1st Seal
And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, “Come and see.” And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given to him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. (Revelation 6:1-2 AKJV)
This is the first of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. One of the four beasts before the Throne of God reveals what is happening. Revelation 4:7 shows the first beast is the lion who views what is happening with the rulers upon the Earth (Ezekiel 19:6). Most scholars agree that the person on the white horse is the AntiChrist.
To prevent confusion with the spirit of antichrist mentioned in 1 John 4:1-6 we will capitalize the name: he is the opposite of our Lord (Christ). The defining characteristics of this person are:
riding a horse: a symbol of coming power
white: symbolic of righteousness or self-righteousness
bow: used with arrows which are words, so his words will be weapons (Jeremiah 3:9)
crown: symbolic of royal power and authority.
The AntiChrist will come in power, seeming righteous, but he will be focused on his own self-interest. He will be cunning with words and is not a member of royalty but is “given a crown.” He is given the power and authority of a king, even though he wasn’t born into it.
Timing
We must closely examine the scripture to see when this occurs. After Daniel’s Week is described in chapter 9, then, a couple of chapters later Daniel is given a prophecy about the rulers to come who will affect Israel. The description centers around those attacking Israel. All the descriptions include the rule and how the person dies, so we know how many rulers are being talked about because a description or announcement of their end is given. All have been fulfilled except the final ruler:
And in his place or office [in Syria] shall arise a contemptuous and contemptible person, to whom royal majesty and honor of the kingdom have not been given. But he shall come in without warning in time of security and shall obtain the kingdom by flatteries, intrigues, and cunning hypocritical conduct. (Daniel 11:21 AMPC)
Because this is the final ruler to attack Israel, we can connect him to the creator of the seven-year agreement: Daniel’s Week, though the definitive proof of it will not come until the end of the description in chapter 12. Daniel asks when this will happen and is told:
it shall be for a time, times, and a half (Daniel 12:7).
Time: 1 year
times: 2 years
half time: half a year
Total: three-and-a-half years.
Since we know the AntiChrist will break the covenant halfway through a seven-year period, we can see that these are two descriptions of the same event. This is a more in-depth account of the last person who will attack Israel. Right away we see that the person to take power in Syria is a “vile” person who is contemptible.
“In his place or office” refers to a leadership role in Syria. A person assumes that place of authority but isn’t royal by birth. He comes in peaceably, so it isn’t by literally conquering with the military. The AntiChrist will “obtain the kingdom by flatteries” with intrigues and cunning hypocritical behavior.
The AntiChrist is someone manipulating behind the scenes and whose behavior doesn’t line up with what he says. This perfectly aligns with the first seal, giving more details that may help us identify the AntiChrist later. To find out more about the AntiChrist see other Revelation Q & A meetings.
For now, we can focus on the fact that the AntiChrist must establish an agreement that allows sacrifices and offerings in the temple. As we know, the temple must be built before the week can begin. This means the 1st Seal has to be broken before Daniel’s Week can begin. I do believe this seal is already broken.
Second Seal
And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 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 to him a great sword. (Revelation 6:3-4 AKJV)
And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. (Revelation 4:7 AKJV)
As the 2nd Seal is broken, the second beast begins to speak. It is a young bull. Scripture shows us that a bull can represent nations, so this “being,” watches over the nations of the Earth to reveal how this seal will affect them. The next seal releases a horse of a different color with a different purpose:
Red: anger, war and destruction
Horse: power
Sword: cut deeply with a long reach
The Horseman of War will be loosed before Daniel’s Week because conflict needs to be present for a peace treaty to have power. I believe this seal was broken as Russia attacked Ukraine.
Third Seal
And when He had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and see a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the middle of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see you hurt not the oil and the wine. (Revelation 6:5-6 AKJV)
Following the Horseman of War is Famine. Revelation 4:7 shows the third beast has a face of a man. This being watches how mankind is acting on the Earth. The results of this seal are because of man’s actions.
The Horseman of Famine has a black horse, which stands for sin and an attack of the enemy. He brings a severe shortage of food that leads to astronomical food prices. At the time this was written, it is estimated this scripture meant that a day’s wages would pay for a loaf of bread - the most basic of food needed to survive.
The oil and wine are two ingredients used in healing at the time this was written. Oil is also symbolic for the anointing and wine represents the blood of Jesus. Perhaps God will still be miraculously providing for His people during this time?
