THE SEVEN SEALS OF REVELATION

-The seven seals reveal the history of the Christian church from John the Revelator’s time,
through to the second coming of Christ, and eternity beyond –

1st Seal (Revelation 6:1-2)

– White horse = purity of church
– Rider of horse = the Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 19:11-16)
– Conquering and to conquer = victory then and continued victory until the end comes

This 1st Seal shows the history of the majority of the followers of Jesus Christ of the
Apostolic church actively spreading the pure gospel truth around the world which
allowed the truth and Christ to conquer error and sin, and more victories would continue
occurring throughout all ages of earth’s history. So this period is seen covering about
most of the first century AD, while the gospel truth would continue to conquer hearts for
Christ till the end of time.

2nd Seal (Revelation 6:3 - 4)

– Red horse = bloodshed and persecution to church
– Rider carries a great sword = much bloodshed, strife and warfare that would take
peace from earth

This 2nd Seal shows the history of the faithful followers of Jesus Christ enduring
persecution and suffering martyrdom for their faith. This bloodshed continued on for
many years until the majority of the members of the Apostolic church decided to
compromise their faith in order to unite with half-converted pagans (see Spirit of
Prophecy, vol 4, p 42-46), and this evil union eventually brought an end to this
persecution during the reign of Constantine. Remember, Paul stated that even in his
day the mystery of iniquity was already at work. So this period is seen extending from
about the last part of the first century through to about the time of Constantine in the
4th century.

3rd Seal (Revelation 6:5-6)

– Black horse = darkness and apostasy of church
– Rider carries a pair of balances = religious and civil power under control of one person
– Measures of wheat and barley for a penny = church members focused more on
making money and worldliness than upon the spreading of the gospel
– Hurt not the oil and wine = graces of the Spirit of faith and love were in danger of
being hurt under such worldliness and apostasy, yet protected by God in hearts of the
faithful few
This 3rd Seal shows the history of the of the majority of the Christian church
compromising and apostatizing from the true faith because of their union with paganism,
thus allowing great darkness and error to corrupt the once pure faith. During this period
the civil power was allowed to control the affairs of the church beginning with
Constantine in 323 AD, and thus one man balanced and controlled both powers. This
one-man control of both state and church power was then transferred from one civil
ruler to another until Justinian transferred this one-man control over to the Bishop of
Rome or the Pope in 538 AD. So this period is seen extending from about the time of
Constantine in 323 AD to about the beginning of papal control of church and state in
538 AD.

4th Seal (Revelation 6:7-8)

– Pale horse = sickly church ready to die
– Rider is death, and hell or the grave follows him
– 1/4 of earth’s territory suffers under the Rider’s murderous reign

This 4th Seal shows the history during the dark ages when the Pope had unlimited and
unrestrained power to use the civil power of the nations of Europe to persecute and kill
all her opponents of the then corrupted and apostate Apostolic faith which had been
adopted by the Roman Catholic church. This murderous killing spree continued on for
1260 days/years (Daniel 7:25, 12:7 and Revelation 12:6, 14, 13:5) – commonly referred
to as the dark ages, and through the Reformation, until in 1798 the papacy suffered a
deadly wound (Revelation 13:1-3) when General Berthier of the French Army under
Napoleon took the Pope Pius VI prisoner and removed him to France, where he died in
exile in 1799. So this period is seen extending from about 538 AD through the time of
the Reformation to about 1798.

5th Seal (Revelation 6:9-11)

– Altar = altar of martyrdom or sacrifice, not the altar connected with the heavenly
Sanctuary
– Souls under the altar = all those faithful followers of Christ and Bible truth who had
been martyred and slain for their faith by the Roman Catholic church, thus these are not
souls in heaven but dead in their graves on earth
– These dead souls are allegorically shown crying out to the Lord about how long until
the Roman Catholic church is judged, and their spilt blood avenged upon such a harlot
murderous church. They are told that they must rest in grave for a little season longer
as more persecution by the papacy was prophesied to occur. This indicates that as the
persecuting power of the papacy had been stopped, yet it would resume again after just
a little season. We know that in 1798 the papacy suffered its deadly wound which
prevented it from continuing to use the civil power to persecute all her opponents. But
after a short time this deadly wound of the papacy would be healed and she would
regain her persecuting power. And on February 11, 1929, the Lateran Treaty was
signed between the kingdom of Italy and the Pope, which guaranteed international
sovereignty to the Vatican State under the absolute and sole jurisdiction of the Holy
See. This date then signaled the beginning of the healing of this wound, and soon
thereafter this papal wound will be completely healed, and the papacy will again be able
to use the power of the state to persecute God’s faithful followers, which is just as
predicted in Revelation 13:3 when “all the world wondered after the beast”.
– But these dead faithful martyred souls were also all given pure white robes =
“righteousness of saints” (Revelation 19:8). And what then does this signify?
“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot
out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and
before His angels.” Revelation 3:5.

