Revelation 6: Where does the Seven Seals Begin and End?

One of the most misinterpreted subjects in the Adventists world (SDA Church) is the subject of the “Seven Seals”. This study clearly explains from the Bible and SOP the period at which the Seven Seals begin. The book with Seven Seals has something very essential to our salvation, this can be seen from the fact that, John wept as no one was found worthy to open the book, neither to look thereon, except for Jesus Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Juda and the Root of David who prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. The right understanding of this book is crucial to us (Seventh-Day Adventists) because it has a direct connection to investigative judgement.

Text of Meditation

Open-Mindedness: In your study of the word, lay at the door of investigation your preconceived opinions and your hereditary and cultivated ideas. You will never reach the truth if you study the Scriptures to vindicate your own ideas. Leave these at the door, and with a contrite heart go in to hear what the Lord has to say to you. As the humble seeker for truth sits at Christ’s feet, and learns of Him, the word gives him understanding. To those who are too wise in their own conceit to study the Bible, Christ says, You must become meek and lowly in heart if you desire to become wise unto salvation. {Messages to Young People page 260.1}

Do not read the word in the light of former opinions; but, with a mind free from prejudice, search it carefully and prayerfully. If, as you read, conviction comes, and you see that your cherished opinions are not in harmony with the word, do not try to make the word fit these opinions. Make your opinions fit the word. Do not allow what you have believed or practiced in the past to control your understanding. Open the eyes of your mind to behold wondrous things out of the law. Find out what is written, and then plant your feet on the eternal Rock. {Messages to Young People page 260.2}

Read: Revelation 6:1-11

To find where the Seals begin, we shall carefully note that History records only one period of martyrdom such as is described in the fourth and fifth seals — the martyrdom that began with John the Baptist and, with but little interruption, continued on to about the middle of the eighteenth century.

Rev 6:7-11: “And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth best 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 unto 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. 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, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”

• When he had opened the fifth seal, he saw souls under the altar that were slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held.
• “Were” implies that the souls were slain in the previous seal(s) or period before the fifth seal, which is none other than the fourth seal. This we know because the persecution started in the beginning of Christian era when John the Baptist was martyred escalating to the time of dark ages.
• This is further ascertained by the fact that he who sat upon the pale horse was Death and Hell followed Him

Obviously, then, the fourth seal opened with the closing of the Old Testament time and the beginning of the New. Since this is so, and since the Seals are consecutive, the first three seals must find their fulfillment, not in the New Testament period, but in the Old Testament period.

Let us consider when did the second seal begin?

We are told that the rider of the second seal was “to take peace from the earth,” implying that there was peace before. To learn the time of the second seal, therefore, we need to answer the question: When was peace taken away from the earth?

• Sacred history tells us that there were no wars before the flood that wars began after the confusion of tongues at the tower of Babel, after the human family had been divided into numerous tongues, nations, and races.
• The first war recorded in the Bible was fought in the days of Abraham, and wars have stayed with us ever since. Before that day there was peace. Where else, then, could the second seal apply? After the flood, the time peace was taken away from the earth. If it is so, then the history of the first seal must be sought in the period before the flood.
• The color (white) of the horse itself speaks of purity, freedom from sin and defilement, and that condition only existed in the time of Adam.

Revelation 6:2: “And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.”

• These horses are referred to as “him”. The white horse is applied a masculine pronoun “him”.

Where in the Bible has the church of God been referred to as a masculine? Rather the church is given a feminine pronoun “she” read: Revelation 12:2

• This is affirmed by the fact that the church of God is represented by a woman in scriptures not a male figure.
• The Bible proves that the seven seals do not start with the Christian era (Ephesus church) as the “so called” wise men teach.

Which book was on the right hand of Him that sitteth on the throne?

