A Study of the Events of the Sixth Seal

Intro: "Everything that can be done should be done to circulate Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation. I know of no other book that can take the place of this one. It is God's helping hand." (Manuscript Releases Vol 21 p. 444)

1. Revelation 7:1-4

A. Revelation 7 is a parenthetical prophecy. Show what a parenthetical prophecy is.

1. "The sixth chapter closed with the events of the sixth seal, and the seventh seal is not mentioned until we reach the opening of chapter 8. The whole of chapter 7 is therefore thrown in here parenthetically. Why is it thus thrown in at this point? — Evidently for the purpose of stating additional particulars concerning the sixth seal." DR p. 435

2. A parenthetical prophecy is a prophecy that takes you from one era to another. It shows you the key event that will take you to a new and important era.

3. Revelation 9 is another example of a parenthetical prophecy. Read Revelation 9:13,14 to show the sounding of the sixth trumpet.

4. Then read Revelation 9:21 to show how this chapter ends with the 6th trumpet.

5. Then read Revelation 10:1,2 to show how this chapter was thrown in parenthetically.

6. Use Uriah Smith to show Revelation 10 is a parenthetical prophecy.

"IN this scripture we have another instance in which the consecutive line of thought is for a time interrupted; and this chapter comes in as —A Parenthetical Prophecy. — Chapter 9 closed with the events of the sixth trumpet. The sounding of the seventh trumpet is not introduced until we reach the 15th verse of chapter 11. The whole of chapter 10, and a portion of chapter 11, therefore, come in parenthetically between the sixth and seventh trumpets. That which is particularly connected with the sounding of the sixth trumpet is recorded in chapter 9. The prophet has other events to introduce before the opening of another trumpet, and takes occasion to do it in the scripture which intervenes to the 15th verse of chapter 11. Among these is the prophecy of chapter 10." (DR p. 488)

7. Read Revelation 6:12-17 to show the opening of the sixth seal and the events connected with that seal. Also read this to show how this chapter closes with the events of the 6th seal.

“The series of seven seals is here resumed and concluded. The sixth chapter closed with the events of the sixth seal, the eighth commences with the opening of the seventh seal; hence the seventh chapter stands parenthetically between the sixth and seventh seals, from which it appears that the sealing work of that chapter belongs to the sixth seal.” DR 452

B. We must establish the date of Revelation 7:1-4. Use the events connected to the 6th seal to do this because the sealing of the 144,000 is the final event that determines the closing of the 6th seal. The sealing of the 144,000 belongs to the 6th seal.

1. Show the date of the opening of the 6th seal. Read Revelation 6:12,13. Then show how these events are also recorded in Luke 21:25 and Mark 13:24-26. Therefore Luke 21:25 and Mark 13:24-26 is linked with the 6th seal of Revelation 6.

These are the signs that are to happen before the second coming and before the second coming takes place the 144,000 must be sealed. Therefore these are the signs that are to happen before the 144,000 are sealed.

"The sixth seal covers history until the end of time; therefore the generation now living will witness at least some events shown to the prophet when this seal was opened. It differs from the first four seals, by showing events which mark prophetic time, rather than by showing the condition of the church. Those who recognize the signs therein given, as omens of the second coming of the Son of man, will welcome Him under the seventh seal. Those who Margin do not thus read the language of God, as given in signs and wonders, will have the experience recorded in Revelation 6:15-17." (Story of the Seer of Patmos p. 119 S.N. Haskell)

2. The Great Earthquake - "These signs were witnessed before the opening of the nineteenth century. In fulfillment of this prophecy there occurred, in the year 1755, the most terrible earthquake that has ever been recorded. Though commonly known as the earthquake of Lisbon, it extended to the greater part of Europe, Africa, and America. It was felt in Greenland, in the West Indies, in the island of Madeira, in Norway and Sweden, Great Britain and Ireland. It pervaded an extent of not less than four million square miles. In Africa the shock was almost as severe as in Europe. A great part of Algiers was destroyed; and a short distance from Morocco, a village containing eight or ten thousand inhabitants was swallowed up. A vast wave swept over the coast of Spain and Africa engulfing cities and causing great destruction." (Great Controversy p. 304)

