Many view Daniel’s prophecy of ‘seventy-sevens’ or ‘seventy weeks’ as having direct import in deciphering the book of Revelation. From this base, many understandings of an end-time tribulation and possible timings of when Christ will ‘rapture’ His church or how long the church will suffer until He does so come about. We will consider if what Daniel writes has any bearing on Revelation and if so, how.

There is a break between the sixth and seventh trumpet blast (the second and third woe) just as there was earlier between the opening of the sixth and seventh seals. John sees an angel who says that will no longer be any delay. He is also told that when the seventh trumpet sounds the mystery of God will be accomplished. He is then given a scroll to eat (just as Ezekiel in the Old Testament was also told to do).

The trumpets of God continue to blast as warnings for earth, each deliver terror, yet mercy to spur repentance. Three woes are declared to come with the final three of seven trumpets; we look at the fifth and sixth. The first four trumpets harm the wicked in their physical being; the last three touch man himself. Specifically, bringing spiritual anguish; unleashing demonic activity.

Jesus opens the seventh seal. After silence in heaven for about half an hour (perhaps the only time in all eternity past, present, and future) comes trumpet blasts. The trumpets are God’s warnings for the world of coming judgment and wrath; the world being offered mercy before the seven bowls are poured out. We look at the first four trumpets.

In between the sixth and seventh seal being opened we see the living God marking those who serve Him. The seals on their foreheads were to be given before the four angels were given power to harm the land and the sea. The number of those who are marked, or sealed are 144,000. Numbers represent ideas in Revelation. Those who come out of the great tribulation, clothed in white robes that have been washed in the blood of the Lamb, are richly rewarded in the presence of God!

The opening of the fifth seal finds the slaughtered saints crying out. The sixth seal introduces the final cataclysm. This is a clear picture of the appearing of Jesus and the terror that those who have not surrendered their lives to Him will experience when they see Him! It stresses the horrors of the day of wrath for the wicked.

The presentation of the Gospel in Revelation is declared through powerful symbols. On this Easter Sunday, Jesus’ redemption from Revelation chapter 5 is revealed interspersed with worship. We see what the scroll with seven seals in the hand of God is. The Lion who is also the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ alone can open it. This is the Passover Lamb, the slain Lamb. The Lamb conquered all and He did so by His death and life-giving resurrection! Only the Lamb who was slain is worthy to open the scroll with seven seals.

Jesus addresses the churches at Sardis and Philadelphia. The first, Sardis, has a reputation of being alive, but are in fact dead. Outward appearances can fool many. But God looks at the heart. They are told to wake up! They must assess their spiritual decline and become doers of His word, not just hearers. The second, Philadelphia Jesus presents an open door to them. They are a church that have endured, kept His word, not sullied His name, but are tired and worn out. Jesus’ promise to them? “I. am. coming. soon.”

Jesus addresses the churches at Smyrna and Pergamum. As with all seven churches that John is told to write to we can relate to their hardships, what they get right, and the sin they have as well. Smyrna has been afflicted and are about to suffer more. They are encouraged to remain faithful. Faithful, even to the point of death. Jesus points out those who think they are God's people because of their outward profession, but are not. He says to Pergamum that they live where Satan has his throne. They are told to be aware of their surroundings, what they listen to, and to repent. Those who overcome will get God’s hidden nourishment!

In John’s vision of Jesus, He is among the lampstands. Here we have a picture of Jesus as the Great High Priest trimming the wicks and filling the lamps with oil, drawing heavily from Old Testament pictures. He reveals that the symbolism used of lampstands and stars represents His Church—the light of the world. This teaching prepares the way for the next few weeks where we look at the seven churches that Jesus tells John to write to. He is moving among the churches and will give His assessment of what He sees.

What a daunting task it is for many of us to start to study and understand the Book of Revelation. How can one make sense of the great imagery of the only prophetic book in the New Testament? In week one we established what the subject and object of the book is. Now we turn our attention to how we must read the Revelation; learning to position ourselves to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in our study. We are promised that those who read it, hear it, and those who keep what is written in this book will be blessed.