In the Book of Revelation, in chapter 5, a book is introduced which is sealed on the back with seven seals. Nobody was able open the book except the Lamb of God. In chapter 6, when He opens the book, he opens each seal. When he opens the first 4 seals, he sees what is now known as the four horsemen of the apocalypse. The first 5 seals are covered in the first 11 verses. The sixth seal is covered in the next 6 verses of the chapter and also in chapter 7. Chapter 8 is where he opens the 7th seal. But what does this book and the seals represent? Joseph Smith received a revelation from God teaching what much of these things mean. The link to the revelation is Doctrine and Covenants 77.
In the following verses Joseph Smith is taught about the book that was sealed with seven seals:
Doctrine and Covenants 77:6-7
6 Q. What are we to understand by the book which John saw, which was sealed on the back with seven seals? A. We are to understand that it contains the revealed will, mysteries, and the works of God; the hidden things of his economy concerning this earth during the seven thousand years of its continuance, or its temporal existence.
7 Q. What are we to understand by the seven seals with which it was sealed?
A. We are to understand that the first seal contains the things of the first thousand years, and the second also of the second thousand years, and so on until the seventh.
So according to the revelation given to Joseph Smith, the book represents a seven thousand year period of the earth's temporal existence. It contains the revealed will, mysteries, and works of God; the hidden things of his economy concerning this earth during those seven thousand years.
The temporal existence of this earth began at the fall of Adam, and will end at the end of the millennial reign of Christ. At that time there will be a new heaven and a new earth as stated in Revelation 21:1.
The revelation then explains that seven seals of the book represent each of the seven thousand years of the earth's temporal existence. So the first seal would represent the first thousand years, the second seal would represent the second thousand years, and so on until the seventh seal.
Since the Book of Revelation is a revelation concerning things to come, not much time is given to past seals, ie seals 1-4. Seal 5 occurs during the era of the ministry of the 12 Apostles and for some time thereafter. Seal 6 is given more consideration throughout the Book of Revelation. Seal 7 is given even more attention since it concerns the era when Christ will return to this earth. In some following posts, I will try to give some interpretation of these seals as presented in the Book of Revelation.
In the following verses Joseph Smith is taught about the book that was sealed with seven seals:
Doctrine and Covenants 77:6-7
6 Q. What are we to understand by the book which John saw, which was sealed on the back with seven seals? A. We are to understand that it contains the revealed will, mysteries, and the works of God; the hidden things of his economy concerning this earth during the seven thousand years of its continuance, or its temporal existence.
7 Q. What are we to understand by the seven seals with which it was sealed?
A. We are to understand that the first seal contains the things of the first thousand years, and the second also of the second thousand years, and so on until the seventh.
So according to the revelation given to Joseph Smith, the book represents a seven thousand year period of the earth's temporal existence. It contains the revealed will, mysteries, and works of God; the hidden things of his economy concerning this earth during those seven thousand years.
The temporal existence of this earth began at the fall of Adam, and will end at the end of the millennial reign of Christ. At that time there will be a new heaven and a new earth as stated in Revelation 21:1.
The revelation then explains that seven seals of the book represent each of the seven thousand years of the earth's temporal existence. So the first seal would represent the first thousand years, the second seal would represent the second thousand years, and so on until the seventh seal.
Since the Book of Revelation is a revelation concerning things to come, not much time is given to past seals, ie seals 1-4. Seal 5 occurs during the era of the ministry of the 12 Apostles and for some time thereafter. Seal 6 is given more consideration throughout the Book of Revelation. Seal 7 is given even more attention since it concerns the era when Christ will return to this earth. In some following posts, I will try to give some interpretation of these seals as presented in the Book of Revelation.