3. "The Great Earthquake. — The first event under this seal, perhaps the one which marks its opening, is a great earthquake. As the more probable fulfillment of this prediction, we refer to the great earthquake of Nov. 1, 1755, known as the earthquake of Lisbon." (DR 414)

4. "The signs given by our Savior to precede his coming, synchronize with the events under the sixth seal. On the opening of this seal there was a great earthquake. The greatest earthquake of which we have an account in modern history, occurred on the 1st of November, 1755, and extended to every quarter of the globe. It was felt in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America—from Greenland on the north, to the extreme south. In the single city of Lisbon in Spain, 30,000 lives were lost, every church and convent in the city, and almost all the public buildings, with about one fourth of the house were destroyed; after which, fires broke out and raged for nearly three days, so that the city was completely desolated. This event would seem then to mark the opening of the sixth seal." Signs of the Times October 11, 1843

"At the beginning of the sixth seal, a mighty earthquake shook the earth. This doubtless refers to the earthquake of 1755, felt with greatest severity at Lisbon, Portugal, and known in history as the Lisbon earthquake." (Story of the Seer of Patmos p. 119 S.N. Haskell)

5. The Darkening of the Sun and Moon Was Fulfilled 25 Years After the Earthquake Which Opened the 6th Seal. Revelation 6:12, Joel 2:31, Mark 13:24

Christ in Mark 13:24 pointed out the exact time that the sun would be darkened and the moon would be turned into blood.

"Twenty-five years later appeared the next sign mentioned in the prophecy—the darkening of the sun and moon. What rendered this more striking was the fact THAT THE TIME OF ITS FULFILLMENT HAD BEEN DEFINITELY POINTED OUT. In the Saviour's conversation with His disciples upon Olivet, after describing the long period of trial for the church,—the 1260 years of papal persecution, concerning which He had promised that the tribulation should be shortened,—He thus mentioned certain events to precede His coming, and fixed the time when the first of these should be witnessed: “In those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light.” Mark 13:24. The 1260 days, or years, terminated in 1798. A quarter of a century earlier, persecution had almost wholly ceased. Following this persecution, according to the words of Christ, the sun was to be darkened. On the 19th of May, 1780, this prophecy was fulfilled. “Almost, if not altogether alone, as the most mysterious and as yet unexplained phenomenon of its kind, ... stands the dark day of May 19, 1780,—a most unaccountable darkening of the whole visible heavens and atmosphere in New England.”—R. M. Devens, Our First Century, page 89." (Great Controversy p. 306)

Spirit of prophecy says, "A quarter of a century earlier persecution had almost wholly ceased." A quarter of a century is 25 years.

In Mark 13:24 Jesus said, "In those days..." In what days? In the days of the 1260 year prophecy of papal persecution.

Then He said in the same verse, "After that tribulation..." He promised that the tribulation or persecution would be shortened.

The 1260 years of papal supremacy terminated in 1798. 25 years earlier would takes us to 1773 when persecution almost wholly ceased. Therefore the sign of the sun being darkened must happen somewhere between 1773 and 1798. It happened in 1780.

