Matthew 24 Explains the 7 Seals

One of the foremost symbols we’ll be analyzing, the 7 seals of Revelation chapters 6 and 8 provide a wide-view lens of the end of this age. They go hand in hand with our understanding of the Bible’s prophetic timeline, guiding us with an overall perspective to track a course through the complex chapters of the book.

Revelation is not chronological, but the 7 seals are consecutive with their timing. They are an exact parallel to Christ’s famous age-ending prophecies found in Matthew 24.

Please see Appendix 3 for a side-by-side comparison of Revelation chapters 6 and 8 as they correlate to passages in Matthew 24. This overview helps us understand the beginning of end-time trials, through the Great Tribulation Period, which Christ states in Matthew 24 verse 21 as the worst era of earth’s history.

The first seal is opened by Christ to allow a rider, depicted on a white horse, to conquer the earth. This parallels Matthew 24 verse 5 regarding false messiahs. Messiahs can be religious or political saviors, but these end-time false messiahs depict a complete world system as they set out to conquer both domains. This is the preparation phase, the beginning of the end.  There is no turning back the clock once the white horse is released.

The second seal begins end-time wars with reports, then escalation. It follows along with Matthew 24 verses 6 and 7. This is not Armageddon, since there will be a lot more events yet to come. These wars will create a sense of global distress.

The third seal is about famines coinciding with Matthew 24 verse 7. We can certainly imagine what the earth with be like when food is scarce. There will be more fighting and distress. What will Christians be doing during this time? Hopefully, we will help our neighbor.

The fourth seal results in deaths from the wars and famines mentioned in Matthew 24:7-8. By the time the fourth seal is completed, it will look like the end of the world. The world will be ready for its savior, not Christ.

The Abomination of Desolation occurs at the time of the fifth seal, as inferred by following the parallel text in Matthew 24:15-27. This is the mid-point of Daniel’s 70th week, when the devil claims to be the true god through the person of the antichrist. If we think the first four seals are going to be bad, we are going to have a rude awakening about what comes next.

The 5th Seal Depicts Martyrs

The fifth seal begins the Great Tribulation Period. The Church will go through this awful time.  The details and results are stated in Mathew 24:9, Revelation 13:10 and Revelation 20:4-6. Martyrdom, and believers entering captivity, are results of the antichrist’s war with the saints mentioned in Daniel 7:21-26 and Revelation 13:5-10. Not all of God’s chosen people will be persecuted; some will be divinely protected by being sealed (Revelation 7:3-4) or they will be carried on eagle’s wings (Revelation 12:14).

The sixth seal begins the Day of the Lord after the antichrist exalts himself above all gods and proclaims to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). There are many references to the Day of the Lord, such as Matthew 24:29-30 and Revelation 6:12-17 that parallel Joel 3:9-16, Isaiah 2:12-22 and Isaiah 34:4 with the same Day of the Lord signs.

The seventh seal closes out the age we live in with Christ emerging from the veil of the heavenly realm to begin His physical reign on earth. Matthew 24:30-31 occurs at the timing of the seventh seal when there is silence in Heaven (Revelation 8:1). All prayers are answered (Revelation 8:3-5) at the climax of the Day of the Lord. This occurs at the end of time, just before the merger of Heaven and earth. Christ comes to earth!

The seventh seal begins the process of the second coming and the rapture. This is the resurrection of the dead and the beginning of the next age (1 Corinthians 15:22-26). It is the start of the invisible realm being revealed on the newly restored earth where Christ will dwell after He cleanses it (2 Peter 3:12-13).

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Revelation Explained Copyright © 2022 by K.J. Soze. All Rights Reserved.

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