A Scroll with 7 Seals: The Key to Unlocking the Chronology of the Last Days

In Part 1 of this series, we identified the four main views of the timing of the Rapture and Christ’s Second Coming. They are known as the Pre-Tribulation, Mid-Tribulation, Post-Tribulation, and Pre-Wrath Rapture views. We also sought to direct your attention to three crucial issues which are foundational for a proper understanding of the last days.

First, we explained that the Bible clearly indicates there will be a climactic, seven-year period of time in which God will bring history to a proper and righteous consummation. This vital piece of information has been provided to us in Scripture by the prophet Daniel. While captive in Babylon, Daniel was concerned about the destiny of His people (the Jews) and their holy city, Jerusalem, which was in ruin. After calling out to the Lord in prayer, this man of God was given a prophetic vision which revealed the destiny of his people and their holy city, along with God’s plan to bring history to an epic conclusion during a future, final, seven-year period of time.

Second, we emphasized the critical importance of referring to this future seven-year period by its proper biblical name – the “70th Week of the Book of Daniel.” This future period of time is commonly – but incorrectly – referred to as the “Tribulation.” This name has been superimposed upon this seven-year period without biblical justification. We warned that this incorrect designation can lead to a misunderstanding of the timing of the Rapture and events related to Christ’s Second Coming. We’ll share more on this in a moment.

Third, we touched on the biblical truth that Christians will not experience the wrath of God. This promise, given to believers within Scripture by the apostle Paul, assures us that God will not subject us to His vengeance upon the wicked, but will rescue true believers by Rapture prior to the unleashing of His fury. Most Bible-believing Christians agree on this point, and we wholeheartedly concur.

However, it is at this point in the process where unbiblical assumptions can arise. If you refer to the future seven-year period (Daniel’s 70th Week) by its incorrect name, the “Tribulation,” it is but a small jump to reason that all seven years of this so-called “Tribulation" are enacted by God and therefore must represent the “wrath” of God. This flawed reasoning results in a faulty conclusion: that Christians will be raptured “Pre-Tribulationally” – that is, before the final seven-year, so-called “Tribulation” period.
While this is a popular view held by many faithful churches and godly Christians today, it cannot be substantiated from Scripture. The Old Testament prophets, the Lord Jesus himself, and the apostle John all clearly taught that God’s wrath will not begin until well inside this final seven-year period of time – with a duration which will be significantly less than seven years.

In light of this reality, we must seek the answer to these questions: “If Christians are not destined to be recipients of God’s wrath, then 1) when will the wrath of God actually begin and 2) what will be the signs indicating its arrival?” Answers to these questions are essential to gain a proper understanding of the timing of the rapture of the Church and Christ’s second coming.

There are clear indicators revealed in God’s Word signaling the start of His wrath – known biblically as the “Day of the Lord.” It is our strong conviction from the clear teaching of Scripture that these indicators will not appear until sometime in the last half of Daniel’s 70th Week. We’ll discuss these details more fully later in this article.

For now, in order to view the larger context and see the logical progression of events within this future seven-year period, we’ll take a step back to explore the chronological sequence of major events within the 70th Week which lead to the Rapture of the Church and the time of God’s wrath.

The Importance of the Scroll

In the fifth chapter of the Book of Revelation, John saw a scroll with seven seals in the hand of God who was seated upon His throne in Heaven. That scroll in God’s right hand became the focal point of the chapter. Like a powerful laser beam, it drew John into its light. At first, John was intrigued by the fact that a universal search was made for a man worthy to open the scroll by breaking its seven seals. He was devastated, however, when no man was found worthy. He realized that if no man could be found, all would be lost.

John confessed that he began to sob uncontrollably until he was suddenly commanded by an angel to stop weeping and look again to the throne. He was told “the Lion of the tribe of Judah,” a direct descendant of King David, was worthy to break the seven seals and to open the scroll.

John looked again, and this time he saw a standing Lamb, which looked as though it had been slain (a depiction of God’s Son). The Lamb came to the One seated on the throne (His Heavenly Father) and took the scroll from His right hand.

This was no ordinary scroll. Not only was it sealed with seven seals, in practical terms, it was the title deed to planet Earth. It contained, on both sides of the smoothed surface of a rolled-up animal skin, the prophetic record of the events of the Book of Revelation. If the scroll could not be opened because the seals could not be broken, the redemption of man and the earth over which man was destined to rule could not be achieved. In such a scenario, Satan would win, God would lose, and we all would be dying in our sins.
But from among all of mankind only one Man was found worthy to step forward to open the scroll by breaking the seals. He was worthy because He redeemed men to God by His blood (the price of redemption) from every kindred, tongue, and tribe. His wonderful name is “Jesus,” and its simple meaning is “Savior.”

As the fifth chapter of Revelation is drawing to a close, a universal choir proclaims:

The Significance of the Seals

In Revelation Chapter 6, having taken the seven-sealed scroll from His Father, the Lamb begins to break the seals in anticipation of unrolling the scroll and bringing the events it depicts to pass. This will lead to the total defeat over evil of every kind and the emergence of a new (“new” in the sense of being qualitatively perfect) heaven and earth. But before examining the significance of the seals of Revelation 6, permit some very important observations.

