This chapter begins in a hurry and much history is covered in only sixteen verses, ending in the seventeenth verse with a most important question being asked, "...and who shall be able to stand?"  Each one of these seven seals is a generation or a class of people being judged in successive order and knowing that "all who have ever taken upon themselves the name of Christ must pass its searching scrutiny". Great Controversy 486.  One can now see the reason to ask this question "who shall be able to stand?" Revelation 6:17.  Heaven does not leave the reader in the dark to answer that question alone, the Bible tells us in chapter seven that many will "stand."  We can be in that group either through translation or through the grave to be resurrected at the Voice of God sounding from heaven.  (Not at the second coming.)  God's people since 1844, their deliverance will be when God the Father speaks from His throne in heaven.  See Revelation 16:17 and Great Controversy 637.

    However, back to the opening of the seals one at a time, we need to spend some time here because of those "who taught falsehood as truth and by them many souls were led astray". 9 Testimonies 268.  I do not believe our Evangelists have purposed in their heart to lead "souls astray" the real reason is "There are some who are deceived...fearfully deceived". 9 Testimonies 267.  Having many statements of heaven-sent inspiration from the pen of Ellen White committed to memory on this subject and not wanting this chapter to get lengthy, I will only use a select few.  These will come from the books we hold in our hands.  I know if a computer were used to search this subject and everything released from the White Estate, this study could be flawless.  However, you will get the truth regardless of limited material.  It is all in the Bible anyway, right here in these chapters.

    Notice how the four beasts are numbered one to four and they all have something to say in consecutive order, as each seal is unsealed or introduced.  They all say "come and see", as though they know first hand about their particular generation.  The first beast knew all about the first generation (antediluvians) and how Noah preached for 120 years to those who would scoff at God.  Here Adam lived 930 years and Methuselah who died the year of the flood, lived 969 years.  So a man who lived to hear Noah preach God's warning message, had a chance to talk with Adam, hundreds of years, who talked with God face to face.

    Are we clear now as to what is in the roll and where it begins?  "The Book with the Seven Seals contains the history of the world... Revelation 5:1-3.  There in His open hand lay the book the roll of the history of God's providence’s, 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."  9 Manuscript Release page 7.  And from Christ's Object Lessons 294, we learned that the roll contains deeds or decisions of the professed people of God.  Let me add just one statement before going into the second seal.  "As the books of record are opened in the judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review before God.  Beginning with those who first lived on the earth, (antediluvians) our Advocate presents the cases of each successive generation, and closes with the living". Great Controversy 483.  Notice the words "successive generation".  The second seal would be the next generation or class of people, probably those who lived forward of the flood.  Their names now come in review and the second beast steps forward and says, "come and see."  He is identifying himself with this class of people.  He remembers the Tower of Babel and saw how God confused their language.  Some in that generation had a desire to please God by following the heaven sent-instruction.  Others desire was to do as they pleased, knowing full well heavens instruction.  There is no reason to try to figure exactly when one seal ended and another "successive generation" began.  However, in the third, fourth and sixth seal, the Scriptures really gives some date setting information.

    "And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see...and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand." Revelation 6:5.  "Balances" weighing, judging all the same.  Here it was, God was being weighed in the balances by mortal man, and found guilty.  Jesus Christ in that mock trial by His own church leaders, died saying "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."  That was a sincere request to His Father, but now during the third seal, the twenty-four elders review the names of this generation.  They know the person's name who blind folded Jesus and slapped His face.  Those in that judgment scene in heaven knows who made that crown of thorns and pressed or screwed it on the forehead of the one they adore.  "Thus the Jewish leaders made their choice and their decision was registered in the book John saw in the hand of him that sat on the throne.  In all its vindictiveness their decision will appear before them in the day when this book is unsealed by the lion of the tribe of Judah."  Christ's Object Lessons. 294.

    But there is more in the third seal that tells of this generation or class of people.  It would extend till around AD 70 (the destruction of Jerusalem) "and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine." Revelation 6:6.  Rome surrounded that city the second time and built that siege dike so that no one could escape.  The food supply in the city was destroyed by warring factions within.  "Wheat and barley for a penny."  But what is this about "...hurt not the oil or wine"?  All through the Bible, the symbols oil and wine represent the harvest.  Around 1.4 million stiff-necked Jews were killed, but not one Christian lost their life in Jerusalem, because they remembered to watch for the signal and warning that Jesus had given in Matthew. "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)" Matthew 24:15.

    There is another signal and warning for the last generation you and I can be aware of.  More about that when we get to chapter Ten and Eleven, interwoven with Daniel 12.  These chapters fit better than a comfortable glove, we will see this as we examine these Scriptures in their native purity.  (Not from seminary teachers.)  I am so thankful that God has protected His Holy word just as He said He would; "The words of the Lord are pure words... purified... preserve them... for ever". Psalms 12:6-7.

    By now we know what the fourth beast will say when the fourth seal is unsealed and a new generation of names appears for their judgment.  Yes, He says those recorded words "come and see." Revelation 6:7.  Then the next verse is suggestive of those who would become the sport of thousands, the Super Bowl of that day, where seventy thousand would gather in the coliseums in Rome "to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth." Revelation 6:8.  Some of those "beasts of the earth" were hungry lions that had not been fed for days, confronting those huddled Christians in the arena.  I can imagine that some of that sporting crowd had a favorite animal to root for.  Hundred pound dogs did as instructed by their masters.  Horses jerked people asunder.  The Christians were clinging to their Lord words "be thou faithful until death, and I will give you a crown of life." Revelation 2:10.

