In this chapter, the Lamb opens the seven seals of the scroll, God’s plan to bring the Kingdom of Heaven down to earth. The events accompanying the opening of the seals are horrific: conquest, war, famine, death, and cosmic terror. How are we to understand this horror? Does the Lamb that sacrificed himself for others out of absolute love unleash the horror? How do we solve the problem of the Lamb and the four horsemen of the Apocalypse?

One commentator put it this way: “The four horsemen represent the kinds of things that happen when Jesus and his kingdom begin to press in on the world. Not that Jesus’ coming causes all this misery and terror. But when Jesus and his kingdom—when the Lamb and his way—come, there is resistance and opposition resulting in misery and terror.”

Seal one says if we do not go the way of the Lamb, there will be greater and greater conflict and the drive to conquer.

Seal two says if we do not go the way of the Lamb, there will be greater and greater violence.

Seal three says if we do not go the way of the Lamb, there will be greater and greater injustice and hunger.

Seal four says if we do not go the way of the Lamb, there will be greater and greater sickness and death.

Seal five says that if we DO go the way of the Lamb, we will be saved by the blood of the lamb, and that God wants all to be saved. That’s why we are asked to wait longer—so that more and more can be saved.

Seal six shows that the opposition has its limits. At some point, when the Kingdom of Heaven pushes down, the opposition will crack, causing a cataclysmic cosmic meltdown.

After the opening of seal seven, there is a pause for half an hour. When the prayers of God’s people are lifted up, God finally brings the Kingdom down to earth.