5. Te Seven Seals Revelation 6:1–8:5 I. Te Series of Sevens Te 7 seals, 7 trumpets and 7 bowls are presented as parallel sets with many features in common. :- :- :- :-: :-: :- interludes Lamb sealed pray witness war song :- seals throne seals - trumpets trumpets - bowls bowls - : : : : From the throne peals of thunder, fashes of lightning, fashes of lightning, came fashes of rumblings, fashes of rumblings, peals of rumblings, peals of lightning, rumblings, lightning, and an thunder, an earthquake, thunder, and a great peals of thunder earthquake and heavy hail earthquake… : : First climax: : Come up here, I will Te kingdom of the world It has happened! show you what must has become (ἐγένετο) the γέγονεν happen afer this (ἃ δεῖ kingdom of our Lord and of Fall of Babylon γενέσθαι μετὰ ταῦτα). his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever. Fig. 5-1: Te Structure of the Central Vision (4:1–16:21) A. Pattern of 4+2+1 Te first four of each set are presented as a unified sequence of four, followed by a less-unified pair and a climactic seventh. Seals 1-4 4 horsemen modeled on Zech 1:7-11; 6:1-8. Trumpets 1-4 affect earth, sea, fresh waters, heavenly bodies, respectively. Bowls 1-4 affect earth, sea, fresh waters, heavenly bodies, respectively. B. Intensification in the scope of judgment unleashed by the first four of each set: seals 1-4 ¼ of the earth trumpets 1-4 ⅓ bowls 1-4 all 57 Revelation C. Teophany Replicating an event associated with the vision of God’s throne (4:5), each set concludes with physical phenomena heralding both the appearance of God (theophany cf. Exod 19:16-19) and the eschatological earthquake. Tere is intensification with each successive manifestation: Trone room “From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder” Καὶ ἐκ τοῦ θρόνου ἐκπορεύονται ἀστραπαὶ καὶ φωναὶ καὶ βρονταί (4:5). Seal 7 “And there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake” καὶ ἐγένοντο βρονταὶ καὶ φωναὶ καὶ ἀστραπαὶ καὶ σεισμός (8:5). Trumpet 7 “And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm” καὶ ἐγένοντο ἀστραπαὶ καὶ φωναὶ καὶ βρονταὶ καὶ σεισμὸς καὶ χάλαζα μεγάλη (11:19). Bowl 7 “And there were flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since men came to be upon the earth, so great was this great earthquake” καὶ ἐγένοντο ἀστραπαὶ καὶ φωναὶ καὶ βρονταὶ καὶ σεισμὸς ἐγένετο μέγας, οἷος οὐκ ἐγένετο ἀφ ̓ οὗ ἄνθρωπος ἐγένετο ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς τηλικοῦτος σεισμὸς οὕτω μέγας (16:18). Te eschatological earthquake unleashed by the 7th Bowl brings the cry γέγονεν “It is done!” and the Fall of Babylon. D. Interludes Interludes or intercalations are interwoven among the sets of sevens in three different ways. 1. Te initial sight of the seven seals (5:1), seven trumpets (8:2) and seven bowls (15:1) is followed by an interlude: a vision of events in heaven (5:2-14; 8:3-5; 15:2-8). 2. Te sixth seal and sixth trumpet are each followed by an interlude (7:1-17; 10:1-11:13) before the seventh seal and trumpet. a. At the sixth seal the recipients of divine judgment cry “Who can stand?” (6:17). Te interlude of chapter 7 gives the answer: i. the angels stand at the four corners of the earth to restrain the impact of divine judgment upon the saints (7:1-3) ii. the saints themselves stand around the throne with the angels, elders and cherubim, offering worship to God and the Lamb (7:9-12). b. Te sixth trumpet shows that divine judgment only intensifies humanity’s opposition to God. What will cause the world to glorify God? Te interlude of 10:1–11:13 gives the answer. 3. Te seventh trumpet is followed by a lengthy interlude (12:1–14:20). Special attention should be paid to these interludes or intercalations. Tey give meaning to the sets of sevens. E. Telescoping Each successive set of seven “telescopes” out of the seventh of the previous set: 1. Seventh seal = the Seven Trumpets. Te opening of the seventh seal produces a vision of the seven 58 5. Te Seven Seals trumpets. Te seventh seal is not complete until the theophany (thunder, lightning, earthquake, 8:5) afer the heavenly interlude (8:3-4) following the first sight of the seven trumpets. 