Revelation 6:5-8; 12:4-9
Purpose: To expose Satan’s nature.
Aim: I want the listener to be more aware of Satan’s tactics and oppose him more aggressively.
INTRODUCTION: Why does God call for the brutal killing of so many people in the book of Revelation? Have you ever wondered why God told the Jews to completely wipe out certain groups of people in the OT? Doesn’t God love? How could a loving God take such drastic measures?
The answer will become apparent when we understand the nature of sin. Sin is a cancer in God’s creation. For example, the people that God told the Jews to kill were extremely wicked. They were involved in immorality, including homosexuality, and human sacrifice. Many of them worshipped the god Moloch by burning babies alive.
Humans are not the only ones who are suffering the effects of the sin of Adam and Eve. All of God’s creation is suffering too. This is why we have hurricanes, earth quakes, tornadoes, fires, and vicious animals. Romans 8:19-22 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. (NAU)
Would your doctor be very loving if he told you that you had cancer growing in you, but that he didn’t want to remove it because that required some cutting? Sin is a cancer in God’s creation that must be removed.
One by one, the four living creatures, which represent all of creation, step forward and call for a horse to come to earth which begins a cleansing process for a world that is polluted with sin. [Picture of the four horses]
Go back and notice how these creatures were described: Revelation 4:7-8 7 The first creature was like a lion, and the second creature like a calf, and the third creature had a face like that of a man, and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come." (NAU) These creatures love the holiness of God so much that they are calling for everything that is unholy to be removed.
The first two seals show Satan’s war against creation. The second two seals show his war against God Himself.
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 from a white horse
12:1-2,6a b. Earth’s view: Israel deceived
2. The second seal
6:3-4 a. Heaven’s view: a red horse
(1) Satan’s nature is revealed "take peace"
(2) Human nature is revealed "slay one another"
(3) Destructive power is revealed "great sword"
12:3-4a b. Earth’s view: a red dragon
Vs.3a (1) Satan’s ultimate kingdom "seven heads...diadems"
Vs.3b (2) Satan’s united kingdom "ten horns"
Vs.4 (3) Satan’s spirit kingdom "third of the stars"
LESSON:
➽ 3. The third seal
➽ 6:5-6 a. Heaven’s view: a black horse- world famine
Vs.5 The balances in the hand of the antichrist shows that he has control of the food supply. Maybe he got this power because the countries of the world centralized world trade in one organization or person.
Vs. 6 This verse explains that the world economy will suffer a shortage of food. It will take one day’s wage to buy one meal. Barley is low nutrition grain that was usually reserved for cattle.
Food will be scarce. Luxuries like oil and wine (which can’t stop a famine) will still be available, but only the wealthy can afford them. Maybe this is picturing a world where laptop computers, condos, corporate jets, space stations, satellite communications, TV’s, DVD’s, and fast cars are available, but not much food. Unless we think that this is unlikely, remember that it would only take a week where eighteen-wheelers didn’t run before we started being hungry.
➽ 12:4b-6 b. Earth’s view: a dragon-Israel’s oppression
There are three mentioned here: a dragon, a woman, and her son. We know that the dragon is Satan because of verse 7. The woman must be Israel because of verse 1 which refers back to Joseph’s dream in Genesis 37. The child must be Christ because He is to rule (or shepherd) with a rod as it says of the Messiah in Psalm 2:7-9 7 "I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, ’You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 ’Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession. 9 ’You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware.’ " (NAU)
Shepherds carried a staff to rescue the sheep and a rod to protect the sheep. When Jesus came the first time He came to rescue the sheep with His staff. When Jesus comes the second time He will protect the sheep by crushing His enemies with His rod.
Compare verse 5 with Revelation 19:15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. (NAU)
➽ Vs.4-5 (1) Satan tries to kill Christ "devour her child"
Here we see that what Herod tried to do to the newborn Christ was actually Satan at work. Matthew 2:13 ... an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him." (NAU)
Satan was ignorant of God’s plan of salvation, because he thought that the crucifixion was a victory for him. 1 Corinthians 2:7-8 7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; (NAU)
➽ Vs.6 (2) Satan tries to kill Israel "the woman fled"
Between verses 5 and 6 there are at least 2,000 years. Have you ever wondered why there is so much hatred for the Jewish race? Satan failed to destroy Jesus Christ, so then his fury turns toward the nation that Jesus came from.
"At the mid-point of the Tribulation, the Antichrist breaks his covenant with Israel, puts a stop to temple worship, sets up the abomination of desolation (Dan. 9:27; Matt. 24:15), and devastates Jerusalem (11:2). At that time, many Jews flee for their lives (Matt. 24:16ff.). God will preserve them during the last 1,260 days (42 months; 3½ years) constituting the Great Tribulation." [MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Re 12:6). Nashville: Word Pub.]
Even Satan and all of his forces cannot stop God’s will. God will protect them in the wilderness for 3 ½ years.
Later the antichrist, because he can’t destroy the Jews, will turn his fury toward Christians (see verses 16-17).
