Intro: Learn how to interpret the seven seals in the Book of Revelation. The seven seals are part of God’s judgment upon nations for their hatred of Israel, their persecution of Christians, and their rejection of Messiah Yeshua. The seven seal judgments are recorded in Revelation 6 and Matthew 24. The seven seal judgments occur during the first half of the Tribulation period. The whole Tribulation period is about seven-years in duration, according to Daniel 9:27 and Revelation chapters 6 to 19.
The Tribulation period begins with the agreement, probably between the Anti-Messiah and the Israeli leadership, to allow Temple worship again and animal sacrifices on Mt. Moriah. This same agreement will be broken with the stopping of sacrifices and the setting up of the Anti-Messiah’s image in the newly constructed Third Jewish Temple, which separates the first half of the Tribulation from the second half of the Tribulation. By studying and understanding the Book of Revelation’s seven seals, readers will see the terrifying events approaching planet Earth.
Step 1: Study the White Horse Rider of the First Seal in Revelation 6:2 because this person represents the Anti-Messiah, pagan religion, and false peace. Although some prophecy teachers argue that the White Horse Rider in Revelation 6:2 is Messiah Yeshua due to his similarities with the other White Horse in Rider in Revelation 19, the White Horse Rider in Revelation 6:2 is only and imposter because Messiah Yeshua at the end of the Tribulation period returns in glory with heaven’s armies to fight the Anti-Messiah with the sword of month in Revelation 19. The White Horse Rider in Revelation 6:2 carry the bow of false peace and he fails to resolve the global conflicts as the Messiah Yeshua does in Revelation 19 with His sword. The White Horse Rider of Revelation 6:2 begins the events leading to the return of Messiah Yeshua.
The White Horse Rider of Revelation 6:2 is a picture of the global pseudo peace and the false religious system established by the Anti-Messiah at the Tribulation’s beginning. The White Horse Rider is the Anti-Messiah and Saint John’s apocalyptic vision sketches him before he is crowned and becomes the primary ruler of the 10 Nation Confederation of the European Union commonly referred to as the Revived Roman Empire. He is the prince who is to come, and who will confirm the covenant with the Israeli Leadership for seven years, according to Daniel 9:26-27 and Isaiah 28:15-18. This proves that Anti-Messiah appears at the beginning of the Tribulation and not in the Middle of the Tribulation as some claim. Messiah Yeshua mentions this period in Matthew 24: 4.
Step 2: Learn about the Red Horse Rider of the Second Seal in Revelation 6:3-4 because this rider represents warfare and advanced weapons. When the Red Horse Rider appears in John’s apocalyptic vision, we read that he has the power to take peace from the Earth. The symbolism is clear. Red, the color of the horse, is a symbol of blood, and the sword is a symbol of warfare and nuclear weapons. Messiah Yeshua prophesied this period in Matthew 24:6-7. The second seal follows the first in chronological order. The Anti-Messiah of the First Seal brings the planet Earth into a false sense of peace following battle of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38 and 39) and he reestablishes Temple worship for the Jewish community. However, nuclear war irrupts suddenly and the Fourth World War begins as nations employ chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons against each other where billions of people die worldwide.
The destruction that humankind can inflict on all humanity during past wars is far less when we compare the modern nuclear weapon systems of today. Nuclear weapons have greater fire power and they are being developed by smaller and more unstable nations worldwide. John’s terrifying description of the “Great Sword” applies to the development nuclear weapons and warfare following the false peace established by the Anti-Messiah.
Step 3: Understand the significance of the Black Horse Rider of the Third Seal in Revelation 6:5-6 because this rider represents death following warfare. John’s apocalyptic description of what follows reflects what we would expect to see following chemical, biological and nuclear warfare. Messiah Yeshua prophesied this event in Matthew 24:7, Luke 21, and Mark 13. Readers of these passages learn that billions of the Earth’s population will die in the near future. The initial death will be from war as described by the Red horse.
Step 4: Examine closely the Pale Horse Rider of the Fourth Seal in Revelation 6:7-8 because this rider represents sickness and diseases suffered by the survivors of this global conflict. When the “Pale Horse Rider appears in John’s vision, he is given a name. It is noteworthy that the first three horse riders are not named. The Fourth Horse Rider collected the results of the Red and Black horse Riders because wars bring death and destruction, which causes famine and diseases resulting in more death. Another awful result from warfare, disease, and famine, are wild animals usually hunt and consume human flesh, which common during the First and Second World War. During this period, the great predator beasts of the Earth will see human beings as simply another food source. The God of the universe will remove all animals’ inner fear of humankind.
