Understanding the Book With Seven Seals: What Revelation 5-7 Is Really Revealing

Kareem Flowers
3 days ago
7 min read

Updated: 52 minutes ago

Understanding the Book with Seven Seals

There is considerable confusion surrounding the Book of Seals in Revelation 5, especially its purpose, function, and the meaning of each seal. Many, in trying to discern our current place on the Bible prophecy timeline, focus on the seals and ask: “Which seal are we currently at?” In this blog, I aim to dispel that confusion once and for all, allowing the Scriptures themselves to unveil the truth about the book that was in the Father’s right hand.

To do so, we must return to the introduction of the Book of Revelation. By examining the overview it presents, we can more clearly understand the details.

The Foundation: Revelation 1:1-3

Revelation 1:1-3 - 1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Let us break these verses down for further clarity:

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him”As we established in Chapter 1, God gave Jesus a revelation about future events surrounding His return. The Book of Revelation centers around this divine disclosure.

“To shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass”

Jesus received this revelation so it could be imparted to His servants - the Body of Christ.

“And he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John”

An angel was sent to John to convey (or “signify”) the revelation that Jesus had received.

“Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw”

John recorded everything revealed to him by the angel. From another perspective, he transcribed the revelation that Jesus received from the Father.

“Blessed is he that readeth…”

This is not just any document - it is a holy revelation from God. The mere fact that we have access to it is a blessing. Those who read, understand, and obey its instructions are especially blessed. The revelation provides divine guidance about events and judgments that will soon shake the earth. Having access to it enables us to remain in the ark of safety - that is, the will of God.

Paralleling Revelation 1:1 with Revelation 4&5

It is essential to remember that Revelation 1:1-8 serves as an introduction to the entire book, giving an overview of what is to come. In fact, Revelation 1:1 summarizes the events later detailed in Revelation 4 and 5:

Revelation 1:1 - The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Revelation 4:1-2 - 1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. 2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

In Revelation 4:1–2, an angel invites John into a vision to reveal events concerning the Day of the Lord - fulfilling what Revelation 1:1 foretold.

The Throne Room Scene

Revelation 4:3 - And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

Revelation 4:10-11 - 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Revelation 5:1 - And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

Revelation 4 paints a vivid picture of heaven's throne room, where God sits enthroned, surrounded by worshipping elders, beasts, and angels. Notably, a sealed book lies in His right hand.

The Book in God's Hand

This book - commonly called the Book of Seals because it is sealed with seven seals - is prophetic in nature. The prophet Ezekiel also saw it and described it as containing “lamentations, mourning, and woe (Ezekiel 2:10)” But John provides further insight, revealing not only the types and timing of these judgments but also the specific people they affect at their appointed times.

The Structure of the Book of Seals

Outside the Book

The seven seals serve a dual purpose. First, they act as binding belts that keep the book shut, preventing access to the writings inside. Second, they cover the writing on the outside of the book, concealing its contents until each seal is removed. The writing on the outside presents a sort of table of contents - highlighting key themes and elements contained within the book. These themes are an announcement of events that will occur once the book is opened.

Inside the Book

The full account of end-time events is found within the book and corresponds with the section “Prophetic Events Unfolding in the Revelation” in Our first blog in this series - “Book of Revelation Overview: A Clear Biblical Breakdown of Its Structure and Events”. That outline details the sequence of prophetic events recorded from Revelation 8 through 22.

Jesus Receives the Book

Revelation 1:1 - The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Revelation 5:6-7 - 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

Revelation 5:6-7 fulfills Revelation 1:1 - where God gave the revelation to Jesus. Revelation 5:6–7 shows this happening literally as the Lamb (Jesus) receives the sealed book.

Sealed Even From the Lamb

Matthew 24:36 - But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Acts 1:6-7 - 6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

These verses highlight that the book was sealed - even from the Lamb. Though Jesus and the Old Testament prophets spoke of the end, the Book of Seals contained undisclosed details: the sequence, timing, and comprehensive scope of God’s plan. However, once the Lamb received the book, He proceeded to open its seals, thereby gaining access to its contents.

As each seal was opened, the revelation was unveiled, John, as an eyewitness, was given the privilege of seeing and recording what was inside.

Understanding the Book's Function

The Seals themselves are not “action items” nor are they triggers that cause events to occur. Each seal is an announcement or listing of the events that are contained within the book itself.

The Book is a revelation - a documented prophecy of the final transition of power given to Christ by God, the Father.

When Jesus opens each seal, thunder and visions follow, not because the seal triggers an event on our timeline, but because that's how the revelation is being shown to John. In other words, instead of hearing Jesus read the scroll, John sees vivid portrayals of its contents. For example, the first seal shows a white horse and rider - not as a written statement, but as a visionary display. To be even more candid, the opened seals are simply a visual table of contents for the book.

The Book is Already Opened

All seven seals were opened during John’s vision - around A.D. 95–96 - when the Lamb received the book. Therefore, the Book of Seals is no longer sealed. We are not waiting for any seals to be opened; they already were, and the book was never resealed.

The seals themselves do not cause events to occur. Rather, they serve as revelations that prepare us for what is written in the book - much like a table of contents reveals what lies ahead. Once the book is opened and read (Revelation 8–22), the themes foreshadowed by each seal become clear.

Now, as of January 16, 2026, we are simply awaiting the first actual event described within the book (Revelation 8): the blowing of the first trumpet, which brings fire, blood, and hail upon the earth.

The Content of the Book: Revelation 6-22

Everything John saw from Revelation 6 through 22 is the revealed content of the Book of Seals. These chapters are not merely prophecy; they are a sacred transcript - a written disclosure of the sealed book that once rested in the right hand of God, was given to Jesus, then to John, and finally to us, the Body of Christ.

This is why Revelation 1:3 declares a blessing on those who read, hear, and keep what is written. What an unspeakable honor has been granted to us - that the very book once sealed and hidden from all creation has now been opened, revealed, and handed down to the Church. Just as Jesus was blessed to receive the book and its revelation, we too have been blessed beyond measure to hold in our hands the record of that holy unveiling.

And yet, it is a sobering truth that many of our Bibles sit untouched, gathering dust on our shelves - evidence of how easily we take for granted what heaven once concealed and only now has made known. Let us not neglect such a great gift. May we honor this divine privilege by reading, understanding, and living according to the words of this prophecy.

In closing, the Book of Seals has been opened and its contents entrusted to the Body of Christ. What was once hidden in God’s hand is now revealed in our hands. Let us walk worthy of this divine trust, abiding in the blessing promised to those who read, hear, and keep the words of this prophecy.