THE THRONE ROOM & THE 7 SEALS

When God writes a story… he really writes a story! 

His story is full of drama and adventure and excitement!  There are surprises and mysteries at every turn. When we read “His Story” we will come away inspired and amazed and in total awe! The depths of his goodness and mercy never end. Reading “His Story” should bring to us a sense of LONGING to see His face and behold him someday with unveiled eyes, to see Him in all his Splendor and Glory”.

A LONGING for Jesus is what I feel every time I study the book of Revelation. God puts a desire and longing in our hearts when we read and study his Story. If you have forgotten the 7 Blessings in Revelation, go back and read those again. The Word of God should be a blessing to us. It is full of the wonders and mercies and blessings of God! Wow! I just can’t get over all that God has done for me and I cannot wait to see him, but for now I will continue to study his word and pray and long for his coming.

Some say that the book of Revelation bridges the entire Bible, bringing it all together. Even if you don’t understand it, and most of us don’t, but that’s not the point. The point is that Jesus is bringing it all together. He’s wrapping it all up and putting a beautiful bow on top! We just have to get through some things in the mean time. Life can be overwhelming at times, but he doesn’t want us to worry or fear, but to look to the beautiful “things to come”. 

The book of James tells us not to be surprised whenever we face trials and testing of our faith here on this earth. He tells us that those things produce perseverance and maturity and faith within us. The 7 year period ahead will be the greatest time of tribulation that the world has ever known. The end will follow close behind and judgement is inevitable. The Tribulation is considered the “Time of Decision”. The two sides will be made very clear. The Kingdom of Satan or the Kingdom of God.  The choice seems obvious but yet many will continue to have hardened hearts. But, make no mistake, God gets everyone’s attention loud and clear.

TAKE-A-WAY from Revelation, when we keep our focus on Jesus:

• Jesus is COMING again!
• He has BLESSINGS for you!
• The BEST IS YET TO COME!
• A LONGING for Eternity!

TIMELINE REVIEW:

What we KNOW about the “TIMELINE” of END TIME EVENTS:

• A 7-year period called the Tribulation
  • Begins: Antichrist will sign a “Peace Treaty” with Israel
  • Mid-Point event: The Antichrist breaks the treaty & sets up the “Abomination that causes Desolation” in the Jewish Temple. Sets himself up as God & commands worship.
  • Ends: “Jesus 2^nd Coming” & the “Battle of Armageddon”

What we DON’T KNOW for sure is the “Timing” of several EVENTS:

• When exactly the “Rapture” of the Church occurs (Many accept the “Pre-Tribulation” View)
• When exactly the Seals, Trumpets & Bowls fall on the timeline of the Tribulation
• When exactly some of the other events happen: 144,000, 2 Witnesses, Mark of the Beast. We will talk more about them later.

We will look at the Pre-Trib View as it relates to the Rapture, which says that the Rapture of the Church happens BEFORE the 7-year Tribulation begins. Now, I want to give a disclaimer, it is okay to disagree with this view. There are other views that have a strong case based on scripture as well. So study these things for yourself so that you know what you believe and why you believe the way you do.

REVIEW:

Ch 1: REVIEW-Background & Vision of Jesus

John give us some basic background about being on the Island of Patmos. He then explains the first vision that he received which was a vision of Jesus dressed as a priest. He is told to write down what he has seen, what is now and what is to come. Then he was told to give a copy to each of the 7 churches in Asia, which is current day Turkey.

Ch 2-3: MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH: Be ready!

John is then told exactly what to write to each church. Jesus knows each church’s strength and weakness. He tells them the things that they do well and the things that they need to repent. He gives warnings and reminders to all of them to “listen to what the Spirit says”.

1. Ephesus:(Backslidden) “You have lost your 1^st  love. Repent” (2:4)
2. Smyrna: (Suffering) “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer…be faithful, even to the point of death” (2:10)
3. Pergamum: (Compromising) “You…hold to the teaching of Balaam…by committing sexual immorality… “Repent” (2:14) (They had adopted false teachings)
4. Thyatira: (Tolerant) “You tolerate that woman Jezebel…she misleads my servants…those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely unless they Repent” (2:20)
5. Sardis: (Dead) “you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains” (3:1-2)
6. Philadelphia: (Faithful) A “trial”, “tribulation” is coming upon the whole earth. For those who “have not denied his Name” & has “endured patiently”, he will “keep from the hour of trial.” (Rev 3:8-10)
7. Laodicea: (Worldly, Useless) ”Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my vice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” “Repent”(Rev3:19-20)

“TO HIM WHO OVERCOMES”:

Notice in the scriptures that Jesus tells each church to be an “OVERCOMER”.

