SESSION #5 – REVELATION CHAPTER 6 – THE SEVEN SEALS:
“Now we are to launch into the deep, and our business is not so much to fathom it as to let down our net and take a draught. We shall only hint at what seems most obvious.” (Matthew Henry).
“Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come and see." And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.” (Rev. 6:1-2).
What do horses symbolize in the Bible?
• Strength, terror, warfare or conquest. (William Hendriksen).
Where does the imagery of the four horsemen come from? The OT prophet, Zechariah:
• See Zechariah 1:8-17 and 6:1-8 for other descriptions of four horsemen
Who is the rider of the white horse? Two different interpretations:
• The Antichrist, or a false Christ, and the forces of evil (the ‘PDF*’ interpretation).
- PDF = Premillennial, Dispensational, Futurist.
• Jesus Christ, and the victory of the Gospel
Reasons why it is Jesus, and not the Antichrist:
1. White in Revelation is always used as a symbol of Jesus or His followers. Ten examples:
- Rev. 1:4 - Jesus is described as having WHITE hair.
- Rev. 3:4 - Jesus said the conquerors will walk with Him in WHITE
- Rev. 3:5 - Jesus said the conquerors would be clothed in WHITE
- Rev. 4:4 - the 24 elders were clothed in WHITE
- Rev. 6:2 - there is a rider on a WHITE horse
- Rev. 6:11 - the martyred conquerors were given WHITE robes
- Rev. 7:14 - the great multitude of conquerors in Heaven were given WHITE robes
- Rev. 14:14 - Jesus is seen pictured on a WHITE cloud
- Rev. 19:14 - the armies of Heaven are seen wearing WHITE
- Rev. 10:10 - God is seated on a WHITE throne
2. Jesus is described elsewhere in Revelation as a rider on a white horse.
“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True and in righteousness He judges and makes war.” (Rev. 19:11)
3. Jesus is described elsewhere in Revelation as one who has conquered.
“Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has conquered. He is worthy to open the scroll and break its seven seals.” (Rev. 5:5).
4. Jesus is described elsewhere in Revelation as one wearing a crown.
“Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown.” (Rev. 14:14).
QUOTE: “As long as the church continues militant Christ will be conquering. He conquers his enemies in his people; their sins are their enemies and his enemies, when Christ comes with power into their soul he begins to conquer these enemies, and he goes on conquering, in the progressive work of sanctification.” (Matthew Henry).
SECOND SEAL – RIDER ON A RED HORSE: WAR
“When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come and see." Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.” (Rev. 6:3-4).
• Parallel in Matthew 24: “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.” (v.6).
THIRD SEAL – RIDER ON A BLACK HORSE: FAMINE
“When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come and see." So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.” (Rev. 6:5-6).
• Parallel in Matthew 24: “And there will be famines… in various places.” (v. 7b).
FOURTH SEAL – RIDER ON A PALE HORSE: DEATH
“When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, "Come and see." So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.” (Rev. 6:7-8).
• Where does this imagery come from? The OT prophet Ezekiel:
“For thus says the Lord God: "How much more it shall be when I send My four severe judgments on Jerusalem--the sword, famine, wild beasts and pestilence?” (Ezekiel 14:21).
FIFTH SEAL – THE CRY OF THE MARTYRS: PERSECUTION
“When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.” (Rev. 6:9-11). (white robe = righteousness)
• Parallel in Matthew 24: “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.” (v. 9).
• Note – Jesus promises that ALL believers will experience tribulation on planet Earth! “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).
SIXTH SEAL – 7 COSMIC DISTURBANCES: JUDGEMENT
“I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (Rev. 6:12-17).
This imagery comes from the OT prophet, Hosea:
• “They shall say to the mountains, "Cover us!" And to the hills, "Fall on us!” (Hosea 10:8).
• Parallel in Luke 23:30: “Then they will begin ’to say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!”
• Remember: The imagery and symbolism in Revelation is deeply rooted in the OT!
THE SEVEN COSMIC DISTURBANCES:
• earth - a great earthquake
• sun - the sun became as dark as black cloth
• moon - the moon became as red as blood
• stars - the stars of heaven fell to the earth
• sky - the sky rolled up like a scroll
• mountains - every mountain disappeared
• islands - every island disappeared
Parallel in Matthew 24: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (v.29-30).
QUOTE: “The sixth seal, accordingly, introduces the judgment day. It describes the one great catastrophe at the end of this age… The terror of that great day refers, of course, only to the wicked.” (William Hendriksen, More Than Conquerors).
“God has published threatenings against the wicked as well as promises to the righteous, and it is our duty to believe the threatenings as well as the promises.” (Matthew Henry)
THE TIMING OF ‘THAT DAY’ – THE DAY OF THE LORD:
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be… Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.” (Matt. 24:36-42).
• We don’t know exactly when ‘that day’ will be, but our job is to watch and be ready!
CONCLUSION: About the events in chapter 6 – regardless of when they happen:
• These are the judgements of God that are poured out upon His enemies,
• These judgements are not to be feared by the members of His faithful church.
• Jesus said, “See, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me, to repay all according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last." Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.” (Rev. 22:12-14).
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
