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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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Revelation 4:1
After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said,
«Come up here, and I will show you things which must be hereafter.»
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Revelation 5:5
Weep not. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
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The opening of the seven seals, which Jesus made possible, reveals to us «things which must be hereafter».
Now, let’s draw a summary of the seven seals.
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Seventh letter: Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock.
If any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.
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Seventh seal: Revelation 8:1
When [the Lamb] had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
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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.
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Revelation 22:10
And [the angel] said to me,
«Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.»
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In our lesson «The Book of Revelation», 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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Matthew 24:46,47
Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when He comes shall find so doing.
Truly I say to you, that He shall make him ruler over all His goods.
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Revelation 22:12
And, behold, I come quickly.
And My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
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In our lesson «Parallels Between the Prophetic Books», 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...
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First seal: Revelation 6:2
And I saw, and behold a white horse.
And He that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given to Him: and He went forth conquering, and to conquer.
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Matthew 24:14
This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations.
And then shall the end come.
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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.
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Second seal: Revelation 6:4
And there went out another horse that was red.
And power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given to him a great sword.
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Matthew 24:9,10
Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and you shall be hated of all nations for My name’s sake.
And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
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The severe persecutions of the second seal were also foretold by Jesus.
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Third seal: Revelation 6:5,6
And I beheld, and see a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
And I heard a voice in the middle of the four beasts say, «A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny.»
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Matthew 24:5,11
For many shall come in My name, saying, «I am Christ,» and shall deceive many. (...)
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
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Then, the Church made a lot of doctrinal compromises with paganism, deceiving many people, and plunging them into a deep spiritual famine.
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Fourth seal: Revelation 6:8
And power was given to 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.
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Matthew 24:6,7
And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
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The fourth seal describes the dark period of the Middle Ages, marked by wars, epidemics, and physical and spiritual famines.
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Fifth seal: Revelation 6:11
And white robes were given to every one of them; and it was said to them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brothers, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
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Matthew 24:12,13
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
But he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved.
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Jesus, aware of the trials of His people, encourages them to persevere.
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Seventh seal: Revelation 8:1
When [the Lamb] had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
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Matthew 24:31
And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
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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.
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Revelation 1:7
Behold, He comes with clouds.
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Revelation 22:20
Surely I come quickly.
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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.
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Revelation 1:1
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him, to show to His servants things which must shortly come to pass.
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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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«The smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God.» (Revelation 8:4)
Lord,
A new song was sung in honor of Your Son Jesus Christ: «You are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.» (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.
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