Rev. #18~6:1- Jesus Begins To Open The Seals Series

Rev.#18~6:1-8 JESUS BEGINS TO OPEN THE SEALS 8-15-09

Today we’ll continue our study of Rev. we’re here in 6: and the Lamb is beginning to open the seals.

The worship described in Revelation 4—5 is preparation for the wrath described in Revelation 6—18. God is long-suffering, but eventually He must judge sin and vindicate His servants.

Ø Jesus will sovereignly judge this world

The first four seals seem to belong together (6:1-8).

(1) They are introduced by one of the four living creatures (6:1, 3, 5, 7).

(2) Each seal is preceded with a call to “Come.”

(3) Each seal contains the image of a horse and rider (6:2, 4, 5, 8).5

(4) In each of the seals there is a progression of meaning given for each of the four seals: and they are-- conquering, making war, famine, and death.

(5) Each of these seals is opened by the Lamb, Jesus Christ.

John sees the whole process of judgment under the control of God. The conqueror**[antichrist] has only what power Almighty God allows him to have. God is completely sovereign so we need not to worry; He has every thing under control.

The fifth and sixth seals seem to be distinct as we’ll see, (6:9-11, 12-17) and the seventh seal introduces the trumpet judgments (8:1).

Ø Listen as I read verses 1-8

1And 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. 2And 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.

3And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

5And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

6And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

7And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.

8And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

The First Seal (6:1-2):

1And 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.

2And 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.

John was an eyewitness of this revelation, much as you and I might view a film. It was a vision sent to John and then given to you and I.

When the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals on the scroll that He had received from God the Father in chapter 5: one of the four creatures that we read and talked about in chapter 4:-7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

The 1st beast, or living creature, called out with a voice as it were of thunder.

~~The “voice of thunder” is symbolic of judgment, as a coming storm. It is a voice of terror, majesty, and judgment! The command given is, “Come.”

Each of the 4 beasts gave this command [come], and each time a horseman on a horse came forth.

In 6:2, a rider came riding on a white horse with a bow and a crown for the purpose of conquering. This is the great political leader, the Antichrist.

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Daniel states that there is a "prince* [means ruler] that shall come," who will make a covenant with Israel for 7 years to protect her from her enemies.

Dan. 9: 27 27And he shall confirm**the covenant with many for one week:* and in the midst of the week* he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,--