What is an Overcomer? What exactly are we to overcome? We are to overcome sin, temptation, false teaching & false religion (which, by the way, he calls adultery). Overcome the world’s desires & it’s strongholds. Overcome the fear of what man can do to you more than the fear of the Lord. Overcome being so afraid of dying that you deny Jesus when life gets unbearable.

Jesus is giving a WARNING to the churches of what is about to happen. He WARNS the church of the TRIBULATION that is about to come upon the earth. He WARNS the church, which includes you and me, that things are going to get really bad. There will be great suffering, war and death. And he is asking these 7 Churches, just as he is asking you and me, when we go through the “trials & tribulations”, to stand firm in our faith. Recognize the schemes of the Devil and be an “Overcomer”. He wouldn’t tell us to do that if we were not able to do that, if we were not capable of doing that, if we didn’t have what it takes to be an Overcomer. Be an Overcomer.

Rev 12:11 “They OVERCAME him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony. They did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” What a great testimony!

The main message in these first 3 chapters:

• Jesus is your “Faithful”, “Righteous”, “Risen”, “Eternal”, “Sovereign God” who is coming back.
• Watch, be ready, repent where you need to!
• Remain steadfast in your faith and persevere.

Rev Ch 4-5: THE THRONE ROOM

• “After these things” – After the messages to the Church we no longer read about the presence of the “church” in Revelation until the very end.
  • The Pre-Tribulation View sees this as the final message to the church before the “Tribulation”.
• “Come up here” – John is told to “Come up” and he is taken into Heaven through an open door.
  • The Pre-Tribulation View sees this as a representation of the “Rapture of the Church”. John is “taken up” into Heaven to the Throne Room of God just as the church will be taken to Heaven before the Tribulation.

THE THRONE ROOM

John is taken before the very throne of God. Surrounding the throne were 24 elders and 4 Living creatures who were worshiping and giving praise to God. Then John seen a SCROLL WITH 7 SEALS in the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. A mighty angel asked, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”, but no one was able to open the scroll except the Lamb slain who stood at the center of the throne. John knew Jesus as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, as the Root of David, as the Son of God, as his Lord and Savior, as his friend. He had not seen him in this image. But, I believe that John knew exactly what it meant. He was worthy! He is worthy because he was the spotless Lamb of God who was slain for the sins of the world.

THE 7 YEARS of TRIBULATION

A TIME OF JUDGEMENT UPON THE EARTH

• THE JUDGEMENTS come in 3 sets of seven: 7 SEALS, 7 TRUMPETS, & 7 BOWLS (Rev 6,8,11,16) The continual them of the number 7 is found all the way through the book. 7 is the number for completion. 
• THE LENGTH OF TIME IS 7 YEARS
  • Daniel 9:24 “Seventy sevens are decreed for YOUR PEOPLE (Israel) and your holy city (Jerusalem) to finish transgression, (willfully violating God’s law) to put an end to sin, (broader term that means missing the mark) to atone (make payment) for wickedness, (being evil, morally wrong) to bring in everlasting righteousness, (divine, eternal, unchanging moral perfection & justice of God’s nature) to SEAL (fasten, affix one’s seal, to lock up) up vision and prophecy (comes to an end) and to anoint the Most Holy Place.”

MATTHEW 24:4-6, Jesus speaks of these events as well. He tells them:

• Watch out that no one deceive you – False religions, False prophets, False Truth
• You will hear of wars & rumors of wars – This has been throughout the history of the world

Jesus tells his disciple “do not be alarmed. This is not the end.” There will always be false prophets & wars throughout the history of the world. The world has only experienced 200 years in its total existence without some war going on. The “END” is still to come. 

“SIGNS” of THE “END”:

MATTHEW 24:7 Jesus begins to tell his disciples what to look for leading up to the END, the “Beginning of Birth pains”…

• Nation will rise against nation: Physical Wars (World wars)
• Kingdoms against Kingdoms: Spiritual Wars (God’s Kingdom vs Satan’s Kingdom)
  • “For our struggles is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Eph 6:12)
  • Satan is called the “prince of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2),“Ruler off this world” (John 12:312)
  • “The whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19)
  • Satan rules but with limited power. A perfect example is in Job 1&2.
• Famines & Earthquakes in various places
• Persecution, martyrdom, hatred by all the nations because of Christ
• Many will turn away from the faith betray and hate each other
• Many False prophets deceive many
• Increase wickedness, love grows cold
• The Gospel preached to all the nations

