THE BOOK OF REVELATION – MIKE BICKLE
Session 1 Overview of the Book of Revelation PAGE 8
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B. The seal judgments target the kingdom of darkness (Harlot Babylon, etc). God lifts His
restraining hand off evil men so that they attack one another with great hatred and destroy one
another’s resources. The restraints of man’s sin are lifted so that the truth of his wickedness and
lawlessness is seen. The events include the Antichrist conquering evil nations that aligned
themselves with the Harlot Babylon (Rev. 17:16–17), world wars, economic crisis, famine and
disease, etc. The fifth and sixth seals open the heavens to release God’s power (Rev. 6:9–17).
C. God’s judgments against the wicked in the first four seals are a result of God taking His
restraining hand off evil men, thus allowing them to sin in an unrestrained way against one
another. The Antichrist acts against the Harlot, and yet the devastation reaches back to his
worldwide empire. The fifth, sixth and seventh seals involve heavenly activity. The trumpet
judgments display the Antichrist’s power as inferior to Jesus’ power. They are supernatural acts
of God through nature (first four trumpets) and demons (fifth and sixth trumpets).
D. THE SEVEN SEALS (Rev. 6:1-17; 8:1)
First seal (White Horse): Antichrist's political aggression (Rev. 6:1–2)
Second seal (Red Horse): bloodshed and world war (Rev. 6:3–4)
Third seal (Black Horse): famine and economic crisis (Rev. 6:5–6)
Fourth seal (Pale Horse): disease and death affecting one-fourth of the earth (Rev. 6:7–8)
Fifth seal (Prayer Movement): prayer movement strengthened by the martyrs (Rev. 6:9–11)
Sixth seal (Cosmic Disturbances): cosmic crisis (Rev. 6:12–17)
Seventh seal (Anointed Prayer): prayer movement strengthened to release judgments of Rev. 8-9
XI. ANGELIC EXPLANATION #1: WHO CAN STAND? (REV. 7:1–17)
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For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand? (Rev. 6:17)
A. This angelic explanation answers the question: who can stand in the midst of so much pressure?
John sees a divine sealing on people that gives them physical and spiritual protection (Rev. 7:1–
17). There will be 144,000 Jewish believers who will stand in victory (Rev. 7:1–8). The saints
will not receive God’s judgments. We need not fear that we will compromise under pressure of
persecution. Gentile believers (7:9–17) from every different background and from every nation
are seen as standing without wavering under persecution. Many saints will also be physically
protected in the End Times (Rev. 9:4; Zeph. 2:3; Mic. 7:14–19; Isa. 11:15-16).
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Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on
their foreheads." 4 I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 of all the tribes
of…Israel were sealed…9 Behold, a great multitude…of all nations…before the throne
…clothed with white robes…10 saying, "Salvation belongs to our God… (Rev. 7:3-10)
B. God puts a protective seal on His people from all the tribes of Israel before He strikes the earth
(Rev. 7:3). Other believers (Gentiles) will be sealed by God (Rev 9:4). At the time of the exodus
from Egypt, Israel received a protective mark on their doors that saved their firstborn from death
(Ex. 11:4–12:30). Israel was also protected from other plagues that affected the Egyptians (Ex.
8:22–23; 9:4, 6, 26; 10:22–23). I call this the Goshen principle.