Understanding Revelation

The Seven Seals – Explaining the Persecution of the Saints

The Seven Seals is about the deception, persecution, and death of Christians during the great tribulation. God gives us prophecy to prepare us for the difficulties and self-sacrifices Christians will have to endure during the tribulation.

A Christian life is a journey filled with trials and tribulations. Jesus himself said “If anyone wants to follow me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24)

When the antichrist begins his demonic rule over Earth one of his main goals is to destroy the holy people.

There are many reasons why God will allow Christians to experience the great tribulation. Trials can produce deeper faith and cause many to need hope. Unfortunately, many people will only turn to God in times of crisis or hardships. The persecution of Christians during the great tribulation will surpass any historical persecution.

God uses the imagery of the seven seals to warn his people of impending trials and tribulations. The seals are not plagues on the Christians but warnings to prepare for and encourage believers of the suffering to come. God will not forsake us and leave us alone; he is sealing 144,000 men to teach, strengthen, and guide believers through the great tribulation even unto our death.

The Great Tribulations will begin after a long war in the Middle East between the antichrist and Israel. The antichrist after years of war will make a peace deal with Israel and within a week he will break the deal. He breaks the agreement because of a supernatural intervention from Satan. The Antichrist will take over Israel and then claim he is God above all God’s and he will set his image in Jerusalem

This is the abomination that causes desolation Jesus warned us about and it’s the beginning of the end of the world

When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:(Matt. 24:15-16 )

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be (Matt. 24:21 )

1. White Horse –  Arrival of the antichrist 
2. Red Horse – War
3. Black Horse – Global famine
4. Pale Horse – Death 

The First Seal

The first Seal represents the arrival of the antichrist rising to power and the beginning of world conflict.

And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow, and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. (Revelation 6:1-2)

The Second Seal

The second Seal a red horse represents bloodshed, war, and violence the great sword is total destruction a complete takeover of all nations on earth.

And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.  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 unto him a great sword. (Revelation 6:3)

The Third Seal

Third Seal a black horse describes a coming time of economic hardship and scarcity which will lead to severe food shortages and suffering all over the earth.

And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse, and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.  And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. (Revelation 6:5)

The Fourth Seal

The fourth Seal a pale horse describes the intense suffering that begins toward the end of the great tribulation. John saw many people who had died or had been beheaded in the great tribulation standing in heaven, so many souls he couldn’t count the number of them. Jesus reminds the Christians to keep the faith even to death and you will receive eternal life.

And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and beheld a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and the grave followed with him. And power was given unto 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. (Revelation 6:7)

The Fifth Seal 

The fifth Seal represents the continued martyrdom of the Christians. It describes many martyrs who have been slain for their faith. It’s amazing how people during the great tribulation will have such faith.

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, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?  And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
(Revelation 6:9-11)

The Sixth Seal

The sixth Seal occurs at the same time as the 7th trumpet blown. All wicked people left on earth will witness the dead coming back to life and meeting Jesus in the air. And they will run and hide because they understand what has happened.

And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:(Rev. 6:15:16)

The Great Tribulation will end after 3 1/2 years then the saints will come to life

Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
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. (Matt. 24:29-31 )

The Seventh Seal

And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. (Rev. 8:1 )

At the seventh Seal, we see the saints who were killed during the great tribulation are now standing before God and they are given white robes. They will be comforted and rewarded.

And the saints overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death (Revelation 12:11)

 And he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished. (Daniel 12:7)

After these things I looked, and here was an enormous crowd that no one could count, made up of persons from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb dressed in long white robes, and with palm branches in their hands (Rev. 7:9 )

Then one of the elders asked me, “These dressed in long white robes– who are they and where have they come from?”
So I said to him, “My lord, you know the answer.” Then he said to me, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb!(Rev. 7:12-14)

Then I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and his image and the number of his name. They were standing by the sea of glass, holding harps given to them by God.
They sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: “Great and astounding are your deeds, Lord God, the All-Powerful! Just and true are your ways, King over the nations!(Rev. 15:2-3)

It’s very important to understand that the book of Revelation is not arranged in chronological order. In the Seven Seals, God informs the Christians of the persecution they will go through, but they will also live through the Seven Trumpets.

The Seven Trumpets in Revelation are associated with a series of judgments that will occur during the tribulation period alongside the Seven Seals. While these judgments will primarily affect the people who reject God they will also impact the righteous. However, the saints will ultimately be delivered and rewarded for their faithfulness.

We end this with God’s promise

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (Jn. 3:16 )