After [[Lucifer]] fell from grace and rebelled, [[God]] bound him into his [[Lucifer's Cage|cage]] deep in the pits of Hell and locked the cage with [[66 Seals]], which needed to be broken by any demon or angel wishing to free the Devil. As described by Castiel, the Seals are equivalent to locks on a door, and breaking them all opens the door. The Seals are metaphors, as they are events which need to occur in order to release Lucifer.
+
After [[Lucifer]] fell from grace and rebelled, [[God]] commanded that [[Michael]] bind him into his [[Lucifer's Cage|cage]] deep in the pits of Hell and locked the cage with [[66 Seals]], which needed to be broken by any demon or angel wishing to free the Devil. As described by Castiel, the Seals are equivalent to locks on a door, and breaking them all opens the door. The Seals are metaphors, as they are events which need to occur in order to release Lucifer.
[[Lilith]], the first demon, was released by [[Azazel]] under Lucifer's orders, as she was described to have the capability to break the seals. In addition, Lilith herself was the last seal that can open the cage.
[[Lilith]], the first demon, was released by [[Azazel]] under Lucifer's orders, as she was described to have the capability to break the seals. In addition, Lilith herself was the last seal that can open the cage.
Revision as of 15:41, 16 June 2014
“
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.
The 66 Seals serve as "locks" on Lucifer's Cage that God prescribed or inseminated as events. Much of Season 4 revolves around the Winchesters attempting to stop the demons from breaking the seals.
Background
After Lucifer fell from grace and rebelled, God commanded that Michael bind him into his cage deep in the pits of Hell and locked the cage with 66 Seals, which needed to be broken by any demon or angel wishing to free the Devil. As described by Castiel, the Seals are equivalent to locks on a door, and breaking them all opens the door. The Seals are metaphors, as they are events which need to occur in order to release Lucifer.
Lilith, the first demon, was released by Azazel under Lucifer's orders, as she was described to have the capability to break the seals. In addition, Lilith herself was the last seal that can open the cage.
With the first seal broken, the angels head down to Earth in an attempt to stop the ascent of Lucifer, but they were foiled by the combined efforts of Lilith, and Ruby. Even though only 66 need to be broken, Anna Milton mentioned that there were over 600 possible seals - making it difficult for the angels to predict which one will be broken next. Lilith also proved to be a very capable strategist, and even managed to break at least three seals in one day. In "Lucifer Rising", Sam Winchester broke the final seal when he killed Lilith, thus setting Lucifer free. In the same episode, it is revealed that the "Senior Management" of Heaven deliberately allowed the 66 Seals to be broken so that Lucifer could be freed and then killed by Michael.
Appearances and mentions
When Dean Winchester was in Hell and gave in to Alastair's torture and started torturing souls himself, he broke the first Seal by being the first righteous man to shed blood in Hell. (On The Head Of A Pin)
In "Death Takes a Holiday", Alastair attempts to kill two Reapers on a Solstice to break another Seal. He killed one, but the Winchesters stopped him before he could kill the other Reaper, Tessa.
Ten species go extinct in Key West, breaking another Seal. ("When the Levee Breaks")
Fifteen fishermen go blind on a fishing trip in Alaska, breaking another Seal. ("When the Levee Breaks")
A teacher in a New York school locks the doors of the classroom and kills sixty-six school children, breaking another Seal. ("When the Levee Breaks")
"And it is written, that the first demon shall be the last Seal". This occurs in "Lucifer Rising" when Sam kills Lilith with Ruby's encouragement, enabling Lucifer to burst out of his Cage and walk the Earth.
The seventh seal as seen briefly on Bobby's notes.
Bobby marked a page on raising Death as the seventh seal. The note on the page was seen briefly in "Abandon All Hope".
Note
There are supposedly at least 534 Seals currently remaining. It is unknown if breaking another 66 can re-open the Cage. This is however unlikely, given that Lilith (the first demon and the last seal) is dead, though perhaps a different first and last seal could be found.
Most of the seals witnessed focus on a corruption of the natural order: a good man goes to Hell and tortures others, ghosts rise up to attack others when they were not naturally vengeful spirits, reapers (creatures of death) are killed themselves, and a teacher kills the students he is responsible for.