First, down through the centuries, the Book of Revelation, among all the books of the Bible, has arguably caused the greatest difficulty for expositors. The time frame of the book and chronology of events have been at the forefront of the difficulty. It is our opinion that a proper understanding of the significance of the seven seals around the scroll helps resolve these problems. What the backbone is to the body, the seals are to the Book of Revelation, and the Book of Revelation is among mankind’s greatest treasures. It, far more than any other source, tells us how this age will end and how to be prepared for it.

Second, the breaking of the seals has not yet occurred. The events they depict will occur at a future time when the seals are broken during the 70th Week. To state the matter another way, the events depicted by the seals have not been fulfilled in the early Church nor have they been fulfilled throughout Church history as some commentators suggest. From the standpoint of this writing, the breaking of the seals is still future – how far into the future we cannot be sure. However, many current events suggest the time for breaking the seals is fast approaching.

Third, in addition to the seven seals around the scroll, the Book of Revelation also introduces us to seven trumpets and seven bowls. These elements extend the chronological framework and depict events which occur after the seals have all been opened. We’ll discuss the trumpets and bowls in greater detail in future articles, but for now, it’s important to understand that the seals, trumpets, and bowls of Revelation do not occur at the same time. A number of commentators suggest they all run at the same time because some of the future events depicted by the trumpets and bowls are similar.

What is important to understand at this point is that the breaking of the seals, the blowing of the trumpets, and the pouring out of the bowls are not concurrent – they are consecutive. They occur one after another, not side by side. The scroll itself cannot be opened until all seven seals are broken. The seals are on the outside of the scroll, keeping it locked until, at the proper time, the One who is “worthy” breaks all of the seals. In contrast, the trumpets and bowls are events inside the scroll and come to pass as the scroll is progressively opened. The seven trumpets are blown in succession after the seventh seal is opened, and the seven bowls are poured out in sequence after the seventh trumpet is blown.

Fourth, and this is exceedingly important, the six seals of Revelation 6, precisely parallel the Lord’s teaching to His disciples on the Mount of Olives. This is known as the Olivet Discourse. It was during this sermon that Jesus gave His fullest teaching concerning His second coming (Matthew 24:3-30).

The breaking of the first four seals (Revelation 6:1-8) parallel the Lord’s teaching in His Olivet Discourse and are called by the Lord the “Beginning of Sorrows” (Matthew 24:3-8).
The breaking of the fifth seal (Revelation 6:9-11) also parallels the Lord’s teaching in His Olivet Discourse and is called by the Lord the “Great Tribulation” (Matthew 24:9-28). A discussion of the Great Tribulation begins in verse 9, not at verse 15, as some commentators suggest.

The sixth seal (Revelation 6:12-17) parallels the Lord’s teaching in His Olivet Discourse as well. It is here that He speaks of the sun being darkened, the moon withholding its light, the stars falling from heaven, and the powers of the heavens being shaken (Matthew 24:29-30). This cosmic disturbance is a clear indicator that God is about to go to war during a period of time at the end of the age which the Bible repeatedly refers to as the “Day of the Lord” (Isaiah 13:6-13; Joel 2:11, 30-31; 3:14-15; Acts 2:19-20; 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4).

Breaking the six seals leads up to the second coming of Christ (Matthew 24:29-31). The events which come out of breaking the seals answer the questions posed by the disciples in the Olivet Discourse. They asked, “What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world [age]?” (Matthew 24:3). He begins to answer their question by referring to three events which must precede His coming.

First must come the beginning of sorrows or birth pangs, the first four seals of Revelation 6.
Second must come the Great Tribulation, the fifth seal of Revelation 6.
Third must come cosmic disturbance, the sixth seal of Revelation 6, which announces the Day of the Lord is about to begin. The Day of the Lord is directly associated with Christ’s second coming and the judgment of the earth.

That the six seals of Revelation 6 very closely follow the Lord’s Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:1-31) should not be surprising. Both speak of the last days and the second coming of Christ. The apostle John, the human author of the Book of Revelation, was among the apostles on the Mount of Olives when the Lord taught the Olivet Discourse.

The Beginning of Birth Pangs and the First Four Seals

In describing events which would precede His coming, Jesus began by focusing on four issues. First, He said there would be false Christs; not men who would claim to be Jesus, but men who would claim the office of Messiah and therefore promote themselves as those who can solve all of society’s ills (Matthew 24:4-5). Second, He said there would be wars and rumors of wars – nation would rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. Third, He said there would be famines (Matthew 24:7b). Fourth, He spoke of pestilence, or disease, which the Old Testament associates with death (Matthew 24:7c). He also spoke of earthquakes which would occur in various places. And, as devastating as these things will be, the Lord specifically calls this period of time the “Beginning of Sorrows” (Matthew 24:8).

