We ask John what he saw and heard in the vision at Patmos, and he answers: "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.  And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?  And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon."  {20MR 197.1} 

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.  {20MR 197.2} 

This roll was written within and without.  John says: "I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon."  The vision as presented to John made its impression upon his mind.  The destiny of every nation was contained in that book.  John was distressed at the utter inability of any human being or angelic intelligence to read the words, or even to look thereon.  His soul was wrought up to such a point of agony and suspense that one of the strong angels had compassion on him, and laying his hand on him assuringly said, "Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof."  {20MR 197.3} 

John continues: "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.  And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne."

As the book was unrolled, all who looked upon it were filled with awe.  There were no blanks in the book.  There was space for no more writing. [Revelation 5:8-14; 6:8, quoted.]  {20MR 197.4}

"And 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: and they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, Holy and true, doest Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?  And white robes were given unto every one of them [They were pronounced pure and holy]; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled" [Revelation 6:9-11].  Here were scenes presented to John that were not in reality but that which would be in a period of time in the future.  [Revelation 8:1-4, quoted.]  {20MR 197.5} 

Nb wrote:

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Notice the first horse. 

Revelation 6:2  And 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.

This white horse which symbolizes purity has a rider with a crown. I believe this represents Jesus and the gospel message. Throughout history the gospel message has been proclaimed and will continue until the close of probation. The rider has a bow but no arrows. The bow represents power. 

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God has said, "Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm."  Men have borne false witness against God's chosen ones.  They have bruised their limbs with fetters, and burned them at the stake.  The Lord will avenge his children.  In proportion as men have carried out the spirit and purposes of Satan in causing pain to human beings, so will they suffer.  Thus will they perish who have done all in their power to compel men to transgress the law that God has commanded all to obey.  "I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse," John writes; "and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords."  {RH, June 19, 1900 par. 6} 

Revelation 6:4  And 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.

Red horse symbolizes blood

rider was given power to overcome and kill. I believe this is Satan captain of evil working through evil men. The sword is a symbol for killing. No doubt the evil angels are a part of this army too. 

The oil and wine is very symbolic 

egw understood this

the oil represents the holy spirit calling people to choose to follow Jesus 

the wine represents those that Jesus shed His blood for 

excellent thanks

After man has cost such an infinite price as the Son of God, that He might make him a being of His throne, how tenderly should man deal with his fellow men.  How fearful should brethren and sisters in the church feel lest they shall hurt the oil and the wine, and push and destroy one of God's little ones.  How patiently, kindly, and affectionately should they deal with the purchase of the blood of Christ.  How faithfully should they labor, and how earnestly, to lift up the desponding, the discouraged, and those whose surroundings may not be as favorable as their own.  How tenderly should they treat those who, while seeking to obey the truth, have no encouragement at home, but have constantly to breathe the atmosphere of unbelief.  {12MR 278.1} 

Revelation 6:7-8 

[7] And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. [8] And 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.

I dont think theres any time in the past where 1/4 of the earth was killed. This will be devastating and I believe future. 

The voices of those under the altar who have been slain for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus, are still saying, "It is time for thee, O Lord, to work: for they have made void thy law."  To the people who will be keeping the commandments of God when under the hand of oppression, will come these words of comfort: "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.  Behold, I come quickly.  Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and I will write upon him my new name."  {RH, May 2, 1893 par. 12} 

Revelation 6:12 And 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;

Remember that these seals are a revealing of events that happen on earth over time and up until the end

the great EQ happened in 1755. There will be another as Jesus didnt return in the 1890s so many of these things that happened in the past will happen again in the future. 

there have been a few dark days, one in 1780. It will happen again and all over the world. 

we have had blood moons in the past and there will be a significant one in the future 

From Ms 102, 1904:

Last night a scene was presented before me. I may never feel free to reveal all of it, but I will reveal a little. 

