If I Were Told the Future - Lesson 38

Summary of the Seven Seals

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Summary of the Seven Seals

Welcome to the conclusion of this section! Let's pray together:

Father,

The study of the seven seals helped us to discover the wonderful richness of the prophetic book of Revelation.

Please guide us by Your Holy Spirit, so that we may fully understand the global picture of the seven seals presented in this lesson, and be able to better prepare ourselves for the glorious event which will take place at the seventh seal, the return of Your Son Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Lord.

In His name we pray.

Amen.

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Summary of 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, ŤCome up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.ť	The opening of the seven seals by Jesus revealed to us Ťthings which must take place after thisť. Now, let's draw a summary of the seven seals.
Revelation 5:5
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.

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Summary of the Seven Seals

Just like the seven letters, the seven seals symbolize periods of history:

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Summary of the Seven Seals

The message of each seal corresponds to the message of each letter:

  The first seal (REVELATION 6:2) | The first letter (REVELATION 2:2,3)
-----------------------------------|-------------------------------------
I looked, and behold, a white | I know your works (...). You have
horse. And he who sat on it had a | persevered and have patience, and
bow; and a crown was given to him, | have labored for My name's sake and
and he went out conquering and to | have not become weary.
conquer.                           |
===================================|=====================================
The second seal (REVELATION 6:4) | The second letter (REVELATION 2:10)
-----------------------------------|-------------------------------------
It was granted to [the rider] to | Do not fear (...) [what] you are
take peace from the earth, and | about to suffer. Be faithful until
that people should kill one an- | death, and I will give you the crown
other.                             | of life.

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Summary of the Seven Seals

The message of each seal corresponds to the message of each letter:

The third seal (REVELATION 6:6) | The third letter (REVELATION 2:17)
------------------------------------|------------------------------------
I heard a voice (...) saying, ŤA | He who has an ear, let him hear...
quart of wheat for a denarius, and | To him who overcomes I will give
3 quarts of barley for a denarius.ť | some of the hidden manna to eat.
====================================|====================================
The fourth seal (REVELATION 6:8) | The fourth letter (REVELATION 2:23)
------------------------------------|------------------------------------
Behold, a pale horse. And the name | And I will kill her children with
of him who sat on it was Death, and | death. And all the churches shall
Hades followed with him. And power | know that I am He who searches the
was given to them (...) to kill. | minds and hearts.

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Summary of the Seven Seals

The message of each seal corresponds to the message of each letter:

  The fifth seal (REVELATION 6:11)   | The fifth letter (REVELATION 3:5)
-------------------------------------|-----------------------------------
And a white robe was given to each | He who overcomes shall be clothed
of [the martyrs].                    | in white garments.
=====================================|===================================
The sixth seal (REVELATION 6:15-17) | The sixth letter (REVELATION 3:10)
-------------------------------------|-----------------------------------
[Men] hid themselves in the caves | Because you have kept My command
(...) and said to the mountains and | to persevere, I also will keep you
rocks, ŤFall on us and hide us(...)! | from the hour of trial which shall
For the great day of His wrath has | come upon the whole world, to test
come, and who is able to stand?ť     | those who dwell on the earth.

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Summary of the Seven Seals

Seventh letter: Revelation 3:20	Comments
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.	Finally, in the seventh letter, Jesus makes one final call, inviting us to open the door of our hearts to Him. In the seventh seal, the door of God's grace is closed for all those who kept the door of their hearts closed.
Seventh seal: Revelation 8:1
When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

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Summary of the Seven Seals

Revelation 22:10

Comments

And [the angel] said to me,

ŤDo not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.ť

In our lesson ŤThe Book of Revelationť, we have seen that this book displays a mirror-like structure, in which the historical part (first section of the book) corresponds with the eschatological part (second section of the book).

In this mirror-like structure, the seven seals (chapters 4 to 7) perfectly correspond with the section describing the resurrection of God's people (chapters 19 and 20).

Let's see this perfect correspondence.

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Summary of the Seven Seals

First, let's review the mirror-like organization of Revelation:

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Summary of the Seven Seals

The 7 seals (chapters 4 to 7) correspond with the resurrection (19 and 20) !

Historical part:Conflict in progress| Eschatological part: Conflict ended
====+=============================+=+=+=============================+====
R   | Afflicted people comforted |   |Resurrected people enthroned | R 1
E   |-----------------------------|   |-----------------------------| E 9
V 4 | Door opened in heaven (4:1) | M |    Heaven opened (19:11)    | V
E   |    Rider on white horse     | I |    Rider on white horse     | E a
L t |    followed by riders on    | R |    followed by riders on    | L n
A o |   colored horses (6:2-8)    | R |   white horses (19:11-16)   | A d
T   |Souls of martyrs under altar | O | Souls of martyrs resurrected| T
I 7 | ask for judgment (6:9,10) | R | enthroned as judges (20:4-6)| I 2
O   | White robes (6:11; 7:9-14) |   |     White robes (19:14)     | O 0
N   | Kings want to die (6:15,16) |   | Kings are killed (19:17-21) | N

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Summary of the Seven Seals

Matthew 24:46,47	Comments
Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.	In our lesson ŤParallels Between the Prophetic Booksť, we have seen that the book of Revelation is closely linked with Matthew chapter 24. And those links are especially obvious when we look at the seven seals...
Revelation 22:12
And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.

