Septiform Construction of the Apocalypse
An outstanding feature of Christ’s message through John is the use of the figure seven.
Seven indicates completeness, and is used in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. We read of seven days forming one week; under the Mosaic institution the land was to be rested every seventh year, and at the completion of 49 years, land which had been sold, had to revert to its original owner. Thus the land could not be sold for ever. The moon has its phases every seven days, and there are seven luminaries in the sky. They are sun, moon, and five planets.
According to Josephus the early Christians believed that the history of man in his present estate would cover 6,000 years and the Kingdom of God would be set up in the beginning of the seventh millenium.
The Apocalypse sets before us,
- Seven Ecclesia
- Seven Seals
- Seven Trumpets
- Seven Vials
- Seven Thunders
In each case of the several heptads are preceded by a vision of Christ’s coming glory, that is to say a preview of the end to be reached.
Let us now proceed to a consideration of the
Seven Seals
Revelation chapters 6, 7 and 8
Chapters 4 and 5 have provided the preview of the end to be achieved by the operation of the seven seals. This is a very happy arrangement, as most people like to have a peep at the last chapter in whatever book we may be reading before proceeding with the bulk of the matter.
Periods Covered
First Seal—A.D. 96 onward.
The stephaned rider with a bow, on a white horse. The gospel makes progress in a time of tranquility.
Second Seal
A rider on a red horse, armed with a dagger. Reign of Emperor Commodus,
A.D. 183 on.
Third Seal
A rider on a black horse holding a balance. Taxation, famine, pestilence during reign of Emperor Caracalla, A.D. 211 onward.
Fourth Seal
Death, the rider on a pale horse, with hales following him. Anarchy, bloodshed, famine, plague. Italy especially involved—”the fourth”. A.D. 235 onward.
Fifth Seal
Souls under the Altar petitioning vengeance. Persecution of the Christians in the reign of Diocletian. A.D. 303 on.
Sixth Seal
An earthquake occurs. The stars of heaven fall. Triumph of nominal Christianity over Paganism. A.D. 324. Constantine the Emperor.
The First Seal
The Gospel goes forth to Conquer!
Chapter 6. 1 connects with chapter 5. 7 and 8.
The Scroll
The scroll or book had seven seals written “within” and on the “outside”. The matters mentioned in the scrolls would concern two classes of people in the Roman Empire, namely those “within” and “outside” the truth.
The Lamb having taken the scroll opens one of the seals, upon which John heard a noise of thunder, and one of the four beasts instructs John to “come and see”.
The four beasts or living creatures represent the Commonwealth of Israel or the Saints. Truly it can be said of the saints that they, more than other people, have a direct interest in the affairs of the nations. Have they not been told to watch? How would they know what to watch for unless God should give them a revelation of some kind?
John obeyed the living creature and saw a white horse and a rider.
A White Horse with a Rider
Even from as far back as the book of Job (39. 19-24) it is recognised that the horse played a very important part in battles between the nations. In fact it is used as a symbol of warfare in Zech. 10. 3, 1. 8-11, 6. 1-8, and Rev. 19. 14.
In the case of the seals we are now considering we may summarise our thoughts by saying that horses represent forces divinely controlled. The colour of the horses represent the character of the events. The Roman Empire was the scene of these events.
John mentions a very striking feature concerning the rider. He had a bow, but no arrows! Yet it is said that he went forth conquering and to conquer. The warrior was fighting an unusual kind of warfare. At what time was there a force in the Roman Empire which could be fitly symbolised by white, which in the scripture is used to denote righteousness and peace. Bloodless warfare is of course symbolised by the absence of arrows.
It is generally conceded that the Apocalypse was written in A.D. 96. The period from the death of Domitian A.D. 96 to the accession of Commodus, A.D. 180, fits the requirements of the scripture before us. The events were to “shortly” come to pass (Rev. 1. 1).
Gibbon in “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire” mentions this period as one of the most happy and prosperous in the history of mankind.
Comments by the Apostle Paul concerning soldiers of Christ, help us to understand this matter of the first seal. Christ’s message to those who would follow Him was “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel” (Mark 16. 15-16). This was and still is an enterprise or warfare. Paul wrote, “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds” ( 2 Cor. 10.4).
Ephesians 6. 11-20, sets out the “whole armour of God” with which every true saint must be equipped. Paul gives the reason thus, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6. 12.
The fight waged by our brethren of the second century, was one of truth versus paganism and error, and of righteousness against wickedness. The brethren of those
days were truly a bow in the hands of the Lord. Note that God indicated in Zech. 9. 1 3, that a bow was symbolic of people, “When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man”. The only weapon permitted to the saints in the absence of their Captain, is the “sword of the spirit”, the word of God, although in the days to come when Christ is in the earth, Israel will be God’s battle axe and weapons of war for with Israel He will break in pieces the nations.
Another notable feature of the rider on the horse is that to him was given a “crown”. The term is more correctly understood as a “stephan” or coronal wreath, such as was awarded to victors in the Olympic Games, which emanated from Greece. The idea conveyed is that it was only given as a reward for striving for mastery of self and victory over the forces of darkness, evil, and spiritual wickedness.
This is the form of warfare waged by Christ’s brethren and sisters in every age while He is away.
“Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life” (Rev. 2. 10).
Jacob’s Prophecy in Gen 49 and Other Discussion Questions