THE GREAT TRIBULATION (3) | THE SEVEN SEALS

1. The Seven Seals

a) In Revelation 5 we read about a scroll bound with seven seals. When Christ opens these seals, the Great Tribulation starts. Each seal corresponds to a specific event in the Great Tribulation.

b) In Revelation 6:1-8 we read that the first four seals broken unleash four riders on the earth to conquer and spread war, famine, and death. This corresponds closely to what Jesus says in Matthew 24:6-8. After these spirit powers are unleashed the fifth seal is broken and many Christians will be killed and martyred for their faith. (Revelation 6:9-11, Matthew 24:9)

c) It is clear that the conditions on the world will have fallen to an all-time low. People will be ruled by hatred and pride. Christians will be persecuted and killed for their faith, lawlessness will abound, and false christs (messiahs) and false prophets will rise up. (Matthew 24:10-28)

d) The sixth seal broken will herald the arrival of earthquakes and cosmic disturbances. The sun and stars will go dark and the moon will become like blood. (Revelation 6:12-17 and Matthew 24:29)

e) After this takes place, Matthew 24:30 tells us that the Son of Man will appear in heaven and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. Jesus will come on the clouds to fetch His bride. This is known as the rapture, but Jesus does not actually return to the earth, so this is not the second coming of Jesus, which takes place later, after God’s wrath has been poured out on the earth.

f) In the rapture, Jesus sends out angels to fetch His bride, the 144,000, from all corners of the earth (Revelation 7, Matthew 24:31 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Even though we know the events leading up to this point, Jesus also says that no one will know the day or hour. (Matthew 24:36)

g) When the bride is raptured then the harlot will also be thrown off the beast’s back (Revelation 17:16). The beast no longer wants to listen to any form of Christianity or even false Christianity or any form of religion.

h) The seventh and final seal will then be broken. In Revelation 8:2 we see that seven angels are given seven trumpets and in verse 6 they are preparing to sound them.

g) This is the end of the “Great Tribulation” as described by Jesus in Matthew. However the prophecy in the book of Revelation tells of more events that will take place after the rapture, which see a significant escalation of the “Great Tribulation.”