"And when he had opened the fifth 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: and they cried
with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, Holy and true, doest Thou not judge and
avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto
every one of them [They were pronounced pure and holy]; and it was said unto
them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their
brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled" [Revelation 6:9-11].”
Manuscript Releases, vol 20, p 197-198 [Brackets by sister White].

So these dead souls were pronounced pure and holy, and judged worthy to be given to
wear these white garments of righteousness, as well as to have their names retained in
the book of life. Now before anyone that has already died can be pronounced and
judged pure and holy, given white robes and have their names retained in the book of
life, their character has to first be investigated. This means that an investigative
judgement had to have begun into the lives of these righteous dead during the short
time when the papacy no longer had power to persecute – so sometime after 1798 and
before the papal wound would be completely healed. And we know from prophecy that
in fact the investigative judgement of the righteous dead did begin on October 22, 1844
when the 2300 d/y prophecy of Daniel 8:13-14 ended, our High Priest Jesus Christ
entered into the second apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, and this sanctuary began
to be cleansed.
This means that this fifth seal did not end by or before 1798 like many believe, but
continued on passed 1844! And how long did it continue on?
“When the fifth seal was opened, John the Revelator in vision saw beneath the altar
the company that were slain for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus
Christ. After this came the scenes described in the eighteenth of Revelation, when
those who are faithful and true are called out from Babylon [Revelation 18:1-5 quoted.]”.
Bible Commentary, vol 7, p 968.

So it was not the scenes of Revelation 14 and the first 3 angels’ messages that were
seen coming directly after the ending of the 5th seal, but the scenes connected with the
fourth angel of Revelation 18! So then, when are these scenes of Revelation 18 to take
place? We already know that as early as 1888 the light of truth about the righteousness
of Christ was being preached, and this precious message was to be given in the loud
cry of Revelation 18, but was sadly being rejected by the SDA church.
“An unwillingness to yield up preconceived opinions, and to accept this truth, lay at the
foundation of a large share of the opposition manifested at Minneapolis [in 1888]
against the Lord’s message through Brethren {E.J.} Waggoner and {A.T.} Jones. By
exciting that opposition Satan succeeded in shutting away from our people, in a great
measure, the special power of the Holy Spirit that God longed to impart to them. The
enemy prevented them from obtaining that efficiency which might have been theirs in
carrying the truth to the world, as the apostles proclaimed it after the day of
Pentecost. The light [of Christ’s righteousness] that is to lighten the whole earth
with its glory was resisted, and by the action of our own brethren has been in a
great degree kept away from the world.” Selected Messages, book 1, p 234-235.

And we already know that the loud cry of Revelation 18, based upon this message of
Christ’s righteousness, began sounding as early as 1892.
“The third angel’s message is swelling into a loud cry
“The time of test is just upon us, for the loud cry of the third angel has already
begun in the revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sin pardoning
Redeemer. This is the beginning of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the
whole earth.” Review and Herald, November 22, 1892.

This then means that as early as 1888, and especially by 1892, the scenes of
Revelation 18 began to take place, showing that the 5th seal had ended by that point.

So then this 5th Seal shows the history from about the time when the Papacy received
its deadly wound and could no longer use the civil power to persecute, through the
beginning of the investigative judgement of the righteous dead, until some time around
or before the beginning of the loud cry message of Revelation 18. So this period is
seen extending from about the time of 1798 until around 1888.

6th Seal (Revelation 6:12-17, 7:1-17)

– Great earthquake = Lisbon earthquake of November 1, 1755, which was felt from
Portugal to Greenland, Africa and America, covering some 4 million square miles.

– Sun became black as sackcloth = Dark Day of May 19, 1780, when from about 10:00
am till midnight, people could not see a plain white piece of paper held out in front of
them without the help of a candle or fire.

– Moon became as blood = The dark red moon of the night of May 19-20, 1780 which
was seen after the black sackcloth darkness had cleared up.

– Stars of heaven fell = The spectacular Leonid meteor shower of the night of
November 12-13, 1833, when for several hours some 100,000 - 200,000 meteors/hour
lighted up the night sky to the point that one could read a newspaper without the help of
other forms of light.
– The four winds held back from fully blowing on earth and sea = winds of great strife
and severe bloodshed occurring during the time of the 7 last plagues (Revelation 16:1-
21).