An article at the UN by Vibhu Mishra on September 5, 2024 states, “The number of people experiencing catastrophic hunger has surged more than twofold in 2024, due largely to the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Sudan, according to new figures released by the UN on Thursday. The updated Global Report on Food Crises reveals that nearly two million people are now grappling with the most critical level of food insecurity, classified as Phase 5 on the global IPC scale, which tracks acute hunger.” The five phases of food crises are:
Minimal
Stressed
Crises
Emergency
Famine
The UN has just declared that there is a famine affecting two million people! There really is no information about when this seal will break, however, I believe the 3rd Seal is also broken and working with the Horseman of War to increase famine through inflation and shrinkflation. We will place it right outside of Daniel’s Week.
Fourth Seal
And when He had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 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 to 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. (Revelation 6:7-8 AKJV)
Once the Horseman of Famine is fully revealed, Death quickly follows for we see hunger is one of the tools used by Death to take one's life. The fourth beast is a flying eagle who watches how movement in the spirit affects all of the Earth.
This horse is a particular color. The Greek word chlōros (khlo-ros’) means pale greenish yellow.
Green: Negative meaning a lack of growth and prosperity or greed
Yellow means anxiety and fear.
It is the greed of the world that is bringing about the death of millions. There will be a lack of ability to grow and prosper while fear dominates the world. It is interesting to note the word “one-fourth” which is only “part of the Earth.” Since it is part of the Earth and not a percentage of mankind, it is likely that only some countries will experience the effects of this seal. The increase in food prices will reflect what areas will be hardest hit.
The 4th Horseman, Death, will be backed by the other three and complete what they have begun. A body count will begin to mount. This is the seal we can expect to see broken in the next year. What you should look for is this:
War spreading bringing death to hundreds of thousands.
Famine: Death toll rising due to food shortages in developing countries.
Death as a result of sin:
Some versions of the Bible translate “with death” as pestilence. There is no basis for that in the original meaning.
Thanatos: Greek - in the widest sense, death comprising all the miseries arising from sin.
This oppression from the enemy may include illness, accidents, and emotional attacks leading to suicide.
Animals attacking in unusual ways.
Roughly one-fourth of the world is listed as “developing.” Famine will hit the medium to low-developed areas harder. War has always been around in certain parts of the world, so it may be hard to identify when these two begin to escalate. Suicide and attacks of the enemy, likewise, have been around, but when this seal breaks it will skyrocket. Attacking animals may be the easiest item to spot.
Only one-fourth of the Earth will be affected by these events which is why the breaking of this seal may be hard to spot. I believe this will break in the next year, though scripture does not indicate that it must be broken inside Daniel’s Week. Only time will tell. Since Daniel’s Week hasn’t started yet, we can place this outside the week for now.
Fifth Seal
And when He had opened the fifth seal, 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, do you not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the Earth? (Revelation 6:9-10 AKJV)
The full power of the enemy is now upon the Earth; the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The beasts before the Throne have completed their job and no longer reveal what is happening. This seal is about the persecution of Christians who will die resisting the AntiChrist. When suffering comes because you confess that you are a Christian, will you continue to hold to His name or side with man?
Right now, across the world, it is estimated that 13 Christians are killed every day for their faith. This number will increase dramatically at this point. The increase of the slain may be localized to the areas around Jerusalem or the Middle East at first.
There is no scriptural information about when this seal may be broken. It could happen before Daniel’s Week begins or anytime before the 6th Seal which is the only seal that there is some evidence about when it will occur. For now, we will let it hang out before the Week begins.
Sixth Seal
And I beheld when He had opened the sixth seal, and, see, 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 to the Earth, even as a fig tree casts her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. (Revelation 6:12-13 AKJV)
What could cause the sun to become black and the moon to be red? Sackcloth of goat’s hair was used in mourning and usually connected to a time when judgment had occurred. Since we can still see a red moon, this cannot be a sun that is entirely blocked. Perhaps it refers to an eclipse of the sun. Before we address the red moon, let’s talk about the stars.
The “stars of Heaven” which fell may cause this. To understand why, we need to look at more scriptures. The Greek word aster is translated “stars.” It is the same word used earlier in the same manuscript where it is defined for us:
The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches… (Revelation 1:20 AKJV)
Stars of Heaven falling to Earth can now be clearly seen as angels being kicked out of Heaven. Another passage in Revelation will show when this will take place within Daniel’s Week.
And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up to God, and to his throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and three score days (1260 days). (Revelation 12:5-6 AKJV)
And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and three score days, clothed in sackcloth. (Revelation 11:3 AKJV)
John talks about the birth of Jesus, so we know this is about Israel. As we have discussed, the “woman” is Israel, fleeing to the “wilderness” connects this to a type of journey to the promised land. Being fed means learning God’s ways anew like they did in that first wilderness.
