Summary of the Seven Seals of Revelation

• Revelation 1:1 clearly states that the warning signs of Revelation would “shortly come to pass”

• Revelation’s main signs are divided into seven seals, trumpets, and vials

• The first seal was fulfilled only a few years after John’s visions occurred

The Seven Seals (Revelation 5:1-8:1)

• First Seal: The conquering Roman army under Trajan, 98-117 AD

• Second Seal: Roman civil wars begin, 193 AD

• Third Seal: Caracalla increases taxes, reducing food supply, 212 AD

• Fourth Seal: The Crisis of the Third Century, Plague of Cyprian, food scarcity, 235-284 AD

• Fifth Seal: The Diocletianic Persecution of Christians, 303-313 AD

• Sixth Seal: Constantine converts to “Christianity,” 312 AD

  • After the sixth seal, John watched as angels “sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads”

  • Due to the deceptive nature of Catholicism, God’s seal distinguishes between Christians and everyone else, including Catholics

• Seventh Seal: Theodosius I dies, 395 AD