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| Let's talk to God before beginning this new section: |
| Lord, Once again we thank You for giving us this great privilege of being able to search and understand the book of Revelation. After studying the letters to the seven churches, we now wish to start on the subject of the seven seals. Please guide us while we study this part of prophecy, so that we may grasp the message You want to give us through the seven seals. In Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. |
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Lesson 30 |
Screen 2 |
Introduction to the Seven Seals |
Revelation 1:11 |
Comments |
| What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea. | The previous lessons allowed us to study the letters to the seven churches, and their prophecies about the Church, from John's time up to Jesus' return. |
Revelation 1:19 |
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| Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. |
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Lesson 30 |
Screen 3 |
Introduction to the Seven Seals |
Revelation 4:1 |
Comments |
| After these things I looked, and
behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, «Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.» |
Following these seven letters, another set of seven
prophecies was presented to the apostle John, showing «things which
must take place after this»: the seven seals. But before receiving the visions about the seven seals, John witnessed a majestic scene taking place in heaven. |
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Lesson 30 |
Screen 4 |
Introduction to the Seven Seals |
Revelation 4:2,3 |
Comments |
| Immediately I was in the Spirit;
and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. |
In his vision, John was transported up to God's
heavenly throne, where a solemn scene of adoration and praise is taking place in honor of
the Creator. We will come back to this scene in a future lesson about the four creatures and the 24 elders. |
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Lesson 30 |
Screen 5 |
Introduction to the Seven Seals |
Revelation 5:1 |
Comments |
| And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. | Then John saw, in the right hand of God, a
scroll written on both sides. This scroll being sealed with seven seals, John could not read it. |
Isaiah 29:11 |
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| The whole vision has become to
you like the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is literate,
saying, «Read this, please»; and he says, «I cannot, for it is sealed.» |
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Lesson 30 |
Screen 6 |
Introduction to the Seven Seals |
Ezekiel 2:9,10 |
Comments |
| Now when I looked, there was a
hand stretched out to me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. Then He spread it before me; and there was writing on the inside and on the outside, and written on it were lamentations and mourning and woe. |
God had already used works written on both sides to pass on His great messages, such as some prophecies and His Ten Commandments. |
Exodus 32:15 |
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| And Moses turned and went down
from the mountain, and the two tablets of the Testimony were in his hand. The tablets were written on both sides; on the one side and on the other they were written. |
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Lesson 30 |
Screen 7 |
Introduction to the Seven Seals |
Revelation 5:2-4 |
Comments |
| Then I saw a strong angel
proclaiming with a loud voice, «Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?» And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. |
To reveal the contents of the scroll, the seals had to
be loosed. But no one was able to do it. It wasn't a matter of strength, but rather a matter of worth: «No one was found worthy to open and read the scroll.» |
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Lesson 30 |
Screen 8 |
Introduction to the Seven Seals |
Revelation 5:5 |
Comments |
| But one of the elders said to
me, «Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.» |
Here is great news for John and for us! Someone was
finally found worthy to loose the seven seals, because of His victory. But who is this «Lion of the tribe of Judah», this «Root of David», and what victory is involved? |
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Lesson 30 |
Screen 9 |
Introduction to the Seven Seals |
Genesis 49:9,10 |
Comments |
| Judah is a lion's whelp (...). The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people. |
First, the «Lion of
the tribe of Judah» is Jesus Christ, who has prevailed over evil, sin, and death. This title refers to Jacob's prophecy about his son Judah, announcing that from his descendants would come Shiloh, a word which designates the Messiah. And Jesus indeed belongs to the line of Judah. |
Luke 3:23,33,34 |
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| Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, (...) the son of Judah, the son of Jacob (...). |
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Lesson 30 |
Screen 10 |
Introduction to the Seven Seals |
Jeremiah 23:5 |
Comments |
| «Behold, the days are coming,» says the Lord, «That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.» | As for the expression «the Root of David», it also designates Jesus Christ, just as He Himself clearly confirms it. |
Revelation 22:16 |
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| I, Jesus, have sent My angel to
testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David. |
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Lesson 30 |
Screen 11 |
Introduction to the Seven Seals |
Revelation 3:21 |
Comments |
| To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. | Finally, by His death and His
resurrection, Jesus Christ achieved a complete and resounding victory over evil, death,
and the world. This great victory made Him worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals. |
John 16:33 |
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| In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. |
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Lesson 30 |
Screen 12 |
Introduction to the Seven Seals |
Revelation 5:6,7 |
Comments |
| And I looked, and behold, in the
midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders,
stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the
seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. |
John's vision continues with the subject of the
sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God slain for our salvation. This Lamb has seven horns and seven eyes. What is the meaning of such a description? |
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Lesson 30 |
Screen 13 |
Introduction to the Seven Seals |
John 1:29 |
Comments |
| The next day John saw Jesus
coming toward him, and said, «Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!» |
First, let's remember that Jesus is the
Lamb of God. When we accept His sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins, our name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life. |
Revelation 13:8 |
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| And all who dwell on the earth will worship [the beast], whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain. |
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Lesson 30 |
Screen 14 |
Introduction to the Seven Seals |
Daniel 8:22 |
Comments |
| As for the broken horn and the four that stood up in its place, four kingdoms shall arise out of that nation. | The horns symbolize authority, power,
rule, royalty. As for the number seven, it indicates perfection in Bible prophecy. Therefore, the seven horns of the Lamb symbolize His perfect dominion over all the nations of the earth. |
Deuteronomy 33:17 |
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| His horns are like the horns of the wild ox; together with them He shall push the peoples to the ends of the earth. |
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Lesson 30 |
Screen 15 |
Introduction to the Seven Seals |
Zechariah 4:2,10 |
Comments |
| I am looking, and there is a
lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps. (...) These seven (...) are the eyes of the Lord, which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth. |
The seven eyes of the Lamb, which are the
seven Spirits of God, symbolize His omniscience. By the Holy Spirit's action, He sees and knows everything. The lesson «Letter to the Church of Sardis» gave us a description of the seven Spirits of God. |
Revelation 4:5 |
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| From the throne proceeded
lightnings, thunderings, and voices. And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. |
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Lesson 30 |
Screen 16 |
Introduction to the Seven Seals |
Revelation 5:8,9 |
Comments |
| Now when He had taken the
scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb,
each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: «You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.» |
And now, what is this sealed scroll that only the Lamb can open? |
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Lesson 30 |
Screen 17 |
Introduction to the Seven Seals |
1 Peter 1:10,12 |
Comments |
| Of this salvation the prophets
have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you.