2. Seventh Trumpet = the Seven Bowls. Trumpet 5 = Woe 1 (9:12), Trumpet 6 (and its interlude) = Woe 2 (11:14). Woe 3 is presumably the Seven Bowls, announced by Trumpet 7. F. Human intransigence Troughout Scripture God’s judgments are intended as redemptive: to drive people to repentence. But it becomes increasingly clear that this does not work. Te human response to the judgments unleashed by the seals, trumpets and bowls is: 1. they did not repent; 2. they blasphemed God (9:21; 16:9, 10, 21). G. Heaven vs. Babylon Te seventh seal and seventh trumpet produce a vision of heaven. Te seventh bowl heralds the fall of Babylon, the antithesis of heaven. 7th seal silence in heaven (8:1) 7th trumpet rejoicing in heaven (11:19) 7th bowl Fall of Babylon (16:19) Te rejoicing at the Fall of Babylon is delayed until 19:1-8, afer a full exposition of the Fall of Babylon in chap. 17–18. 59 Te Series of Sevens (ESV) Seals Trumpets Bowls first 5¹Ten I saw in the right hand of him who 8²Ten I saw the seven angels who stand before God, 15¹Ten I saw another sign in heaven, great sight was seated on the throne a scroll written and seven trumpets were given to them. and amazing, seven angels with seven within and on the back, sealed with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them seals. the wrath of God is finished. Interl 5:2-14 Adoration of the Lamb 8:3-5 Prayer heard in heaven during half-hour silence 15:2-8 song of Moses/Lamb Intro ⁶Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets 16Ten I heard a loud voice from the prepared to blow them. temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.” 1 6Now I watched when the Lamb opened ⁷Te first angel blew his trumpet, and there followed ²So the first angel went and poured out his one of the seven seals, and I heard one of hail and fire, mixed with blood, and these were thrown bowl on the earth, and harmful and the four living creatures say with a voice upon the earth. And a third of the earth was burned painful sores came upon the people who like thunder, “Come!” ²And I looked, and up, and a third of the trees were burned up, and all bore the mark of the beast and worshiped behold, a white horse! And its rider had a green grass was burned up. its image. bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer. 2 ³When he opened the second seal, I heard ⁸Te second angel blew his trumpet, and something ³Te second angel poured out his bowl the second living creature say, “Come!” like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and it became like the blood ⁴And out came another horse, bright red. into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. ⁹A of a corpse, and every living thing died that Its rider was permitted to take peace from third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third was in the sea. the earth, so that men should slay one of the ships were destroyed. another, and he was given a great sword. 3 ⁵When he opened the third seal, I heard ¹⁰Te third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell ⁴Te third angel poured out his bowl into the third living creature say, “Come!” And I from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third the rivers and the springs of water, and looked, and behold, a black horse! And its of the rivers and on the springs of water. ¹¹Te name of they became blood. ⁵And I heard the angel rider had a pair of scales in his hand. ⁶And the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became in charge of the waters say, I heard what seemed to be a voice in the wormwood, and many people died from the water, “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A because it had been made bitter. who was, quart of wheat for a denarius, and three for you brought these judgments. quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not ⁶ For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, harm the oil and wine!” and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!” ⁷And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!” 4 ⁷When he opened the fourth seal, I heard ¹²Te fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the ⁸Te fourth angel poured out his bowl on the voice of the fourth living creature say, sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the sun, and it was allowed to scorch “Come!” ⁸And I looked, and behold, a pale the stars, so that a third of their light might be people with fire.