The document discusses the biblical prophecies of the end times, particularly focusing on the patterns of the 7 seals, 7 trumpets, and 7 bowls as described in Revelation. It suggests a chronological order of events, highlighting the rise of an antichrist figure, global warfare, economic control, and significant natural disasters. The analysis aims to interpret these prophetic cycles and their implications for the future, emphasizing the relation between the seals and accompanying angels.

1. Decoding Revelation:
2. The Seals and the Angels
by Dr. Dieter Thom

2. The Two Pairs of Seven Cycles
The First Cycle
The Second Cycle
7 Seals
7 Angels
(Rev 6: 1-17)
(Rev 14:6-20)
7 Trumpets
7 Bowls
(Rev 8:1-11:19)
(Rev 16:2-21)
We have seen that there are distinct patterns
between the last 6 trumpets and bowls suggesting a
chronological order of events at the end of time.
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11/30/2013

3. Trumpets (Rev 8:1-11:19)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Hail and fire from sky.
Sea turns to blood and kills a third
of sea creatures.
The rivers and springs of water
poison people.
Sun, moon & stars are darkened.
Unbelievers tortured by demons.
Kings of East cross Euphrates to a
fierce battle.
Lightning, roaring, crashes of
thunder, an earthquake, and a
great hailstorm.
Bowls (Rev 16:2-21)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Ugly and painful sores
Sea turns to blood and kills all
sea creatures.
The rivers and springs of water
turn to blood.
Sun scorches with terrible heat.
Unbelievers suffer in darkness.
Kings of East cross Euphrates
to battle of Armageddon.
Lightning, roaring, crashes of
thunder, an earthquake, and a
great hailstorm.
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11/30/2013

4. Guiding Principles of Interpretation
 Clearly these two passages are describing the same
events of the time of the end.
 This must become our framework of chronology of
events.
 Going back from these events, the 7 trumpets are
preceded by 7 seals and the 7 bowls are preceded by 7
angels.
 Although there is no clear, direct correlation of events,
we must logically assume that by the pattern that follows
these are also in relative chronological order.
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11/30/2013

5. 1st Seal (Rev 6)
1 Now I saw when the Lamb
opened one of the seals; and
I heard one of the four living
creatures saying with a voice
like thunder, “Come and
see.”
2 And I looked, and behold, a
white horse. He who sat
on it had a bow; and a crown
was given to him, and he
went out conquering and
to conquer.
1st Angel (Rev 14)
6 Then I saw another angel flying in
the midst of heaven, having the
everlasting gospel to preach to
those who dwell on the earth—to
every nation, tribe, tongue,
and people —
7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear
God and give glory to Him, for
the hour of His judgment has
come; and worship Him who
made heaven and earth, the sea
and springs of water.”
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11/30/2013

6. Interpretation
 Some people see the rider on the white horse in the first
seal to be Jesus. They link this with the victorious
spreading of the gospel to the ends of the earth by the first
angel. I do not think that this is the right interpretation.
 Others see the rider as the Antichrist who will come to
power in the time that the gospel reaches the ends of the
earth. This is the view that I will argue for later.
 Missionary organizations are confident that all the
unreached people groups of the world will be reached
in the next few years. The internet and satellite TV can
reach almost everyone now already.
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11/30/2013

7. 2nd Seal (Rev 6)
2nd Angel (Rev 14)
3 When He opened the second
8 And another angel
seal, I heard the second living
followed, saying,
creature saying, “Come and
“Babylon is fallen, is
see.”
fallen, that great
4 Another horse, fiery red, went
city, because she has
out. And it was granted to the
one who sat on it to take
made all nations
peace from the earth, and that
drink of the wine of
people should kill one another;
the wrath of her
and there was given to him a
fornication.”
great sword.
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8. Interpretation
 After the gospel has been preached to the ends of the
earth, war will come upon the world, as described by
the second seal.
 Obviously the Antichrist has by now risen to power
and is seeking to take over the world.
 The initial conflict, however, seems to be limited to
the Middle East. This spreads to the rest of the world.
 It results in the Antichrist conquering ‘Babylon’,
whose identity we will see later (Rev. 17 & 18).
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11/30/2013

9. 3rd Seal (Rev 6)
5 When He opened the third
seal, I heard the third living
creature say, “Come and
see.” So I looked, and
behold, a black horse, and
he who sat on it had a pair
of scales in his hand.
6 And I heard a voice in the
midst of the four living
creatures saying, “A quart of
wheat for a denarius, and
three quarts of barley for a
denarius; and do not harm
the oil and the wine.”
3rd Angel (Rev 14)
9 Then a third angel followed them, saying
with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the
beast and his image, and receives his
mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he
himself shall also drink of the wine of the
wrath of God, which is poured out full
strength into the cup of His indignation. He
shall be tormented with fire and brimstone
in the presence of the holy angels and in the
presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of
their torment ascends forever and ever; and
they have no rest day or night, who worship
the beast and his image, and whoever
receives the mark of his name.”
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11/30/2013

