Are the Seals events or announcements of events?
According to this teaching, the Seven Seals are not events happening on earth but announcements or previews of what is written inside the sealed book; the actual events begin only once the book itself is opened and read, starting with the trumpet judgments in Revelation 8.
The Seven Seals in Revelation 5 and 6 are described as coverings over the writing on the outside of a book held in God's right hand. When the Lamb opens each seal, He is not triggering something to happen on earth; He is simply removing the covering so that the writing underneath can be revealed. That writing is a summary or table of contents of what is actually contained inside the book, which is only opened and read beginning in Revelation 8.
Each seal, then, functions as a revelation of what will be found within the book rather than an event in itself. The white, red, black, and pale horses of the first four seals are shown to John as living images that introduce agents and themes, such as conquest, war, famine, and death, that will later be seen at work once the book's contents unfold. The fifth seal reveals the martyrs crying out, previewing the theme of persecution that shows up later in events like the beast making war with the saints. The sixth seal, covering Revelation 6:12 through Revelation 7:17, is a sweeping summary of judgment, deliverance, God's wrath, Christ's reign, and God dwelling with His people, all of which are previews of what happens in greater detail from Revelation 8 onward.
As Revelation 5:1 says, "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." The seals kept that writing hidden until the Lamb was found worthy to open them. The teaching stresses that though the language of Revelation 6 reads like action, with horses appearing and riders going forth, this is how the hidden information was shown to John in vision form, not how it was literally unfolding on the earth in real time. John was seeing what was written rather than hearing it read aloud, which is why the four living creatures repeatedly say "come and see."
Once the seventh seal is opened, there is silence in heaven, not because an event has occurred, but because the outside writing has been fully revealed and it is now time for the book itself to be opened and read. The actual unfolding of events on the prophetic timeline, the trumpet judgments and the vials of wrath, begins only after this point, in Revelation 8 and following. So while the seals announce and foreshadow, it is the opened book that contains the real events.
The scriptures
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 when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 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.
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, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; 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.
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; 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. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And 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: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And 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. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nephthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
From the books
This answer is drawn from these passages in the Mary Banks Faith Library.