THEN… THE “END” WILL COME…

THE BOOK OF REVELATION UNVEILS THE EVENTS OF “THE END” –

• Rapture of the Church
• 7 Years of Tribulation
• Return of Christ
• 1,000 Millennial Reign
• Great White Throne Judgement of the Dead & Satan cast into Hell
• New Heaven & Earth where the Saints will live Eternal with Jesus

 UNDERSTANDING THE INTERLUDES:

John receives many different VISIONS. The flow in Revelation will mostly go in chronological order, but there will be large chunks of scripture, other visions, that John receives. These extra visions are important information to show us deeper insight, or how God is working during this time, or to show us what is going on in Heaven while these terrible events are happening on earth.

These extra visions which are inserted into the flow of events are sometimes called “Interludes”. If you were to take all the “Interludes” out, then the flow would continue from 7 Seals, to 7 Trumpets to the 7 Bowls.  So, understanding that there are “Interludes” or “Breaks” or “Extra Visions” in the chronology helps when you are reading. You could think of it as reading a “Chronological Bible” which inserts the Poetry, Wisdom and Prophets into the History portions during the point and the time which they were written.

4 Main Interludes:

1. Ch 7: Between the sixth & seventh Seals
   1. Sealing of 144,000 Israelites
   2. A Great Multitude
2. Ch 10-11:13: Between the sixth & seventh Trumpets
   1. Angel with a Little Scroll (10)
   2. 2 Witnesses (11:1-14)
3. Ch 12-14: Between the seventh Trumpet & the Bowls
   1. Spiritual conflict between the Kingdom of God & of the Dragon
   2. Symbolic Woman (Israel)
   3. The Dragon (Satan), the Beast & the final Harvest
   4. The Remnant
   5. The Three Angels
4. Ch 17-19:11 Additional insight to the conflict of good & evil, & some of the final events
   1. Satan’s Harlot
   2. Babylon’s False Religion & eventual destruction

 We will look at the “Interludes” at a later time.

THE SCROLL- What is in the Scroll?

7 SEALS on the Scroll. Most scrolls only required a string or if important, possibly 1 seal to keep the contents closed. Scrolls would be sealed with wax and stamped with an official seal, giving proof and authority from whom it came. At this time in history Roman Law required certain documents to be sealed with, not just 1 seal, but with 7 seals because of the importance. A Last Will & Testament and Title Deeds are examples of documents which required 7 Seals.

A Scroll with writing on inside and outside. A scroll is usually written only on the inside. This scroll however, has writing on the inside and outside indicating that this scroll is not a typical scroll. This scroll is different. The contents are full and overflowing. But what is it full with?

Written on the INSIDE of the SCROLL seems to be the TITLE DEED/OWNERSHIP to the Earth. Possibly the writing on the OUTSIDE of the scroll are the events, the judgements, the wrath of God, all of the things that “must soon take place” in order to seal up and complete all things, revealing the mysteries of the future.

 Jesus is the only one that is able to take the SCROLL. He is taking back what is his. He is taking his creation back!  He’s about to deliver the world from the grips and reign of Satan.

SATAN IS THE RULER OF THE WORLD TODAY

• “Prince of the power of the air (Eph 2:2)
• “god of this world” (2 Cor 4:4)
• “Ruler of this world (will) be cast out (John 12:31)

Satan’s power however is “limited” by God. Just read Job 3&4. God put limits on what Satan was able to do and that is still the case today. God is still in power and in full control. He has given Satan a limited power and a limited time.

In John’s vision of the Throne Room, John understands that God is about to reclaim the world & take it from Satan, once and for all! A relief came over him just as a peace should come over us knowing that Jesus’s got this! He is still in control and nothing happens without his permission. And our trust in knowing that God is a good God and loves us and wants the best for us, we can trust that whatever happens in our lives must be for a greater reason than we understand.

SOME OF SATAN’S SCHEMES:

• Power over the unbelieving “Spiritual Blindness” (2 Cor 4:4)
• Snatches the GOSPEL from people’s heart (Matt 13:19)
• Promotes False teaching & doctrines of demons (1 Tim 4:1)

Jesus came to “open their eyes” to “set the captives free” and to “release those who sit in darkness”. Read Isaiah 42. This is Jesus’s mission statement. And Jesus is about to fully accomplish it! Jesus it completing all things.

THE 1^st SET OF JUDGEMENTS:

7 SEALS: (Rev 6:1-17, 8:1-5)

 WHAT IS A “SEAL”?

