B.
Divine in Nature
The lampstands are golden. As we have seen, gold signifies the divine
nature of God. That the lampstands here are golden signifies that the
churches are constituted with the [97] divine nature of God. We have
the Father’s life and nature (2 Pet. 1:4), the Father’s gold, possessing
His golden divine nature. How wonderful that we have this divine
substance.
The seven golden lampstands refer to the churches, and the seven
seals, the seven trumpets, and the seven bowls are for God’s dealing
with the world. The golden lampstands are for God’s move and
administration. God’s move and administration on earth are in the
midst of the seven golden lampstands. God moves through the seven
golden lampstands. Revelation 2:1 says that our Lord is walking in
the midst of the seven lampstands. The Lord is moving today on the
earth through the seven golden lampstands, that is, through the
churches.
Truth Lessons, Level Four, Vol. 2
[193]
LESSON THIRTY-FIVE
THE PROPHECIES OF THE SEVEN SEALS,THE SEVEN TRUMPETS,
ANDTHE SEVEN BOWLS
OUTLINE
• The seven seals, the seven trumpets, and the seven bowls.
• The seven seals:
• The first four seals:
1. The rider of the white horse.
2. The rider of the red horse.
3. The rider of the black horse.
4. The rider of the pale horse.
• The fifth seal:
1. The cry of the martyred saints.
2. The Lord’s approval.
• The sixth seal:
1. The beginning of supernatural calamities.
2. The reaction of the earth’s dwellers.
• God’s people being preserved:
1. One hundred and forty-four thousand among the chosen ones of
Israel being preserved on the earth.
2. The overcomers among the redeemed saints being raptured to
the heavens and thereby preserved.
• The seventh seal.
• The seven trumpets:
• The first trumpet—the judgment on the earth.
• The second trumpet—the judgment on the sea. [194]
• The third trumpet—the judgment on the rivers and on the springs
of waters.
• The fourth trumpet—the judgment on the heavenly hosts.
• The fifth trumpet—Satan falling out of heaven to the earth:
1. The locusts.
2. Antichrist.
• The sixth trumpet—the loosing of the four angels.
• The seventh trumpet—the completion of the mystery of God.
• The seven bowls:
• The first bowl.
• The second bowl.
• The third bowl.
• The fourth bowl.
• The fifth bowl.
• The sixth bowl.
• The seventh bowl.
[195]
TEXT
Revelation is a book of prophecy (1:3; 22:7). Most of its content refers
to things to come. In this lesson we will see the visions of the seven
seals, the seven trumpets, and the seven bowls in the book of
Revelation, as well as the prophecies concerning them.
I. THE SEVEN SEALS, THE SEVEN TRUMPETS,AND THE SEVEN
BOWLS
The first four seals cover the history of the world from Christ’s
ascension to the end of this age (6:1-8). With the opening of these
seals there are four horses with their riders, signifying the gospel, war,
famine, and death respectively. This has been the situation of the
history of the world during the past twenty centuries. Since Christ’s
ascension, the gospel has been preached. Throughout the centuries,
along with the preaching of the gospel, there has been war. War brings
in famine, and famine brings in death. With the fifth seal there is the
cry of the martyred saints (vv. 9-11). As a result of the preaching of
the gospel throughout the centuries, many saints have been martyred.
Close to the end of this age these martyred saints will cry to God for
vengeance. The sixth seal, which takes place close to the beginning of
the great tribulation, involves the shaking of the earth and heaven (vv.
12-17) and will be a warning to earth’s dwellers, reminding them that
there is a God in the universe. At that time, the earth will no longer be
a suitable place for evil men to live boastfully. The seventh seal
includes the seven trumpets and will last for eternity.
