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The First Seal (Rev. 6:1–2)

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Intro to the Seven Seals The vision of the scroll, introduced in chapters 4 and 5, begins here. Christ received the scroll sealed with seven seals from God (Rev. 5:1–7). The first four seals reveal four horses and their riders. These are commonly called “The Horses of the Apocalypse” (Rev. 6:1–8). Many commentators assume the Horses of the Apocalypse represent the work of the Antichrist, who will soon unleash a series of end-time devastations. Thus, some commentators have exchanged the passage’s Christ-centered view for a demonic one over the last century!  On the other hand, many Christians believe the white horse (the first rider) symbolizes the Lord Jesus Christ. It would make no sense that opening the scroll would bring destruction and calamity to God’s people. The bitter weeping of John as he was looking for someone worthy to open the sealed scroll would also make no sense if disaster followed the opening of the scroll (Rev. 5:4). Likewise, the praises in heaven would also make no
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The Lamb and The Scroll (Rev. 5:1–14)

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  The Lamb and The Scroll (Rev. 5:1–14) The indescribable majesty and glory of God trigger praises to God by the four living beings and the twenty-four priests. They begin a series of hymns in awe, celebrating God as the creator.  The events of chapter 5 occur right after those of chapter 4. The focus of attention now shifts to a seven-sealed scroll in the hand of God. No one could read or open the scroll because God sealed it with seven seals, and no one was worthy to open it. 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. The Scroll The Greek word “ βιβλίον Biblion” does not refer to a book in the modern sense but to a scroll (Rev. 6:14). A scroll was a long piece of papyrus or animal skin rolled from both ends into the middle. Writers used such scrolls before the invention of the codex, or modern-style book, consisting of pages bound together. The Scroll’s Contents The preterists, historic
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The Throne of God (Rev. 4:1–11)

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  The Throne of God (Rev. 4:1–11) The New Testament records two people who ascended to heaven in visions, Saul and John. In (2 Cor. 12), The apostle Paul wrote of being caught up to the third heaven and heard inexpressible words (2 Cor. 12:4). However, he could not speak of what he saw there. The apostle John also had the privilege of visiting heaven. Unlike Paul, John could describe his vision in figurative language, which he did in chapters 4 and 5 of Revelation. After John saw “the One like the Son of Man” (Rev. 1:9–20), received the seven-letter to the angels of the churches (Rev. 2 and 3), He saw God’s throne (Rev. 4:1-11). The Bible refers to “heaven” more than five hundred times. In addition, Paul and Ezekiel wrote some detailed descriptions of it (2 Cor. 12; Ezek. 1). Yet, the description of heaven in Revelation chapters 4 and 5 is the most complete and informative in all of Scripture.  Circumstances of the Vision 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door s
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