The Book with 7 Seals – Interpretation and Prophecy

Deutsch

As is usually the case, there are various interpretations of the opening of the book with the seven seals. One theory assumes that the opening of the first seal will only happen in the future, while others describe the sequence of the seven seals as events from the past, the present, and the near future.

The future version

The Book of Seven Seals and the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.” A well-known passage in the Book of Revelation. However, the term “apocalyptic” for four consecutive horsemen already suggests that the succession of these symbolic riders on their horses is interpreted as a future vision of the “coming conflicts.”

This narrative fits, at best, with the assumptions of a “coming Antichrist,” the (secret) pre-rapture of the Christian community before a seven-year period of tribulation begins. But these are all extra-biblical inventions of zealous “thinkers” of the Jesuit order (Info).

Therefore, it’s not really surprising that the meaning of the four horses is turned on its head in this future interpretation. The white horse, according to the story, represents the “coming Antichrist,” who claims to be a savior. The red horse that follows, which brings death and destruction to the earth, is, in contrast, sent by God. So, all of these are still future scenarios, and completely reversed.

Variant 1: 7 Seals – Past – Present – Future

In fact, the significance of the Book of Seven Seals extends from events long ago to the present day and beyond. The significance of the Book of Seven Seals is therefore highly topical and not merely a symbolic prediction of future events.

Only Jesus Christ is worthy

Only one is worthy to open the seven seals of the scroll and to look inside. That is Jesus Christ, the slain Lamb of God. This is clearly stated in chapter 5 of Revelation. Revelation 5:9:
“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;“

Rough timeline of the 7 seals

The sequence of events in the Seven Seals, including the four horses, their riders, and the characteristics described therein, can even be historically placed within a certain timeframe. The respective dates are merely key points.

• The First Seal – White Horse: first century AD.
• The Second Seal – Red Horse: c. 100 to 323 AD.
• The Third Seal – Black Horse: 323 to 538 AD.
• The Fourth Seal – Pale Horse: 538 to 1798 AD.
• The Fifth Seal – Souls under the Altar: from 1798 onwards
• The Sixth Seal – Disasters Begin: from 1798 onwards & Future
• The Seventh Seal – End of Jesus’ Mediatorial Ministry – Past & Future

1st Seal – White Horse:

According to Revelation 6:2, the Lamb of God opens the first of the seven seals and a rider on a white horse appears:
“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.“

It’s about Jesus Christ and the Gospel. This is in stark contrast to the apologists, who simply make this rider the “future Antichrist” who poses as a false savior. But the Bible is also very clear about the details. The rider is wearing a real crown, because if it were a fake, it would represent the Gospel accordingly. One example is Revelation 9:7:
“And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.“

These figures wore “something like crowns, like gold,” clearly an imitation, not made of real gold.

Jesus Christ has triumphed over the adversary, proclaimed salvation, and this good news is spreading throughout the world. The rider and the white horse symbolize the first hour of the post-Christian era. The last book of the Bible, Revelation, was written by John on the island of Patmos around 90-95 AD.

2nd Seal – Red Horse

The second seal shows a red horse, Revelation 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.“

Fiery red or scarlet are clear attributes of the dragon, the adversary. Examples are Revelation 12:3 and Revelation 17:3. It is thus a satanic power that brings destruction. Imperial Rome was known for its harsh treatment of the people in conquered territories. At that time, the Roman Empire reached its greatest extent of all previous and fallen empires.

The young Christian communities were subjected to fierce and cruel persecution by the Roman emperors. This persecution and the massacre of the first Christians continued until 312. Christianity was not officially recognized until Constantine, however, with significant admixtures of paganism and its customs and traditions. The community in Rome was at the forefront of this.

3rd Seal – Black Horse

The next horse after the opening of the third seal is described in Revelation 6:5-6:
“And I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, ‘A measure of wheat for a denarius, and three measures of barley for a denarius; but do not harm the oil and the wine!'”

At first glance, this seems to indicate severe inflation, for a denarius was the average daily wage. However, the symbolism here is also spiritual (Info). But with the Sunday law in 321 and the Council of Nicaea convened by Constantine, the truth of the gospel declined sharply.

Subsequent councils over the decades established Sunday observance, prohibited the observance of the biblical Sabbath, and elevated many pagan traditions to official doctrines of the Church of Rome. These traditions were expected to be believed. While the white of the first horse symbolized the truth, the black horse demonstrated the exact opposite.

The slaughter of the true followers of Christ proved to be a boomerang. For the creation of martyrs who faced their fate with their heads held high and thereby deeply impressed the watching crowds led to more conversions than the annihilation of believers.

