The reading today begins with Jesus opening the first 6 seals of the scroll that was handed to him by his Heavenly Father (Rev. 5:7). The Lord Jesus was the only One worthy to open the scroll because of his life , death and resurrection (Rev. 5:8-14). He is both the Lamb of God and the Lion of the tribe of Judah. This scroll contains both the redeeming and judging work of God that will usher in the new heavens and the new earth (Rev. 21,22).
The Judging And Saving Work Of God
The opening of the first 6 seals takes place in Revelation 6, with an interlude in Revelation 7, and the 7th seal is opened in Revelation 8:1. The opening of the 7th seal introduces the 7 trumpets given to 7 angels. The first 6 trumpets are blown in Revelation 8 & 9, with another interlude in Revelation 10, which spills over to Revelation 11. The 7th trumpet is blown in Revelation 11:15.
The number 7 is used often in the Book of Revelation. In the Bible, 7 represents the number of completion or fullness. In the Book of Revelation, we are seeing the completing of God’s work in His old creation. God is carrying out to completion His perfect work of redemption and judgment. He is carrying out this work through the Savior, Jesus, who is pictured as a Lamb throughout the Book of Revelation. In John’s heavenly vision in Revelation 5, Jesus is pictured as a Lamb with 7 horns and 7 eyes (v. 6). I think the 7 horns represent the full authority that Jesus possesses, as God’s obedient Son, to carry out God’s plan of redemption for the world.
The 7 eyes are said to represent the 7 spirits of God or the 7-fold Spirit of God (Rev. 1:4; 5:6). Christians don’t believe in 7 Holy Spirits. But the 7 spirits of God or the 7-fold Spirit is how John in this apocalyptic vision uses symbolic language to communicate important truths of God’s nature and God’s work in the world. The 7 spirits of God is the Holy Spirit in his perfection and omniscience. This kind of symbolic use of language needs to be kept in mind as we read and interpret the Book of Revelation.
When you don’t keep in mind this symbolic use of language, and use an overly-wooden literal interpretation, you end up with 7 Holy Spirits. This is clearly heretical and bad interpretation. We need to pay attention how John is using language in this Book and how apocalyptic literature is different from historical narrative, like we find in the Book of Acts or in 1 & 2 Kings. Some popular prophecy teachers don’t keep this in mind and end up with all sorts of questionable interpretations, when they teach from the Book of Revelation.
In Jesus’ opening of the first 4 seals, we see 4 horses, with their riders, unleashed into the world (Rev. 6:1-7) . They seem to be horsemen of God’s judgment. They introduce political leaders bent on conquest, war, famine, plague, and inflation. Widespread death seems to ensue. What has been always true of unredeemed humanity in the old creation, will only increase as we grow closer to the end of this present age. The 5th seal reveals faithful followers of Jesus martyred for their testimony. Again, what has always been true at different times and different places, the persecution of followers of Jesus, will only increase, as we get closer to Christ’s Second Coming.
When the 6th seal is opened, it seems like we are right at the point of Christ’s Second Coming. All those who have refused to repent are trying to hide in caves and the rocks of the mountains from Jesus (Rev. 6:15). “They called to the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?’ (Rev. 6:16,17)”. The 6th seal bringing us right to Christ’s Second Coming might suggest that there is some overlap between the 7 seals, the 7 trumpets and the 7 bowls. It is interesting to ponder this, without being dogmatic about it.
God Is The Great Promise-Keeper
The interlude in Revelation 7, switches from the judgment emphasis of Revelation 6, to the emphasis of God’s saving work in the lives of those who accept the testimony of Jesus. We see that the most important seal is God’s seal (Rev. 7:1-4). Others will allow themselves to be marked and sealed by the Antichrist (Rev. 14:9-11), but God will spiritually mark and protect those who maintain faithfulness to Jesus. Even though God’s seal will not necessarily protect Christians from physical death, it will ensure spending eternity with God and the Lamb, the Lord Jesus, in the new heaven and new earth (7:9-17).
I think Revelation 7 is trying to communicate God’s faithfulness to His promises to His people. He can be trusted even when the world, along with believers, are going through great tribulations and trials. He chose Abraham in Genesis 12, and promised that his descendants would be a blessing to the whole world. Even though Sarah was past childbearing. Isaac was born. He fathered Jacob, and then Jacob fathered 12 sons. From these 12 sons, the nation Israel came into being.
Despite much unfaithfulness and suffering in their history, the Jewish descendants of Abraham mentioned in Rev. 7:5-8. will experience the blessings of salvation with the Gentile believers mentioned in Rev. 7:9-17. In v.9, we read that there are people from every nation worshiping the Lord in heaven. God’s mission, which seemed impossible, is accomplished!
QOTD: Are you patiently trusting God’s promises and faithfully walking with Jesus, even when the going gets tough?