The Seven Seals.
Questions
General Note: In the vision of the seven churches we studied the spiritual history of the church of Christ as developed in seven successive eras, or periods, from apostolic days to the end of time. The seven, seals ‘naturally suggest a line of prophecy covering the same, periods bringing out additional phases of history. The series of the seven churches gives a view of the church of Christ in the midst of apostasy and through the experiences of the latter days. This series of the seven seals gives a view of the falling away, and the history of the apostate church in alliance with the world, through these same periods to the long years of papal supremacy. While the sixth in the series of the seven churches brings us to the Advent movement of 1840-44, and to the generation that is to see the coming of the Lord, the sixth seal in this series now to be studied, by an abrupt change from symbolic to literal prophecy, deals with the signs of the second advent and the scenes of, the end. Thus there is a distinct parallel in the idea of the advent in the sixth stage of each series, while in each the seventh touches eternity.
Questions.
1. What was to be revealed to John in this vision?
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 hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
2. How were the successive scenes of history to be unfolded to the view?
Revelation 5:2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3. A) Describe the opening of the first seal.
B) What was seen?
C) What did the rider do?
Revelation 6:1-2 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. 2 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.
4. What is represented by the scene?
Answer: The rider on the white horse, going forth to conquer fitly symbolizes the apostolic church, beginning with Christ, going forth in the conquering power of the Gospel in its purity. See Acts 8:4; Colossians 1:2-3, Compare Revelation 2:2-3, the message to the apostolic church in the prophecy of the seven churches. In the study of the messages to the seven churches we found that, while the principles involved in each message have lessons for all time, the specifications applied particularly to distinct and successive eras. So while the symbolism of each of these’ seals teaches lessons applicable in all time, it will be seen that they, too, have a specific application to the same successive eras in history covered by the prophecy of the seven churches.
Acts 8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.
Colossians 1:2-3 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
Revelation 2:2-3 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
5. Describe the opening of the second seal. What was seen?
Revelation 6:3-4 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast (creature = angels are creatures not animals) say, Come and see. 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 unto him a great sword.
Note: The symbols of the second seal fitly represent the falling away of the great body of the church from primitive purity after apostolic days. “Errors began to arise, worldliness came in. The ecclesiastical power sought the alliance of the secular. Troubles and commotions were the result.” See the reference to the apostate professors in this second era of the church, in the study of the message to the loyal ones in Revelation 2:9. Worldliness and compromise and dependence on fleshly power must ever work the same. Note that the principles involved in each stage of the great controversy are living issues for all time.
6. What was seen as the third seal was opened?
Revelation 6:5 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.
7. What words were heard?
Revelation 6:6 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.
8. What stage of history is covered by the third seal?
Answer: In the third era of the church, from Constantine’s day; A. D. 321; until the full establishment of the Papacy, A. D. 538; we found in the message to the third, or Pergamos, church, that the believers were in great peril because of Satan’s very seat being in their midst. The church of the apostasy had fully joined the world. Black is the fit symbol of this stage. See Matt. 6:23. As worldliness and commercialism came in, the oil and wine of the Spirit’s grace leaked out.
Matthew 6:23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
9. As worldliness and apostasy are specially rising up again in the last falling away, what is our danger?
2 Timothy 3:1-5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Luke 21:34-36 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
10. A) What came with the opening of the fourth seal?
B) What fearful work was done?
C) What special era in history answers to this description?
Revelation 6:7-8 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell 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.
Note: Compare with the description of the apostate influences, under which the loyal believers suffered in the fourth, or Thyatira, stage of the seven churches. Revelation 2:18-20. The apostate church, (A.D. 538 and onward through the long period of its supremacy) is there described as the persecuting Jezebel, and the teachings as the doctrine of Satan. In this, fourth seal, the symbolism scarcely needs interpretation, so vividly does it picture the dark days of papal. rule. “Hell” or the Greek word “hades”, is the grave where so many of the saints were sent under her tyranny.
Daniel 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
11. A) What was seen with the opening of the fifth seal?
B) What cry came forth?
C) What did the prophet see fulfilled at the end of verse 11?
Revelation 6:9-11 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: 10 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? 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.
Note: The fifth, or Sardis period in the series of seven churches covered the church of the Reformation, the Protestant era, approaching the time of the, rise of the special Advent movement. Here the fifth seal plainly suggests the blood of the martyrs and of the faithful of past ages crying out to God to end the long reign of apostasy and sin. Compare Genesis 4:10; Hebrews 11:4.
Genesis 4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Note: When great Babylon is dealt with, in her will be found the blood of all that have been slain upon the earth; for the principles of apostasy have been the same in all ages. Rev. 18:24. Compare Matt. 23:34, 35. But notice that their brethren would also be killed eventually, after 1775. This means that Babylon’s former power to persecute and kill the Saints will be restored. This is what it means when it says that the deadly wound was healed in Revelation chapter 13.
Revelation 18:24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
Matthew 23:34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: 35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
12. Having been brought in the history to the last days, with what events does the sixth seal open?
Revelation 6:12-13 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13 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.
Answer: The “great” earthquake of Lisbon occured in 1755.
Note: The great earthquake occurred Nov. 1, 1775. “Lisbon was destroyed by the most terrible earthquake that has ever occurred. Sixty thousand persons perished in six minutes. The sea first retired, then rolled in rising fifty feet above its usual bed. The largest mountain in Portugal rocked and split asunder, and sent forth flames and clouds of dust. The shock was felt nearly all over Europe, in the north part of Africa, in the Atlantic, and even in the West Indies. A vast wave swept over the coast of Spain, and in some places sixty feet in hight. Near Morocco the earth swallowed up about ten thousand persons with their herds, and then closed over them.” Cyclopedia Hist. p.639.
This was the greatest earthquake known to historians. It occurred at the right time – near the end of the tribulation of the 1260 years, in the years, as they extended to 1798. We have now located beyond doubt the beginning of the sixth seal. It began in A. D. 1775. We may from that date forward begin to look for those signs to appear which precede and point to the coming of the Lord.
13. What does Christ say of these same signs?
Matthew 24:29-30 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: 30 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.
14. What is the word to our generation?
Matthew 24:32-35 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
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