REVELATION 6:
The dramatic moment has now come. The seals that bind God’s book are now to be broken. One by one they shall be broken. Amazingly, as the seals are broken, the most astounding thing happens. What is written under the seals of the book leaps off its pages and acts out the events of the future for John and the heavenly host. They actually see what appears to be a picture or a movie of the end time. This is important to note, for John and the heavenly host are not reading the book. They are witnessing the events of the end time.
The first four seal judgments seem to be a description of the antichrist gaining control over the nations of the earth. He will do it by waging war (the red horse), by gaining control over the economy (the black horse), and by having his opponents put to death (the pale horse). In the next outline and passage, when we look at the fifth seal, we will see that it reveals what will happen to the souls of Christian martyrs who are slain by the antichrist. The sixth seal will show God’s wrath being stirred and being prepared to move in judgment against the antichrist. The seventh seal is the seal that brings forth the "great tribulation," the terrible period of God’s judgment.
In the Scripture before us the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, breaks the first four seals. When He does, one of the four living creatures who surrounds the throne of God thunders forth the command: "come forth." And when
He thunders His command, the terrible scene of some end time event thunders across the scene of world history.
1. The first seal: a white horse and rider (v. 1-2).
2. The second seal: a red horse and rider (v.3-4).
3. The third seal: a black horse and rider (v.5-6).
4. The fourth seal: a pale horse and rider (v.7-8).
(6:1-2} Antichrist-Four Horsemen: the first seal is the thundering appearance of a white horse and its rider. Who is this rider?
His identity is widely disputed, but the conclusion of most commentators is that he is one of two persons.
1.He symbolizes the victorious Christ Himself or either the victorious proclamation of the gospel. It is argued that the color white is always associated with Christ throughout Revelation. In addition, the rider is said to be crowned. Therefore, this rider must be Christ Himself. " Others argue, however, that Christ cannot be commanded by heavenly creatures; therefore, it cannot be Christ Himself. Hence, the horseman must be the conquest of the Word of God as prophesied by Christ (Mk.13: 10).
2. The second major view is that the rider is conquest in general, the antichrist in particular.
ð He is the deceiver; therefore, he appears in white (Mt.24:5; 2 Th.2: 11).
ð The crown he wears is different from the crown worn by Christ in Rev .19. It is the crown of the conqueror not the royal crown of a king.
ð The bow symbolizes conquest. In the Old Testament it is always the symbol of military power (Ps.46:9; Jer.51:51; Hos.l:5).
ð It is further argued that to be consistent one must relate this horseman to the other three. The four present a picture of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse that are to descend upon the earth in the latter days with terrifying destruction.
In one’s interpretation, it is extremely important to note this: when the rider appears upon the scene, he already possesses a bow. But the crown is given to him. After it is given, then he goes forth to conquer. This points strongly to a counterfeit Christ. Note three facts:
First, this rider has a bow. Christ possesses no bow; a weapon of war is not a part of His being.
Second, this rider is given a crown. Christ is not given a crown. One has to say that Christ has been crowned throughout all of eternity or else at His ascension.
Third, this rider sets out to conquer. There is no specific point of time at which Christ set forth to conquer the hearts of men. He has always been about the mission of salvation. Conquering men’s hearts will continue to be His mission until the day of judgment appears. Thus, there is no point from which He has to move to conquer; He is conquering souls even as He has always been conquering souls. But this is not true with this rider. This horseman who sets out to conquer is one who already possesses a bow and is given a crown at some point in time. From that point, he goes forth to conquer.
"The strongest arguments seem to point toward the white rider being the antichrist. How is the antichrist going to conquer the world?
Scripture tells us that it is going to be through deception. Because of the sins and evil of people, because people have chosen to go the way of sin and evil, the antichrist is going to be able to deceive them.
