Day 362 Reading Schedule: Revelation 5-8

Revelation 5：The Lamb Takes the Sealed Book 

[Summary]

John saw God sitting on the throne holding a book sealed with seven seals in his right hand. Only Jesus Christ, the Lion of Judah and the Root of David, could open the seven seals (vv. 1-5). The Lamb Jesus received the book sealed with seven seals from God sitting on the throne (vv. 6-7). When the Lamb took the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders praised him with a new song, and countless angels and all things in the universe praised him (vv. 8-14).

In chapter 4, the apostle John records the throne of God and the surrounding scenery that God showed him, and in this chapter, he records the sealed book in God’s right hand. Regarding this sealed book, God exhorts and gives commands before the apostle John. As we read the visionary words about this book of life, our saints should be able to have even more gratitude and confidence in our salvation.

Revelation 6: The Seven Seals 

[Summary]

Finally, the Lamb began to open the book sealed with seven seals. When the first seal was opened, a rider on a white horse came forward with a bow and a crown (verses 1-2). When the second seal was opened, a rider on a red horse killed people with a great sword (verses 3-4). When the third seal was opened, a rider on a black horse came out with scales and brought famine and disaster upon the people (verses 5-6). When the fourth seal was opened, a rider on a pale horse destroyed a quarter of the earth with the sword, famine, and the power of death (verses 7-8). When the fifth seal was opened, the souls of the martyrs petitioned God for a just judgment (verses 9-11). When the sixth seal was opened, heaven and earth, the sun, moon, and stars all experienced a great upheaval (verses 12-17).

After the book containing God’s plan for this world was transferred to Christ’s hands, Christ immediately opened its seals. However, the prophecy is extremely difficult and the tribulation that begins is incredible. This chapter records the contents up to the sixth seal that Christ opened. The background is two scenes: the tribulation on earth and the appeal of the martyr in heaven.

Revelation 7: The Salvation of the Multitude 

[Overview]

After the sixth seal is opened, there is a brief pause. The angel of God seals the foreheads of the servants of God (verses 1-3). Twelve thousand from each of the twelve tribes of Israel were sealed, and the total number of those sealed was one hundred and forty-four thousand (verses 4-8). After that, a great multitude dressed in white came out and praised the Lamb and God. They will never again experience tribulation and will drink the water of life forever (verses 9-17).

The content of this chapter is what happened after John saw the opening of the sixth seal, and it was inserted before the seventh seal fell. It explains what the saints will look like in chapter 6, which says that the wicked will receive severe punishment on the day of wrath. The characteristic of this chapter is that it shows that even if great disasters occur, God's people will be filled with grace and comfort.

Revelation 8: The Plagues of the Trumpets (I) 

[Overview]

When the seventh seal is opened, there is silence in heaven for a moment, and then a scene appears where the seven angels receive the seven trumpets (verses 1-2). The judgment of the golden censer is also introduced (verses 3-5). Finally, the seven angels begin to blow the seven trumpets. This chapter records the plagues of the first trumpet to the fourth trumpet (verses 6-13).

Six seals have been opened, and now the remaining seventh seal shows a new phase of tribulation on earth. It is characteristic that when Christ opens the seventh seal, it develops into seven trumpets. This chapter describes the scene leading up to the sounding of the trumpets, and then describes the scene that unfolds after the sounding of the first to fourth trumpets.