The Book of Revelation DecodedSample

The Seven Seals

"Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, 'Come!'" – Revelation 6:1

Revelation 6 describes six of the seven seals that will be released as judgments upon the earth. The first four of these seven are often referred to as the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, as the apostle John’s description of each features figurative horses with riders bent on bringing widespread damage.

Seal #1: The Antichrist (Revelation 6:2)

The first horse, which is white, rides the Antichrist. Once again, Satan can do nothing but counterfeit God’s original—thus the white horse is the same color as the horse Jesus will ride upon His return. It is also interesting to note that the Antichrist will come with a bow yet no arrows, signifying that he will arrive seemingly bent on bringing peace and that he is a false Christ. Because of the Anti-Messiah’s deceptive promises of peace and people "crowning" him with authority, we will be able to discern the beginning of the tribulation by the fulfillment of this first seal.

Seal #2: War and Murder (Revelation 6:4)

Although the Antichrist will at first win people over with diplomacy and talks of peace, war eventually will mark his reign—particularly during the last half of the tribulation. Upon the second seal’s release, the earth’s murder rate will skyrocket, as the second horseman will have the power to “take peace from the earth, causing people to kill one another” (v. 4).

Seal #3: Famine (Revelation 6:5–6)

The scales of the world’s economy will be tipped upon this seal’s release, prompting worldwide famine and food shortages, exemplified by the fact that two pounds of wheat will cost almost seventy-five dollars. Interestingly enough, however, luxuries such as oil and wine will still be present, indicating a huge disparity between the rich and poor. In modern times, we have seen a country’s economic collapse spark such famine and financial disparity. When the former Soviet Union’s economy collapsed in 1991, for example, bread prices shot up more than 600 percent. Just a few years later, Russia boasted an unusual number of the world’s richest individuals while the majority of its citizens lived paycheck to paycheck. In the end times, such dramatic shifts will pave the way for even more upheaval.

Seal #4: Death (Revelation 6:8)

The death toll will escalate with the fourth seal, by which one-fourth of the world’s population will die as a result of starvation, war and violence, disease, attacks by animals and beasts, or natural causes.

Seal #5: Persecution of the Saints (Revelation 6:9–11)

Most people interpret these verses to be specific to believers who were martyred in the past. However, this fifth seal also represents those who are yet to die for their faith during the difficult tribulation years. More believers have died for their faith in the past one hundred years than in all other centuries combined, yet in the tribulation, we can expect martyrdom to reach unprecedented levels. As perhaps a precursor to that time, we are seeing another, though far less serious, form of persecution of the saints even now. Nearly half of all evangelical leaders in the United States report that they have been “canceled” by being dis-invited, blacklisted, or excluded based on their beliefs. The same is happening to believers in other spheres. Educators who profess Christian values report being denied tenure and promotions. Scientists who believe in intelligent design over the randomness of the big bang theory have had similar experiences, with some saying they’re not being hired at all. Perhaps this is why a survey by The Harvard Crimson found that less than 1 percent of Harvard’s faculty is made up of “very conservative” professors. Yet none of this should come as a surprise. Yeshua said in Matthew 24, “You will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake” (v. 9). That’s where we’re headed, and the early signs are evident.

Seal #6: Cosmic and Ecological Disaster (Revelation 6:12–17)

Up to this point in the tribulation, most of the earth’s deaths can be attributed to earthbound causes. By some reports, our planet has heated up by double-digit degrees Fahrenheit over the last century, causing ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica to shrink, glaciers around the world to retreat, snow cover to decrease, and the global sea level to rise. I realize many question whether the climate is truly changing. Whatever the cause, in recent years we have seen bigger, longer-lasting wildfires, more frequent and catastrophic hurricanes, heavy rains and flooding, and record-high temperatures, with 2023 having been the warmest year since global record-keeping began in 1850.

By the sixth seal, however, the disorder of the sun, moon, and stars will throw the entire earth into chaos, causing such massive earthquakes and shifts in the planet’s weather and landscape that people everywhere will try to hide in caves (some for safety and others to attempt suicide). Noteworthy in these verses is that people will recognize that these are judgments sent by God, yet Scripture gives no indication of whether their hearts will soften.

Seal #7: Silence and Fear (Revelation 8:1)

By the end of the sixth seal, everyone on earth (aside from discerning believers and Satan’s agents) will be panic-stricken and gripped with fear, with many wishing they could die. So, when the seventh seal brings a brief period of respite, I wonder if people will think the worst is over or if their fear will grow. After all, is there anything more terrifying than the silence before the storm?