The 66 Seals
From Super-wiki
Dean: Why break the seal anyway?
Castiel: You think of the seals as locks on a door.
Castiel: Lucifer walks free.
Dean: Okay, last one opens, and?
– Dean, Castiel, 4.02 Are You There, God? It's Me, Dean Winchester
Lucifer cannot rise. He does and Hell rises with him.
On God's command the great archangel Michael bound his younger brother, Lucifer, with 600 seals. In 4.02 Are You There, God? It's Me, Dean Winchester, Castiel describes the seals as locks on a door that hold Lucifer prisoner. He also states that a group of demons, including Lilith, is trying to break them. According to Anna, only 66 have to be broken for him to be freed from his confinement. Any of the 600 may be broken to fulfill this number, with the exceptions of the first and last seal. Those must be broken in order, and are very specific.
At first it seems that the angels are trying to stop the demons, and prevent Lucifer's release. However, when only one seal remains, Zachariah reveals to Dean that the 'higher ups' in Heaven actually want the seals broken, and have lied to the other angels about their true intentions for fears of rebellion. Their motivation is that if Lucifer breaks free, then Michael will have the chance to kill him and establish paradise, though human casualties will be high.
It is later revealed that in addition to the 66 Seals, the rings belonging to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse can also open Lucifer's Cage.
Contents |
Known Seals
- The First Seal: "The first seal shall be broken when a righteous man sheds blood in Hell". The demons intend for this to be John Winchester; instead it is Dean.
- Rise of the Witnesses
- Raising of Samhain
- Ten species going extinct in Key West
- Everyone in a fifteen-man fishing crew going blind in Alaska
- A teacher in New York killing sixty-six students
- Death of two reapers on the night of the solstice (unbroken)
- The Final Seal: "The first Demon will be the last seal"; Sam kills Lilith, Lucifer's first demon, which broke the final seal.
4.02 Are You There, God? It's Me, Dean Winchester
In this episode Lilith casts a spell to bring about the Rise of the Witnesses - people whom hunters failed to save. While Sam, Dean and Bobby stop the Witnesses, the seal is broken.
Castiel reveals that the 66 Seals are the key to unleashing the Apocalypse. Lilith is breaking them one by one. Even if the evil thing unleashed is quelled or defeated, the seal is not restored and Hell on earth is one step closer.
4.07 It's The Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester
The raising of Samhain breaks another seal.
4.09 I Know What You Did Last Summer
It is revealed by Anna Milton that whilst 66 Seals need to be broken for Lilith's plan to succeed, there are around 600 possible seals. No one knows which ones she will attempt to break, making it nearly impossible for anyone, even the angels, to predict her actions or prevent them.
4.12 Criss Angel Is A Douchebag
Ruby informs Sam that 34 of the 66 seals have been broken. She says the angels are losing, and urges him to kill Lilith.
4.15 Death Takes A Holiday
Alastair is trying to break a seal that requires the death of two reapers on the night of the solstice. Castiel, pretending to be Bobby Singer tells Sam of this, informing Sam how it is described in a "version of Revelations":
- And he bloodied death under the newborn sky
- Sweet to taste
- But bitter once devoured
Castiel needs Sam and Dean as the demons are holed up in a refuge protected by sigils that keep angels out. The boys are successful in stopping Alastair and saving the seal.
4.16 On The Head Of A Pin
As Dean is torturing Alastair, he reveals that Dean was responsible for the first seal breaking:
- Alastair: And it is written that the first seal shall be broken when a righteous man sheds blood in Hell. As he breaks, so shall it break. We had to break the first seal before any others, only way to get the dominoes to fall, right? Topple the one at the front of the line. When we win, when we bring on the Apocalypse and burn this earth down, we owe it all to you, Dean Winchester.
He reveals that it had been hoped that John Winchester would be that man, but he didn't break.
Castiel confirms that Dean is indeed responsible for the first seal being broken, even though Heaven "laid siege" to Hell to try and rescue him. He tells Dean they raised him from Hell because only the righteous man who broke the first seal can "end it" - although he is unclear on the details.
4.21 When The Levee Breaks
Rufus Turner calls Bobby with news that other seals being broken. The seals Rufus Turner reports being broken are: ten species extinct in Key West, fishing crew of fifteen goes blind in Alaska, and a teacher on New York kills 66 students, all in one day.
Ruby tells Sam there are only two or three seals left to be broken. She says only "Lucifer's first" can break the final seal - and that is Lilith. This renews Sam's desire to kill Lilith.
4.22 Lucifer Rising
Lilith's death is the final seal, the one which will free Lucifer.
- Ruby: And as it is written, the first demon will be the last seal.
This fact is known to the higher angelic ranks, Lilith and Ruby. In their ways, they have all been manipulating Sam to get him to kill her. Castiel reveals the nature of the final seal to Dean and sends him to stop Sam, but he is unable to prevent Sam from killing her. Lucifer is freed.
