The 7 Seals Judgment

Rev Mar’s Oct 11 sermon in PDF and the accompanying slides can be downloaded here:

The 7 Seals of Judgment of the Lord Jesus Christ

1. Review
2. Outline of the Book of Revelation. 

(Chart 1)

1. We have finished the first two major section of the Book of Revelation and we are on the third and last major section (future events starting with the Rapture of the Church which we have studied in Chapters 2 and 3 comprising of the things obtaining at Present and that is the Age of the Church. This present age of the Church will end in a Rapture when the fulness of the Gentiles has come in, meaning the last Gentile to be saved has made a personal decision to commit himself or herself to the Lord Jesus Christ in faith, hope, and love.
2. (1Thessalonians 4:16-18  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 1Corinthians 15:51-53  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump. For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. This ends the 2^nd section of the Book of Revelation and opens the third section which covers Chapters 4-22.
3. Third Section-The things which shall be. 

1. Heavenly Vision.  Chapter 4,  the Rapture of the Church is alluded to by the calling of the apostle John by the Lord Jesus Christ, “Come up hither.” Immediately John was in the spirit and he saw One sitting upon a heavenly glorious throne surrounded by four living creatures, 24 elders on 24 thrones and myriads upon myriads of angels. Heavenly praise is being given to the One who is sitting on the throne and was being given praise by the four living creatures around the throne saying, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” The same praise was being given by the seraphims to the Lord of hosts in Isaiah 6:1-4, saying “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.” The apostle John wrote in the Gospel he authored that Isaiah saw the Lord Jesus and he spoke of his glory. (John 12:41). So, though the One sitting on the throne is not named, by what the apostle John wrote, we recognize that this is the Lord Jesus Christ. Furthermore, when the twenty-four elders fall down before the throne casting their crowns before the throne of the Lord Jesus, they are saying, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” This is the same essence as that in Colossians 1:16, talking about the Lord Jesus as the image of the invisible God and saying, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.”
2. Heavenly Vision Continued. In chapter 5, there is a scroll in the right hand of God the Father who is also sitting on the same throne in heaven. The Bible speaking about the Lord Jesus Christ says, “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high (Hebrews 1:3). Also, Hebrews 12:2 says, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Now, the Father though invisible, He holds a scroll sealed with 7 seals and no one in heaven or on earth is qualified to take the scroll and loose the 7 seals. This made John weep bitterly because the kingdom of God cannot be restored upon the nation Israel on David’s throne. But then, John was told that the Lion of the tribe of Judah, Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book and to loose the seven seals. We remember that when Jacob prophesied to his children, he said about Judah that the scepter shall not depart from Judah nor a lawgiver from his loins until Shiloh comes and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. The prophecy is about the Messiah who shall come from the tribe of Judah. The Root of David is that which descended from David, not that from which David descended from. Jesus Christ in His manhood and family connections was a descendant of David, a member of his family. But when John looked, he saw not a lion but a Lamb as it had been slain. This is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes the sin of the world. And when he had taken the book, there were three layers of praises given to the Lord Jesus Christ:

1. the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, singing a new song, “Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9-10)
2. then the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts 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 that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” (Revelation 5:11-12)
3. 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, were saying, “Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.” And the four beasts said, “Amen.” And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth forever and ever. (Revelation 5:13-14)
4. Overview of the Tribulation Period. 
5. In Chapter 6, after the Rapture, when the Restrainer, the Holy Spirit, is taken out of the way, the man of sin, the antichrist will be revealed and his appearance will signify the start of the Tribulation period or the “day of the Lord”. (Refer to the Chart, The Day of the Lord)

When the man of sin will appear he will confirm a covenant of peace, a false sense of peace, with Israel for 7 years but in the middle of the 7 years, he will abrogate his part of the covenant and causes the offerings in the temple to cease and he opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:4) This is the start of the persecution of Israel by the antichrist. This is the period referred to by the apostle Paul in 1Thessalonians 5:2 when those deceived by the antichrist will say, “Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”

2. The Lord Jesus opens the 7 seals of judgment in sequence following the order of the signs of His coming again as Jesus narrated to His disciples in Matthew 24. (Refer to the Chart, Correlating the 7 Seal Judgments with Matthew 24)

The 7 seals provide an overview of the Tribulation period. The 7 seals are spread in certain portions of the 7 year Tribulation as shown in the Chart, Chronology of the 7 Seals. For example:

