Lesson 2 of Revelation: The "seven sevens" of Revelation
Lesson 2 of Revelation: The "seven sevens" of RevelationWhat Is The Book of Revelation About?
The Book of Revelation features seven cycles of “sevens.” In the Bible, the number seven often symbolizes perfection or completion.
I’m going to start out today with trying to give you the meaning of the “sevens” of the Bible.
1. Churches: After John’s short introduction, he shares his vision of the powerful risen Christ, who is clothed with glory and majesty in heaven. Jesus then instructs John to write down unique messages to seven churches that He names.
2. Seals: John Sees a scroll with seven seals. One by one, he describes the powerful events that happen when Christ opens each seals.
3. Trumpets; John explains what he sees when seven trumpets are blown by different angels.
4. Histories: The focus shifts when John has visions of seven symbolic histories These histories portray the unfolding of God’s plan for his people and the ways that Satan has opposed it.
5. Bowls: John sees seven angels pour out seven bowls filled God’s wrath against his enemies of his people.
6. Judgment: Seven announcements describe the forces of God’s judgment against the evil world system called Babylon.
7. Visions: John see’s seven visions that portray God executing his judgement saving, saving his people, reigning on earth ang making all things new.
8. Another seven of the sevens is the Seven Messages To Churche in Revelation 1:1-3:22. The Blessing and greeting in 1:-20 is the Vision of Christ.
#1 .The Seven Messages to Churches:
1. Ephesus (2:1-7) “Repent and do the things you did first.”
2. Smyrna (2:8-11) “Be faithful.”
3. Pergamum (2:12-17) “Repent.”
4. Thyatira (2:18-28) “Hold on to what you have until I come.”
5. Sardis (31-6) “Wake up! “Strengthen what remains.”
6. Philadelphia (3:7-13) “Hold on to what you have.”
7. Laodicea (3:14-22) “Be earnest and repent.”
#2. The Seven Seals in Revelation 4:1—5-14. “Vision of Heaven. Scroll with Seven Seals, and the Lamb.”
Opening of Seals (6:1-8:5):
1. First Seal (6:1-2) White horse=conqueror.
2. Second Seal (6:3-4) Red horse=no peace.
3. Third Seal (6:5-6) Black horse=lack of food.
4. Fourth Seal (6:6-8) Pale horse=disaster for a quarter of the earth.
5. Fifth Seal (6:9-11) White robes for people killed for Christ.
6. Sixth Seal (6:12-14) Earthquake=black sun, red moon, falling stars.
Interlude (7:1-17) 144,000 servants of God sealed with protection. Countless people in heaven.
7. Seventh Seal (8:1-5) Seven angels with trumpets. Angel with golden incense burner.
#3. The Seven Trumpets of Revelation 8:6---11:19.
1. First Trumpet (8:6-7) Hail, fire, blood. A third of earth burned.
2. Second Trumpet (8:8-9) Fiery mountain in sea. A third of sea becomes blood.
3. Third Trumpet (8:10-11) Star falls on third of rivers.
4. Fourth Trumpet (8:12) A third of sun, moon, and stars turn dark.
Interlude (8:13) Warning of coming judgments.
5. Fifth Trumpet (9:1-12) Demon locusts from bottomless pit.
6. Sixth Trumpet (9:13-21) 200 million demonic horse siders.
Interlude (10:1—11:14) Little scroll—promise for the church. Two witnesses.
7. Seventh Trumpet (11:15-19) “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom our Lord.”
#4. The Seven Symbolic Histories: Revelation (12:1—14:20).
1. History of The Dragon (12:3-4, 7-12) The “ancient serpent” defeated.
2. History of The Women (12:1-2, 4-6, 13-17) Persecuted by the dragon. Defended by God.
3. The Sea Beast (13:1-10) The horn and seven heads. Shows dangerous disrespect for God. Has power to make war.
4. The Earth Beast (13:11-18) Deceiver with two horns. 666—the number of the beast.
5. 144,000 Redeemed From The Earth (14:1-5) Marked with God’s name. Worshipers.
6. The Angelic Announcers (14:6-13) First angel: “Fear God.” Second angel: “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great.” Third angel: Warning against the mark of the beast.
7. The Harvest (14:14-20) Harvest od souls reaped with sickles.
#5. The Seven Bowls of Judgment: Revelation 15:1—16:21.
The Seven Angels with the Last Seven Plagues (15:1-8).
The Seven Bowls (16:1-21).
1. First Bowl (16:2) Painful sores.
2. Second Bowl (16:3) Turns sea into blood.
3. Third Bowl (16:4-7) Turns rivers and springs of water to blood.
4. Fourth Bowl (16:8-9) Sun burns people with fire.
5. Fifth Bowl (16:10-11) Plunges kingdom of the beast into darkness.
6. Sixth Bowl (16:12-16) Dries up the Euphrates River. Preparing for great battle of Armageddom.
7. Seventh Bowl (16:17-21) Judgment against Babylon: “It is done.”
#6. The Seven Messages of Judgment: Revelation 17:1—19:10.
Judgment against Babylon (17:1-18:24).
1. First Message (17:7-18) Explanation of the vison.
2. Second Message (18:1-3) Announcement of the fall of Babylon.
3. Third Message (18:4-8) Call to God’s people. God’s judgment on Babylon.
4. Fourth Message (18:9-10) Grief over the fall of Babylon by kings of the earth.
5. Fifth Message (18:11-17) Grief over the fall of Babylon by merchants of the earth.
6. Sixth Message (18:18-20) Grief over the fall of Babylon by sea merchants. Rejoice for God’s judgment.
7. Seventh Message (18:21-24) Announcement of the final destruction of Babylon.
Interlude (19:1-10) Rejoicing for Babylon’s downfall. “The marriage of the Lamb has come”.
#7. The Seven Visions Revelation 19:11—22:21.
1. First Vision (19:11-16) Heaven opens and the white-horse rider appears.
2. Second Vision (19:17-18) Angel invites birds to “the great supper of God”.
3. Third Vision (19:19-21) The beast and kings ready for war.
4. Fourth Vision (20:1-3) The thousand years (millennium).
5. Fifth Vision (20:4-10) Thrones with judges. Satan’s doom.
6. Sixth Vision (20:11-15) Judgment of the dead.
7. Seventh Vision (21:1—22:5) A vision of “a new heaven and a new earth.”
Epilogue (22:6-21) Jesus is coming back: “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
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