– Winds not fully allowed to blow until after 144,000 saints are sealed = these 144,000
saints will be sealed while still alive and without seeing or tasting of death (Desire of
Ages, p 421-422; Early Writings, p 164; Prophets and Kings,

– 144,000 saints are made up of 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes in last days = not
from literal Israelite tribes under the old dispensation, but from spiritual Israel under the
gospel dispensation, and thus represents those in the last days of earth’s history who
had the same characteristics and weaknesses of these 12 listed tribes, but who were
able to overcame these same weaknesses through the strength and grace of Christ.

– All 12 tribes are mentioned except Dan and Ephraim = the last offspring of the tribe of
Dan and Ephraim were lost without salvation. The tribe of Dan was caught up in the
traffic and merchandise of Babylon, and the tribe of Ephraim was joined to his idols
(Hosea 4:17). Thus those living in these last days of earth’s history who retain these
same weaknesses and evil characteristics of Dan and Ephraim will also be lost as they
were and not saved.

– 144,000 in number = John heard a literal number of the amount of saints that were
sealed, and sister White agreed stating that these “living saints” were “144,000 in
number” (Early Writings, p 15). After the last saint is sealed, then probation closes
(Revelation 22:11-12), the 4 winds over all the earth are loosed, and the 7 last plagues
fall (Revelation 16:1-21).

– Heavens departed as a scroll, and every mountain and island moved out of their
places = occurs after the 7th plague begins, when God the Father parts the heavens as
a scroll from which His voice coming directly from His throne in the temple of heaven is
heard declaring that “It is done” (Revelation 16:17). A stupendous earthquake occurs
that moves every mountain and island out of their places. The saints are then delivered
from their captivity, they are given the covenant of peace (Selected Messages, book 3,
p 388), and then God the Father tells these patient waiting saints the exact day and
hour of Christ’s return (See Revelation 16:17-21;

“It is at midnight that God manifests His power for the deliverance of His people. The
sun appears, shining in its strength. Signs and wonders follow in quick succession. The
wicked look with terror and amazement upon the scene, while the righteous behold with
solemn joy the tokens of their deliverance. Everything in nature seems turned out of its
course. The streams cease to flow. Dark, heavy clouds come up and clash against each
other. In the midst of the angry heavens is one clear space of indescribable glory,
whence comes the voice of God like the sound of many waters, saying: ‘It is done.’
Revelation 16:17.
“The powers of heaven will be shaken at the voice of God. Then the sun, moon, and
stars will be moved out of their places. They will not pass away, but be shaken by the
voice of God.

“Dark, heavy clouds came up and clashed against each other. The atmosphere parted
and rolled back; then we could look up through the open space in Orion, whence came
the voice of God.
“Now in regard to the coming of the Son of man, this will not take place until after the
mighty earthquake shakes the earth after the people have heard the voice of God.”
– The lost wicked call for mountains and rocks to fall and hide them = occurs at the
second coming of Christ as they see Him coming in all His glory, and in His Father’s
glory and in all the glory of the angels (Matthew 16:27, 25:31; These wicked cannot
stand to remain in sight of all this glory of Christ, and then try to hide.

“The sight of the inexpressible glory of the Son of God will be intensely painful to
those whose characters are stained with sin. The pure light and glory emanating
from Christ will awaken remorse, shame, and terror. They will send forth wails of
anguish to the rocks and mountains, ‘Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him who
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?’”

“When Christ comes in the clouds of heaven only two classes, the obedient and the
disobedient, will meet him. And only those who, having had the light upon God's
requirements, have been obedient to him, can meet him with joy. Those who have
persisted in a course of disobedience, will flee in terror, hiding in the dens of the
mountains, and saying to the rocks and the mountains, ‘Fall on us, and hide us from the
face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.’ But those who
have honored God by their obedience, will look up, and say, ‘Lo, this is our God; we
have waited for him, and he will save us; this is the Lord, we have waited for him; we
will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.’’

– Hide us from him on the throne and from wrath of lamb = as Christ comes arrayed not
just in His own glory but also in the glory of all the angels and also in the glory of His
Father, and as God the Father has exalted God His Son to sit and rule with Him on His
throne (Revelation 3:21, 22:3; Hebrews 8:1, 12:2), then it is not just Christ and all His
angels who come in the clouds of heaven, but God the Father is there as well! And
even though inspiration does not directly mention it, I know that God the Holy Spirit will
be there as well, because it was only through His constant and untiring working upon
human hearts that they were enabled to be saved in the first place (Genesis 6:3; John
14:26, 16:13-14; Romans 8:26; Ephesians 4:30; Matthew 12:31-32). As this is true,
then why wouldn't the Holy Spirit also be there as well to witness the gathering of all
those whom He spent so much time and effort to save?

