, Jesus is not referring to the ‘reader of Mark 13’ or the reader of Matthew 24. He is referring to the ‘reader of Daniel’. So He is saying, "Whoever is reading about this in Daniel ... study it out so that you may understand. Daniel speaks about this same future event.
What Jesus is inferring is simply this: There are some things that Daniel has said about the end time. But reading will not be enough. You need to understand. Therefore … you will need to analyse, compare, re-read and pray … until you do understand.
So that is what we are doing from here and onward in our study … Our aim is ‘to understand’.
I recognize that each of us is approaching this study with different degrees knowledge that you have picked up in the past. Some of you may be beginners to a study such as this. Some of you may be at the other end of the spectrum, and your head may contain a wealth of facts and numbers and information that all involve the second coming of Jesus.
The last thing I want to do is overwhelm anyone with such a load of information that you decide … “This study is not for me at this time. It is just too much. I can’t get it.”
Nor do I want the study to be a simple overview that some of you have heard time and again and you end up no further ahead.
I am going to try with God’s help to make this study both simple and complete at the same time. (Pray for me!)
Moving on … I am making the ‘claim’ that the contents of the scroll that is about to have it’s seals broken, one at a time, represents the events of a seven year period of time that is yet future. The book of Revelation does not say anything about this. And I don’t want you to take my word for it; so ...
If a person begins to look for help in the form of teaching from any number of Bible teachers … whether they have long since passed on or are still alive and teaching today … you will surely notice that they all make reference to the contents of the scroll having something to do with ‘Daniels Seventieth Week’. (Now what are we talking about!)
There is a reason for that, and I want to direct our attention to something that will help us understand the period of time covered by the seven sealed scroll. Take a close look at the following chart.
I have ‘borrowed’ the preceding chart … not by permission. There are hundreds of other charts posted on the Web but this one seems simple and yet contains what we need to know.
History.
Many years ago the Israelite nation (12 Tribes) split into two … 2 tribes to the south went by the name, Judah. The other ten tribes which were north of Jerusalem went by the name Israel. In the years that followed, all 12 tribes began to walk away from God. Prophets were sent to call the people back to God and to warn of coming punishment if they did not repent. The punishment/warnings were: God would see to it that an enemy king would come and destroy their land and carry them all away into captivity.
Israel was worse. Destruction came to them first and they were carried away to Babylon. Judah lasted a few more years but finally they too ‘reached the bottom’ in terms of sinfulness and they also were taken to Babylon. Daniel was among the captives.
This captivity was clearly the worst thing so far that had ever happened to the Jews. (By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept When we remembered Zion. Psalms 137:1 ) (Zion … another word for their homeland, their city – Jerusalem, and the Holy Temple of God.)
The question is, how long would God leave them there? How long would it take for them to learn their lesson? How long until God would say … “Their punishment is enough … it matches the crime; they have learned their lesson”?
God sent an angel to Daniel to give him the answers. Take some time out from reading these notes and turn to Daniel chapter 9 and verse 20, and read to verse 27.
The NIV begins like this, “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people …” All other translations say ‘seventy weeks’. The Hebrew word is ‘shabuwa’ which literally means ‘a period of seven’. It could mean 7 days and the translated word would be weeks. But it could be years … and then we don’t have a word for it. So the NIV is correct in saying seventy sevens. The prophesy literally means, ‘seventy periods of seven years are predicted for your people in which to bring to a conclusion several very important events. Seventy times seven years is 490 years. Are these 490 ‘lunar’ years that the Jews always used, or are these solar years like we use today? Lunar years have only 360 days, each month is equal, having 30 days. Solar, of course, have 365 ¼ . Well, it really does not make any difference. Because the Jews simply added another 30 day month every seven years and that took care of the difference[1].
The passage in Daniel lists what God intends to accomplish during His punishing of the Jews and also after they are released from captivity . The starting point of the period is given. It starts counting down at the time a command would be given for the Jews to go home (leave Babylon) and rebuild Jerusalem. Historically that command was issued 445 BC.
The time period mentioned by the angel in verse 25 includes 3 divisions.
So, starting from 445 BC, how much of the above has happened already and when did it happen?
Number 1 was finished (in my opinion) right at the time of the announcement … which started the countdown. In other words, the Jews have fulfilled their sentence. Punishment is over. It’s the end of the transgression.
Number 2 might refer to the end of the first 49 years. This would be the time of rebuilding Jerusalem. Could this be called making an end of sins because finally the reminder of their punishment is over? Otherwise it is referring to Jesus’ death on the cross … but that is what number 3 is talking about. Making reconciliation for iniquity is what Jesus did on the cross for us.
Number 4 either speaks of the resurrection of Jesus … who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification Romans 4:25 …or it is referring to the return of Christ to earth to begin the millennial reign.
Number 5 refers to the end of the time period of 490 years (so most commentators suggest) or, because it uses the words ‘seal up’, this refers to the church period … which was a sealed up mystery for our whole time since Jesus started his church.