10. Interpretation
 The third seal seems to imply that the
Antichrist will take control of the food
supply (wheat & barley) & economic
activity.
 The third angel describes how unbelievers
will take the mark of the beast to be able
to participate in this.
 Wine is mentioned in both passages.
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11. 4th Seal (Rev 6)
7 When He opened the fourth seal, I
heard the voice of the fourth living
creature saying, “Come and see.”
8 So I looked, and behold, a pale
horse. And the name of him who sat
on it was Death, and Hades
followed with him. And power was
given to them over a fourth of the
earth, to kill with sword, with
hunger, with death, and by the
beasts of the earth.
4th Angel (Rev 14)
15 And another angel
came out of the
temple, crying with
a loud voice to Him
who sat on the
cloud, “Thrust in
Your sickle and
reap, for the time
has come for You to
reap, for the harvest
of the earth is ripe.”
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11/30/2013

12. Interpretation
 The fourth seal describes how war, famine
and the beasts of the earth (probably mostly
through disease) will cause a massive
amount of death.
 The fourth angel describes this as a
‘reaping’ of the harvest of the earth.
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11/30/2013

13. 5th Seal (Rev 6)
5th Angel
9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar (Rev 14)
the souls of those who had been slain for the word
of God and for the testimony which they held.
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How
long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and
avenge our blood on those who dwell on the
earth?”
11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and
it was said to them that they should rest a little
while longer, until both the number of their fellow
servants and their brethren, who would be killed
as they were, was completed.
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16 So He
who sat on
the cloud
thrust in His
sickle on
the earth,
and the
earth was
reaped.
11/30/2013

14. Interpretation
Christians will be persecuted and
martyred. Sorry.
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15. 6th Seal (Rev 6)
12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there
was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as
sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13
And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree
drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 Then
the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every
mountain and island was moved out of its place. 15 And
the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the
commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free
man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of
the mountains, 16 and said to the mountains and rocks,
“Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the
throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day
of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”
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6th Angel
(Rev 14)
Then
another
angel
came out
of the
temple
which is
in heaven,
he also
having a
sharp
sickle.
11/30/2013

16. Interpretation
 A great earthquake.
 The sun is darkened.
 There is a blood moon.
 The stars fall from heaven.
 Mountains and islands are moved.
 People hide in caves in the mountains.
 More people die on the earth.
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11/30/2013

17. 7th Seal (Rev 8)
1 When He opened the seventh seal, there was
silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I
saw the seven angels who stand before God, and
to them were given seven trumpets. 3 Then
another angel, having a golden censer, came and
stood at the altar. He was given much incense,
that he should offer it with the prayers of all the
saints upon the golden altar which was before
the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense,
with the prayers of the saints, ascended
before God from the angel’s hand. 5 Then the
angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the
altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were
noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an
earthquake.
7th Angel (Rev 14)
18 And another angel came out
from the altar, who had power
over fire, and he cried with a
loud cry to him who had the
sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in
your sharp sickle and gather the
clusters of the vine of the earth,
for her grapes are fully ripe.” 19
So the angel thrust his sickle
into the earth and gathered the
vine of the earth, and threw it
into the great winepress of the
wrath of God. 20 And the
winepress was trampled outside
the city, and blood came out of
the winepress, up to the horses’
bridles, for one thousand six
hundred furlongs.
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11/30/2013

18. Interpretation
 Noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an
earthquake.
 Death and destruction.
 The seventh seal leads to the seven
trumpets.
 The seven angels lead to the seven last
bowls of plagues.
 The sickle reaps the vine and the winepress
produces blood.
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11/30/2013

19. Review: The Seals and Angels
7 Seals (Rev 6: 1-17)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Rider on white horse.
Red war horse.
Black horse of economic
and nutritional control.
Pale green death horse.
Martyrs
Natural disasters.
Natural disasters.
7 Angels (Rev 14:6-20)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Global gospel angel.
Fall of Babylon.
The mark of the beast
enforced on the world.
Angel of death.
Angel of death.
Angel of death.
Angel of death.
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11/30/2013

20. Review: The Trumpets and Bowls
Trumpets (Rev 8:1-11:19)
Bowls (Rev 16:2-21)
1.
Hail and fire from sky.
1.
2.
Sea turns to blood and kills a third of sea
creatures.
2.
3.
The rivers and springs of water poison
people.
3.
4.
Sun, moon & stars are darkened.
4.
5.
Unbelievers tortured by demons.
6.
Kings of East cross Euphrates to a fierce
battle.
7.
Lightning, roaring, crashes of thunder,
an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.
5.
6.
7.
Ugly and painful sores
Sea turns to blood and kills all sea
creatures.
The rivers and springs of water
turn to blood.
Sun scorches with terrible heat.
Unbelievers suffer in darkness.
Kings of East cross Euphrates to
battle of Armageddon.
Lightning, roaring, crashes of
thunder, an earthquake, and a
great hailstorm.
NKJV Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc .Used by Permission. All Rights Reserved.
11/30/2013

21. Conclusion
In the next presentations we will
examine in more detail each of
these end time events according
to the outlines that we have seen
in these two pairs of cycles.
NKJV Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc .Used by Permission. All Rights Reserved.
11/30/2013