They hated the high standard of righteousness which Christ continually presented. They saw that His teaching was placing them where their selfishness would be uncloaked, and they determined to kill Him. They hated His example of truthfulness and piety and the elevated spirituality revealed in all He did. His whole life was a reproof to their selfishness, and when the final test came, the test which meant 3 obedience unto eternal life or disobedience unto eternal death, they rejected the Holy One of Israel. When they were asked to choose between Christ and Barabbas, they cried out, “Release unto us Barabbas!” Luke 23:18. And when Pilate asked, “What shall I do then with Jesus?” they cried fiercely, “Let Him be crucified.” Matthew 27:22. “Shall I crucify your King?” Pilate asked, and from the priests and rulers came the answer, “We have no king but Caesar.” John 19:15. When Pilate washed his hands, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just person,” the priests joined with the ignorant mob in declaring passionately, “His blood be on us, and on our children.” Matthew 27:24, 25. {Christ Object Lessons page 293.3}

“ Thus the Jewish leaders made their choice. Their decision was registered in the book which John saw in the hand of Him that sat upon the throne, the book which no man could open. In all its vindictiveness this decision will appear before them in the day when this book is unsealed by the Lion of the tribe of Judah.” {Christ Object Lessons page 294.1}

As the books of record are opened in the judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review before God. Beginning with those who first lived upon the earth, our Advocate presents the cases of each successive generation, and closes with the living. Every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated. Names are accepted, names rejected. When any have sins remaining upon the books of record, unrepented of and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life, and the record of their good deeds will be erased from the book of God’s remembrance. The Lord declared to Moses: “Whosoever hath sinned against Me, him will I blot out of My book.” Exodus 32:33. And says the prophet Ezekiel: “When the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, . . . all his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned.” Ezekiel 18:24. {The Great Controversy page 483.1}

Revelation 20:12: “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.”

“After the saints are changed to immortality and caught up together with Jesus, after they receive their harps, their robes, and their crowns, and enter the city, Jesus and the saints sit in judgment. The books are opened–the book of life and the book of death. The book of life contains the good deeds of the saints; and the book of death contains the evil deeds of the wicked. These books are compared with the statute book, the Bible, and according to that men are judged.” (Early Writings page 52)

The only books which we know of from what the Inspiration has given us are:

1. The Lamb’s book of Life – where the records of all who entered upon the service of Christ are chronicled, as we saw that the Jewish leaders decision was also recorded in that book (col 294.1)

2. The book of death which contains the evil deeds of the wicked

3. The statute book, the Bible

As we have read, the investigative judgement start with the cases of those who first lived upon earth and their records are found in that book which was unsealed in 1844. This entails, the first seal gives us 4 the records of those who first lived on earth, following the generations which came after, up to the end of the world.

Manuscript Release Vol 9, page 7: Prophetic Interpretation, The Book With Seven Seals Contains the History of the World.–

“And I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to 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 5:1-3). {Manuscript Release Vol 9 page 7.1}

There in His open hand lay the book, the roll of the history of God’s providences, the prophetic history of nations and the church. Herein was contained the divine utterances, His authority, His commandments, His laws, the whole symbolic counsel of the Eternal, and the history of all ruling powers in the nations. In symbolic language was contained in that roll the influence of every nation, tongue, and people from the beginning of earth’s history to its close. {9MR 7.2}

Where does the history of the world begin, if not from creation?

1 Thessalonians 5:21: Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

What do the horses and riders represent?

What could the horses, driven by men, symbolize? — They can symbolize only something over which man rules, for a rider always rules that which he rides. The horsemen, then, must be symbolical of man’s rule over the creation of God.

• The colors of the horses and the professions of their riders show progress in greed and crime. It is evident from the symbolism that man’s ruling the world has not wrought improvement.
• The white horse denotes peace and purity which existed only at the beginning of the creation of God. By the rider of the white horse is seen man’s great aim to subdue and to replenish the earth. And by the red horse and his rider we see blood-shed and wars. This brutality led the way for the black horse to come on the scene. The color black is significant of enslaving nations, and the balances are expressive of inventing commercial schemes to obtain wealth. The fourth horse, the pale, portrays a system of indefinable character — difficult to distinguish whether Christian or Pagan — hypocrisy. The fifth seal shows that the persecution of the saints continued to the opening of the sixth seal. Are not these the headlines of history? The Seals, therefore, begin with the commencement of these things.

Conclusion:

• The seven seals begin from creation and end at the end of the world
• The seven seals show us seven groups of people whose cases are considered under the investigative judgement, in each group there God’s people who are sealed, hence the name Seven Seals.

You can download a pdf version of this study for your convenience by clicking this link:  Where Do The Seven Seals Begin

To obtain a more detailed study on the seven seals please visit our publications page and download a copy of Tract No. 15 or click this link: Tract No. 15 To the Seven Churches

Tagged as: 7 seals, Ellen White, Revelation 6, seven seals, shepherd's rod, V.T. Houteff