And number 6 refers to the return of Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
So, since these two things (1. the destruction of Jerusalem and 2. the abomination in the temple) did not happen within the seven years following that Palm Sunday … we have what is called a ‘gap’ in the fulfillment of this prophecy.
This means that there is a seven year period of prophecy that is remaining to be fulfilled. As we look at the events following the opening of each seal of the scroll we will actually be counting down the last ‘seven’ of Daniel. (see Slide)
The First Seal
A white horse is seen riding across in front of John’s vision. The rider has a bow. There is no mention of his having any arrows and yet he is conquering. (This fact may be significant later) Because the horse is white in colour, some have wondered if this represents Christ. It doesn’t. We will see more about this later.
The Second Seal
A red horse is seen. The rider has a sword. He removes peace from the earth.
The Third Seal
A black horse is seen. The rider has a pair of scales in his hand. One of the living creatures announces that inflation and famine are incredibly severe.
The Fourth Seal
A pale horse is seen. This rider has a name: Death. Hades followed him. 25 % of the worlds' population dies.
The Fifth Seal
John sees ‘souls’ of those slain for Jesus under the altar in heaven. Apparently they have been waiting there for some time. We are not told how long. They have been waiting there since James was killed by Herod … then Stephen. Then many others, including Antipas. When these people 10 ask how much longer they have to wait until ‘their blood is avenged’ they are told to wait a little longer, until others join them.
The Sixth Seal – is quite remarkable
The Seventh Seal – is not opened until chapter Chapter eight verse 1.
There is silence in heaven for about half an hour. This verse should really be the last verse of chapter 7.
When will these things happen or begin to happen?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
From our ‘Extra Study’ from Study 6
II Thessalonians 2: What event is verse one describing?
Is the 'coming of our Lord Jesus' the same as 'our being gathered together to Him' or are they two separate events? What is another name for 'our being gathered unto Him'? And what is another name for the 'coming of our Lord Jesus', as it is mentioned in verse two?
In verse two below, our translation reads 'had come'. The NIV reads, 'has already come', the NKJV reads 'had come', and the old KJV reads, 'is at hand'. Which is correct?
The Greek word 'enistami' is the word in question.
Thayers lexicon gives the following definition:
1) to place in or among, to put in.
2) to be upon, impend, threaten.
3) close at hand
4) present.
Note - none of the definitions above say, 'has already come'. The issue that Paul was trying to correct, was not to comfort them by saying ... no, you have not missed the rapture, but rather, the coming is not so near that you need to quit your day jobs. That day, although it may be near, will not come until .....
1 ¶ Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you,
2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.
3 ¶ Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
[1] Why did they have to take care of the difference? They did so in order to prevent certain Holy Days, such as one celebrating the harvest, from gradually moving around the calendar to the point where they might be celebrating it in the Spring.
[2] This number includes martyrs ...(and those faithful to death) from the beginning of creation to the present.
History.
Many years ago the Israelite nation (12 Tribes) split into two … 2 tribes to the south went by the name, Judah. The other ten tribes which were north of Jerusalem went by the name Israel. In the years that followed, all 12 tribes began to walk away from God. Prophets were sent to call the people back to God and to warn of coming punishment if they did not repent. The punishment/warnings were: God would see to it that an enemy king would come and destroy their land and carry them all away into captivity.
Israel was worse. Destruction came to them first and they were carried away to Babylon. Judah lasted a few more years but finally they too ‘reached the bottom’ in terms of sinfulness and they also were taken to Babylon. Daniel was among the captives.
This captivity was clearly the worst thing so far that had ever happened to the Jews. (By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept When we remembered Zion. Psalms 137:1 ) (Zion … another word for their homeland, their city – Jerusalem, and the Holy Temple of God.)
The question is, how long would God leave them there? How long would it take for them to learn their lesson? How long until God would say … “Their punishment is enough … it matches the crime; they have learned their lesson”?
God sent an angel to Daniel to give him the answers. Take some time out from reading these notes and turn to Daniel chapter 9 and verse 20, and read to verse 27.
The NIV begins like this, “Seventy ‘sevens’ are decreed for your people …” All other translations say ‘seventy weeks’. The Hebrew word is ‘shabuwa’ which literally means ‘a period of seven’. It could mean 7 days and the translated word would be weeks. But it could be years … and then we don’t have a word for it. So the NIV is correct in saying seventy sevens. The prophesy literally means, ‘seventy periods of seven years are predicted for your people in which to bring to a conclusion several very important events. Seventy times seven years is 490 years. Are these 490 ‘lunar’ years that the Jews always used, or are these solar years like we use today? Lunar years have only 360 days, each month is equal, having 30 days. Solar, of course, have 365 ¼ . Well, it really does not make any difference. Because the Jews simply added another 30 day month every seven years and that took care of the difference[1].
