The Seven Seals

The Seven Trumpets

The Seven Vials

Together with these are such supplementary visions as that of:-

Often the visions of historical and earthly events are preceded by a heavenly vision which places Jesus Christ at the very centre of events. Thus the messages to the Seven Churches were preceded by an entire chapter which portrayed the Lord Jesus as the Divine Revelator. Similarly when we come to study the Seven Seals, these revelations or unveilings are preceded by two chapters (4 & 5) which depict the Christ as the great Seal-Breaker.

We know right from the very outset that chapters 4 and 5 of the Apocalypse are a Heavenly scene or vision because John states:-

"After this I looked and behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must he hereafter." - (REVELATION 4:1)

Transported in the Spirit to this heavenly setting, John beholds the Throne of Almighty God surrounded by a rainbow which serves to remind us that He is a Covenant keeping God, who says what He means, who means what He says, and who is incapable of the sudden changes of heart, mind, and attitude that we mortals are subject to. Here on the Throne of the Universe is seated the Great I AM, the all sufficient, self existent one, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, that same Mighty God and Saviour who has said:-

Around this heavenly Throne, whose occupant is described as having the appearance of jaspar and sardine stones, are twenty-four seats or lesser thrones, occupied by Twenty Four Elders, wearing white robes and golden crowns. This speaks of their purity and their position of authority in the overall government of God, the very hierarchy of heaven. Without being dogmatic, it could well be that these elders are symbolic of the Twelve Apostles and of the Twelve Tribes of Israel.

Moving into the next chapter we find the heavens filled with a vast and innumerable company of angels:-

These were loudly proclaiming the majesty, glory and praise due to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, the only object of all our worship.

Before going on to give more detail to the Lamb who broke the Seals, we need to examine a group who are mentioned in the verses just quoted. They are:-

We find these strange creatures described in the following words:-

In order to identify these Four Beasts or Living Creatures we must turn to three Old Testament portions of Scripture, proving yet again the maxim:-

Now turn to the prophecy of Isaiah where we read of his call in the year that King Uzziah died. Isaiah like John on Patmos many centuries later saw a vision of the Lord God in all of His glory, majesty and power, seated upon the Throne. He beheld around that throne those angelic beings known as Seraphim. Here is the prophet's description of them:-

"Each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried to another and said, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory." -  (ISAIAH 6:2-3)

The positioning of these Seraphim around the Throne, their wings and their cry make them identical to the Beasts or Living Creatures of Revelation chapters 4 and 5.

Now turn to the prophecy of Ezekiel, for he also received a vision of the Glory of God. In this instance the Throne or Chariot of God was guarded by

"Four Living Creatures ... as for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion on the right side ... the face of an ox on the left side: they four also had the face of an eagle." - (EZEKIEL 1: 5 and 10)

The similarity with the account given in the Apocalypse can be no mere coincidence. To explain the meaning of the MAN, LION, OX/CALF and EAGLE, we must turn to one more Old Testament Scripture, to Numbers chapter 2. There we are given a plan of Israel's encampment in the Wilderness. The Twelve Tribes camped in a square around the Tabernacle, wherein was the Shekinah glory of the Lord. The centre of Israelite life was the place where God met with His people. The Tribes were divided up into Four Brigades made up of Three Tribes grouped around the heraldic standard, ensign or banner of the leading tribe in the group. Thus we read:-

"Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard by the ensign of his fathers house." - (NUMBERS 2: 2)

So on the East were encamped Issachar and Zebulon under the leadership of Judah.

On the North were encamped Asher and Naphtali under the leadership of Dan.

According to most Hebrew expositors, the Tribal Ensigns or Banners of these four tribes who commanded each brigade were as follows:-

As he gazes in awe and wonder on the heavenly scene and its splendours, John becomes aware of a sealed book, scroll or manuscript:-

The Sealed Book is in the hand of our Lord in His Divinity, seated upon the throne, but as we read on we find that it is a man who is required to open the scroll and break the seals.

"And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book and loose the seals thereof. And no man in heaven nor in earth, neither under the earth was able to open the book neither to look thereon." - (REVELATION 5: 2-3)

John's reaction was to weep much, but at this point we now see our Lord in His Humanity coming forward to break the Seals and open the Book.

Thus we read:-

"Worthy is the lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing." - (REVELATION 5:12)

Once again the wonderful song of praise identifies Christ the sole object of all lawful worship, as having:-

"In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins." - (COLOSSIANS 1:14)

"Jesus Christ ... hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen." - (REVELATION 1:5-6)

We can have no doubt as to the future location of the Kingdom of Paradise restored; far from being a "cabin in a corner of glory land" or a "Mansion over a hilltop,' the Scriptures state emphatically

The Song of the Lamb also establishes beyond dispute, that the source of our salvation, and of Israel's redemption, is not religious ritual or works of righteousness, but it is the precious atoning blood of Jesus, shed once and for all on Calvary. The praising voices loudly declare that the Lord Jesus Christ:-

This confirms the words of the inspired writer to the Hebrews who boldly stated:-

"What can wash away my sins

" And there were seven lamps of fire, burning before the Throne, which are the Seven Spirits of God" - (REVELATION 4:5)

"A Lamb as it had been slain having seven horns and seven eyes which are the Seven Spirits of God sent forth into the earth." - (REVELATION 5:6)

There are not Seven literal Spirits of God, there is but One Holy Spirit. These Seven Spirits refer to the Seven-fold nature or attributes of that same Spirit, the One True and Living God. We find the key to these attributes by turning to another Old Testament prophecy.

"And there shall come forth a rod out of the Stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of His roots. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him: the Spirit of WISDOM (1) and UNDERSTANDING (2) the Spirit of COUNSEL (3) and MIGHT (4) the Spirit of KNOWLEDGE (5) and of the FEAR OF THE LORD (6) ... with RIGHTEOUSNESS (7) shall He judge." - (ISAIAH 11:1-4)

"And they saw the God of Israel, and there was under His feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone; and as it were the body of heaven in His clearness." - (EXODUS 24:10)

"And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creatures was as the colour of the terrible crystal stretched forth over their heads above." - (EZEKIEL 1:22)

So now we have the experience in vision of:

MOSES - symbolizing THE LAW

EZEKIEL - symbolizing THE PROPHETS

JOHN - symbolizing THE APOSTLES OF THE NEW COVENANT

Further on in the Apocalypse we find one more similar reference.

"And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire and them that had gotten the victory over the Beast and over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, and they sang the Song of Moses the servant of God, and the Song of the Lamb saying great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty: just and true are thy ways thou King of saints." - (REVELATION 15:2 and 3)

This denotes the ultimate triumph of the saints of all ages over the Beast system, Mystery Babylon, and once again the Lamb, Christ Jesus, is the object of all their praises.