Study of the Book of Revelation: Chapter 6
by Pastor Jim Summerson

THE OPENING OF THE SIX SEALS

INTRODUCTION

  1. THE FIRST SEAL

    1. This is not Jesus - Revelation 19:11-16
    2. This is the counterfeit Christ - the Anti-Christ (anti means opposite)
    3. A Bow, No Arrows (When a war was fought in the bible with a bow and arrow, the arrow was always mentioned)
    4. Crown Was Given Before Victory (A time of peace and prosperity) Note: Daniel 9:24-27

  2. THE SECOND SEAL

    1. The Red Horse denotes Slaughter and Rivers of Blood
    2. The Rider is Not Named
    3. NOTE: "Power was given unto him" - Romans 9:14-23 - Note: Matthew 28:18, John 19:11
    4. "To Take Peace From the Earth"
    5. "Kill One Another" (Remember 2 Thessalonians 2)

  3. THE THIRD SEAL

    1. The Black Horse stands for Famine (Lamentations 5:10)
    2. The Penny was a Day's Wages (Matthew 20:2)
    3. Eight measures of wheat could be purchased for a Penny
    4. Price jumps eight times their normal rate (which for us would be like $11.20/gallon of gas and $10 for a loaf of bread)
    5. Oil and Wine (regarded as a luxury implying that the rich will not starve).

  4. THE FOURTH SEAL

    1. The Pale Horse stands for Death, v.7-8
    2. "Authority was given to him."
    3. Four Ways to Die, v.8b - Note: Ezekiel 14:21

      1. Sword
      2. Hungar (Rich will hunger)
      3. Death (Pestilence)
      4. Beasts

    4. Note: Revelation 13:15-18

  5. THE FIFTH SEAL

    1. Christians are the "Salt of the Earth" and the "Light of the World", Matthew 5:13-14
    2. When the Salt and Light is Taken Out Corruption and Moral Darkness - Isaiah 60:2
    3. These are those killed for their Faith during the Tribulation
    4. Most will not believe, but will believe the "Lie" - 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12
    5. More will be killed - v.11b

  6. THE SIXTH SEAL

    1. All Earth Breaks Loose
    2. All Heaven Breaks Loose - Note: Isaiah 13:9-10; Matthew 24:29; Hebrews 10:28-31

THE LAST WEEK OF TIME
  1. INTRODUCTION

    1. RAPTURE - Revelation 4:1-2

    2. REDEEMED - Revelation 4:4,10,11; 5:9-10

    3. REVELATION - Revelation 19:11-16
      NOTE: No mention of the Church is made between Chapter 6 and Chapter 19

    4. REVEALING of the Wrath of God - (Seven Seals, Seven Trumpets, Seven Vails)

  2. FACTORS BROUGHT IN FOCUS THAT INCREASE THE INTENSITY AND FEROCITY OF THE TRIBULATION

    1. The Holy Spirit is No Longer on Earth to Restrain Evil - 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

    2. The Church is Gone - Illustration: Noah and Lot

    3. The Devil Knows He has But a Short Time - Revelation 12:12

    4. Evil Men Are Now Free to Carry Out Their Evil Plans - Matthew 24:37-39

    5. There is Direct Judgement from God - Leveticus 6:17, 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

  3. LAW OF RECURRENCE

    "Principle of rhetoric by which the Holy Spirit first states a fact in outline, then refers to it again and again to add detail."

  4. A SERIES OF SEVENS

    Seven Seals, Seven Trumpets, Seven Personages, Seven Vials, Seven Dooms

    NOTE: If a 1,000 years are as a day and a day as a 1,000 years, then a year is 86.4 seconds.

  5. THE THREE AGES

    1. Jews Divided Time Into Two Ages

      1. Present Age
      2. Age Which Was To Come
      3. In between the Two Ages there was to come a terrible time of judgement and total destruction.

    2. It Is This End Time That John Sees and Describes It In Revelation 6-19

    3. This Time Is Referred To As:

      1. The Day of the Lord
      2. The Time of Jacob's Trouble
      3. The Tribulation
      4. The Great Tribulation

  6. DANIEL'S 70 WEEKS - Daniel 9:24-27

    1. Each Week Is A Period of Seven Years - Leveticus 25:8-13
      "The phase of seven Sabbaths of years was understood by Israel to mean weeks of years. The period of seven years was looked upon as one week." (Straus)

    2. Understanding the Prophecy

      1. Commandment to restore and build. Neh.2 (Artaxerxes in 445 B. C.)

      2. From the time of the decree of Artaxerxes in the close of the Old Testament canon covers seven weeks or 49 years.

      3. 62 weeks or 434 years, brings us to the first Palm Sunday. The Exact Time of His Rejection is Prophesied.

      4. Leaves one week or seven years

      5. There is a gap between the 69th adn 70th week. An undetermined period of time.

    3. The Prophecy Explained - Daniel 5:24

  7. CONCLUSION

    How Close Are We To The 70th Week of Daniel, The Ratpure of the Church, The Tribulation?