2 Th.2:8-10
People do not receive the love of the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ; people could care less about God’s salvation; therefore, God is going to judge the world. The beginning of His judgment is going to be His allowing the antichrist to come upon the world scene. God is going to allow’ men to be deceived because they have rejected the love of the truth. They have rejected and cursed Him and His glorious salvation revealed in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, God is going to send a strong deception upon the earth, the very deception for which men long, a strong world ruler who seemingly can solve the world’s problems and bring utopia to earth. And men are going to give their kingdoms to him; that is, they are going to sign treaties and agreements that will allow him to rule over their nations and lives.
2 Th.2:11
Rev.17:17
What could cause men to turn the government of the world over to one man?
Christ Himself told us.
ð A world that is full of false messiahs claiming that they have the answers to life will prepare the way for the antichrist.
But their claims are false; therefore, they leave the human heart empty and hopeless.
When the heart is empty and hopeless, it will turn to a person (the antichrist) who promises utopia, that is, heaven upon earth.
Mt.24:5
ð A world that is full of violence, wars, and rumors of war will prepare the way for the antichrist. Millions of lives, homes, families, and all else will destroyed. A devastated people will turn to any leader who can bring peace and restoration.
"And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" (Mt.24: 6-7).
ð A world that is rocked with natural disaster after natural disaster will prepare the way for the antichrist.
Disaster after disaster will cause people to quake in fear.
Fear will drive people to a world leader who can promise and provide economic and medical help and aid.
"And there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places" Mt.24:7b.
ð A world that is torn apart religiously will prepare the way for the antichrist.
Severe religious persecution and terrible apostasy and betrayal will sweep the earth.
There will be division within the ranks of religion and families and between neighbors sweeping the earth in the end time.
This will cause people to turn for help in bringing peace between religions.
ð A world that is full of false religion and false preachers will prepare the way for the antichrist.
False religion will leave the heart hungry for something real; therefore, they will be ripe for the promises of the antichrist.
"And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many" Mt.24:11
ð A world that falls further and further away from God,
that experiences increasing sin (sin that just grows and grows) and a love that grows cold will prepare the way for the antichrist.
People will be beggin help in dealing with lawlessness, drunkenness, drugs, occults, crime, and on and on. They will look toward anyone who can bring true care, affection, and love back into society.
Rev 6:3-4 Antichrist-Four Horsemen:
the second seal is the thundering appearance of a red horse and its rider.
Who is this rider? He is the rider who has power to take peace from the earth so that men will kill each other. He is the rider...
. of strife . of abuse . of murder
. of violence . of anger . of insurrection
. of assault . of hate . of war
. of division . of uprising . of bloodshed
He is the rider who divides race against race, class against class, neighbor against neighbor, employee against employer, husband against wife, religion against religion, and nation against nation. He is the rider who takes peace from the earth and causes every kind of division he can.
He is the rider who destroys every human relationship that he can.
Now who is the rider upon the horse? John does riot say, but note these facts:
=> The last days will bring terrible days of evil and trucebreaking.
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good" (2 Tim.3:1-3).
=> The last days will bring terrible days of wars and rumors of wars.
"And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom" (Mt.24:6-7).
=> The devil himself is called "the great red dragon. "
"And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads" (Rev.12:3).
=> The devil is a murderer and a great liar and deceiver and has been from the beginning.
"
"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar and the father of it" (John.8:44).
=> The antichrist who will be the supreme representative of the devil upon earth will become a mass mu and use the sword against both God’s people and those who oppose him. This is one way that he brin world into subjection under his government.
"And it was given unto him [the antichrist] to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life ofthe Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" Rev.13:7-8
"For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape" (1 Th.5:3).
Now, who is the rider upon the red horse?
We can say that he either represents the lack of peace the antichrist a government bring to the world or else he is the antichrist himself
Rev 6:5-6) the third seal is the thundering appearance of a black horse and its rider.
This rider also seems to be the antichrist and his power to control the economy and distribution of food.
Food will be rationed in the end time.
