The Seal Judgments

The seven seals are released by Jesus, the Lamb of God (Rev. 5:5; 6:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12; 8:1).

1 I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals... (Rev. 6:1)

First seal (white horse): Antichrist's political aggression (Rev. 6:1-2)
Second seal (red horse): bloodshed and world war (Rev. 6:3-4)
Third seal (black horse): famine and economic crisis (Rev. 6:5-6)
Fourth seal (pale horse): disease leading to the death of one-fourth of the earth (Rev. 6:7-8)
Fifth seal (prayer movement): prayer movement strengthened by the martyrs (Rev. 6:9-11)
Sixth seal (cosmic disturbances): cosmic crisis (Rev. 6:12-17)
Seventh seal (anointed prayer): prayer movement strengthened to release judgments of Rev. 8-9

There is a recognizable relationship of the first four seals to each other. The points of similarity between them are a horse with a distinct color (white, red, black, pale) with a rider released by a prophetic decree of one of the living creatures. The four horses here are parallel in color to the horses (red, black, white, dappled) seen by Zechariah (Zech. 1:8-11; 6:1-8).

The seal judgments target the kingdom of darkness (Harlot Babylon, etc.). The events include the Antichrist conquering the evil nations that aligned themselves with the Harlot Babylon (Rev. 17:16-17) resulting in a world war, economic crisis, famine and disease, etc. The Antichrist acts against the Harlot with the devastation also affecting the resources in his growing empire.

The first four seals release God’s judgments in an indirect way because God lifts His restraining hand off evil men so they attack and destroy one another’s resources. The restraints on man’s sin are lifted so that the truth of their lawlessness is seen. These judgments involve earthly actions. The fifth, sixth and seventh seals involve heavenly activity (Rev. 6:9-17; 8:1-6).