Step 5: Study the Fifth Seal in Revelation 6:9-11 because this Fifth Seal represents the persecution and murder of Tribulation Saints worldwide. When the Fifth Seal was broken John saw souls of many martyred saints under the Holy Altar. These Martyrs, whose “souls” John saw are not the Martyrs of past generations; since they were taken up with the Christian Church Saints, but they are the Tribulation Martyrs who will be kill because they will not worship the Anti-Messiah or practice his pagan religious system (Rev. 12:11). After the rapture and transfiguration of Christian believers and the establishment of false peace under the Anti-Messiah’s rule, worldwide persecution of newly converted Christians begins. During the first half of the Tribulation, the Anti-Messiah will usher in a unified ecumenical religious system combining deep philosophical elements of Christianity, Islam, eastern mysticism, and paganism. All who refuse this one world religion system will be put death by beheading. The Anti-Messiah will use this ecumenical religious system to declare himself as messiah and god of humanity and he will demand to be the center of worship. (Daniel 11:37, 2 Thessalonians 2:4, Matthew 24:9-10).
Step 6: Learn the Sixth Seal of Revelation 6:12-14 because when the Sixth Seal is broken great “physical changes” will occur on the Earth. Here is the first, of the Earthly catastrophes to strike the Earth. After the wars, famine, diseases of the early part of the Tribulation, a massive and earthquake violently shakes the planet Earth. The writings of Matthew 24, Jeremiah 23, and Isaiah 24 parallel this cataclysmic earthshaking event. The volcanic materials released during this earthquake will cause the sun to appear darken, followed by strange events in the sky making the moon appear blood red. Stars falling from heaven describe asteroids and meteorites falling upon the planet Earth. The Wrath of the lamb describes Messiah Yeshua’s judgment upon the nations.
Between the breaking of the “Sixth” and “Seventh” Seals there will be a pause before the next dramatic event, where 144, 000 deeply religious Jews, 12, 000 from each of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, will be sealed in their foreheads. The “Seal” may be an imprint of the “Father’s Sacred and Most Holy Name commonly referred to as Y-H-V-H or Yah-Weh (Rev. 14:1 ; 22:4). Additionally, the Blood Washed Multitude describes the Gentiles who accept Messiah Yeshua as their Savior after the Church departed to Heaven. They are not part of the Church.
Step 7: Study the Seventh Seal of Revelation 8:1 because during the breaking of the Seventh Seal there will be silence in Heaven for about a half an hour. This silence gives people on Earth the opportunity to prepare themselves psychologically for the next seven judgments to follow. Following the Silence, Seven Angels in succession sound upon Seven Trumpets. This silence in heaven is consistent with the six plus one HEPTADIC pattern of biblical prophetic literature where the final event is completely different from the previous six events. Therefore, the silence in heaven significantly increases the intensity of the coming trumpet judgments.
Step 8: Finally, realize that the Seven Seals are the first part of 21 judgments in the coming Tribulation and the current signs of Messiah Yeshua, which are refferred to as birth pains, will commence the countdown to the seven year Tribulation. Earthquakes and wars will become progressively worse as the world moves closer to the Tribulation period. Great signs from the heavens will occur just before the return of Messiah Yesshua during the end of the Tribulation. And always remember that the Seven Seals of Revelation correspond perfectly with the writings of Matthew Chapter 24.
Warning: Never set a date for when God will open the first of all the Seven Seals because many false teachers are date setters and they have always been proven wrong and they will continue to be wrong. Bear in Mind, Messiah Yeshua said no man knows the day or hour of His return to Earth (Matthew 24).
Related Sources: Dictionary of Bible by Ron Rhodes; The Last Days by Richard H. Perry; the Complete Guide to Bible Prophecy by Stephen Miller; The Complete Guide to the Bible by Stephen Miller; Learn The Bible in 24 Hours by Dr. Chuck Missiler; and The Book of Revelations by Larry R. Helyer, PhD; The Book of Revelation Revealed by Hilton Sutton; The Signature of God by Grant Jeffrey.