• Definition: SEAL – (sphragis – “an inscription or impression made by a seal, that by which anything is confirmed, proved, authenticated as by a seal, a token or proof”, of the name of God and Christ stamped upon their forehead

 “SEALS” confirm and prove that what is written in the SCROLL is authentic. These are God’s “SEALS”, not to be opened until just the right time. Just as the Roman Emperors would take wax and a stamp with their own personal inscription to SEAL a document, the SEAL was not to be broken except by the person that the document was intended. This Scroll was given to Jesus from the Father to open at just the right time.

*THINK ABOUT: Don’t you wonder what the Wax SEAL said? I mean, if God is the owner of this Scroll and is the one who has Sealed it, what design or words might be on the personal STAMP of God? Hum! Interesting. Those are things that are curious and intriguing to me. There is so much unknown that I can’t wait to find out.

Did you know that you and I are SEALED by God? And that SEAL of God cannot be broken! We are sealed until the time of our full REDEMPTION. I think of it sort of like these seals.  These 7 SEALS are sort of like holding, “sealing” the final events under lock and key, in the hands of God, sealed until he releases them. We are SEALED by the Holy Spirit as a deposit until he completes what he has begun in us.

We are confirmed! We are SEALED, secured, preserved BY GOD! Look at the different seals on people and the placement of the seals.

• You are “SEALED”. Ephesians 1:13-14 “When you believed, you were marked in him with a SEAL, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of his glory.”
  • We are definitely “SEALED” by the Holy Spirit according to scripture, but it also mentions “marked” with a SEAL. Perhaps we also have a “mark” that is not visible to the naked eye?
• The 144,000 are “SEALED” by God to serve and minister during this time. (Rev 7:1-4) Sealed on the forehead. They have a visible “mark” on their foreheads for all to see.
• The Mark of the Beast is found a few chapters later in Revelation 13:16. The “mark” of his name or 666 is placed on the “Unbeliever’s” This is a visible “mark” that can be seen. We know Satan copies and mimics things of God.
• Aaron & his sons were special garments as the Lord’s “priests”. “They made the sacred medallion, the badge of holiness of pure gold. They engraved it like a SEAL with these words: “HOLY TO THE LORD” They attached the medallion with a blue cord to Aaron’s turban, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. They wore it on their (Ex 39:32) This was visible for all to see.

 The concept of the mark on the forehead is so fascinating & intriguing, isn’t it?

*THINK ABOUT: So, I just wonder. We have the SEAL of the Holy Spirit on us, but Ephesians 1 also mentions that we are “marked” with a “SEAL”. Is it possible that we might be “marked” on our forehead? Maybe it is a “mark” that is visible only to the spiritual world. Interesting. And if there is a possibility that we have a “mark” on our forehead that God, and Satan and all the Spirit World can see, it just makes me wonder what our “mark” would say. Could it be like Aaron and the Priests, “HOLY TO THE LORD”. Holy to the Lord would give a clear message to Satan… “Satan you can’t have this one. This one is mine! This one is Redeemed, Holy, Righteous to the Lord.” This is nothing that we can know for sure, but just an interesting thought, isn’t it? I know that would love it if the words, “Holy to the Lord” was written on my forehead.

LIST OF THE 7 SEALS

7 SEALS: (Rev 6:1-17, 8:1-5)

1. White Horse – The Antichrist coming with a false peace
2. Red Horse – World war, spiritual war, man killing man (divisions)
3. Black Horse – Famine, disease, plagues
4. Pale Horse – Death & Hades following behind

These are the 4 Horses of the Apocalypse:

5. Martyrs cry out under the altar for vengeance for the blood shed
6. Great Earthquake, People hide, Sun turns black & moon turns red. People try to hide from God.
7. Silence in Heaven and then opening of the 7 Trumpets (Rev 8:1-5)

The 1-4^th SEALS: (Rev 6:1-8)

 “4 Horses of the Apocalypse” are the first 4 Seals.

The first 4 Seals seem to be different from the other 3 Seals. They are described as 4 horses, each with 4 colors, and each somehow being released to run across the breath of the earth. It even seems, to me, that these first 4 Seals are 4 Horses racing across the land, spreading the worst of man’s nature.

 World Leader, War, Famine, Death: This could represent God allowing man to bring destruction upon man. Man will destroy man when given the chance. Power, greed and arrogance will fuel these things. The Antichrist comes with a false sense of peace in order to obtain world power. Then immediately follows world war, famine and death. It appears that man bringing this destruction onto himself which God is allowing it for a time, or God is using man to execute judgement. It is not unusual for God to use a pagan nation in the OT to bring judgement upon his people. For instance, the Assyrians or Babylon whom God used to bring his people back to himself. God is always in control and how much that he will allow.

