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At ERC, where I fellowship, preach, and teach, we have a question and answer time once a month where people can submit their questions anonymously and then either Thang Bwee or I answer them. For the questions that I have the privilege of answering I’m posting the answers here for your edification and general discussion. If you think there’s room for correction then you’re more than welcome to do that publicly using the comment feature below this post. I look forward to our interactions.

The Question(s)

Revelation 6-8
What do the seven seals mean from this text?

The Response(s)

What is a seal?

• Used to stamp a document, giving it legal validity.
• One of the most important uses of sealing in antiquity was to give a proof of authenticity, authority, ownership, and power.
• An additional use was the preservation of books in security. A roll or other document intended for preservation was sealed up before it was deposited in a place of safety. In sealing the roll, it was wrapped round with flaxen thread or string, then a lump of clay was attached to it impressed with a seal. The seal would have to be broken by an authorised person before the book could be read (Rev. 5:2; Rev. 5:5; Rev. 5:9; Rev. 6:1; Rev. 6:3, etc.).^#

What are some details about the seven seals?

• The seven seals (Rev. 6:1-17, Rev. 8:1-5), seven trumpets (Rev. 8:6-21, Rev. 11:15-19), and seven bowls/vials (Rev. 16:1-21) are three succeeding series of end-times judgements from God. The judgements get progressively worse and more devastating as the end times progress. The seven seals, trumpets, and bowls are connected to one another. The seventh seal introduces the seven trumpets (Rev. 8:1-5), and the seventh trumpet introduces the seven bowls (Rev. 11:15-19, Rev. 15:1-8).
• The first four of the seven seals are known as the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. The first seal introduces the Antichrist (Rev. 6:1-2). The second seal causes great warfare (Rev. 6:3-4). The third of the seven seals causes famine (Rev. 6:5-6). The fourth seal brings about plague, further famine, and further warfare (Rev. 6:7-8).
• The fifth seal tells us of those who will be martyred for their faith in Christ during the end times (Rev. 6:9-11). God hears their cries for justice and will deliver it in His timing—in the form of the sixth seal, along with the trumpet and bowl judgements When the sixth of the seven seals is broken, a devastating earthquake occurs, causing massive upheaval and terrible devastation—along with unusual astronomical phenomena (Rev. 6:12-14). Those who survive are right to cry out, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” (Rev. 6:16-17).
• The seven trumpets are described in Rev. 8:6-21. The seven trumpets are the “contents” of the seventh seal (Rev. 8:1-5). The first trumpet causes hail and fire that destroys much of the plant life in the world (Rev. 8:7). The second trumpet brings about what seems to be a meteor hitting the oceans and causing the death of much of the world’s sea life (Rev. 8:8-9). The third trumpet is similar to the second, except it affects the world’s lakes and rivers instead of the oceans (Rev. 8:10-11).
• The fourth of the seven trumpets causes the sun and moon to be darkened (Rev. 8:12). The fifth trumpet results in a plague of “demonic locusts” that attack and torture humanity (Rev. 9:1-11). The sixth trumpet releases a demonic army that kills a third of humanity (Rev. 9:12-21). The seventh trumpet calls forth the seven angels with the seven bowls of God’s wrath (Rev. 11:15-19, Rev. 15:1-8).
• The seven bowl/vial judgements are described in Rev. 16:1-21. The seven bowl judgements are called forth by the seventh trumpet. The first bowl causes painful sores to break out on humanity (Rev. 16:2). The second bowl results in the death of every living thing in the sea (Rev. 16:3). The third bowl causes the rivers to turn into blood (Rev. 16:4-7). The fourth of the seven bowls results in the sun’s heat being intensified and causing great pain (Rev. 16:8-9). The fifth bowl causes great darkness and an intensification of the sores from the first bowl (Rev. 16:10-11). The sixth bowl results in the Euphrates River being dried up and the armies of the Antichrist being gathered together to wage the battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:12-14). The seventh bowl results in a devastating earthquake followed by giant hailstones (Rev. 16:15-21).
• Rev. 16:5-7 declares of God, “You are just in these judgements, you who are and who were, the Holy One, because you have so judged; for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve. … Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgements”.

^# – Orr, James, et.al., International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co, 1915)

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What are your thoughts on these answers? Agree? Disagree? A bit of both? Please use the comments section to share what you think.

Blessings,
Martin