Revelation

We read in this chapter the only example of crying in heaven. But it was premature and quickly halted. As John observes the sealed scroll of judgment in the hand of God, an unnamed angel proclaims loudly, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?" (v2). Because no one in heaven, earth, or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look into it (v3), John was in despair. This same despair (weep - klaio) is described in Christ weeping over Jerusalem (Lk 19:14) and Peter after betraying the Lord (Lk 22:62). It is at this moment that we have the heavenly entry of the glorified Christ! Explaining what John is about to see, one of the elders commands John to "Stop crying!" (v5). Having declared the arrival of the Lion of Judah and the Root of David (v5), the contrast is remarkable when the "Lamb standing as if slain" is seen in the midst of the four creatures (v6). This would almost seem an unfair fight later in the revelation if you considered a lamb against a dragon (12:9), hordes of hellish locusts (9:3), frogs (16:13), and human soldiers who follow the dragon (19:19). But this is not a lamb. This is THE LAMB. He is also a LION, and the King of kings and the Lord of lords (19:16). And John noted that the Lamb had seven horns (v6). Horns throughout Scripture symbolize strength and power. Seven, being the number of perfection, symbolized the Lamb's "complete and absolute power." The Greek grammatical structure seems to indicate that the harp and bowls full of incense were held only by the elders. These would represent that the prophecy of all the prophets (harps) and the prayers of all God's children (incense) throughout the ages were finally to be fulfilled. The Worthy Lamb had arrived (vv9,12).

Christ Himself revealed in His Olivet Discourse (Mt 24:1-25:46) much of what John saw here in chapter six. One by one, the Lamb opens the scroll's seven seals. At the opening of the first four seals, the four living creatures cry "Come" to the Four Horses of the Apocalypse. The white horse (v2) and rider of the first seal will bring a false peace, luring the world into the unified rule of the final Antichrist, who will conquer by cunning and deceit (2 Thes 2:9-11). He carries a bow, yet no arrows, and wears a crown won as a prize (stephanos). Christ wears many royal crowns (diademas) and carries a sword (19:12). The Antichrist and his forces are present and ruling as the agent of Satan from here forward during the seven years of Tribulation. The red horse (vv3-4) of the second seal ends the peace, as the Antichrist now rules with war and worldwide bloodshed (Mt 24:9-10). The black horse of the third seal (vv5-6) brings the famine that will follow the wars of the second seal. Food will be so scarce that a day's wage (one denarius) will barely purchase adequate food (wheat) for one (one quart) or substandard food (barley) for a family of three. The more precious and expensive oil and wine will have to be treasured (Mt 24:7). The pale horse of the fourth seal (vv8-9) brings the disease and chaos that follows the previous disasters and will destroy a fourth of the population of the earth. The events of Mt 24:15, the abomination of desolation, should be seen as occurring at the midpoint of Tribulation, during which time the fifth seal is opened. The fifth seal judgment (vv9-11) is the prayers of the Tribulation martyrs for God to enact vengeance on their Christ-rejecting murderers. The sixth seal (vv12-17) is the one that none are able to deny is by the hand of God. Earthquakes of a magnitude the Earth has never encountered will shake such that mountains and islands will be moved from their places (v14, Mt 24:7). Concluding with the rhetorical question of "Who is able to stand?" (v17) The obvious answer is - none.

As the previous chapter closes with the question "Who can stand?" between the sixth and seventh seal opening, John has a separate vision revealing not who can stand but who will survive the wrath of God. As devastating as the judgments of the first six seals were, the seventh, with the trumpet and bowl judgments beginning in chapter eight, will be worse. The four angels holding back the winds (v1) will deliver an incredible display of power as this will be as though the whole earth stands still. This will be until, as the fifth angel says, "we have sealed the slaves of our God on their foreheads." (v3). We know of the Antichrist's mark of the beast. This fifth angel ascended "having the seal of the living God" for the purpose of God's sealing of His redeemed (v2). The list of the 144,000 evangelists of tribes of Israel does not match any other from the Old or New Testaments. Interestingly, Dan and Ephraim are omitted. Dan was an idolatrous tribe (Deut 29:18-21) and replaced by Levi. Ephraim was likewise consumed by idolatry and defected from the ruling house of Judah. In the list, Ephraim is replaced by his father Joseph (vv4-8). Verses 9-17 Demonstrate that this vision was for us to understand. John was asked a rhetorical question by an attending elder, which the elder answered (vv13-17). Those who are described as appearing before the throne of God and the Lamb (v10) with the angels (v11) are the Tribulation Saints, who were not raptured with the church, but who came to repentance in Christ and have died before His triumphant Second Coming.

So great was the horror of what was about to unfold with the breaking of the seventh seal that all of heaven fell silent for thirty minutes when it was broken. This calm before the storm was when John saw the seven angels who stand before God, handed the seven trumpets of judgment (v2). So designated as "the seven angels," sets them apart as a unique order of angels. Gabriel identified himself to Zacharias as "Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God," so he may be one of these (Lk 1:19). Then another (allos, of the same kind) angel came, and in an act representative of affirming the cries of the Tribulation saints, mixes the fires of the altar with the incense in the censer (the container in which the incense was burned), and stunningly threw it to earth (v5)! All heaven and earth would take note of the fury of God's judgment. As the first four trumpets sound, a series of thirds are taken from mankind as judgments (vv6-13). A third of the trees and all of the green grass of the earth (v7). A third of the sea became blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed (vv8-9). A third of the rivers and springs were made bitter (vv10-11). And a third of the sun, moon, and stars’ light was darkened (v12). The remaining three trumpet judgments are so fearful that woe is declared coming for all those remaining who yet reject the gospel (v13).