The opening of the fifth, sixth, and seventh seals
The fifth and sixth seals reveal that believers paid the ultimate price throughout history because of their loyalty to God. Perhaps the Enemy reasoned that if he eliminated those loyal to God, the Messiah would not need to come. When his plan failed, he persecuted those loyal to the Messiah. To that end, the Enemy enticed the people and their agencies to act on his behalf. However, Jesus Christ did come into the world. He defeated the Enemy and saved the sinners from guilt and punishment because of sin in the Garden of Eden. The fifth seal assures those who have paid the ultimate price and those who did not physically suffer that God has not abandoned them. Revelation 6:9 – 11. He sees their suffering and takes notice of it. He assures the yielded believers that the punishment of those who perpetrated the evil will be swift and proportional to the harm they inflicted on the world. God’s comforting assurance is the white robe of his righteousness by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ. God counsels suffering believers to be patient. He will answer their prayers and reward their loyalty abundantly.
The opening of the sixth seal reveals what God will do to avenge the blood of the faithful. Revelation 6:12 – 17. The seven last plagues provide more detail concerning the effectiveness of God’s response to the Enemy’s evil deeds and have a twofold purpose. First, it answers the prayers of the martyrs. How long? The sixth seal informs the slain souls when and how effective will God’s response be. Revelation 6:10; Revelation 16:2 – 21. Second, God ensures a safe and glorious future for the new humanity he created in Jesus Christ. The opening of the sixth seal assures that God is in charge. His response to evil acts committed by the Enemy will be proportional, effective, and permanent. The enemies of God and his faithful will know that when they oppressed the faithful, they oppressed Jesus Christ. God’s response appeared to John so overwhelming that he wondered, “Who can stand?” (The answer will be in later blogs).
The opening of the seventh seal introduces the silence in heaven. It reveals the preparation for the sounding of the seven trumpets. Revelation 8:1 – 5. The ancient tradition maintains that ceremonial activity in heaven stops when it is time to hear the faithful’s prayers. The silence in heaven shows that God takes seriously the evil acts inflicted upon his people, Israel. The sounding of the seventh trumpet announces the birth of the Messiah. It also describes his accomplishments on behalf of humankind. In the opening of the seventh seal and the sounding of the seventh trumpet, the conclusion shows that despite the Enemy’s barbaric efforts, God has triumphed through the body of Jesus Christ on the cross. Satan is no longer the prince of this world, and humankind now belongs to God. Halleluiah!
The message in Revelation, chapter 7, will be presented in the blogs that address the great troubles. The great troubles and seven last plagues concern those who can stand.
The first five trumpets; read the next blog.
