And The Creatures Say—Come.
Revelation 6:1-17ESV
We learn from chapter 5, that Jesus is the Lamb and He alone has the moral and legal right to open the scroll that He took from God's right hand (Revelation 5:5–7). Further, He alone is worthy to open the seven seals that kept the scroll shut.
This chapter typifies the dramatic, heavily symbolic description of end-times events for which Revelation is famous.
John sees a series of visions corresponding to Jesus opening the first six seals of the scroll He received in chapter 5.
The first four seals unleash four horsemen, respectively symbolizing a world leader, war, famine, and death. The fifth seal reveals the prayers of martyrs pleading with God to avenge their deaths. The sixth seal unleashes massive natural disasters. In response, the people of the world cower in fear, admitting that they are suffering under the wrath of God.
https://www.bibleref.com/Revelation/6/Revelation-6-1.html
However, most refuse repentance.
Revelation 6:1ESV Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!”
When the apostle Paul preached in Athens, he announced that God has set a day when He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed.
Paul identified that man as the one whom God raised from the dead, meaning Jesus (Acts 17:31). During the events described in Revelation 6, the time of judgment at Jesus' hands has come.
This word—Come, is a call to the horsemen who will carry out God’s judgement.
Very Important: The bride—His church, has been called-up, Come, and then judgement begins.
Presently, as I think of the word—come, I think of the plea and call of the bridegroom—Jesus to His church—He pleads come!
Jesus cries in Matthew 11:28ESV Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Revelation 6:2ESV And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.
This white horse is the first of four horses of different colors, similar to the horses seen by Zechariah (Zec. 1:8; Zec. 6:2-6).
The main theme of verse 2, is the rider who carried a bow, and a crown given to him, he comes to conquer.
Jesus ushers forth total victory—He will conquer every foe!
Revelation 6:3-4ESV When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.
This rider seated on his red horse will take away peace.
In the actual tribulations and circumstances of the moment, pain works for us an eternal hope. We have all had the experience that it is only in the days of affliction that our true interests are furthered.”(Sermon central)
Men will slay one another, while the rider on this red horse will take away peace.
Presently, Jesus cries in John 14:27KJV Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Notice, Jesus offers His peace; this peace based solely on the fact that—Jesus is Lord!
Here’s some brief descriptions of eight types of tests that every Christian will likely face:
• Fiery trials: intense encounters or struggles; bursts of anger, grief, or lust
• Infirmities: physical limitations and illnesses
• Reproaches: ridicule and rejection on account of faith or holiness
• Persecutions: harassment and oppression due to religious convictions
• Necessities: wear and care of daily responsibilities
• Distresses: disappointments and deep hurts
• Tribulations: unusual pressures and challenges
• Temptations: opportunities to yield to our sinful nature
Revelation 6:5ESV When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand.
Again, the word, come! The rider and his black horse carry a set of scales in his hand.
This rider’s agenda, is to bring world-wide famine.
Why famine? Everything that transpires is to produce—repentance.
Please understand, it’s not God’s will that anyone shall perish.
2 Peter 3:9-10KJV The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Revelation 6:6ESV And I heard what seemed to be 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 wine!”
This quart of wheat equals one day of wages.
Symbolically, this passage seems to indicate a common experience in real-world crises: war and famine give way to inflation due to supply and demand.
Notice, Verse 6c…and do not harm the oil and wine!”
Only the wealthy will obtain oil and wine, possibly not being harmed by this part of the world-wide famine. www.bibleref.com/Revelation/6/Revelation-6-6.html
According to Revelation 13:16–17, the false prophet in Jerusalem will control commerce during the tribulation, making it extremely difficult for tribulation believers to purchase even basic commodities.
In this case, the wealthy will only face prolonged suffering because of their wealth.
James 5:1NIV Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you.
Revelation 6:7ESV When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!”
Again, one of the living creatures say’s, come. Come, get the attention of the lost, those with harden hearts. Again, Come!
Revelation 6:8ESV And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.
This pale horse and its rider kills with sword, brings worldwide famine, and pestilence with wild beast destroying everything and everyone.
Revelation 6:9-10ESV 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 witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
These repented individuals will suffer untold amounts for their new found faith. Again, their cry will be—how long will you judge and avenge our blood!
According to 2 Corinthians 6:2ESV Paul writes, 2. For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
The cry from every true believer to a lost and dying world should be the same— “Believe, come to faith, and repent of your sins.”
Revelation 6:11ESV Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.
These tribulation believers will be martyred, but given a white robe and told to rest a while.
Revelation 6:12-13ESV When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale.
After the these tribulation saints enter into their salvation, God will unleash terrible pain and turmoil upon planet earth.
Revelation 6:14-17ESV The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. 15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”
In closing, I want to read this to you in full context. Revelation 6:12-17TM I watched while he ripped off the sixth seal: a bone-jarring earthquake, sun turned black as ink, moon all bloody, stars falling out of the sky like figs shaken from a tree in a high wind, sky snapped shut like a book, islands and mountains sliding this way and that. And then pandemonium, everyone and his dog running for cover—kings, princes, generals, rich and strong, along with every commoner, slave or free. They hid in mountain caves and rocky dens, calling out to mountains and rocks, “Refuge! Hide us from the One Seated on the Throne and the wrath of the Lamb! The great Day of their wrath has come—who can stand it?”
Enough said, “this explanation is sufficient.” P.H
There’s a great song we sing, it goes like this, “Who will stand against the Lord? No one can No one will, Who will stand against the king? No one can No one will, Oh oh oh Oh oh oh, Victory belongs to Jesus Victory belongs to Him, Oh oh oh Oh oh oh, Victory belongs to Jesus Victory belongs to Him.”
Benediction.