    Now we come to the fifth seal, and there is a new class of people being judged.  Each and every name in this fifth seal are martyrs, those who have died for their faith since day one, to the present.  Names will be included in this generation also of all future martyrs clear up until the close of probation.  But after probation closes, there will be no more death for God's people.  (see Early Writings 284)

    If any are confused about the word generation or class of people, let us stop right here and quote a few verses of scripture.  "There is a generation that curseth their father... There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes... There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men."  Proverbs 30:11-14.  Yes, there is a generation also of people who "were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held." Revelation 6:9.  Letting your light shine in a closet or "under a bushel" and never saying anything with a positive "testimony" in God's behalf will exempt you from being a martyr.  I believe it necessary to say something if we want to be an overcomer. "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony." Revelation 12:11.  This generation or class of people is not forgotten by heaven, and some day soon the following question will be answered, and they will be rewarded.  "How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" Revelation 6:10.

    The next verse could not be any plainer instructing those of us now living, and what to expect in the near future.  "...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..." Revelation 6:11.  Personally, I had rather have my name considered for judgment under the seventh seal, but if I am to be one of these "fellow servants," so be it.  Either way, heaven is within our reach.  So, let us "be faithful until death."

    Is everyone aware that for everything that heaven asks us to do, power is available from heaven?  Yes, "all His biddings are enablings." Christ's Object Lessons. 333.  "God makes no requirement without making provision for its fulfillment." Christ's Object Lessons 301.

    "And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake..." Revelation 6:12.  No guesswork or speculation here to tell when this generation of people lived.  Under this sixth seal names are considered who lived from the Lisbon earthquake (1755), until the close of probation.  Some of the ones who are judged in this sixth seal will be a portion of the wicked who pray, not to God, it is forever to late for that.  Rather, they "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:" Revelation 6:16.   We are now living while judgment is going on in heaven under the sixth seal.

    Now we come to the seventh seal where Bible students could ask ten different evangelists and get twelve different answers.  Probably the most common error would be a seven day journey from earth to heaven.  How sad for SDA evangelists to be deceived themselves, then, instruct others boldly over the satellite system spending $250,000 a month, just on the transponder fee.  Speculation is on their lips, allowing a past generation to do their basic Bible study for them.

    Why do those with a graduates cap and gown suggest to us that the redeemed from all ages are on that journey from earth to heaven? In reality this "one half hour of silence" (Rev. 8:1) in heaven is when our lovely Jesus is still interceding in man's behalf, just at a most crucial hour in heaven and on earth. This is the last class of people which that heavenly tribunal will decide upon.  Remember now, heaven had dealt with six generations successively at this point in time.  "Beginning with those who first lived on the earth, our advocate presents the cases of each successive generation and closes with the living." Great Controversy 483.

    Only a few of God's faithful are left, most are hid away in the grave for safekeeping.  Yes only 144,000 remain, and they are the true remnant, known only by heaven. Jesus today, is still interceding and will be during that "space of about one half hour."  Your guardian angel and mine realize the seriousness of the situation in our lives.  It could go either way for you and I if we are still living.  Was there another time in heaven where there was “silence” and things could have gone either way?  Yes, when Jesus was in the garden that Thursday night before His death was such a time.  He received no comfort from His sleeping disciples as He returned alone three times to pray.  Can you picture how heaven would react?  "But God suffered with His son.  Angels beheld the serious agony.  They saw their Lord enclosed by legions of satanic forces.  His nature weighed down with a shuddering mysterious dread. There was silence in heaven.  No harp was touched.  Could mortal have viewed the amazement of the angelic host as in silent grief they watched the Father separating His beams of light, love, and glory from His beloved Son, they could better understand how offensive in His sight is sin."  Desire of Ages 693.

    Please lay this book aside and pickup your Bible and read verses one through five in this eighth chapter.  This angel standing at the altar is Jesus.  The word angel simply means messenger. Jesus is not an angel and never was, He is the Son of God, and in this fifth verse, He throws down the censer.  There is the close of probation.  "Then I saw Jesus who had been ministering before the ark concerning the Ten Commandments, throw down the censer.  He raised His hands, and with a loud voice said 'It is done.'" Early Writings 279.

    Some of the most solemn words in all scripture are these; "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still." Revelation 22:11.

    Those are the words said when this "angel" throws down the censer.  A real angel, Gabriel had just reported to Jesus returning from earth and told Jesus that his sealing work was done.  At that point, all in that heavenly tribunal, all in those unfallen worlds, know the names of the redeemed.  They know that only 144,000 of Gods people are left alive and although probation has now closed, these living saints will still suffer trial individually, especially during the sixth trumpet.

    “The same angel who visited Sodom is sounding the note of warning, ‘Escape for thy life.' The bottles of God's wrath cannot be poured out to destroy the wicked and their works until all the people of God have been judged, and the cases of the living as well as the dead are decided. And even after the saints are sealed with the seal of the living God, His elect will have trials individually. Personal afflictions will come; but the furnace is closely watched by an eye that will not suffer the gold to be consumed. The indelible mark of God is upon them. God can plead that His own name is written there. The Lord has shut them in. Their destination is inscribed—‘God, New Jerusalem.’ They are God's property, His possession.”  See Testimony to Ministers, 446.

    When the seven trumpets and the seven plagues are considered soon, more will be said about what occurs when man is permitted to do exactly what he has been longing to do.