This observation has been made by many, but interpretations vary, as do conclusions.  For the purpose of the present proposition, I will outline the parallels as follows:

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The 1st Seal equals:

What Jesus warned about deceivers and false Christs coming.

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The 2nd Seal equals:

What Jesus warned about wars and rumors of wars.

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The 3rd Seal equals:

What Jesus warned about famines, pestilences, and earthquakes.

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The 4th Seal equals:

What Jesus warned about the persecution and martyrdom of Christians.

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     If you scan my list of propositions in Appendix #1, you will see that we will be examining these parallels closer, later.  For now, I would just like to look at the basics and point out some things to keep in mind.

     Beginning with the first parallel, on the Mount of Olives, when Jesus began to talk to His disciples about what was going to be taking place, He opened with a warning concerning deceivers and false Christs that would come (e.g., Matt. 24:4-5).  What has this got to do with the 1st Seal?  When the Lamb opens this seal, a rider on a white horse is revealed.  This rider has a bow, is given a crown, and goes forth "conquering and to conquer" (Rev. 6:2).  It has been wondered if this is Jesus Christ, for at His Second Advent, He will certainly be upon a white horse (Rev. 19:11)!  However, a widely accepted interpretation is that this is not Jesus, but a counterfeit and a deceiver or a false Christ.  This interpretation also fits with the mysterious character of the horsemen of the next three seals.  If this interpretation is correct (and I believe it is close), it's not hard to recognize the parallel between the activity of such a one and what Jesus said about deceivers and false Christs who would come.

     Continuing, it is also not too difficult to recognize the parallel or a connection between what Jesus said about wars and rumors of wars and what John saw concerning the 2nd Seal.  Or, what Jesus said about famines, pestilences, and earthquakes and what John saw concerning the 3rd Seal.  Or, what Jesus said about the persecution and martyrdom His followers would face and what John saw concerning the 4th Seal.  When it comes to what Jesus said and what John saw, the first part of Jesus' Olivet Discourse and the first four seals not only parallel or connect, but do so in sequence.  It's like A,B,C,D ---1,2,3,4.  This is certainly worthy of our attention.

     Also, recall that what John was told when he was given The Revelation would quite naturally have caused him to assume that he was going to be shown some things that would happen, or begin to happen, in or near his time.  As we considered in PROPOSITION A, the stated purpose of The Revelation was to show unto Christ's servants "things which must shortly come to pass" (Rev. 1:1).  This was further emphasized by the words, "the time is at hand" (Rev. 1:3).  On the basis of these words, the use of the word "hereafter" in Revelation 1:19 and 4:1, and much more, we can rightly gather that what was in view must have related to the opening of some of the first seals.

     Let's pause now and look at where we are.  In The Revelation, the first thing John saw---that would rightly go into the category of what could shortly begin to come to pass---was the opening of some seals on a mysterious seven sealed book, the first four having to do with four horsemen going forth on differing campaigns.  Coupled with this, in the first part of Jesus' Olivet Discourse, the four categories of bad things that He warned of connect with these four seals, and in sequence.  Coupled with this, what He warned of has characterized every century of the Church Age since its beginning!  This is more than just an interesting coincidence.  Yet, some deny that Jesus' Olivet Discourse even pertains to the Church, much less the rapture.  This will be the focus of my next proposition.

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