"It is here again stated that the 1260 years terminated in 1798. And the express “In those days,” found in the text, “In those days, after the tribulation,” is made to refer to the 1260 days. On this basis the statement is made: “Between these two dates [1773-1798] according to the words of Christ, the sun was to be darkened.” (W.W. Prescott And the 1911 Edition of the Great Controversy p. 25)

6. Now as to the time of the appearance of these signs: It was to be immediately after the tribulation that the sun was to be darkened. As Mark records, it was to be “in those days, after that tribulation.” Our Saviour had said that the days should be shortened. By the decree of Maria Theresa, and the Acts of Toleration from 1773 to 1776, the rage of persecution against the church was shortened. Although the persecuting power retained control of the civil arm until 1798, its persecutions were closed about 1773. Comparing the statements of the Saviour would place the first of these signs between 1773 and 1798. (Great Second Advent Movement p. 94 J.N Loughborough)

On the 19th of May, 1780, the sun was supernaturally darkened. It was no eclipse, as the moon had fulled the day before. Notwithstanding this there was a darkness over all the northeastern portion of the United States from eleven o’clock in the morning until eleven o’clock at night. On that occasion not only was the sun darkened, but the moon refused to reflect the light of the sun. It was a darkness that prevented the sun from shining on the disc of the moon. And as expressed by Noah Webster, many years after, “No satisfactory reason has ever been assigned for this darkness.”

Of this dark day Herschel, the astronomer, said: “The Dark Day in North America was one of those wonderful phenomena of nature which will always be read of with interest, but which philosophy is at a loss to explain.” GSAM 95.1

Those describing the darkness of the night of May 19, 1780, said, notwithstanding there was a full moon, that “if every luminous body in the universe had been struck out of existence, the darkness could not have been more complete.” (Great Second Advent Movement p. 94 J.N Loughborough)

Joel 3:15 prophesied that the sun, moon, and stars, all would withdraw their light. This was fulfilled on May 19, 1780, the Dark day. An eyewitness said, “if every luminous body in the universe had been struck out of existence, the darkness could not have been more complete.”

"Following the earthquake, it is announced that “the sun became black as sackcloth of hair.” This portion of the prediction has also been fulfilled. Into a detailed account of the wonderful darkening of the sun, May 19, 1780, we need not here enter." Daniel and Revelation p. 418

The dark day of Northern America was one of those wonderful phenomena of nature which will always be read of with interest, but which philosophy is at a loss to explain.” — Herschel.

“The darkness was such as to occasion farmers to leave their work in the field, and retire to their dwellings. Lights became necessary to the transaction of business within doors. The darkness continued through the day.” — Gage’s History of Rowley, Mass.

“It was midnight darkness at noonday. ... Thousands of people who could not account for it from natural causes, were greatly terrified; and indeed, it cast a universal gloom on the earth. The frogs and night-hawks began their notes.” — Dr. Adams.

May 19, 1780, stands in history as “The Dark Day.” Since the time of Moses, no period of darkness of equal density, extent, and duration has ever been recorded. The description of this event, as given by the poet and the historian, is but an echo of the words of the Lord, recorded by the prophet Joel, twenty-five hundred years previous to their fulfillment: “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.” [Joel 2:31.] Great Controversy p. 308

7. Moon blood - "After midnight the darkness disappeared, and the moon, when first visible, had the appearance of blood." (Great Controversy p. 307)

"And whenever on this memorable night the moon did appear, as at certain times it did, it had, according to this prophecy, the appearance of blood." (Daniel and Revelation p. 422)

"Joel and John prophesied that the moon would be turned into blood. Those who witnessed the dark night, say that when the moon appeared, near the morning, it was a blood-red ball in the heavens." (Story of the Seer of Patmos p. 124 S.N. Haskell)

8. Falling of the stars

"The third of these signs, the falling of these stars, was fulfilled on the 13th November, 1833. On that night, or rather from five hours previous to the day dawn, there was a meteoric shower compared by some to streams of fire coming down from heaven; by others, to sparks of fire flying off of some great piece of fire-works. This phenomenon covered all North America, from the Gulf of Mexico on the south to Hudson’s Bay on the north, and from the Sandwich Islands on the west to within a few hundred miles of Liverpool on the east. Wherever observed, it was the same continuous shower of stars, falling as thick as snowflakes in a snow-storm. Concerning this star shower in 1833, we further quote from the Connecticut Observer of Nov. 25, 1833:—

