The Seven Seals

~Revelation 6~

All these seals spoken of in Revelation 6 reveal the state and condition of the Church.  These seals, which began at the beginning of Christianity, extend all the way to the end of time.

Disclaimer: The contents in this essay may not agree with your standards – but they are the standards I believe are true and are also the standards that I was brought up with. I’m not saying your analysis and assumptions are wrong or that they are contrary to the true interpretation; rather I’m saying that if I give sufficient support for this certain explanation, it will be just as sound as your teachings.

Seal 1:

Rev. 6:2 – Revelation 6:2 -    “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.“

This first horse represent the church of the first century. This seal was opened before the period of 1844, proven here in GC414: “The holy places of the sanctuary in heaven are represented by the two apartments in the sanctuary on earth. As in vision the apostle John was granted a view of the temple of God in heaven, he beheld there “seven lamps of fire burning before the throne.” Revelation 4:5. He saw an angel “having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.” Revelation 8:3. Here the prophet was permitted to behold the first apartment.”

The color white represents purity. the Christians who had that simple trust and faith in the baptism of the Spirit, represent that white purity and cleanliness of Jesus Christ. This church separated themselves from the world, and accepted God’s message of salvation. (Luke 9:23). So because of their fervent desire to serve God, He blessed this church with much power to share the gospel to lands far away. The Crown that was given to him that sat on thehorse, denotes victory. Those who “die to self” will receive the crown of life (Rev. 2:10). “Conquering and to conquer” was the “motto” of the first century church. Victory prevailed no matter what the circumstances. Even through trials and persecutions, the disciples of God during first century, had loyalty and integrity for their master. Deliverance was present every where they journeyed, and that is why their message was spread throughout the world (Rom. 1:8). Yet it was not by physical power or force that they prevailed, it was “by His spirit” (Zech. 4:6). Therefore nothing stronger could have been able to explain the condition of the church at that time, than  that they went “conquering and to conquer.”

Seal 2:

Rev. 6: 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.”

This Horse represents the Protestant Churches that rejected the 3 angels message at 1844. This Red horse church moved  from being blessed by God (White horse) to being under a curse.                                                                                This period in time represents the triumph of paganism. The color Red means Blood. Matthew says, “His blood be on us and on our children.” Christ’s blood is on them because they had rejected His message. The gospel of God brings peace to the earth; but when man fails to thoroughly understand His teachings correctly, it brings a sword. They didn’t have a solid relationship (marriage) with God; and that relationship (marriage) equals  peace. Therefore, because they chose to reject a marriage with God, they were unable to  share the message of peace. Ellen white makes this statement more clear in one of her writings. “The gospel is a message of peace,They hate the purity which reveals and condemns their sins and they persecute and destroy those who would urge upon them its just and holy claims. It is in this sense – because the exalted truths it brings occasion hatred and strife – that the gospel is called a sword.” DA47 “Christianity is a system which, received and obeyed, would spread peace, harmony, and happiness throughout the earth. The religion of Christ will unite in close brotherhood all who accept its teachings, It was the mission of Jesus to reconcile men to God, and thus to one another. But the world at large are under the control of Satan, Christ’s bitterest foe. The gospel presents to them principles of life which are wholly at variance with their habits and desires, and they rise in rebellion against it.” GC46.2

Seal 3:

Rev 6:5-6 - “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. 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.“

Black is the absence of light; and light is equivalent to truth, therefore this horse has no light of truth within itself. This horse represented a still greater departure from the truth than that of the Red horse in seal 2. Ellen White states, “Angels are holding the four winds, represented as an angry horse seeking to break loose, and rush over the face of the whole earth, bearing destruction and death in its path. . . .” 3SM409.1. The balances held by the one sitting on the horse are in fact, false balances. When man reject God as their Judge, they immediately become self – appointed judges to other men. This “Apostate Church”, searches out a man to take the place of God (Rom. 2:1). They put themselves in God’s place – therefore doing what God does, which is to weigh man’s deeds and wrongdoings. (Jas. 4:11). This situation sounds so familiar to Satan’s previous situation, when He attempted to exalt himself Higher than the Most High (Isa. 14:13-14).

