The Seven Seals

During the End Times, there is said to be 21 judgements. These include the seven seals, seven trumpets and the seven vials, or bowl, judgement. The first set, the Seven Seals, refers to the 6th chapter of Revelation and the first six parts of chapter 8.

The First Seal is opened, releasing "a white horse: and he that sat on him" carries a bow and is wearing a crown. The White Horse then goes on to conquer. The White Horse is representative of the Anitchrist's rise to power.

When the Second Seal is opened, a red horse comes forth. And, "power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another". The rider is given a large sword and is called War.

At the opening of the Third Seal, a black horse appears. The rider is carrying a set of balances. A voice is heard, which says, "A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou not hurt the oil and the wine". This Rider represents a famine, possibly resulting from the war caused by the previous Horseman.

The Forth Seal is opened to reveal a "pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him". The final rider is given the power to destroy one forth of the world's population with "sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth".

Once the Fifth Seal is opened, the martyrs of the world begin to die. That is to say, the Antichrist begins to persecute those left that believe in God.

The Sixth Seal. At its opening, there is a great earthquake, and "the sun [becomes] as black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon [becomes] as blood". The stars begin to fall from the heavens, the heavens are rolled back and the mountains and islands are "moved out of their places". The world's population seeks shelter in caves and dens. The population cries out, "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"

When the Lamb opens the Seven, and final, Seal, there will be complete silence in Heaven for "the space of half an hour" and seven angels with be given seven trumpets. Another angel is given a container for incense, which he fills with fire and casts it on the earth. The seven angels with the seven trumpets then prepare themselves to sound.

These are the Seven Seal Judgements. Tomorrow, we will examine the Seven Trumpets.

Sources:
Holy Bible, Book of Revelation, Chapter 6: 1-17, Chapter 8: 1-6; King James Version