Satan's War Against God's Creaton Ii Series

Revelation 6:3-4; 12:3-4a

Purpose: To expose the awfulness of sin.

Aim: I want the listener to hate sin and forsake it.

INTRODUCTION: At first glance, it seems odd to us that the glorious worship of chapters 4 & 5 is immediately followed by the awful judgments that begin in chapter 6. But, the Bible constantly ties these two ideas together. For example, Isaiah 30:18 Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him. (NAU)

If God’s judgments sound strange to us it’s because we do not fully understand the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man. Man’s purpose for living is to glorify God and every person will ultimately glorify God. Philippians 2:9-11 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (NAU) Some people glorify God by surrendering to Christ’s payment for their sin. Others will glorify God by paying for their own sin.

God’s grace glorifies His love and God’s judgment glorifies His purity. So, it is important that we pay attention when God warns that judgment is coming.

On Sep. 28, 1986 heavy rains flooded many low-lying areas of the Mid-west. Two years before, there was a flood that many remember as the "Memorial Day Massacre" that claimed the lives of twenty people in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as small creeks and drainage ditches became killer currents. As the heavy rains fell on this September night, one such area began to flood. With the memory of that tragic evening of two years ago in their minds, law enforcement officers blocked off an exceptionally dangerous street where several had been drowned 2 years before. An officer parked his car in front of the rising waters to prevent any from risking their lives. Still several cars drove around the police car into the swift water. No regard was given to the danger involved or the warning of the officer. [Submitted by O. L. Nixdorf, Glenville Bible Baptist Church, Wichita, Kansas.]

Those stubborn motorists took their safety into their own hands and proceeded to do as they pleased. In the same way, the vast multitudes of mankind are headed for eternal destruction because they ignore the danger of sin and the urgent warnings that God has given us in His Word that are meant to barricade their path to ultimate destruction and detour them to the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

REVIEW:

1:1-20 I. John’s Vision of the Past "the things which you have seen"

2:1-5:14 II. Christ’s Vision of the Present "the things which are"

2:1-3:22 A. The testimony of the church on earth

4:1-5:14 B. The throne of God in heaven

Ch.6-22 III. John’s Vision of the Future "things which will take places"

6-7; 12-14 A. Satan’s war against God’s creation

1. The first seal

6:1-2 a. Heaven’s view: false peace

12:1-2,6a b. Earth’s view: Israel deceived

LESSON:

➽ 2. The second seal

➽ 6:3-4 a. Heaven’s view: a red horse

The word for RED is not the common Greek word meaning the color red. This Greek word is only used here and in 12:3: purrhos (πυῤῥός, 4450) denotes "fire colored" (pur, "fire"), hence, "fiery red," Rev. 6:4; 12:3, in the latter passage said of the Dragon, indicative of the cruelty of the Devil. [Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W. (1996). Vine’s complete expository dictionary of Old and New Testament words (2:515). Nashville: T. Nelson.]

So, this word pictures bloodshed and violence.

➽ (1) Satan’s nature is revealed "take peace"

The first rider, the Antichrist, appeared and offered the world peace and safety. He had great power, but didn’t have to use it. That peace didn’t last long, though. The second rider has to use great force in order to stay in power. Jesus said that before He came back to earth: "You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. (Matthew 24:6 NAU)

Beware of those who promise peace without the Prince of Peace! Jeremiah 6:14 "They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, Saying, ’Peace, peace,’ But there is no peace. (NAU) I recently saw a large poster of our president with the word "hope" under it. We should never place our hope in a man. Only Jesus can bring real hope: John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. (NAU) John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (NAU) Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NAU) Today we need a hope and peace that only Jesus can give.