The passage in Daniel lists what God intends to accomplish during His punishing of the Jews and also after they are released from captivity . The starting point of the period is given. It starts counting down at the time a command would be given for the Jews to go home (leave Babylon) and rebuild Jerusalem. Historically that command was issued 445 BC.
The time period mentioned by the angel in verse 25 includes 3 divisions.
- He said, ‘7 sevens’(49 years)
- then ‘62 sevens’(434 years), and finally
- One more seven (seven years).
- Make an end of transgression.
- Make an end of sins.
- Make reconciliation for iniquity
- Bring in everlasting righteousness.
- Seal up (or complete) the prophecy
- Anoint the ‘Most Holy’.
So, starting from 445 BC, how much of the above has happened already and when did it happen?
Number 1 was finished (in my opinion) right at the time of the announcement … which started the countdown. In other words, the Jews have fulfilled their sentence. Punishment is over. It’s the end of the transgression.
Number 2 might refer to the end of the first 49 years. This would be the time of rebuilding Jerusalem. Could this be called making an end of sins because finally the reminder of their punishment is over? Otherwise it is referring to Jesus’ death on the cross … but that is what number 3 is talking about. Making reconciliation for iniquity is what Jesus did on the cross for us.
Number 4 either speaks of the resurrection of Jesus … who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification Romans 4:25 …or it is referring to the return of Christ to earth to begin the millennial reign.
Number 5 refers to the end of the time period of 490 years (so most commentators suggest) or, because it uses the words ‘seal up’, this refers to the church period … which was a sealed up mystery for our whole time since Jesus started his church.
And number 6 refers to the return of Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
So, since these two things (1. the destruction of Jerusalem and 2. the abomination in the temple) did not happen within the seven years following that Palm Sunday … we have what is called a ‘gap’ in the fulfillment of this prophecy.
This means that there is a seven year period of prophecy that is remaining to be fulfilled. As we look at the events following the opening of each seal of the scroll we will actually be counting down the last ‘seven’ of Daniel. (see Slide)
The First Seal
A white horse is seen riding across in front of John’s vision. The rider has a bow. There is no mention of his having any arrows and yet he is conquering. (This fact may be significant later) Because the horse is white in colour, some have wondered if this represents Christ. It doesn’t. We will see more about this later.
The Second Seal
A red horse is seen. The rider has a sword. He removes peace from the earth.
The Third Seal
A black horse is seen. The rider has a pair of scales in his hand. One of the living creatures announces that inflation and famine are incredibly severe.
The Fourth Seal
A pale horse is seen. This rider has a name: Death. Hades followed him. 25 % of the worlds' population dies.
The Fifth Seal
John sees ‘souls’ of those slain for Jesus under the altar in heaven. Apparently they have been waiting there for some time. We are not told how long. They have been waiting there since James was killed by Herod … then Stephen. Then many others, including Antipas. When these people 10 ask how much longer they have to wait until ‘their blood is avenged’ they are told to wait a little longer, until others join them.
The Sixth Seal – is quite remarkable
- there is a great earthquake
- The sun goes very dark
- the moon goes red (this may be what some are calling blood moons but not necessarily. It may appear red due to whatever it was blackened the sun. Severe smoke for example.
- Stars of heaven fall to earth. John calls them stars. Since they are small enough to fall to the earth they are not actually stars but probably meteors or meteorites. The language in the verse seems to indicate a very large shower of these ‘stars’.
- The sky ‘rolls back like a scroll’ so that people actually can see the One sitting on the throne.
- EVERY mountain and island were moved out of their places.
- Sinners know that God’s wrath is about to fall and they are terrified.
The Seventh Seal – is not opened until chapter Chapter eight verse 1.
There is silence in heaven for about half an hour. This verse should really be the last verse of chapter 7.
When will these things happen or begin to happen?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
From our ‘Extra Study’ from Study 6
II Thessalonians 2: What event is verse one describing?
Is the 'coming of our Lord Jesus' the same as 'our being gathered together to Him' or are they two separate events? What is another name for 'our being gathered unto Him'? And what is another name for the 'coming of our Lord Jesus', as it is mentioned in verse two?
In verse two below, our translation reads 'had come'. The NIV reads, 'has already come', the NKJV reads 'had come', and the old KJV reads, 'is at hand'. Which is correct?
The Greek word 'enistami' is the word in question.
Thayers lexicon gives the following definition:
1) to place in or among, to put in.
2) to be upon, impend, threaten.
3) close at hand
4) present.
Note - none of the definitions above say, 'has already come'. The issue that Paul was trying to correct, was not to comfort them by saying ... no, you have not missed the rapture, but rather, the coming is not so near that you need to quit your day jobs. That day, although it may be near, will not come until .....
1 ¶ Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you,
2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.
3 ¶ Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
[1] Why did they have to take care of the difference? They did so in order to prevent certain Holy Days, such as one celebrating the harvest, from gradually moving around the calendar to the point where they might be celebrating it in the Spring.
[2] This number includes martyrs ...(and those faithful to death) from the beginning of creation to the present.