Suppressed Gospel

From then on, the gospel was suppressed and withheld from people. The truth was no longer freely available. Attaining the truth required considerable effort, including financial expenditure. Wheat in the Bible represents the basic ingredient of the Bread of Life. Barley was a grain of the early harvest, the firstfruits of the year, and thus a symbol of the Gentiles still seeking conversion. Despite the great resistance and the obscuration of the gospel, it was possible to attain the truth at great expense. The oil (symbol of the Holy Spirit) and wine (symbol of the doctrine of salvation) remained.

4th Seal – Pale Horse

With the fourth seal, the last of the four horses appears, Revelation 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.“

A “pale” horse, meaning anything but healthy, more dead than alive. From now on, neither wheat nor barley can be obtained. The truth is crushed to the ground. Added to this are death and destruction. Here, too, to be understood spiritually. A power that obscures the gospel ensures that it spreads its own doctrine, even by force, and leads people to spiritual death.

In the Bible, animals are a symbol of state power. Thus, this corrupting religious power also ensured that political entities, or states, were also involved in imposing this “dead gospel” on people. This situation lasted for 1,260 years (e.g., Daniel 7:25; Revelation 11:3; 12:14; 13:5) and only ended in 1798, the year in which the papacy was stripped of political power (Info).

Parallels to the Epistles to 7 Churches

The chronology of the events surrounding the first four seals and the symbolized rider and his horses shows clear parallels to the epistles to the seven churches in Asia (Revelation 2 and 3). A prophetic perspective on the developments and conditions within God’s people over the centuries (Info).

5th Seal – Souls under the Altar

With the 5th seal, John receives a vision of mourning souls under the altar, Revelation 6:9-11:
“… 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 fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.“

A “golden opportunity”

A “godsend” for those who propagate immortal human souls and talk about an immediate descent to hell, purgatory, or heaven after earthly death. It’s almost ironic that these completely out-of-control heresies are precisely the teachings explained by the pale horse of the 4th seal (Info). This institution, which was already abandoned by the only “good spirit” during the time of the black horse and has since followed the promptings of the dragon.

Souls in the symbolic language

As usual, the symbolic language of Revelation is also on a spiritual level here, for 1 Corinthians 2:14:
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.“

The countless souls beneath the altar represent those killed by the anti-Christian power during the “Dark Ages.” These people adhered to the truth of the Gospel and were unwilling to submit to the heresies of the Church of Rome. This applied to individuals as well as to entire ethnic groups accused of endangering the “unity of the Church.” Murder was one of the preferred responses of the Roman institution.

The Gospel’s plan of salvation is not yet complete, however. In 1798, the Church of Rome was deprived of political power. The “mortal wound,” however, will heal again (Revelation 13:3). There are still people on earth, and more will come who want to be saved and will therefore be saved. Persecutions will also occur again. God’s final line will only be drawn when all people have made their own decision. The “souls under the altar” should therefore be patient a little longer, but their salvation is assured.

6th Seal – Advance Warning & End Scenario

This seal and the events associated with it are particularly interesting. On the one hand, things had already occurred before 1798 that could at least locally match the descriptions, and on the other hand, the sixth seal points to the final scenario, the return of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 6:12-14:
“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; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.“

Lisbon earthquake

On November 1, 1755, a massive earthquake struck the European continent. The epicenter was located beneath the seabed approximately 200 km southwest of Lisbon, Portugal. The capital city was almost completely destroyed. In addition to the buildings collapsing due to the powerful tremors, a massive tsunami followed. The death toll is estimated at between 30,000 and 100,000 people. The estimated magnitude was between 8.5 and 9.

Eerie darkness

Absolute darkness already existed, but science cannot explain it. On May 19, 1780, at around 11 a.m., absolute darkness suddenly descended upon New England (USA). Beforehand, it was observed that animals were being drawn back from the fields and into their pens. It was an unnatural darkness, as reported, among others, in the “History of Weare, New Hampshire” (1735-1888). One could therefore neither see one’s hand nor a sheet of paper. On June 8, 1780, “The Independent Chronicle” described it as “morbid darkness.”

Massive star shower

On November 13, 1833, the inhabitants of North America experienced a “star shower” the likes of which humanity had never experienced before. Estimates speak of around 200,000 meteorites per hour. The night was so bright that one could read a newspaper without additional light. Another peculiarity of this meteor shower was its origin. The bands of light were not broad and parallel, but appeared to have had a common origin from which these meteorites emerged and were scattered.