This “Judge” who symbolizes the rising protestant churches, says “a measure of wheat for a penny, and three measure of barley for a penny;” But the divine command is “…see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.” Man may judge the outward appearance, but God knows the heart. The oil, symbolizing God’s grace, and the wine, the emblem of His atoning blood and the inner spiritual life, cannot be touched or judged by man’s feeble knowledge.

Seal 4:

Rev. 6:8 – “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.”

This horse represented a more prominent departure from the gospel compared to the preceding horse.  This period of time, that was a part of the Dark Ages, was when the church of Christianity was totally replaced by papacy. The sword, hunger, and death, all symbolize the cruel ways in which the “civil powered church” put an end to those who would not pledge their allegiance elsewhere other than to God’s standards.  Through starvation, and “games” including wild beasts killing Christians to entertain audiences , were ways in which they were put to death. So because they would not conform to the prescribed religion put forth by the Pagan Church, torture was established to exert confession. yet again through this inhuman dealings with mortals and so called ordinances and rules, God  was there. no matter what the circumstances, God shielded His chosen children:

Seal 5:

Rev. 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: 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? 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.”

God will not forget those who died and suffered under His name, but they will be engraved in the book of life (Psa. 34:15). Men such as Huss and Jerome, Ridley, and many others are examples of those who suffered for God’s sake. And still others such as Galileo Galleli , who were exterminated because of their integrity for God was deemed dangerous by the false balances held by the one sitting on the previous pale horse.

The question is asked, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” When John, in his vision, saw the white robes of righteousness, He saw that they were prepared for those who gave their lives for the spreading of truth. And heaven has a home for them, and those men who died for the sole purpose of spreading the gospel were replaced by even more fervent supporters for truth.  “By defeat they conquered…Said a Christian, expostulating with the heathen rulers who were urging forward the persecution: You may “kill us, torture us, condemn us  …Your injustice is the proof that we are innocent… the blood of Christians is seed” GC41.3

Seal 6:

Rev. 5:12 – “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;”

This earthquake is doubtless the Lisbon earthquake of 1755.  it shook the whole earth being felt as far as Greenland and the northern regions of Africa. But it was to be followed by the darkening of the sun and moon, and the falling of the stars (vs. 13).  there has been a number of earthquakes in history where the darkening of the sun was apparent, but there was a considerably different and distinct earthquake an darkening of the sun to show a sign of the time (Luke 21:25).

In the bible, there are different passages that talk about the darkening of the sun, moon, and stars as signs of the last days.  the descriptions given by these different writers,  are particular indicators of their time and occurrence. “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,” etc. (Matt.24:29).  This so called “tribulation” is the “abomination of desolation, which began at the establishment of the papacy, 538 AD. Now this continued 1260 more years, stopping at 1798 AD. But as it says in the Holy Word, “…except those days be shortened there should no flesh be saved (Mark 13:20).  therefore this abating of the papacy was at 1776 AD. “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened and the moon shall not give here light.” Thus the day prophesied to be darkened is to be looked for some time after 1776.                     Now Mark 13:24 shows a clue in which the location of this time is to come. “In those days, after the tribulation…” etc. This is within the 1260 year period, or before 1798, and after 1776, “The sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light.” On may, 19, 1780,  there was a dark day that correlates with the descriptions given in Matthew and Mark.                                                             Now this Moon turning to blood is prophesied By Joel and John, and those who saw it said that when the moon rose, it was a blood – red ball in the heavens.                                                                                                                                                     The stars falling from the heavens is also recorded by John. There was a definite falling of stars in history that marked November 13, 1833.  The stars fell in every direction just “as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.” (Rev.6:13).

Since 1755, we have been living under the sixth seal. the signs show that time of Jesus is “nigh at hand, even at the door.” Some will find His coming as a blessing worth waiting for,  and yet some will find it a despairing time. There is now a time of probation. the dates, 1755, 1780, 1833, are so clearly marked that we must not forget. May we all be able to stand in the last day as the we encounter these times once again very soon.

“The great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”