For me, this proposition has become a most basic truth that once seen, it can't be unseen.  I continue to be perplexed that this concept seems so foreign to the many study Bible notes and commentaries on The Revelation that there are to be found.

     Several places in this website, in my outline of The Revelation, and on my main chart (see under MORE), I have included illustrations of this concept.  When teaching on this subject, I use seven pieces of tape attached to a book (a hymnal works well!) to represent these seals.  Everyone always understands that the book is not meant to open until the last piece of tape, or last seal, is removed.

     But, the seals are more than just seals.  With each seal that is opened or removed, John beholds something that is to take place.  If the seals are preventing this book from being opened, it stands to reason that what they represent will occur before the book is opened.  So, in accord with my previous proposition that this book could rightly be entitled THE DAY OF THE LORD, the seals of this book represent what things will take place before this period of the last days' Day of the Lord judgment will begin.

     I feel it is important to note that many believe what is translated as "book" in the King James Version (and some other versions) is actually a scroll, and it indeed may be.  The actual Greek word is biblion, which literally means "a roll."  Interestingly, the scroll evolved into what was later referred to as a codex, and there are evidences that this began to happen in a big way around 100 A.D., right around the time that John received The Revelation.  Equally as interesting is that, even today, many books get their start from printed rolls.  Maybe there's a little more here to be considered than many have heretofore thought!  In any case, whether a book, a scroll, or a roll, it would still have seven seals, which strongly suggests that all of the seals would have to be removed before it could be opened or unrolled.  Hence, even if a scroll, this would not be something that would affect my different view.

     However, some also believe that with the opening of the 1st Seal, it is possible that a portion of the book could be opened.  Or, if it is a scroll, there could be some roll out of it.  Same with the 2nd Seal, the 3rd Seal, and so forth.  Again, this may indeed be so.  But, whatever portion of the book might be opened, or whatever roll out of the scroll there might be, what is beyond the 7th or last seal would still not be revealed (or take place) until that last seal is removed.  Thus, whatever the case, this would also have no affect on my view.  The end result would remain the same.

     Also related to the above, it is commonly believed that what is shown to occur with each of the seven trumpets and the seven vials actually happens concurrent and parallel with each of the seven seals.  For example, what happens with the 1st Seal, the 1st Trumpet, and the 1st Vial will take place, then, what happens with the 2nd Seal, the 2nd Trumpet, and the 2nd Vial will take place, and so forth.  Yet, it is easily observed that John gives an account of what he sees after the 1st Seal is removed, then , of what he sees after the 2nd Seal is removed, and so forth throughout the remainder of the seals.  Any interpretation that would have the trumpets and the vials occurring in conjunction with the seals would be out of harmony with this, as well as the rest of The Revelation and other evidences.  Therefore, I submit that nothing relating to the trumpets or the vials will transpire until after the last or 7th Seal is removed.

     A simple reinforcement of the truth of my preceding statement can be seen in connection with the instruction given to the four angels John sees in the interlude between the 6th and 7th seals.  First of all, consider the following, from Revelation 7:

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  1   And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

  2   And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God:  and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

  3   Saying, HURT NOT the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, TILL we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

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     In light of this passage, and from a real-time perspective, when are the four angels that are instructed to "hurt not the earth" supposed to follow through on what they are already prepared to do?  The answer is seen right after the opening of the 7th Seal in chapter eight, where we find John's account of "seven angels" that are given "seven trumpets" (vs. 2) and of what happens after the first four of these angels sound their trumpets (vss. 6-12).  From the account, it is easy to gather that when the first four trumpets are sounded, this will be the cue for the four angels of Revelation 7:1-3 to follow through on what they are already poised to do.  Hence, there is a strict chronological order seen here, without any overlap with what has gone on before.

     Finally, to be quite honest, I am so used to the wording of the KJV that I continue to see the "book...with seven seals" (Rev. 5:1) as I have depicted it throughout this website.  But, I have absolutely nothing against scrolls!  Years ago, I made a scroll for college credit for a class on the Pentateuch that I was taking.  The word Pentateuch is a Greek word that means "five books" (Penta meaning "five" and teuch meaning "book") and is used in reference to the first five books of the Bible---Genesis through Deuteronomy.  I titled my scroll, THE PENTATEUCH.  My professor liked it so much that he arranged to have it displayed in the college library, with a large portion of it unrolled.  Needless to say, as a freshman, I was delighted!​

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