It seemed that an immense ball of fire came down upon the world and crushed large houses. From place to place rose the cry, "The Lord has come! The Lord has come!" Many were unprepared to meet Him, but a few were saying, "Praise the Lord!"

"Why are you praising the Lord?" enquired those upon whom was coming sudden destruction. 

"Because we now see what we have been looking for." 

"If you believed that these things were coming, why did you not tell us?" was the terrible response. "We did not know about these things. Why did you leave us in ignorance? Again and again you have seen us; why did you not become acquainted with us and tell us of the judgment to come, and that we must serve God, lest we perish? Now we are lost!"

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This dream was given to Ellen White while she was in Nashville, Tennessee. Interestingly, Nashville has what is probably the largest indoors idol in America, in a building called the Parthenon, which has many pillars that she saw falling down in the dream!

Nb wrote:

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Great quote!!

Revelation 6:13 And 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.

we all know this happened in 1833

this will happen again and it will be world wide 

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The powers of heaven will be shaken at the voice of God.  Then the sun, moon, and stars will be moved out of their places.  They will not pass away, but be shaken by the voice of God.  {Mar 279.4} 

Revelation 6:14. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

Revelation 16:20. And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.

Revelation 8:1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.

Revelation 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Revelation 16:18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.

This is the opening of the 7th seal. A lot going on here.

 This is the time when Jesus and all the angels if heaven are on their way to earth.  This is why there is silence in heaven.  

The heavens open up as a scroll and the ark is seen in heaven and the 10 commandments are seen across the sky.

This also when great earthquakes are happening and the giant plates of the earth are all coming together.  In the convergence of the crustal plates the islands will be destroyed and mountains subdued and submerged.  It will be a time like none other.

God will protect His people during this time  Their bread and water will be sure. 

Influences are to be set in motion that will proclaim to the world the first, second, and third angels' messages.  The time has come of which John writes, "The temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament, and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail"  [Revelation 11:19].  "The ark of His testament" -- [this ark contains] the two tables of stone upon which are written, with the finger of God, the ten commandments.  The ark is a symbol of the presence of God.  In clear, steady rays, the light shines from it to the world.  {18MR 187.2}

The time has come when the law of God is to be proclaimed with strong, decided utterance.  The world is to be warned, and I beseech those who know the truth to do all in their power to sound the warning, "Prepare to meet thy God."  The temple of God was opened in heaven in answer to the prayers of His people, and by terrible things in righteousness will He reveal His power.  {18MR 187.3} 

EarlySDA wrote:

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do all in their power to sound the warning

In practice, what can and should we be doing?

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One answer to this question is simply that we should take to heart the doctrines we espouse.

For example, it's possible to discuss the sanctuary doctrine in an abstract way, talking about the history and buildings and items of furniture and so on.

But the problem with doing so is simply that the sanctuary doctrine is much more than this -- it is intended to radically transform our lives, through the power of the indwelling Christ.  We cannot transform ourselves, but we have an integral part to play in working with Christ as He changes us.

Our transformed lives serve as a witness to the world and universe, vindicating the divine government.

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A transformation has taken place, and you are a different man.  You are not the same passionate man that you used to be.  You are not the same worldly man that you were.  You are not the man that was giving way to lust and evil passions, evil surmisings and evil speakings.  You are not this man at all, because a transformation has taken place.  What is it?  The image of Christ reflected in you.  Then you are bearing in view that there is a company to stand by and by on Mount Zion, and you want to be one of that company, and you are determined that you will form a part of that company.  Let me read: [Revelation 14:1-3, quoted.]  {1SAT 72.2} 

Why were they [the 144,000] so specially singled out?  Because they had to stand with a wonderful truth right before the whole world, and receive their opposition, and while receiving this opposition they were to remember that they were sons and daughters of God, that they must have Christ formed within them the hope of glory.  They were ever keeping in view the great and blessed hope that is before them.  What is it?  It is an eternal weight of glory.  Nothing could surpass it.  {1SAT 72.3}