The Tribulation Judgments – Seals

I. The Tribulation Judgments – Seals

II. Introduction. 

A. The picture of the opening of the sealed scroll by the Son of God is given in Revelation 6. Here is the beginning of the unfolding of the judgment program of God. Angels are mentioned throughout the book in connection with the execution of the judgment program. 

1. When the first seal is broken a voice from the cherubim is heard, saying, “Come.” It is the voice of one of the cherubim calling forth the instrument of divine judgment. The cherubim are still in executive connection with the government of God. That government has respect to the earth upon which judgment is now to be executed. The successional calamities, coming forth as the seals are broken, are thus under the order and control of the divine administration. No instrument of judgment appears until summoned by the call of the cherubim.

2. The providential preparation of the divine government for the coming of Jesus. God is dealing in wrath (Rev. 6:16-17), through human agency, to pour out judgment upon the earth. 

B. There is general agreement among commentators as to the interpretation of the seals. The first (6:2) is generally agreed to represent the peace movements on the part of men as they seek to establish peace on the earth. It may be associated with the covenant made by the Beast to establish peace on the earth. The second (6:3-4) represents the removal of peace from the earth and the wars that engulf the earth. The third (6:5-6) represents famine that results from the desolation of war. The fourth (6:7-8) prefigures the death that follows in the wake of the failure of men to establish peace. The fifth (6:9-11) reveals the fact of death among the saints of God because of their faith and their impassioned plea for vengeance. The sixth (6:12-17) speaks of the great convulsions that will shake the whole earth. This may signify the condition in which every authority and power loses its control over men and anarchy reigns. 

1. The persecuting powers and those subject to them will be visited judicially, and there will ensue a complete disruption of authority on the earth.  

2. These seals, then, are the beginning of God’s judgments upon the earth. They are successive unfoldings of the judgment program, although they may continue throughout the period when once unfolded. They are mainly divine judgments through human agencies. They fall upon the earth in the first portion of the tribulation, and they will continue on through the period.   

III. God’s Involvement.

A. The fall of mankind. The perfection of God’s creation that is shown in Genesis Chapters 1 and 2 (Gen 1:31) is attacked by the fall of Adam and Eve (Gen 3:12-13). 

B. The resulting curse of the fall. (Gen 3:14-19). On the serpent (3:14-15); the woman (3:16); the man (3:17-19). 

C. God’ plan of redemption mankind. (Gen 3:15). “And I will make enemies Of you and the woman, And of your offspring and her Descendant; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise Him on the heel.” [“between your seed.” the spiritual descendants of Satan; Cf. John 8:44; Eph 2:2;] [“and her seed.” those who are in the family of God.] [“He.” An individual from among the woman’s seed, namely Christ, will deal a death blow to Satan’s “head” at the cross, while Satan (you) will “bruise” Christ’s “heel” (caused him to suffer.)]

IV. God’s plan The plan of salvation for fallen mankind is clearly stated in Scripture, and has nothing to do with mankind’s actions on earth, whether good of bad (Isa 46:10).

A. John 4:22. “Salvation is from the Jews.”

B. John 3:16. ” For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”

C. Acts 16:31. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”

D. From the Jews was born Jesus. Through belief in Jesus, mankind will receive salvation from the curse that came on the earth after the fall of Adam and Eve. 

V. God’s use of the Jews for salvation. 

A. The Jews (Israel) are God’s chosen people, which He has used for the salvation of mankind. (Deu 14:2).

B. God used Jews as prophetic voices to His people (Jews) about the end times, (tribulation and millennium) which includes Christ setting up a Kingdom on Earth (Matt 24:29-30; Rev 20:1-6), which will bring about a return to the perfection of the flawed creation of Eden and mankind (Rev 21-22). 

C. Because of Israel’s disobedience to God, a time of distress for Israel was spoken to His chosen people through His prophets, with a redemption of the Jews and Gentiles.

1. Tribulation (distress). (Jer 30:7).

2. Redemption (Isa 2:1-5)

VI. God’s blessings for entire salvation of mankind and creation 

A. Isa 65:17. For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind. 

B. Isa 65:25. The wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox; and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will do no evil or harm on all My holy mountain,” says the Lord.

C. Mic 4:3. And He will judge between many peoples And render decisions for mighty, distant nations. Then they will beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation will not lift a sword against nation, And never again will they train for war.

D. Isa 56:7-8. For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples. The Lord God, who gathers the dispersed of Israel, declares, I will yet gather others to them, to those already gathered.

VII. God’s use of the Seal judgments (Rev 6:1-12). Matthew 24:6-7: The same judgments outlined in Rev 6:1-8. 

A. 6:1-2. Cold war. Christ opens the first seal.

B. 6:3-4. Open war. Christ opens the second seal.

C. 6:5-6. Famine. Christ opens the third seal.

D. 6:7-8. Death. Christ opens the fourth seal.

E. 6:9-11. Martyrdom. Christ opens the fifth seal.

F. 6:12-17. Physical disturbances. Christ opens the sixth seal.

G. 8:1-6. The six trumpet judgments. Christ opens the seventh seal, which opens the six trumpet judgments.

VIII. God is in control Of The Tribulation.

A. Just as God is in control  of the releasing of the Seal judgments in Rev 6:1-17 and Rev 8:1-6, He causes all of the Tribulation judgments of Matt 24:3-31; 25:31-46 to happen.

B. Neither Satan, nor Mankind, will cause any of God’s Tribulation judgments to occur, except as He may allow such things to take place.

C. The curse that has come upon the earth from the fall of Adam and Eve has caused many horrible things to happen, but such things are not a part of the Tribulation (Seals, Trumpets, Bowls) e.g. Holocaust deaths, Russian Revolution deaths, natural disasters, et al.

IX. Study References.

All of my study references are listed in my Page, About My References.