Page 122 - Bible Doctrine Survey I - Student Textbook (3)

The Judgments of the Tribulation

The Seven Seals
The seven seals are one of a series of end-times judgments from God. The seals are described
in Revelation 6:1–17 and 8:1–5. In John’s vision, the seven seals hold closed a scroll in heaven, and, as
each seal is broken, a new judgment is unleashed on the earth. Following the seal judgments are the
trumpet judgments and the bowl or vial judgments.

The prelude to the opening of the seven seals in John’s vision is a search for someone worthy to open
the heavenly scroll in Revelation 5. John writes, “I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a
scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals” (Revelation 5:1). This scroll contains the
judgments of God; the fact that it is written on both sides indicates the extensive nature of the
judgment pending. A mighty angel cries out, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”
(verse 2). No one was found worthy of breaking the seals and opening the scroll, a fact that causes John
to mourn (verse 3–4). If the scroll could not be opened, then wickedness would not be judged and evil
would continue to infect the earth.

As John is weeping over the unopened scroll and its unbroken seven seals, he receives good news: “The
Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven
seals” (Revelation 5:5). “Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the
throne. . . . He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne” (verses 6–7).
This is a picture of Jesus Christ, the Lamb who was slain who is also the Lion of judgment. Jesus is the
only one worthy to judge the world (cf. John 5:22). As He takes the scroll to open the seals and
pronounce judgment on the unbelieving world, the beings in heaven glorify Him with a new song:

“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. . . .
Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!” (verses 9 and 12).

Amid the worship due to Him, the Lamb begins to open the seals (Revelation 6:1). With each seal
opened, the scroll is able to be unrolled a little more, revealing bit by bit the judgments God has in store
during the tribulation period. The first four of the seven seals release what are known as the Four
Horsemen of the Apocalypse, because the judgments appear symbolically as a horse and rider bringing
devastation in their wake.

The first seal. The first seal introduces the Antichrist (Revelation 6:1–2). From the biblical description,
we gather several details: he rides a white horse, which speaks of peace; at the beginning of the
tribulation, the Antichrist will come under the pretense of bringing peace to the world (cf. Daniel 9:27).
He is given a crown, which indicates that the Antichrist will exercise great authority (cf. Daniel 7:24–25).
He holds a bow, which shows his true intentions, and he advances “as a conqueror bent on conquest”
(Revelation 6:2).

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