(...) To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven - things which angels desire to look into. |
The scroll sealed with seven seals contains the
destiny of mankind. Now, the Bible clearly explains what that destiny is: «The wages of sin is death.» (Romans 6:23) By His sacrifice on the cross, only Jesus can offer us another destiny, that is, eternal life. This is why He is the only One able to open the seven seals. When He opens the scroll, Jesus will reveal the destiny each one has chosen. |
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Lesson 30 |
Screen 18 |
Introduction to the Seven Seals |
Revelation 5:9 |
Comments |
| You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation. | Just like the letters to the churches, the
seven seals describe seven stages of history. The opening of the seventh seal leads to Jesus's return, then revealing to everyone the destiny each one has chosen here on earth. |
Revelation 7:10 |
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| Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb! |
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Lesson 30 |
Screen 19 |
Introduction to the Seven Seals |
Revelation 5:9 |
Comments |
| And they sang a new song, saying: «You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals.» |
The opening of the seven seals, revealing
the contents of the scroll, led the audience to sing a new song. What was the theme of that song? |
Revelation 14:3 |
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| And they sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. |
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Lesson 30 |
Screen 20 |
Introduction to the Seven Seals |
| The theme of the new song emphasizes salvation, our final deliverance: |
| «Oh, sing to the Lord a new
song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him
the victory. The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has openly shown
in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house
of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.» (PSALM 98:1-3) «I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth.» (PSALM 40:1-3) «Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy. For the word of the Lord is right, and all His work is done in truth. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.» (PSALM 33:3-5) |
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Lesson 30 |
Screen 21 |
Introduction to the Seven Seals |
Revelation 5:9,10 |
Comments |
| And they sang a new song,
saying: «You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.» |
The new song emphasizes the salvation of people coming
«out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation». Furthermore, it brings out the glorious victory of Jesus, which allows His redeemed people to be granted access to the eternal kingdom, and to become priests to God. |
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Lesson 30 |
Screen 22 |
Introduction to the Seven Seals |
| Jesus Christ's salvation makes us a kingdom of priests to God: |
| «Now therefore, if you will
indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me
above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests
and a holy nation.» (EXODUS 19:5,6) «(...) Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.» (REVELATION 1:5,6) «Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.» (REVELATION 20:6) |
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Lesson 30 |
Screen 23 |
Introduction to the Seven Seals |
Revelation 5:9 |
Comments |
| You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation. | Let's remember that we entirely owe our victory over evil to the blood of Jesus Christ, who allows us to overcome sin, and inherit eternal life. |
Revelation 12:11 |
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| They overcame [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. |
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Lesson 30 |
Screen 24 |
Introduction to the Seven Seals |
| Our victory does not depend on our own merits, but on the blood of Jesus: |
| «You were not redeemed with
corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition
from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ.» (1 PETER 1:18,19) «In [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.» (EPHESIANS 1:7) «Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus (...).» (HEBREWS 10:19) «To [Jesus] who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests (...).» (REVELATION 1:5,6) «Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood [Christ] entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.» (HEBREWS 9:12) |
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Lesson 30 |
Screen 25 |
Introduction to the Seven Seals |
Revelation 5:11,12 |
Comments |
| Then I looked, and I heard the
voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the
number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying
with a loud voice: «Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!» |
Finally, as Jesus was about to loose the first seal, the entire audience directed to Him great praise containing seven elements, once again emphasizing the perfection of Him whom we adore. |
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Lesson 30 |
Screen 26 |
Introduction to the Seven Seals |
| Power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing to God! |
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Lesson 30 |
Screen 27 |
Introduction to the Seven Seals |
Revelation 5:13,14 |
Comments |
| And every creature which is in
heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are
in them, I heard saying: «Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!» Then the four living creatures said, «Amen!» And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever. |
The scene ends with this solemn act of adoration
toward the Father and the Son. Jesus will now loose the seven seals, and we will study their prophetic content in our next lessons. |
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Lesson 30 |
Screen 28 |
Introduction to the Seven Seals |
| Let's thank God for all His blessings: |
| Our Father in heaven, The apostle John was comforted by these words: «Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.» (Revelation 5:5) We will be forever thankful to You for the victory of Jesus which reveals the scroll and its seals, but which above all allows us to overcome evil, and to inherit eternal life. May Your Spirit guide us, as we start on the study of the seven seals. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. |
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Introduction to the
Seven Seals