The picture portrayed in the words “beginning of sorrows,” or literally “birth pangs,” is a vivid one. Just as the labor pangs of a pregnant woman indicate the nearness of the birth of a child, these events (the birth pangs) indicate the soon-coming of Christ. But they are the beginning birth pangs. The hard labor has not yet arrived.

The natural understanding of the Lord’s statement that “all these things are the beginning of sorrows [birth pangs]” argues strongly against the view of some, that these verses (Matthew 24:4-8) describe the general characteristics of this age, beginning with the first century and continuing up to the present time. To suggest the “beginning birth pangs” have already lasted almost 2,000 years is totally inconsistent with the analogy of a woman with beginning birth pangs who will soon give birth.

There can be no mistaking the fact that the first four seals of Revelation 6 closely parallel the “beginning birth pangs” of Matthew 24. When the first seal is broken, a white horse and rider gallop onto the stage of history. This seal represents false Christs. When the second seal is broken, a red horse gallops onto the stage of history. This seal represents wars and rumors of wars. When the third seal is broken, a black horse and rider gallop onto the stage of history. This seal represents famine. And when the fourth seal is broken, a pale (sickly green) horse and rider gallop onto the stage of history. This seal represents pestilence.
There have been false Christs, wars, famine, and pestilence throughout recorded history. But the “beginning birth pangs” of the last days will be unique in detail, sequence, scale, and extent. These events will occur during the first 3½ years of Daniel’s Seventieth Week.

The Great Tribulation and the Fifth Seal

Beginning in Matthew 24:9, the Lord spoke to His disciples of the Great Tribulation (Greek - thlipsis), during which time the birth pangs become harder and occur more rapidly, leading up to His coming and the end of the age. The word thlipsis is translated into English by the words “affliction” and “tribulation” in the King James Version (KJV) Bible and “persecuted” and “distressed” in the New International Version (NIV) Bible (Matthew 24:9, 21). In classical Greek, thlipsis conveyed the idea of physical pressure. It was used to describe a person who was bound hands and feet, and laid prone on his back. A heavy boulder would then be placed on his chest. Unable to use his hands or feet to dislodge the boulder, in time, the pressure on the chest would diminish his ability to collect air in his lungs. Slowly, the victim would die of suffocation. This idea of thlipsis (physical pressure) came to speak of the pressures, problems, and distresses of life. Strong’s Concordance defines thlipsis as “affliction,” “anguish,” “persecution,” “trouble,” and “tribulation.”

The Revell Bible Dictionary states: “The OT abounds with images of a period of intense tribulation associated with the appearance of the Messiah. … In his ‘Olivet Discourse,’ Jesus picked up the OT image, speaking of coming ‘great distress’ [tribulation], unequaled from the beginning of the world until now – and never to be equaled again (Matthew 24:21).”
In describing the Great Tribulation in His Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24), the Lord foretold events which will come upon His followers. He said:

• They will be afflicted, slain, and hated by all nations (v. 9).
• They will be an offense, betrayed, and hated by one another (v. 10).
• Many false prophets will arise and deceive many (v. 11).
• Because iniquity will flourish, the love of man (for God) will grow cold (v. 12).
• Those who stand firm, or “endure,” to the end of the age will be “saved” (v. 13).
• The reference is not to the salvation of the soul of the believer who endures persecution, but to his deliverance at the Lord’s return.
• And finally, the Lord said, the “gospel of the kingdom” will be preached throughout the world and then the end of the age will come (v. 14).

The disciples wanted to know the sign of their Lord’s coming and the end of the age. He told them that before the “sign” of His coming is revealed, there must first come the beginning birth pangs (vv. 4-8), followed by the harder and more frequent birth pangs of the Great Tribulation (vv. 9-28). As the first four seals of Revelation 6:1-8 parallel the beginning birth pangs, the fifth seal (Revelation 6:9-11) parallels the Great Tribulation. John wrote of the fifth seal: “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held” (Revelation 6:9).

The Cosmic Disturbance and the Sixth Seal

In response to the disciples’ request to know the sign of the Lord’s coming and the end of the age, Jesus responded by using the analogy of a woman with child. First will come the beginning birth pangs – specific events of the last days which will indicate His return is near. Those birth pangs will be followed by the more severe birth pangs of the Great Tribulation – a time of hardship and persecution initiated by the Antichrist with such severity that if those days were not shortened, all believing flesh would perish. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened (Matthew 24:22).

The event God will use for “shortening” the Great Tribulation will be cosmic disturbance. The sun and moon will cease their normal and critical light- and heat-giving functions and the stars will fall from heaven. Not only will the cosmic disturbance “cut short” the Great Tribulation, it will also serve to instantly and universally announce the coming of the Son of God. Believers will be raptured immediately prior to the outpouring of God’s wrath during the Day of the Lord. The Lord Jesus described that event to His followers with these words:

Contrary to the popular belief of many Christians today, the Church will not be exempted from the Great Tribulation which is soon coming upon the earth; it will, however, be exempted from God’s wrath by being raptured before the Day of the Lord begins.