As the brightness of Christ destroys all the wicked (2 Thessalonians 2:8), He sounds the
last trump raising the righteous dead, and together with the 144,000 living saints, both
are changed from mortality to immortality and are then caught up to meet their Lord in
the air never to part again (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52;

This 6th Seal shows the history from the great Lisbon earthquake, the sun becoming
black, the moon becoming blood, and the stars falling; through the time when the living
saints are being sealed, the winds of strife being loosed, the plagues falling, the
heavens departing as a scroll and the great earthquake that moves all mountains and
islands out of their places, and God the Father delivering the saints from captivity and
declaring to them the day and hour of Christ’s return; Christ then being seen coming in
the clouds of heaven, the lost calling for the rocks and mountains to hide them from
Christ and then being destroyed by His brightness, and the resurrection and gathering
of all the righteous saints off the earth to be with Christ in the air. So this period is seen
extending from 1755 to all that the second coming of Christ accomplishes.

7th Seal (Revelation 8:1)

– Silence in heaven = since God the Father and God the Holy Spirit and all the heavenly
host of angels accompany God the Son Jesus Christ in traveling to get all the redeemed
saints, then no one is left in heaven to make any noise.

– Space of ½ hour in prophetic time (day for year) is 7 ½ literal days = the amount of
time it actually takes for all this heavenly throng to travel from heaven to the earth to get
the redeemed after God the Father’s voice had delivered the saints and declared the
day and hour of Christ’s return. It will be during these 7 days, that the lost who make up
the synagogue of Satan will bow and worship at the feet of these now delivered and
glorious saints, hoping that this act of humility and honor will somehow prevent them
from being destroyed when Christ arrives (Revelation 2:9, 3:9-11; 41-42): but it is a vain
hope as their probation has already closed.

“You think, that those who worship before the saint's feet, (Revelation 3:9), will at last be
saved. Here I must differ with you; for God shew me that this class were professed
Adventists, who had fallen away, and ‘crucified to themselves the Son of God afresh,
and put him to an open shame.’ And in the ‘hour of temptation,’ which is yet to come, to
show out every one's true character, they will know that they are forever lost; and
overwhelmed with anguish of spirit, they will bow at the saint's feet.”

Now since it took 7 literal days for Christ -- who is also human as we are -- to travel from
heaven to earth, then after the redeemed saints meet Jesus in the air and join Him in
the cloud, it will take these saved human beings another 7 literal days to travel from the
earth to heaven and arrive on the sea of glass.

“We all entered the cloud together, and were seven days ascending to the sea of
glass...”

Once on the sea of glass, Jesus will individually place crowns of gold upon each of the
heads of the redeemed. Afterwards we will travel to the gates of the city of God, where
“We see a retinue of angels on either side of the gate.

“We all entered the cloud together, and were seven days ascending to the sea of
glass, when Jesus brought the crowns, and with His own right hand placed them
on our heads. He gave us harps of gold and palms of victory. Here on the sea of glass
the 144,000 stood in a perfect square. Some of them had very bright crowns, others not
so bright. Some crowns appeared heavy with stars, while others had but few. All were
perfectly satisfied with their crowns. And they were all clothed with a glorious white
mantle from their shoulders to their feet. Angels were all about us as we marched over
the sea of glass to the gate of the city. Jesus raised His mighty, glorious arm, laid
hold of the pearly gate, swung it back on its glittering hinges, and said to us, ‘You
have washed your robes in My blood, stood stiffly for My truth, enter in.’

After Christ opens up the gate and bids all to enter into the city, who do you think will
be the very first Person that all these redeemed saints will see standing in this opened
entrance gate? It will be God the Father Himself who eagerly waits to personally
welcome each and every redeemed child of His into the city!

“Jesus will welcome you, and with His own hand place the crown upon the brow of all
those who enter there. Then they sing the song of Moses and the Lamb in the kingdom
of glory. Well, now, is there not inducement enough that God has set before us so that
we should think upon heavenly things? And the best of it is, we do not enter the city as
convicts, but as sons and daughters of the Most High God. The Father stands at the
gate and welcomes everyone to His bosom. There we shall show forth the matchless
charms of our Redeemer. And the song will echo and re-echo through the courts of
heaven, ‘Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the
throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.’" Sermons and Talks, vol 1, p 45-46 (see
also Great Controversy, p 645-647).

This 7th Seal shows the history from the time that God the Father, God the Holy Spirit
and God the Son Jesus Christ and all the angelic host leave heaven for their 7 day
journey to get the redeemed saints, the redeemed saints then entering the cloud to be
forever with their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, their 7 days of traveling to the sea of
glass, the reception of their crowns, and the welcoming into the city of God by the
Father Himself. So this period is seen extending from the time the Godhead and
heavenly throng leave heaven to bring the redeemed saints home, to the beginning of
eternity in sweet and loving fellowship with each one of the Godhead, the heavenly
angels, and with the rest of the unfallen beings in God’s universe for ever.