1. When the first seal is opened, a white horse is seen and its rider has a bow (without an arrow) and he went about conquering. He conquers not by military might but politically, he negotiates covenant of peace with nations. This is the antichrist mentioned in Daniel 9:27 who confirms and strengthens a peace covenant not only with Israel but with many nations. This temporary peace covers the first half of 7 year Tribulation when in the middle of the week, the antichrist breaks the covenant and declares himself as God requiring everyone to owe allegiance to him. This judgment of false peace covers the first half of the Tribulation Period.
2. The second seal is opened and shows a red horse representing world war. The rider is given power to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. This judgment of war is in effect during the second half of the Tribulation.
3. The third seal is opened and a dark horse appears. The rider has a scale in his hand because there is a rationing of limited food supply at a very high cost of food. The economy is at its worst point of depression that a daily wage is enough to feed one person in a family. A great famine results. Like the second judgment, this judgment of famine extends throughout the second half of Tribulation.
4. The fourth seal shows a pale green horse and the rider is Death and followed by Hell. 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. If one-fourth were to die today, 1.95 billion would die out of the 7.8 billion present population. 

In World War I, military and civilian casualties were about 40 million: estimates range from around 15 to 22 million deaths and about 23 million wounded military personnel. World War II deaths directly caused by the war (including military and civilians fatalities) are estimated at 50–56 million, with an additional estimated 19–28 million deaths from war-related disease and famine. Civilian deaths totaled 50–55 million. Death during these two world wars pales in comparison to the deaths resulting from the fourth judgment which is Death.

5. Revelation 6:9. The Lamb breaks the fifth seal and there were souls under the altar who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained” (Rev 6:9). There is no apocalyptic horseman. Even the location has changed – we have moved from earth to heaven. 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? Rev 6:11  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.

1. Who were these martyrs? These are the Tribulation saints who die for the word of God and the testimony they maintained when they were persecuted during the Tribulation. They remained steadfast in their faith and fought the good fight of faith. How many people are going to stand for Jesus in the face of real death?  This is a recount from the book Tortured for Christ, written by Pastor Richard Wurmbrand about his persecution under the Romanian communist regime. “A priest, who for a rough seven to 10 minute was beaten, hung upside down and then watched his son get beaten to death by the Russian guards. In desperation, the man cried out his compliance (to the demands of the red guards, but his son reminded him to never stop proclaiming the name of Jesus.” The apostle John writes in 1Jn 2:19, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” The mark of a real Christian is that they continue in Jesus.
2. The martyrs cry, How long O, Lord (Gr, despotes, Eng, despot, not tyrant but sovereign)? Sovereign means, Jesus is in control. Their plea was not for petty vindication but the Lord’s judgment and justice. Rom 12:19  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. This fifth seal is not about the martyrs killed for their faith. It is about judgment.
3. Revelation 6:12-14. Then the sixth seal (the last seal in Chapter 6 to be opened. The seventh seal is to be opened in Chapter 8) was opened, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;  And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs when she is shaken of a mighty wind.  And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
4. Revelation 6:15  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. The Lord does not leave anybody to escape the Lord’s judgment, the “wrath of the Lamb” (v. 16) not the wrath of the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Jesus is still compassionate even when pouring out His wrath. Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?  2 Peter 3:9  The Lord…is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 

2Pe 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

2Pe 3:11  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

2Pe 3:12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

2Pe 3:13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

5. Rev 6:16-17  And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:  For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?  Who shall be able to stand? NOBODY! They now cry to the rocks to hide them from the face and from the wrath of the Lamb because they failed to call upon the Rock of Ages!
6. The fifth seal shows how Jesus avenge for His saints. The sixth seal shows how Jesus deals with the rebellious and the disobedient.
7. Conclusion/Challenge

I do not know if you have committed your all to the Lord Jesus in faith, hope and love. It is my prayer that you did. If not yet, I urge you to come to Jesus, He will in no wise cast you out, and ask Him to forgive you of your sins for if you confess of your sins He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and our unrighteousness. for forgiveness come to realize that you are a sinner. Surrender your life to Jesus, let Him occupy your throne in your heart and for sure He will save you from the wrath to come on this earth against all the rebellious. The Good News is that Jesus is coming soon! But we have a better promise – the Rapture. We do not have to go through the Tribulation Period.

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus, we know that you are about to come. Help us prepare our hearts for your that we may be able to stand strong against all temptations and tests and trials that at the end we will come out victorious for you counting all joy to suffer affliction for your namesake as we continue to faithfully live for you until we come face to face with you in glory. Amen!