What are the Seven Signs of the Apocalypse?

What are the Seven Signs of the Apocalypse? We are told a lot about what to expect when the end of days comes. The book of Revelation tells us all about the apocalypse, how it will come, how things will happen, and what we can expect as we go through the tribulations.

Popular media has made up the concept of the Seven Signs of the Apocalypse, taking mostly I think from the seven seals. The Book of Revelation describes what happens as each of the scroll's seven seals are broken. It goes into some detail and there is a lot of symbology there.

Let's explore these seven seals and what some call the Seven Signs of the Apocalypse that they bring. All quotations from the Bible that follow are from the King James version as provided by www.biblegateway.com

First seal:

1And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.

2And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

The arrival of the conqueror on the white horse is debated to be sure. Some say he is there as a false prophet while others say it is Jesus. In the first version the signs would be the arrival of one or several sensational people who claim their right as the second coming. In the second the signs would be a vast spreading of the word of God. First sign is the arrival of false prophets.

Second seal:

3And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see.

4And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

The second horseman is associated with conflict and war. Accordingly the sign here would be the outbreak of wars. Men killing one another in large numbers across the world. The second sign is world wars.

Third seal:

5And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

6And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine

This third horseman of the apocalypse rides a black horse with scales in his hands. He is associated with commerce and therefore is said to bring an imbalance in the costs of goods. Famine is his legacy. The third sign is famine.

Fourth seal:

7And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.

8And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

The fourth horseman actually has a name- DEATH. He brings Hades with him so the souls of those afflicted can be collected immediately. The fourth sign is widespread death.

Fifth seal:

9And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

10And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

11And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

Here is a discussion about the Martyrs. Some have been murdered already and God tells them that he will move forward with his judgment when the others have been martyred also. The fifth sign is a mass murdering of Martyrs.

Sixth seal:

12And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

13And 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.

14And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

15And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

16And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

17For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Upon the opening of the sixth seal earthquakes occur, the sun blackens out, and the moon turns to the color red. Men of power run and hide in the mountains. The sixth sign is the earthquakes, darkness, and red colored moon.

Seventh seal:

1And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

2And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.

The seventh sign is quite simply- calm silence.

I understand that there are many more interpretations of what is commonly called the Seven Signs of the Apocalypse. The issues I have with it are that there isn't really anything specifically called out and labled as such. So for me, it is all opinion to begin with.

These are my Seven Signs of the Apocalypse. Interestingly, this is a wide topic...so much so that movies have been made about the seven signs of the apocalypse- my favorite is The Seventh Sign, but it doesn't keep well with the seven seals in my opinion.

Be Good!

Curt

To return to Biblical Prophecy from The Seven Signs of the Apocalypse, click here.

To return to End Of Days Apocalypse from The Seven Signs of the Apocalypse, click here