The same amount of days are used for both events so they are occurring at the same time. The Two witnesses will be prophesying and Israel will be “fed…” Perhaps it will be part of the job of the witnesses? As we continue, we see how this applies to the 6th Seal:
And there was war in Heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in Heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the Earth, and his angels were cast out with him… (Revelation 12:7-9 AKJV)
The passage begins with “and” a conjunction connecting these two events meaning they will happen at the same time. While Israel is receiving correction, then Michael will be removing Satan and his minions from Heaven.
And when the dragon saw that he was cast to the Earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, (three and a half years) from the face of the serpent. (Revelation 12:13-14 AKJV)
The real persecution of Israel will begin with the breaking of the 6th Seal. Within these two verses, we can see that this seal will be broken before the midpoint in Daniel’s Week. This means the stars fall from Heaven during the first half of the Week somewhere. How does this affect the moon and what does that mean? To understand this, you will need to know about principalities.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12 AKJV)
Satan is not omnipresent. He has to organize his army to enforce his will and receive information. This shows the levels of the organization:
Principalities: rule over nations (Daniel 10:13)
Powers: rule over states or provinces
Rulers of the darkness: over cities, enforcing rules and regulations
Spiritual wickedness in high places: demons operating in the spirit realm
The bigger the country, the bigger the principality - literally. The more powerful ones are quite big. In 2011 when the tsunami hit Japan that shows what happens when an evil principality is kicked out. When Satan and his minions are cast to the Earth, this explains what happens as we continue reading:
And the Heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. (Revelation 6:14 AKJV)
If every mountain and island are moving, then this is a serious earthquake. Every evil host being removed over geographical locations explains why every mountain and every island is shaken. The Earth moving to this degree may very well set off many volcanoes in the Ring of Fire which contains approximately 850–1,000 volcanoes around a tectonic plate in the Pacific Ocean.
The world has recently witnessed that ash and smoke from wildfires will cause the moon to look very red. The “moon became as blood” refers to much more than a local phenomenon such as a “blood moon” because this is seen worldwide. Blood moons are only visible to certain areas of the world. The ash and smoke from the volcanoes would account for a literal red moon. This worldwide event will affect all nations. The next verse shows the reactions of mankind:
And the kings of the Earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every slave, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Revelation 6:15-17 AKJV)
The Earth and the hearts of men will be shaken as the 6th Seal is broken and they will run for safety instead of running to God. At this point, all Christians should know that Daniel’s Week has begun, and the 6th Seal has broken, because the scripture states that “the day of His wrath has come.”
Seventh Seal
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. (Revelation 8:1-2 AKJV)
The 7th Seal releases the seven trumpets. Trumpets sound a warning or announce that something is coming. In this case, they are announcing that God’s wrath will be poured out! They are not God’s wrath, they are a warning that it is on the way. The “silence in Heaven about the space of half an hour” indicates it will be some time before those trumpets begin sounding.
When the sixth seal is broken, people run and hide, knowing God’s wrath is coming. The AntiChrist blasphemes Heaven, God, and all who dwell there. When nothing more comes from Heaven for what could be three years, people come out of hiding and begin submitting to the AntiChrist.
And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints on 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 thunder, and lightning, and an earthquake. (Revelation 8:3-5 AKJV)
An angel comes and places the prayers of the saints and incense before the Throne of God on a golden altar (Revelation 8:1). God receives the prayers of the saints who are crying out. The response is to bring “fire of the altar of God.”
Greek word pyr (poorr) is often related to the cleansing fire of purification.
Voices is the Greek word “phone” besides meaning actual speech, it can mean a sound or tone
Thunder is the Greek word “bronte” indicating it is like a roar
Lightning is the Greek word “astrape” literally means the gleam of a lamp or actual lightning
The seventh trumpet is about God speaking from Heaven with power. Earthquakes continue and it will be a time where Christians are tried in the fire of God. The Bride of Christ will become bright and pure. Thunder is explained elsewhere by John:
...Then a voice came from Heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” (John 12: 28-29 ESV)
When God spoke loudly, some only heard thunder while others heard a voice. Lightning is God’s display of power. Just as it was in the days of Acts, Christians will be under great persecution. However, God will be moving strongly through those who are rightly aligned with Him and His ways! We will become a bright shining light in a dark time. How will you hear His voice, as thunder, or the words He speaks?
Since the 7th Seal happens after the sixth, more than that would be presumptuous. The breaking of the 6th and 7th Seals will happen somewhere in the first half of Daniel’s week. It could happen at the beginning… that would leave room for the seven trumpets to sound and the rapture to occur in the middle of Daniel’s Week. Or, will the 6th and 7th Seal be broken Later in Daniel’s Week with the 7th Trumpet and rapture happening some closer to the end of the Week? Looking at the trumpets will help us understand which is the most likely option for when the rapture and trumpets sound but we must know that God has the final say!
Comments