“What are the seven seals?”

September 2020 – Grace & Truth Magazine

QUESTION: What are the seven seals mentioned in Revelation 5 to 8:1?

ANSWER: Beginning with Revelation 4 we are taken to the third portion of this prophetic book, “the things which will take place after this,” according to the outline of Revelation given us in chapter 1:19 ( NKJV ). Subjects that go back even as far as Genesis are bought to a conclusion here. However, we must not forget that the pictures used in this book are “signified” to us. This word is more accurately translated “made known by signs.” Failing to understand this, many people down through the ages have come up with fantastically confused ideas about the events pictured in Revelation.

The Revelation was written at a time when Christians were being persecuted and falsely accused of all kinds of wickedness and anti-social behavior. God in His infinite wisdom inspired this book that reveals the future to His people – who are still falsely accused and persecuted – to be written in symbolic language. Most of the symbols used are taken from the previous portions of Scripture, especially from the Old Testament prophets. The few new symbols are usually explained when they are first mentioned. Thus Christians who were acquainted with the Old Testament could understand this “code” God used while the Roman authorities of that day and unbelievers in general find this book, given for the encouragement of persecuted believers, quite confusing and bizarre.

Before speaking of the seals, we might mention the book that they seal. A book back in those days was usually a scroll, and this awesome book is said to be written inside and on the back and sealed with seven seals. God has been pleased to communicate His plans to us. They are written; thus they are not fickle but sure, unchanging. Written on the inside and on the back would indicate their completeness: there is nothing to be added to them. Just as we place a letter in an envelope, lick the glue and thus seal it, so at one time important documents or other items were sealed by a blob of soft wax or even molten lead with the seal of the owner or sender impressed into it before it hardened. The tomb the Lord Jesus was buried in was sealed this way to prevent anyone from opening it. The stone placed across the mouth of the den of lions was sealed with the king’s seal and those of his lords after Daniel was cast into it. In the book of Esther, the king’s edicts were sealed and then sent to every corner of his realm. No one not authorized to do so could open or break a seal.

Hamilton Smith, a well-taught commentator, pointed out that the sealed book which no one but the Lamb, our Lord Jesus, is both worthy and able to open is not merely the book of God’s judgments upon Christendom, Israel and the nations. It also presents His plan for blessing upon the cleansed earth that will be brought in by Christ’s rule in the millennium. God’s plan is absolutely firm and settled, and the outcome will be for His glory and the blessing of mankind. Only One is found who is both worthy and able to deal with evil righteously and bring in blessing. As the Lamb takes the book out of God’s right hand, the saints break out in song and the mighty host of angels join in the praise. Ultimately every creature in all creation gives expression to the praise of the Lamb.

As the Lamb then opens the seals of the book one after the other we see judgments falling upon the earth. The first ones especially seem providential in character. They resemble things that we are accustomed to, but they are far more devastating in their scope: a conqueror going forth to conquer, bloody warfare on earth, tremendous famine and, finally, death on an enormous scale. Then the cry of the host of suffering martyrs is revealed when the fifth seal is opened. The sixth seal introduces anarchy on earth and the recognition by people that these things are not mere tragic events happening normally, but that the great day of the wrath of the Lamb has come. At the seventh seal there is a great silence in heaven that precedes the seven trumpets which introduce great judgments that are more directly seen as coming from God.

In summary then, neither the book nor its seals are anything literal or physical. The book represents the purpose of God to cleanse the guilty earth through judgment and then to bring in blessing surpassing anything we have ever seen or experienced on earth. The seals show us that One who is worthy and able must be found to set these cataclysmic events in motion before they can take place. These things will only happen after we Christians have been either raised from the dead or caught up alive to meet the Lord in the air. We will not be affected by them, but being with the Lord we will doubtless be aware of what is happening on earth at this time. All will be to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ in contrast to what was done to Him when He was on earth some 2,000 years ago.

Answered by Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.