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THE SEVEN SEALS I. COMPLIMENTARY TEXTS 1. Isaiah 53:7, 10 - The will of the Lord will prosper in the hand of the Lamb. 2. Jeremiah 50:41-43 - Horses are a picture of judgment being brought. 3. Luke 18:1-8 - God's people are supposed to plea for justice and protection. 4. Hosea 10:8 - The wicked cry for protection from judgment, but seldom realize they need to repent. 5. Isaiah 13:1, 9-11, 13 - Judgment upon the wicked is pictured with natural disasters. II. MAIN THEME -
Revelation 6 - The Lamb of God is in control, He opens the seals. He allows the 4 to call forth judgment. His faithful
wonder "how long?" and are told to wait and receive white robes. 1.Textual Discussion of Revelation 6 and related passages from Revelation. 1.) The Lamb is in control. He opened the seals - :1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12. a. He is worthy to open the seals because he was slain - 5:9. b. He's worthy because he purchased men and made them a kingdom - 5:4-10; 1:6. 2.) As the Lamb opened the first 4 seals, the 4 living creatures of heaven call forth various kinds of limited judgment - 1, 3, 5, 7. a. The first seal, conquest from outside - :2. b. The second seal, internal strife - :4. c. The third seal, inflation and famine - :5-6. d. The fourth seal, death in many forms - :8. 3.) The fifth seal reveals the faithful martyrs looking for justice from the Lord - :9-10. 4.) The heavenly response is both comforting and painful - :11. a. They were given white robes - :12; 7:14; 19:7-8; 3:4-5. b. More brethren were to be killed, as the martyrs had been - :11; 2:9-10. 5.) When the Lamb broke the sixth seal, the judgment the martyrs wondered about began, announced as the wrath of the Lamb - :12-16. a. Judgment is pictured as natural disasters - :12-13; b. It's so horrible the wicked ask to be destroyed or hidden by the Judges - :15-16. 6.) The question which is answered in chapter 7 is asked, "Who is able to stand in the face of the wrath of Him who sits on the throne and the Lamb?" - :16-17. 2. Related topics and texts from other books of the Bible 1.) The Lamb is totally committed to doing the Father’s will - John 4:34; 15:10; Luke 2:49 a. Even to the point of death - Isaiah 53:7, 10; Matt 26:39, 42; Phil 2:8; Rev 13:8 b. He is worthy to give justice to the wicked - 2 Thes 1:5-10; Rev 5:12; Heb 10:29-31 2.) It is right for God’s people to pray for protection and judgment upon the wicked - Rev 6:9-10; 2 Thes 3:1-3; 2 Peter 2:1-9; Luke 18:1-8 3.) God uses pictures of natural disaster to show His judgment so that we can have a mental picture of what is happening - Isaiah 13:1, 9-11, 13; Rev 6:12-17; Matt 24:27-30; Luke 21:25-28 4.) Trying to hide from God’s wrath is useless, the wicked must repent while there is time-Hosea 10:8; Rev 2:16; 6:16; Luke 13:3-5 III. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS 1. Times will be hard, and sometimes it appears that the wicked are "winning". It's okay to cry "How long?” to God - Rev 6:10; Mark 15:34; Luke 18:1-8. 2. The Lamb is in control, despite the tragic situation; He will reward your faith - 6:11; 2:10. 3. The unrighteous will be judged - Rev 6:12-16; 11:18; 19:1-2; 20:11-14; Jeremiah 50:41-46 4. Remember, the events described here are presented in symbols, Rev 1:1, so the numbers and pictures are not to be seen as literal, such as the white robes which are the righteous deeds of the saints. 5. We "win" through faithful sacrifice - Rev 6:9-11; 5:4-9. IV. MEMORY VERSE - Revelation 6:17 |