Preparation for Judgment: 3rd Seal

We continue to prepare for the actual judgment of God to begin (chapter 8), as the third seal is broken. In chapter 6 we see the Lamb, Jesus Christ, who alone is authorized to open the heavenly scroll, continue the process one seal at a time. The scroll is not actually opened until all seven seals have been broken by Jesus Christ. While He is breaking the seals in heaven, a variety of activities begin to take place simultaneously on earth. With the breaking of the the first seal the antichrist enters the scene as a deceiver who is allowed to have political control; opening the second seal the antichrist becomes a divider who is permitted to take peace from the earth and have military control. When the third seal is opened the antichrist takes control as a dictator who is permitted to have economic control. He will oppress mankind in general and the Jews in particular with a yoke of slavery (called "a pair of scales"). God ("a voice") sovereignly places limitations on what can happen to the wheat, barley, oil and wine.