Revelation 6:17: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

The coming destruction at the end of the sixth seal will be a great day of ... wrath.¹ However, this day of wrath merely foreshadows even worse judgments that will follow during the seventh seal.² In other words, the destruction at the end of the sixth seal is not the great and dreadful day of the Lord, which is the scriptural name given to the Lord's Second Coming during the seventh seal.³ Nevertheless, the destruction at the end of the sixth seal will be mistaken by some as the Second Coming.⁴ The destruction John saw in Revelation chapter 6 has also been interpreted as the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, or the so-called fall of paganism in the days of Constantine in the fourth century AD.⁵

After John saw the seven universal forms of destruction afflict seven groups of wicked people at the end of the sixth seal⁶ a voice asked: who shall be able to stand?⁷ Malachi posed the same question about Christ's Second Coming.⁸ The questions of both John and Malachi ask who shall be able to abide the day of destruction at the Second Coming?⁹ That is, who is worthy to stand justified before God and the Lamb without fear of their wrath and judgments?¹⁰

The answer to John's question is given in Revelation chapter 7, which explains how people can receive the seal of God in their forehead to be able to stand with Christ on mount Zion in peace and safety at the Second Coming.¹¹ Latter-day scriptures similarly explain how worthy saints of the restored church of Jesus Christ can stand in holy places.¹²

I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.