Beginning with Revelation, chapter 6, the Resurrected Christ--for that is who is symbolized by the Lion-Root-Lamb--breaks six seals one by one. When each seal is broken a horse and rider appears, spreading first one calamity then another throughout the world. Chapter 6 ends with the breaking of the sixth seal.
Revelation, chapter 7, discloses a somewhat peaceful interlude in John's vision before the breaking of the seventh seal. During this interlude, destruction is forestalled until a number of God's servants can be sealed--12,000 servants from each of Israel's 12 tribes. Immediately afterward, John sees countless martyrs before the throne of God; and the martyrs are worshiping God with shouts of praise. The chapter ends with some of the most comforting words to be found in scripture: Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 'Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,' nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; 'he will lead them to springs of living water.' 'And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'" (Revelation 7:15-17)
Revelation, chapter 8, begins with John's vision of the Resurrected Christ's breaking the seventh seal. The seal is broken. Silence ensues. Then seven angels, each bearing a trumpet, appear. As the prayers of God's people mingle together with incense burning before the throne of God, the angels begin to sound their trumpets one by one. As each trumpet sounds a calamity strikes the earth--hail and fire scorching the earth, the poisoning of seas, lakes, rivers, springs, and wells, darkness, etc. John's vision of the woes heralded by the sounding of six of the angels' seven trumpets continues through Revelation, chapter 9. There is an element of judgment to these woes, as John observes. Those who survive this second round of calamities do not stop worshiping idols and demons. (Revelation 9:20) They do not repent of murders, magic, sexual immorality, nor thefts. (Revelation 9:21)
Revelation, chapter 10, begins another interlude in John's vision. The seventh angel will sound the fateful seventh trumpet, but the angel waits for the time being. One outcome of the interlude is that John is commissioned with prophecy once more: Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.” (Revelation 10:11)
At times I feel the world threatened almost as much as is described here in John's apocalypse. So I hope to be faithful in my witness to Jesus Christ.
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