Revelation, Part 10
Revelation Chapter 6:9-17
Introduction
Recap of 4 Horsemen
Read Revelation 6:9-17
Pray
I. The 5th Seal (v 9-11)
The 5th seal shows us that just after the rapture and establishment of rule and power by the Antichrist (the rider on the white horse), this world will enter a time of persecution for all who believe in Jesus. During this Tribulation time, there will be one world religion established – and to believe in anything is not reject the Antichrist, and thus make you his enemy – or his target.
Jesus died for your sins and ONLY through His shed blood can you be saved. There is no other way to heaven but through Jesus, and again, this is only the beginning of the worst that is to come. During the Tribulation, humanity will have to decide once and for all to live in eternity in Heaven, or Hell.
Today you only have the Grace of God to choose – during this time, the clock is running and you will be martyred for your faith if you choose to live for Jesus. This portion is a sneak preview to those who would seek to know what will happen if you find Jesus during the Tribulation …
Here Christ reassures the believer on earth, not to fear death. Death, for those who know Christ, should not be an event of fear but joyful expectation. Like those killed for their faith today, or any Christian who dies, the Bible tells us we enter the presence of the Lord in Heaven. Christ assures the new believers of the tribulation, who immediately come under testing. Their home is in heaven, do not fear death.
There is a special place for those who die after the rapture. Those who die following the rapture will be martyred for the faith – that is, they will be killed for believing in Jesus Christ. Those who died with Jesus before the rapture are in front of the altar in their glorified bodies – but those who die in this time are under the altar, and will be resurrected later.
Those who are die, are clearly in Heaven, for their souls are located under the altar in heaven. This comes from Leviticus 4:7 which says “And he shall pour the remaining blood at the base of the altar of the burnt offering.”
John 14:3 says, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
These saints under the altar of the Lord have died because of their belief in the Word of God, and will have their own testimony of how they found Jesus.
I want you to see here that this verse is some comfort to those who die for their faith, but why would anyone want to wait until then?
The moments following the rapture will see many come to Christ. These will be those who were playing church – those who really did not have a relationship with Jesus – but I ask you why would anyone want to die under these circumstances? Why would anyone want to pretend to be saved?
The bible tells us that those who died do not lose their memory, for they remember how they died. Remember the story of Lazarus and the rich man – there is memory.
God also assures these martyrs who are crying out for justice, to remain a little while longer until the number is complete. It might seem odd that God’s people would cry out for vengeance, but even “the blood of Abel cried out to God” in Genesis 4:10.
There are still more who must die, and before the Lord’s judgment on the Earth begins the number of those who must die needs to complete. I want those who would seek to wait until this time to get saved to know one thing – living without Jesus during this time is far worse than it will be now – so take the time today to get your eternity settled.
II. The 6th Seal (v 12-17)
Now we come to the sixth seal being opened, and we note the beginning of the destruction on the Earth through the judgment of God. Remember that before this we have seen the death and destruction of some kind of war, and now we have an earthquake shake the foundation of the Earth.
When Mount St Helen’s erupted it was said that it was dark for days afterwards for miles around, and we know the destruction that one volcano caused – think of an eruption on a global scale.
During a lunar eclipse by the sun, the moon has a reddish glow about it, and we have all seen this time after time. Scientists have proven that volcanic ash is launched miles into the air, and this soot could cause the sun to not shine because the air will be so cluttered.
Joel 2:10-11: “The sun and moon grow dark, and stars diminish their brightness . . . for the day of the Lord is great and terrible; who can endure it?”
Even the stars will fall from the sky!! John could be seeing meteors falling, and crashing into the Earth.
Mountains will shake, cities will topple, houses will crumble, and souls will wake up and take note. Still, there will be those who are convinced that there is no God, and they will only strengthen the allies and positions of the Antichrist.
The Wrath of the Lamb is just that, God’s justified wrath on this planet for what we have chosen to do – and that is to disobey Him. Of all the sins we have done, of all the terrible things this world has fallen too – it ALL comes from the same thing … our disobedience to God. (Adam started it, and we continue it.)
Conclusion
Invite singers
This morning, we are at a cross-road. As we prepare for Easter next week, will this Easter be a celebration of who your Lord is … or will it be another year of running from Jesus?
I want to invite you to think about the events that are unfolding in the world.
Think about the prophecy of what is to come upon this world.
Think about where you want to spend eternity, and you answer the Lord as He calls you.
* Research provided from Prophecy Update and Truth Net.org