"The editor of the Old Countryman makes a very serious matter of the ‘falling stars.’ He says, ‘We pronounce the rain of fire, which we saw on Wednesday morning last, an awful type, a sure forerunner, a merciful sign, of that great and dreadful day which the inhabitants of the earth will witness when the sixth seal shall be opened. The time is just at hand, described not only in the New Testament, but in the Old Testament; and a more correct picture of a fig-tree casting its fruit when blown by a mighty wind, it was not possible to behold.’” 
(GSAM p. 95 J.N. Loughborough)

"In 1833, two years after Miller began to present in public the evidences of Christ's soon coming, the last of the signs appeared which were promised by the Saviour as tokens of his second advent. Said Jesus, “The stars shall fall from heaven.” [Matthew 24:29.] And John in the Revelation declared, as he beheld in vision the scenes that herald the day of God: “The stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.” [Revelation 6:13.] This prophecy received a striking and impressive fulfillment in the great meteoric shower of November 13, 1833. That was the most extensive and wonderful display of falling stars which has ever been recorded; “the whole firmament, over all the United States, being then, for hours, in fiery commotion. No celestial phenomenon has ever occurred in this country, since its first settlement, which was viewed with such intense admiration by one class in the community, or such dread and alarm by another.” (Great Controversy p. 332)

"The peculiar features of the special falling of Margin the stars, which God gave as a sign, are given by John. They should fall from heaven “as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.” Extensive and magnificent showers of shooting stars have been known to occur at various places in modern times; but the most universal and wonderful which has ever been recorded is that of the 13th of November, 1833, the whole firmament, over all the United States, being then for hours in fiery commotion. As a fig tree covered with green fruit being violently shaken sends the fruit in all directions, so from one center in the sky, the stars fell in showers in every direction." (S.N. Haskell, Story of the Seer of Patmos p. 124)

"The voice of history still is, Fulfilled! Being a much later event than the darkening of the sun, there are multitudes in whose memories it is as fresh as though it were but yesterday. We refer to the great meteoric shower of Nov. 13, 1833. On this point a few extracts will suffice." DR p. 422 Uriah Smith

These are the events that are to happen under the sixth seal. The event that opened the sixth seal was the great Lisbon earthquake on November 1, 1755. What is the event that will close the sixth seal?

"Probation still lingers, and it is our privilege to lay hold of the hope set before us in the gospel. Let us repent and be converted and forsake our sins, that they may be blotted out." Testimonies volume 9 p. 268

"Since 1755 the inhabitants of the earth have been living under the sixth seal. In the heavens and on the earth, signs have appeared, which show that time is short." (S.N. Haskell, Story of the Seer of Patmos p. 124)

"All may know the time of God’s visitation, for we are walled about by the signs given by Jehovah. We cannot lose ourselves; for the dates 1755, 1780, and 1833, are as clearly marked as the close of the twelve hundred and sixty years, and the twenty-three hundred years of the book of Daniel."
(S.N. Haskell, Story of the Seer of Patmos p. 126)

“There in His open hand lay the book, the roll of the history of God’s providences, the prophetic history of nations and the church. Herein was contained the divine utterances, His authority, His commandments, His laws, the whole symbolic counsel of the Eternal, and the history of all ruling powers in the nations. In symbolic language was contained in that roll the influence of every nation, tongue, and people from the beginning of earth’s history to its close…The same spirit is seen today that is represented in Revelation 6:6-8. History is to be repeated. That which has been will be again.” 9MR p. 7)

“Revelation is a sealed book, but it is also an opened book. It records marvelous events that are to take place in the last days of this earth’s history. The teachings of this book are definite, not mystical and unintelligible. In it the same line of prophecy is taken up as in Daniel. Some prophecies God has repeated, thus showing that importance must be given to them. The Lord does not repeat things that are of no great consequence.” (9MR p. 7)