➽ 4. The fourth seal:
➽ 6:7-8 a. Heaven’s view: a pale horse-a bloodbath
This horse is a pale green. This is the color of a corpse.
The death of 25% of the world’s population is caused by four things: #1 War (sword) #2 Famine #3 Plagues and #4 wild animals. There is a reversal of roles as men become the source of food for beasts. Sin reverses the original divine order where man was given dominion over the beasts and gives man into the hand of beasts. Leviticus 26:22 ’I will let loose among you the beasts of the field, which will bereave you of your children and destroy your cattle and reduce your number so that your roads lie deserted. (NAU)
The prophet Ezekiel predicted these events as well. Ezekiel 5:15-17 15 ’So it will be a reproach, a reviling, a warning and an object of horror to the nations who surround you when I execute judgments against you in anger, wrath and raging rebukes. I, the Lord, have spoken. 16 ’When I send against them the deadly arrows of famine which were for the destruction of those whom I will send to destroy you, then I will also intensify the famine upon you and break the staff of bread. 17 ’Moreover, I will send on you famine and wild beasts, and they will bereave you of children; plague and bloodshed also will pass through you, and I will bring the sword on you. I, the Lord, have spoken.’ " (NAU)
Ezekiel 6:11-12 11 "Thus says the Lord God, ’Clap your hand, stamp your foot and say, "Alas, because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel, which will fall by sword, famine and plague! 12 "He who is far off will die by the plague, and he who is near will fall by the sword, and he who remains and is besieged will die by the famine. Thus will I spend My wrath on them. (NAU)
These judgments are much more than natural disasters. They are sent directly from the hand of God and there will be NO escape. Ezekiel 14:21 For thus says the Lord God, "How much more when I send My four severe judgments against Jerusalem: sword, famine, wild beasts and plague to cut off man and beast from it! (NAU)
"Throughout human history, disease has killed people on a far more massive scale than war. More Union and Confederate soldiers died from disease during the Civil War than were killed in battle. An estimated 30 million people died during the great influenza epidemic of 1918-19 --more than three times as many as the estimated 8.5 million soldiers who died in battle during World War I."[John MacArthur, Revelation 1-11 : The MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1999), Rev. 6:8. ]
➽ 12:7-9 b. Earth’s view: a dragon-Satan’s demotion
Vs. 7 The Bible uses the word HEAVEN to refer to three things. Heaven here refers to our atmosphere. Satan rules this area. Ephesians 2:2 ... the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. (NAU) Psalm 19:1 The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. (NAU) 1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. (NAU)
HEAVEN is also used to refer to outer space. Matthew 24:29 "But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. (NAU)
HEAVEN is also used to describe the dwelling place of God. 2 Corinthians 12:2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago--whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows--such a man was caught up to the third heaven. (NAU)
The battle described here is in our atmosphere because this is where Satan presently rules.
The doom of Satan was sealed by Christ’s death on the Cross: Hebrews 2:14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, (NAU)
But the sentence will not be carried out until here in chapter 12. It will be a glorious day when Satan loses his grip on this world. Paul ends his teaching in the book of Romans with, Romans 16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. (NAU) Jesus said, John 12:31 "Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. (NAU)
Verse 9 is a fulfillment of Daniel 12:1-2 1 "Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. 2 "Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. (NAU)
Verse 9 also explains why there is so much death during the fourth seal in chapter six.
➽Four Things We Can Learn about how Satan Works
The first four seals reveal four horses: white, red, black and pale green. These horses reveal how Satan works. 2 Corinthians 2:11 ...no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes. (NAU)
➽ #1 Satan’s way appears delightful like the white horse
Hebrews 11:25 ...the passing pleasures of sin, (NAU) Satan offers peace and happiness, but they are only counterfeits of God’s peace and happiness.
➽ #2 Satan’s way becomes dangerous like the red horse
1 Peter 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (NAU)
➽ #3 Satan’s way causes depression like the black horse
Romans 8:15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" (NAU)
2 Corinthians 4:4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (NAU)
➽ #4 Satan’s way ends in death like the pale green horse
Romans 6:16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? (NAU)
CONCLUSION: "Watch the text closely as John’s book unfolds. We shall yet win over these horses and their riders. Therefore, we must begin right now to fashion the strategy of the gospel against these four enemies. The seven letters to the seven churches have already provided us with the strategy of hope and now we see what we are up against. Romans 8:31-33 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; (NAU)
When we dare to share with other people and live out in our own lives the implications of the authority of Jesus Christ and of His gospel, we have begun the battle against death and famine and war and persecuting power." [Palmer, E. F., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1982). Vol. 35: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 35: 1, 2 & 3 John / Revelation. Formerly The Communicator’s Commentary. The Preacher’s Commentary series (171). Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson Inc.]
➽God’s wounds cure, sin’s kisses kill. [William Gurnall[Thomas, I. (1996). The golden treasury of Puritan quotations. Includes index of authors. General index created by Christian Clasics Foundation. (electronic ed.). Simpsonville SC: Christian Classics Foundation.]
