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Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” (Revelation 6:1, ESV).
Last Saturday in Interruption #1949, we witnessed the opening of the first four seals with the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse released — perhaps the most terrifying sight in the Book of Revelation. Now we are considering the opening of seals five and six.
- The Seven Seals in the Book of Revelation describe the end-times judgments taking place during the Seven-Year Tribulation. (Click the link to be taken to Wikipedia® for an overview of the Seven-Year Tribulation. There are several viewpoints presented — all of which you should consider — but after years of study, I believe what Wikipedia® calls “Futurism” best fits Bible prophecy.)
- Considering the differing views of the end times, I believe I’m right, and those who disagree with me are wrong (and they think I’m wrong); our view of eschatology isn’t a matter of salvation. I will be able to tease those who disagree with me in heaven, or they will be able to rib me — I anticipate the teasing or the ribbing!
- We only discuss seals five and six in this blog post. Why? Only seals five and six are opened in chapter 6, and we must wait until Revelation 8 for seal seven to be broken. As one scholar explains…
In Revelation 6, we read about God’s judgments from the perspective of heaven with the opening of the first four seals; with seals five and six, we witness the reaction of these judgments by saints in heaven and unbelievers on earth. Then we wait for a chapter (Revelation 7) until the opening of the seventh seal in Revelation 8. But while waiting, in chapter seven we read about God’s loving care for His church.
Seal Five
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (Revelation 6:9-10).
Those in heaven who were martyred plead for justice against their persecutors on earth, but instead of immediate recompense, we read…
Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been (Revelation 6:11).
Patience in heaven, and patience right now. Though the reaction of God may seem like a thousand years, very soon, all the scenes of the Book of Revelation will come to pass, and this is what will be the reactions from the unbelievers and persecutors still on earth…
Seal Six
When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood (Revelation 6:12).
and…
Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains … for the great day of their wrath has come (Revelation 6:15, 17).
Come quickly, Lord Jesus!