Revelation’s Sixth Seal: Sudden Judgment and Divine Preservation

The fifth seal revealed the martyrdom of the saints during the Great Tribulation—but it also left one question unanswered: When will God intervene?

The sixth seal answers that question—suddenly and unmistakably.

Three and a half years after the Antichrist has invaded and begun to occupy Israel, his ongoing quest for power will come to a sudden end. But not through defeat in battle—it comes with the simple act of Jesus opening one seal on a scroll.

Suddenly, all of the wars on earth and the plans of men come to a screeching halt. The sun goes black, the moon turns red, meteors streak across the sky, and the entire earth is shaken by a great earthquake. Every person becomes aware that the time of judgment has come.

No one is mocking God any longer. No one is saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?” Instead, they are running for the hills in fear, because they know without a doubt that Jesus is Lord. Yet God has not even begun to cast judgment on the earth. There is a brief pause for the sixth seal to take effect.

When The Sixth Seal Is Opened

This passage is often read incorrectly. Typically, it is taught that immediately after the tribulation, Jesus returns. But that is not what it says. Instead, it tells us that the sun will be darkened, the moon will not shine, stars will fall, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. Only after these things occur does Jesus return.

We just read that these events begin when He opens the sixth seal. Since these are the same cosmic signs described in Matthew 24:29, which occur immediately after the tribulation, this places the opening of the sixth seal at that same point—immediately following the tribulation.

But these cosmic signs are only part of an ongoing process of judgment. They will continue through the opening of the seventh seal and the seven trumpets, which we will learn about in a future lesson.

It is not until all seven of those trumpets have sounded that Jesus actually returns (1 Corinthians 15:52). Until then, the wicked run in fear, knowing He is coming but not knowing when.

The opening of the sixth seal is only the beginning of the events that take place before the day of the Lord. It is when God prepares to plead with mankind to repent one last time. He makes His return known through signs in the heavens, and in the next seal through His measured wrath.

But before He does, there are some people on earth that He ensures are kept safe from what is coming once the seventh seal is opened.

The Saints Are Sealed And Protected

Before God unleashes His wrath, the saints are sealed. This means they bear the mark of God and are under His protection. Not a single blade of grass will experience His wrath until every last saint has been placed under His guard, protected from what is coming.

Throughout the entire Great Tribulation, the saints have suffered the wrath of Satan. But now the wrath of God is coming upon the world—and the saints have no part in it.

Do not mistake this for the rapture of the church. The seventh trumpet has not sounded yet. Instead, God protects His saints who remain on earth during the trumpets of the seventh seal. They are spared from their effects.

This pattern is seen throughout the Bible. Noah was safe from the flood (Genesis). When God sent the plagues upon Egypt, the Hebrews were safe in their own homes (Exodus 8:22–23; 9:4; 10:23). Even during the final plague, they were protected by the seal of the lamb’s blood on their doors (Exodus 12:12–13).

In each of these events, God did not remove people from the earth. He directed His wrath to avoid them. Noah heard the people perish in the waters. The Hebrews heard the cries of the Egyptians as their firstborn children died. They were safe, but not removed.

Many argue that Revelation 3:10, which says God will keep the saints from the hour of temptation, implies removal rather than preservation. However, the same Greek wording is used here. In both passages, the phrase comes from τηρέω (to keep, guard, preserve) and ἐκ (out of, from).

Here, it is explicitly clarified that “keeping from” does not mean removal, since Jesus says, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world.” Instead, it clearly describes protection while remaining in the world. The phrase “keep from” can mean preservation through—not necessarily removal.

During one of the trumpet judgments, which occur after the seventh seal is opened, it is made even clearer that those who have the seal remain on earth. The command is given specifically that they are not to be touched by the wrath of God.

The Progression Of Revelation

I want you to notice a few things before we see what comes next. The opening of the seals in Revelation progresses one by one, with each seal being opened after the previous one. The first four seals were opened after Jesus was raised from the dead. The fifth seal was opened at the beginning of the Great Tribulation. Then we see the sixth seal open after the tribulation period ends.

We are now about to see the seventh seal opened. But the flow and order of events continues in one direction. The seventh seal will be opened after the sixth, which means the seven trumpets come after the sixth seal.

The reason I bring this up is that some people think the seals, trumpets, and bowls all happen simultaneously. Many believe the seals are opened one per year during the seven-year tribulation, and that each trumpet also sounds one per year during that same time. But notice: this is not the order presented in Scripture.

John consistently uses words to indicate a forward progression. He says “after this” repeatedly in Revelation, signaling the forward flow of time. The order of seals, trumpets, and bowls is not nested within the seven-year tribulation overlapping each other—they move in a clear, forward momentum.

This tells us there is a period of time after the tribulation in which God pleads with mankind before Jesus returns.

Daniel makes it clear that everything does not end after the 1,290 days of tribulation. He tells us there are 1,335 days to come. This indicates, once again, that there is a period after the tribulation but before the return of Jesus.

This extra time in Daniel extends past the final three and a half years of the Great Tribulation. But even this does not mean Jesus returns at the end of the 1,335 days. I personally believe this extra time occurs during the sixth seal, allowing for signs in the heavens and time to seal the saints. But I can not be sure.

During the trumpet judgments, several months are mentioned passing. All of this happens after the sixth seal, which ends the Great Tribulation for the saints and begins the great wrath of God for the wicked.

Once the saints are marked, sealed, and protected from the wrath God is about to unleash, Jesus opens the final seventh seal. From this point forward, nothing can harm the saints—they are completely protected. All judgment is directed toward the unbelievers.

The saints suffered the wrath of Satan, but they will not suffer the cosmic wrath of God.

In the next study, we will see what is in store for the world as Jesus opens the final seal and the angels blow the trumpets one by one.

Continue To Unit 7:25 – The Seventh Seal of Revelation: Heaven Falls Silent Before the Seven Trumpets OR

Return To Christianity 101 Unit 7 – The Latter Days – A Detailed Look