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Summary of the Seven Seals

First seal: Revelation 6:2	Comments
And I looked, and behold, a white horse. And he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.	The first seal announces the beginning of the spreading of the gospel throughout the whole world. Jesus confirms that this work will be victorious, and will stop only when the gospel has reached all the nations.
Matthew 24:14
This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

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Summary of the Seven Seals

Second seal: Revelation 6:4	Comments
And another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.	The severe persecutions of the second seal were also foretold by Jesus.
Matthew 24:9,10
Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.

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Summary of the Seven Seals

Third seal: Revelation 6:5,6	Comments
And I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, ŤA quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius.ť	Then, the Church made a lot of doctrinal compromises with paganism, deceiving many people, and plunging them into a deep spiritual famine.
Matthew 24:5,11
For many will come in My name, saying, ŤI am the Christ,ť and will deceive many. (...) Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

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Summary of the Seven Seals

Fourth seal: Revelation 6:8	Comments
Power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.	The fourth seal describes the dark period of the Middle Ages, marked by wars, epidemics, and physical and spiritual famines.
Matthew 24:6,7
And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.

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Summary of the Seven Seals

Fifth seal: Revelation 6:11	Comments
A white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.	Jesus, aware of the trials of His people, encourages them to persevere.
Matthew 24:12,13
And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

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Summary of the Seven Seals

Sixth seal and Matthew chapter 24: let's notice the striking parallel!

ŤThe sun became black as sackcloth | ŤImmediately after the tribulation
of hair, and the moon became like | of those days the sun will be dark-
blood. And the stars of heaven fell | ened, and the moon will not give
to the earth (...). The sky receded | its light; the stars will fall from
as a scroll when it is rolled up. | heaven, and the powers of the hea-
(...) The great men, the rich men | vens will be shaken. Then the sign
(...) said to the mountains and | of the Son of Man will appear in
rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from | heaven, and then all the tribes of
the face of Him who sits on the | the earth will mourn, and they will
throne and from the wrath of the | see the Son of Man coming on the
Lamb! For the great day of His | clouds of heaven with power and
wrath has come."ť (REV. 6:12-17) | great glory.ť (MATTHEW 24:29,30)

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Summary of the Seven Seals

Seventh seal: Revelation 8:1	Comments
When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.	Finally, the seventh seal presents a silence in heaven. This silence is caused by the fact that Jesus and His angels have left heaven, coming to gather God's people who await Him on earth.
Matthew 24:31
And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

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Summary of the Seven Seals

Revelation 1:7	Comments
Behold, He is coming with clouds.	The return of Jesus is the very heart of the entire book of Revelation, from the first to the last chapter. In our lessons about the seven churches, we have seen that, from one letter to another, Jesus' return was announced more and more obviously and urgently. The same progress also appears in the seven seals.
Revelation 22:20
Surely I am coming quickly.

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Summary of the Seven Seals

From one letter to another, Jesus' return is announced progressively!

   Ephesus   | ŤThese things says He who (...) walks in the midst of the
              |   seven golden lampstands.ť (Revelation 2:1)
    Smyrna    | ŤThese things says the First and the Last, who was dead,
              |   and came to life.ť (Revelation 2:8)
   Pergamos   | ŤRepent, or else I will come to you quickly.ť (Revelation
              |   2:16)
   Thyatira   | ŤBut hold fast what you have till I come.ť
              |   (Revelation 2:25)
    Sardis    | ŤTherefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as
              |   a thief.ť (Revelation 3:3)
Philadelphia | ŤBehold, I come quickly!ť (Revelation 3:11)
   Laodicea   | ŤBehold, I stand at the door.ť (Revelation 3:20)

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Summary of the Seven Seals

From one seal to another, Jesus' return is also announced progressively!

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Summary of the Seven Seals

Revelation 1:1

Comments

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants - things which must shortly take place.

Each one of the seven seals gives a valuable message that strengthens our confidence in the prophetic Word.

These messages also make us realize that this world will come to an end very soon.

It is up to each one of us to make the proper choices, right here and now, in light of the vital information the book of Revelation gives us, so that, when Jesus returns, we may be numbered with God's people.

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Summary of the Seven Seals

ŤThe smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God.ť (Revelation 8:4)

Lord,

A new song was sung in honor of Your Son Jesus Christ: ŤYou 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.ť (Revelation 5:9)

We will be everlastingly grateful to You for the work of Jesus, the perfect Lamb, who not only opened the seven seals, but above all, enables us to obtain forgiveness and inherit eternal life.

Thank You, O Savior, for Your redeeming grace, in Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Summary of the Seven Seals

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Summary of the Seven Seals

The test of Lesson 38 is waiting for you!

Click here to send us your questions or comments about our Web site and products. Copyright Š2002 Cyberspace Ministry

Click here to send us your questions or comments about our Web site and products.
Copyright Š2002 Cyberspace Ministry