The final scenario

After everything has been decided, and every living person has chosen their path, God will close the gate. “As in the days of Noah,” according to Jesus Christ in His description of the end times. This also included the closing of the gate of the ark. The faithful people of God will be sealed (Revelation 7), and momentous times will come for the “remnant” of humanity.

The passage of the sixth seal summarizes the sequence of the final seven plagues that will befall humanity during the (actual) Great Tribulation. The conclusion of these descending catastrophes will be the return of Jesus Christ, who will take His faithful followers and bring an end to those remaining on earth.

7th Seal – Link between type and antitype (?)

The seventh and final seal appears to be very exciting and, in its interpretation, on shaky ground. This scene, on the one hand, describes the end of Jesus Christ’s mediatory ministry in the sanctuary, and, on the other, brings the seven trumpets into play. These trumpets can certainly allow for a twofold interpretation (type – antitype): one variant for the past and the other variant for the present and future. In this case, this world would already be in the phase of the sixth trumpet (Info).

The description of the 7th seal according to Revelation 8:1-5:
“And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

And another angel came and stood at the altar, 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. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.“

Just as the seven trumpets could allow for a dual interpretation, the seventh seal appears as a kind of transitional link from type to antitype. The cessation of Jesus’ mediational ministry in the sanctuary corresponds, on the one hand, to the end of the time of grace (sealing of the 144,000) with the subsequent seven last plagues and could also represent the gathering of the redeemed people.

This would also overlap with the 6th Seal. Despite this uncertainty, one can be certain that the remaining questions will soon be answered.

Variant 2: The court

Another version of the interpretation of the Book of Seven Seals fundamentally does not describe a chronological sequence of developments regarding the Church of God. The reasoning behind it is simply that there was no need for a sealed book to preserve as a “secret” what could be seen by all eyes throughout history, in real time and with hindsight.

The sequence of horses, especially the red, black, and pale horses, as well as the descriptions contained therein, can all be found in the Book of Ezekiel. Since the Old Testament in many cases represents the type, which is repeated as an antitype in the New Testament, it is therefore obvious that the horses of the Book of the Seven Seals have a similar character.

The prophet Zechariah lived during the time of the Persian king Darius and was also present when the construction of the temple in Jerusalem began after the Babylonian exile.

The Night Faces

Already in the “First Night Vision” in Zechariah, chapter 1, horses roaming the earth are mentioned. Verse 8 states:
“I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.“

In the “5th night vision” it is described in more detail that it is the eyes of the Lord that roam the whole earth, Zechariah 4:10:
“For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.“

A supervisory authority that not only monitors but also attests that the rebuilding of the Lord’s sanctuary is accompanied by law and order. For the rebuilding is carried out with a measuring line (Zechariah 2:5), the standard that is nothing other than the law of God.

Thus, the details described for seals 2 to 4 (sword, famine, plague, wild beasts, etc.) also appear in Ezekiel 14:12-23, specifically in connection with God’s judgment. Only a remnant of the people will be spared because they remained faithful to God. Ezekiel chapters 3 and 7 also list the temptations and stumbling blocks, which are also found in 2 Thessalonians 2. Based on these stumbling blocks, it will become clear whether each person is acting righteously or sinfully. One sifting, and the world is witness.

Seals are the courts

In this case, the first seal is still the (victorious) introduction and proclamation of the gospel by Jesus Christ. The second to fourth seals describe the judgment of those who have already died, entirely according to the principle of judgment described in Zechariah and Ezekiel. The fifth seal is an interlude that primarily emphasizes the martyrs, who are already exalted above any gathering of evidence and witnesses (“many eyes”). The sixth seal marks the beginning of the final judgment of those still living.

We are close to the end

One can interpret Seals 6 and 7 in particular back and forth, opting for variant 1 or 2, but it does not change the fact that this world is nearing its conclusion. Up to Seal 5, the historical events are well-placed. Regarding the 7th Seal in particular, the conclusion of Jesus Christ’s mediatory ministry and the initiation of the “quick succession” of the 7 trumpets in the antitype, it can be “calmly” considered that this High Priestly ministry in the Holy of Holies began as early as 1844. This means that a good 180 years have passed since the beginning of the “Day of Atonement” (Yom Kippur).

The next groundbreaking and crucial step is to present people with the choice of either accepting the mark of the beast or remaining faithful to God and His laws (Info). The beginning of the final test. Once the gate is closed, the descriptions of Seal 6 can be taken literally to assess what awaits humanity.

Revelation 16 describes the 7 final plagues and the last of them looks like this:

Bible verses from King James Version (1611)

Deutsch

English