Study notes
For Revelation 6
Opening the Scroll
Revelation 6
Revelation 6
TAG: History is progressing toward the Day of the Lord.
Introduction:
The scroll is the history of man, the future to John and history to God. We are somewhere between John’s day and the terrible dreadful Day of the Lord. This “Day of the Lord” is the day that God pours out His wrath on the wicked. Chapter 6 shows us what is happening all around us today. As each of the seals is broken another piece of history unfolds.
It is my understanding of scripture that five of the six seals mentioned here have already been broken and we are currently living out what they describe. The four horsemen of the apocalypse and the cry of the martyrs are now underway and the Day of the Lord could appear very soon. The Day of the Lord is imminent. Nothing and certainly no one, Satan included, can stop it.
The 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse
As you read Chapter 6 you ask yourself a few questions. Are these literal horses and horsemen? Who are the horsemen? or Who do they represent? and What are they doing?
Each of the first 4 seals is John’s description of what he has seen. As the Lamb opens the first seal John sees a vision of an absolute reality. This reality is that God is sending forth His gospel into the world as a conqueror. The victor is wearing His crown and has His bow in His hand. The victor is not Jesus Himself. Jesus would never receive orders from or be told what to do by one of the 4 living creatures. Rather this is the gospel itself. The crown portrays victory and the bow symbolizes power, ready for battle. Paul describes the gospel of Jesus Christ as powerful.
- For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)
The horse is white because white represents the righteousness of God. But know this, as the gospel goes forth there will be false religions propagated by Satan and anti-Christ’s and their goal is to pull people away from the One true gospel. Jesus said, “For many will come in My name saying, “I AM the Messiah, and they will deceive many.” Matthew 24:5. Do not be deceived. At present there is a battle taking place over the souls of men and women. But in the end the gospel will be preached to all the nations and truth will be made known to all people.
The second seal John describes is a red horse and John makes it clear that this horseman is coming to make war on the earth. “People will slaughter one another.” The red represents the blood of war. Jesus said, “You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet.” Matthew 24:6. It is important to take note that this horse and horseman have no power of their own like the first horseman. The red horse is given power to make war. God allows wars to arise. As a part of His creation people slaughter one another. Humanity apart from God and the Lamb is destined for self-annihilation. But God through the Lamb makes a way for some of humanity to be spared from the evils of the world. Those who are spared are the saints.
The third seal is depicted as a black horse because of the dark days brought on by famines. Jesus said, “There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.” Matthew 24:7. Throughout the whole of man we have seen famines. In the days of Joseph, in the Nation of Jerusalem after the time of Pentecost right up to today. This text seems to say the famines of our day will be severe enough to destroy wheat and barley but not severe enough to destroy olive trees and grape vines. Today’s famines are evidence of the breaking of the seal.
The fourth seal sends forth a pale horse that has been given authority by the Almighty to kill by famine, war, plague and beast. Through out history we have seen plagues like the Bubonic Plague, the AIDS epidemic and the influenza of years past. This horseman is called Death and Hades because he has been given power to take physical life away from the human beings. People die every day, some due to illness, some to war, some to gang violence, some by accidents. People are dying daily and it is only by God’s grace you are alive today.
The Cry of the Martyrs
With the fifth seal the scene changes from earth to the altar in heaven where those who have died for the faith are being kept until it is time for God’s vengeance. “Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay,“ says to Lord. Romans 12:19. God reminds the martyrs that He is the One who is to execute revenge. He gives each of the martyrs a white robe because they have been faithful. They die for two reasons: 1) The Word of God and 2) Their testimony. Following Jesus will cost you your life! For the martyrs, they died physically because they testified and remained true to the Word of God. All other saints are to die spiritually to self so that we can live for Christ.
- Then He said to them all, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me. (Luke 9:23)
Not every believer is called to be a martyr but every believer is called to live a martyr’s life.
If you have been called to salvation by God though faith and have not yet been baptized and united with a local body of believers the Spirit of God is moving you toward a public profession of faith. This public profession is done through baptism. You proclaim that Jesus is Lord and then you symbolically die to self and are buried in the water and then raised to new life in Christ. This baptism is not what saves you but it is a picture of what is truly going one in your heart.
The Day of the Lord
The sixth seal is the unleashing of the Day of the Lord. It has not yet occurred. But it will and on that day it will be horrible.
- Look, the day of the Lord is coming—cruel, with rage and burning anger—
to make the earth a desolation and to destroy the sinners on it. (Isaiah 13:9) - The great Day of the Lord is near, near and rapidly approaching. Listen, the Day of the Lord—then the warrior’s cry is bitter. (Zephaniah 1:14)
- The great day of Their wrath has come! And who is able to stand? (Revelation 6:17)
- But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. 2 Peter 3:10
The Day of the Lord will be cosmic in nature, earthquakes unmatched by human history. The sun will cease to shine and all of the stars will fall from the sky like figs falling in a wind storm. The moon will turn to blood and the sky will be peeled back like a scroll. It will be so terrible that everyone will run to hide from the Lord but they will be found.
In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve sinned and hid from God but God found them and removed them form the garden. On the Day of the Lord sinners will run and hide but God will find each and every one and there will be hell to pay! Kings and nobles, slaves and free men, rich and poor will try to run but no one will be able to hide.
Jesus is the Lamb of God who was slaughtered, but on that day the Lamb won’t be slaughtered, He will be the One pouring out His vengeance on all who have rejected His call to follow Him as Lord. The martyr's cry will be answered. Jesus is love but He is also the righteous judge. By His nature He loves but by His nature He will pour out His wrath on the unjust.
Conclusion
Chapter 6 ends with a question, “Who will be able to stand?” The answer to who will be able to stand is found in Chapter 7. Those who stand are those who have been sealed by the Spirit of God. The only people who are sealed are those who are dying daily to self and seeking to live by the Word of God as they give testimony of the Lamb. There was a day when Peter preached a sermon to the very Jews who crucified Jesus
and they were under deep convicted. They asked Peter "What must we do? And he
responded:
Repent, ..., and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38
If you want to be one who is protected from the dreadful Day of The Lord surrender to
Jesus today.