The 5^th SEAL – The Cry of the Martyrs (Rev 6:9-11)

A cry of vengeance. A world-wide attack will come against Christians and the martyrs cry out to God for vengeance of their blood. “When Lord, will you bring judgement? WHEN?”

Vengeance for the blood of martyrs, the prophets and of the innocent have existed since Abel’s blood cried out to God. There is a long line of blood shed that is waiting to be avenged.

Hatred against believers will grow to the point that man takes it upon himself to kill Christians. They will be fair game, and probably go unpunished for the crime of murder against Christians. Christians may even be blamed for the disasters. The Lord answers their cries and assures them that vengeance is coming very soon.

Rom 12:19 “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.”

Judgement will be greatly increased upon the heads of the wicked who shed the blood of the innocent.

The 6^th SEAL – A Great Earthquake (Rev 6:12-17)

Most violent Earthquake in history. Men will want to die. They all tried to hide. What are they hiding from?  Him who sits on the throne. They get it! They know God is sitting on his throne and they understand that the Wrath of God is about to come on them. From this point on everyone will recognize the reality of God. I don’t believe that there will be any atheists at this point. But yet, even when faced with the truth, many will still refuse to repent and come to Christ. Their hearts have become hardened and their eyes have been blinded to the truth.  Yet, they all seem to know and understand that there is a God in Heaven and he is powerful and mighty, and he is in control.

 “For the great DAY of their WRATH has come, and who can stand?” (Rev 6:17)

 WHO CAN STAND? Who can survive the “WRATH of God?” The question is asked. And the question is answered. The answer is found in the next set of scriptures: Who can stand? It is those who reject Satan and accept Jesus are the ones who will be saved. The believers, the saints. The ones with a “seal” of Holy to the Lord will not face the “Wrath of God” but will stand.

• 1 Thess. 5:9 “God did not appoint us to WRATH, but to receive salvation…”
• Rom 5:9 “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s WRATH through him.”

The 7^th SEAL – SILENCE & The OPENING OF THE 7 TRUMPETS

• SILENCE – A “dramatic” pause. All in Heaven hold their breath. Close their eyes. A moment of silence. The anticipation that something big is about to happen. The Wrath of God is about to go forth with the blasting of the 7 Trumpets & then will be followed by the pouring out of the Bowls.

(Zeph. 1:7) “Be silent before the Sovereign LORD, for the Day of the Lord is near.”

• OPENING OF THE 7 TRUMPETS – When the 7^th Seal is opened it unleashes the contents of the scroll. The scroll perhaps contains the Title Deed of the Earth on the inside and all the remaining events which must take place. Within the scroll are the Trumpets & Bowls written on the front & back. The Trumpets & Bowls contain the Wrath of God.

OVERVIEW OF OPENING THE 7 SEALS:

• A one world leader who lies, deceives, manipulates & is evil to the core
• War, famine, death, hatred of man against man
• World-wide Martyrdom of Tribulation saints
• Great earthquake that gets the attention of people & knowledge of the coming Wrath of God
• Opening & unleashing of God’s Wrath upon the earth through the Trumpets & Bowls

Where is God in all of this? Do you see God working anywhere?

Now, is a good time to start looking for God.  Where is God working? How is he working?

 Jesus gave the message directly to John to give to the churches earlier saying, “not be afraid.” So, we can rest assured, “He’s got this”

• Jesus is the one giving John all of these visions to give a glimpse into the future
• Jesus is the one that revealed himself to John as a Lamb slain, the ultimate sacrifice for sin
• Jesus is the one opening the seals
• Jesus is the one putting limits on the judgements
• Jesus is bringing answers to the Martyrs who are crying out. “Vengeance is mine, wait a little longer.”
• Jesus is in control of the order of events, the timing and the length of time of each Judgement

We will see more and more of the work that is going on behind the scenes when we talk about the “Interludes”, all the extra bonus visions.

WOW!! Okay, okay, I know… Information overload! This “overview” of Revelation is getting into the weeds!  Ha! I know there is a lot here. It’s like a smorgasbord of information, but just take a small bite at a time. You don’t have to digest it all at once. Take a little at at time and let it sit there. Then move on to the next bite.

QUESTION: After seeing these first 7 Seals; A wicked world leader, deception, war, famine, death, martyrdom, a severe earthquake… Can you still say, “COME, LORD JESUS”?

John did! I hope you can too! I say, “Come, Jesus, come!”