A Preview of Coming Distractions

Lesson outline 5 in the series
Studies in Revelation

Tim Temple



  1. The Prelude to the Opening of the Seals - I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:51,52; I Thessalonians 5:1-9;
  2. The Process of Opening the Seals - 6:1-6
    1. The first and second seals - vv.1-4 (see lesson 4 for details)
    2. The third seal - v.5,6
      1. The incident - v.5 - a rider with a pair of scales sitting on a black horse
      2. The identification - v.6
        1. A denarius = a day's wage in John's day
        2. A quart of wheat = the size of an average meal
        3. Thus the third seal represents a severe famine following the warfare
    3. The fourth seal - v.7,8
      1. The incident - a rider on a pale horse
      2. The identification - death followed by hell
        1. The natural result of the war and famine
        2. 1/4th of the world's population will die
    4. The fifth seal - v.9,10
      1. The incident - believers saved during the tribulation standing at the foot of the altar
      2. The identification - "those who were slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held" - martyrs killed during the period
    5. The sixth seal - vv.11-14
      1. The incident - earthquake, darkening of sun and moon, geographical changes in sky and earth
      2. The identification - the setting of the stage for the return of Christ to the earth at the end of the tribulation.
  3. The Product of the Opening of the Seals - v.15-17 - everyone on earth recognizes the power of the wrath of God

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