From Crisis to Celebration
Revelation 6-7
With each step into this book we see God at work in the events of history. Our text today covers the opening of the first six seals of a scroll that only Jesus can open. He alone is found worthy and he is acknowledged in heaven with worship and adoration along with Him who sits on the throne.
Last week we looked at chapters 4-5 where John tells us about his call to come up into heaven to witness the never ending worship of God. The scriptures reveal to us that those closest to the throne of God are in constant awe of his presence and continually responding in words of praise and adoration to him as they fall down and worship. In the right hand of him who sits on the throne is a seven sealed scroll. John doesn’t tell us what it means or why it is there, just that it is, and that no one is found worthy to take it and open it. No one, that is, except the Lion of Judah who is the Lamb of God who was slain. As I have thought more about this, I broke my own rules and got distracted by this scroll. Everyone else seems to have an interpretation as to the meaning of this scroll and so I’d like to take a stab at it and add my best guess to the mix. Perhaps this scroll represents the redeeming works and qualities necessary for our salvation. If it is left unopened, we are all left without hope and doomed. I don’t know. I do know that John was certainly disturbed when no one could open it, and I know that the first words of praise for Him who is worthy to open it are these: (Rev. 5:9-10)
And they sang a new song:
"You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth."
Jesus the Lamb is the only one found who has overcome! But again, don’t let the scroll get in the way of the main event: Jesus Christ IS the Lamb who is worthy and He receives worship right along with Him who sits on the throne. What this reveals about Jesus is actually quite astounding. The man of Galilee who died on Calvary is worshipped in glory alongside the Almighty God and Father in heaven. Jesus is indeed divine. What is more: Jesus also indeed shared in our flesh and blood. Jesus fulfilled all that was necessary for the redemption and salvation and justification of sinners… that would be you and me. He took all our sins upon himself and overcame them all! What is even more, Jesus has made us to be a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God to serve our God and rule with Him even on this earth. Jesus the victor gives us this same victory!
So… one might think that everything would be easy, right? I mean, if we are royal priests of God serving with the Almighty and the Lamb, one might think that our earthly experiences might be above trials and tribulations, right? One might think that, but one would be wrong. What follows as we see in the opening of the seals is at least this message: throughout the trials and tribulations we encounter here on this earthly pilgrimage, God is working. But that does not remove our responsibility. The challenge to us is that we must remain faithful, because there is an ultimate unending glory for all who remain true to the testimony of Jesus Christ. The assurance is that we are not left alone to make this journey. And it is a journey, a pilgrimage, a race, wilderness wandering toward a promised land. Images of which we see all through the Bible, and perhaps especially here in Revelation 6-7.
The path from here to heaven is not just bumpy, it can even be filled with danger and death.
Listen to Revelation 6 as the first six seals are opened and follow the progression of developing difficulty and trouble. Notice what it says about the saints and what has happened to them and what will happen. Finally, notice what it says about all who are unprepared for the coming wrath of Him who sits on the throne and the Lamb. You might also consider how these early Christians heard this. And particularly the Jewish Christians who Acts 21:20 says have believed and are all zealous for the Law. Many of whom are surely hoping for God to restore the fortunes of Israel as the apostles asked in Acts 1:6. These are about to experience the crushing blow of Jerusalem’s destruction by the Romans. This Jesus has prophesied and Revelation helps explain.
Read chapter 6.
As each of the first four seals is opened one of the living creatures before the throne gives a call to “Come!”
In the first four seals each in turn is opened and as the four riders of the four horses each respond to the call of the four living creatures to come, the situation on earth seems to get worse and worse, does it not? The final horseman is Death with Hades following close behind and a quarter of mankind is killed in their wake. This is a terrible trend! So what about God’s people, what about the Christians? Are they spared?
The fifth seal is opened to reveal the souls of slain saints asking God for justice. And what is the answer? 11Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.
So… even the saints are not spared, and justice is delayed. Not only that, more saints are YET to be killed and the number of how many more is even accounted for.
Let me pause here for some reflection with you about this.
What if you are one of those yet to be slain? What if one of your children or grandchildren is? How would that impact your faith and commitment to Christ? We have a song in our songbooks (754) that says:
Faith of our fathers, living still
In spite of dungeon, fire and sword!
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Whene'er we hear that glorious word!
Our fathers, chained in prisons dark,
Were still in heart and conscience free.
How sweet would be their children's fate
If they, like them could die for thee!
Faith of our fathers! Holy faith!
We will be true to Thee till death!
Indeed, Revelation speaks more than any other book of the New Testament about dying for the Lord.
Revelation 2:10
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Revelation 2:13
I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.
Revelation 12:11
They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.
Revelation 13:10
If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.
Revelation 14:13
Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them."
Revelation 16:6
for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve."
Revelation 17:6
I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.
Giving your life is one of the greatest sacrifices you can give. And there is an amazing irony about times of trial and persecution. It would seem that for some that difficulty only creates deeper commitment and dedication like nothing else can. We can sit through Bible classes and sermons on commitment on and on but not become more committed. On the other hand, the same thing that makes some into committed disciples of Jesus Christ is what causes others to give up their faith and walk away from it. How are we to explain this? Jesus describes it like seed being sown into four different kinds of hearts. The hard path never even accepts the Word of God. The shallow soil takes it quickly and just as quickly lets it go whenever trouble or hardship comes. Then there is the soil with the weeds. It receives the word and begins to grow, but the cares and riches of this world compete for commitment and strangle it. Finally there is the good soil. It receives the seed, the Word of God and perseveres and bears much fruit.
The same word is sown. The same struggles come. The difference is the hearts of those who receive the Word and what they do with it. Persecution does not destroy faith, it refines it.
1 Peter 1:3-9
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Read with me now Revelation 7.
What two groups are gathered here? Jews and Gentiles!
What question is asked at the end of Revelation 6? (Who is able to stand before the One who sits in the throne and the Lamb?)
Now look at how Revelation 7 answers that question in verse 9. (All these are standing! Where? Look at verse 9 again… they are “standing before the throne and before the Lamb”)
What are they doing? Celebrating to high heaven! Shouting Salvation to God!
