contents are a profound secret.14 These seals denote protection from tampering and a hiding from unauthorized eyes (Lenski). The future point at which the symbolic opening of the seals will take place has been the object of some discussion. One opinion has been that the events represented will occur before the period of trouble, often called “the Tribulation,” just before Christ’s return to earth.15 A reason for this lies in the opinion that the seven seals are arranged at the outside edge of the