What’s the Meaning of the Seventh Seal of Revelation?
Bible Study Guide
The chapter seven interlude has come to an end. Now we’re back to our regularly scheduled program and the purpose for which Revelation was written. To reveal to the world through Jesus Christ, God’s intention of bringing judgment upon a sinful and unrepentant mankind. Before we get to the what the meaning of the seventh seal of Revelation is, let’s take a look at this.
Quick Recap: Up to this point, all the believers in Jesus as the Son of God who have made Him their Lord and Savior have been raptured from the world. This has left the planet with a tremendous vacuum. This vacuum has been filled with the evil that remains upon the earth and will control the planet for a short time.
This follows an increase in wickedness because the love of many has grown cold. War increases to a fever pitch. Not just war between nations but also war between kingdoms, neighbors and family members. Every where you turn, people are killing one another. Man made disasters are everywhere. Geological catastrophes increase such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Global economic disasters quickly follow causing food prices to skyrocket. Famine spreads throughout the world as a result. People turn mad because of hunger and resort to violence to find food. Human blood is poured out everywhere. The smell of which causes predators to come out of the wilderness scavenging for food among humans. Then we learn that 2 billion people have died so far from the events of God’s wrath.Your first thought might be, how can things get any worse. Actually, they’re about to get a whole lot worse. Remember we aren’t even half way through God’s judgments.
The Coming Judgments Are Meant to be Understood Literally
As we enter this next chapter, some might look at John’s visions as a fiction novel. But that could not be further from the truth. You don’t want to look at it this way. First, it’s good to remind ourselves as to what John is experiencing in order to understand his writings.
Just like John, the prophets of the Old Testament didn’t understand most of the prophecy they were shown in visions or words that they were told to record. We must keep this in mind. God’s word is meant to be understood literally.
As John was gazing upon what Jesus was showing him, he didn’t understand most it. But remember Jesus’ first command to John in chapter one. Within a few verses, twice, Jesus gave John the command to write what he saw.
“Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.” (Revelation 1:11)
“Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.” (Revelation 1:19)
John, being the loving servant to His teacher is not about to let Christ down. So he writes everything He sees. Even if he doesn’t understand it. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, John does his best to describe in words the visions his eyes are receiving.
With that in mind, every vision that John records is going to represent a literal event that is going to take place in the future. Don’t let the serpent deceive you into thinking anything different.
Now that we’ve reestablished the framework around the seventh seal of Revelation, let’s get back into the judgments.
How to Understand the Meaning Behind the Seventh Seal of Revelation
In order to understand the meaning and the events around the seventh seal of Revelation, we have to be able to comprehend the structure of God’s three sets of judgments upon the world.
The three sets of judgments are the seven seal judgments, seven trumpet judgments, and the seven bowl judgments. When we look closely as each set, we notice that the intensity of God’s wrath increases with each level. Each set reaching a point that appears to peak without the possibility of getting any worse. But then it gets much worse.
Not only does each set of sentences increase in magnitude within each set of judgments but we also see a rise in the ferocity of wrath from one set of judgments to another.
The last judgment, in this case the seventh seal will introduce the next set of judgments. Now we’re going to see the seventh seal judgment bring forth the next set of seven trumpet judgments. Then the seventh trumpet judgment will bring about the series of bowl judgments.
Understanding the pattern of each series of judgments help us to understand the purpose and meaning of the seventh seal of Revelation.
The Breaking of the Seventh Seal
(Verses 1-2) Jesus breaks the seventh seal and heaven goes silent. All of the resounding worship and praise that was coming from the throne room during the interlude has stopped. All of heaven goes silent for 30 minutes.
Imagine watching a horror movie and something so horrific flashes across the scene that it takes your breath away. The scene is so bad that you fall silent in horror of what you just witnessed.
In the case of John’s vision, it’s as if heaven knows the terrible things that are about to occur at the opening of this last seal. They’re so bad that they’re in silent awe of what’s about to happen next.
Who Are the the Seven Angels in the Seventh Seal of Revelation?
After the seventh seal is broken, John sees seven angels. It appears clear that these are not the same seven angels that Jesus introduces in the opening verses of chapter one of Revelation. These particular angels are represented as stars which Jesus holds in His hands. They serve as messengers for the seven churches of Revelation.
In this chapter seven scene, John sees the seven angels that stand before God. So it’s likely they’re not the same angels from chapter one. These seven angels are certainly special to God as they have the privilege of having close proximity to Him. These seven are likely God’s closest messengers, since they’ll be tasked with carrying out the second series of God’s wrath which are called the Trumpet Judgments.
John witnesses seven trumpets, and each angel receiving one of the seven.
The trumpets have played a pivotal role in the history of Israel. A role that goes all the way back to Moses, when he received a command from God to build two trumpets.
Why Does God Command the Building of Trumpets?
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp. 3 And when both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 4 But if they blow only one, then the chiefs, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. 5 When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side shall set out. 6 And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out. 7 But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow a long blast, but you shall not sound an alarm. 8 And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. The trumpets shall be to you for a perpetual statute throughout your generations. 9 And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the Lord your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies. 10 On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings. They shall be a reminder of you before your God: I am the Lord your God.” (Numbers 10:1-10)
What’s the Purpose of the Seven Trumpets?
As we can see from this passage, the trumpet and its distinct sound became a regular fixture in all aspects of the lives of God’s people. But it doesn’t end there. God would continue to use what He commanded Moses in ancient days to be used in the days to come.
In the days ahead, before the seven trumpets are given to the seven angels to be used to command forth the next round of judgments, the trumpet will be used for a pivotal moment in history. A moment that will change the world. In fact, it’ll be a moment that will help to trigger the Tribulation Period.
The Trumpet and the Rapture
If you guessed the rapture, you would be correct. The very event of Christians being gathered together to be with Christ in the rapture will be commanded by the sound of the trumpet.
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
Just as God had commanded since ancient days the sound of the trumpet to gather his chosen people for different purposes, so shall it be at the rapture. But this trumpet call will be for Jews and Gentiles alike. All those who have given their life to Christ will hear the trumpet call of God. And they will all be gathered together in the twinkle of an eye.
“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)
What beautiful words to hear. To borrow the words of Paul the apostle. Let us encourage one another with these glorious words of salvation and the rapture.
Are These the Last Trumpet Calls of God?
Just as God has purposed the trumpets in ancient days and throughout history, the trumpets of God will be placed back into service for the opening of the seventh seal of Revelation.
But for this purpose, it will not be a time of gathering or celebration. The last trumpet call for gathering was heard at the rapture as Paul indicates to the Corinthians in the passage above.
For the predestined wrath of God has come. The trumpet sound will again set forth a command. Not to gather the people, but this one will bring terrible punishment upon the earth. The likes of which humanity has never had to endure. So terrible that it has left heaven silent for 30 minutes.
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