Remember there will be more wars and conflicts and violence raging all over the world during the end time than ever before.
The result of war is often famine, and the end time will be no different. The only difference is that the famine will be far more severe and involve far more people. I
1. This rider (the antichrist) has a set of scales to measure out the wheat. Wheat or barley was the basic food for’people in John’s day.
FYI
a "penny" (denarius) to buy a measure of wheat, that is about a quart. . a penny to buy three measures of barley.
A penny was about a day’s wage.
Imagine working and earning only enough money to buy what food was needed for that day!
What would a person do about feeding his family and providing the other necessities of life such as housing, heat, clothing, and transportation?
This will be the situation in the end time, right before the great tribulation is to take place. . ,
2. The rider controls food distribution.
This is probably one way that he gains and holds control over the world, at least for a season.
The idea is that food will be strictly controlled.
.
The end time will be marked by famine after famine allover the world.
It will take all a man can do just to survive.
Rev 6:7-8 The fourth seal is the thundering appearance of a pale horse and its rider.
The Amplified New Testamet translates the word pale as "ashy pale horse [black and blue as if made so by bruising]." Remember: this is not yet the end of time.
This horseman, just as the other three, is to appear before the end time. But what happens under his attack causes such devastation that it boggles and weakens the mind.
1. The rider (antichrist) has a name, that of death; and sitting right behind him is hell or hades,
the realm of the dead. His very name announces that some terrible devastation is about to be set loose upon the earth.
3. The rider (antichrist) is given power to cause unbelievable pain and suffering: he is personally responsible for killing one fourth of the people on earth. Unbelievable!
How can one rider possibly kill one fourth of the people? A number that would equal over one billion today? There are four ways.
~ The sword can help to kill that many people. That is, war, by deliberately setting a policy to
destroy certain races or groups of people.
. All it would take is someone like Hitler to launch a larger war, perhaps an atomic war upon earth. Or someone like Hitler to launch a world-wide holocaust or a Stalin to create a world-wide Siberia where millions upon millions of people were killed
~ Hunger and starvation can help to kill that many people. That is, the rider can starve people and cause famine due to war and the rationing of food.
FYI
Reports tell us that while we slept last night there were about 40,000 children alone who starved to death. Imagine!
In the twentieth century 40,000 children starve to death every day! Yet think of all the money we have in our pockets, and of the money so many are banking.
Tens of thousands starving to death and we have the money and the resources to keep it from happening. But out of selfishness and greed, we hoard.
~ Pestilence can help to kill that many people: that is, germ warfare and the diseases that result from the unsanitary conditions of refugee and concentration camps and from war and genocide.
Think of the outcome of disease that will occur when the next war breaks out: the unsanitary conditions and the outbreak of both old and new diseases such as we witnessed with the venereal diseases, flu epidemics, small pox, polio, measles, and aids And there will be little if any medical supplies.
~ Wild beasts will help to kill that many people. That is, due to war and the transplanting of people, billions of people, especially children, will be homeless.
This rider is responsible for exposing people to the beasts of the forests and jungles who will be just as hungry and insane from the lack of food as people will be.
The picture of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse is not a pretty picture; nevertheless, any thinking and honest person knows that it is a real possibility with the weapons of war that exist today.
The truth is: Holy Scripture says that it is going to happen. It will happen right before the events of the end time are to be launched by God: But as terrible as the four horsemen events are, they are not the worst judgments that are to take place upon earth.
The worst will still lie ahead when the end time itself is launched. These judgments are just the seal judgments. The end time judgments are called the trumpet judgments and the bowl judgments.
May God help us to turn to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation before the end comes.
Rev 6:9 Fifth Seal Jesus Christ, breaks the fifth seal.
When He does, the souls of all the martyrs of the world are seen under the altar of God.
This could be a picture of all the martyrs who have died for Jesus Christ down through the ages. It tells us where their souls are.
But note: this particular reference is probably to the martyrs of the end time. The fact that they cry out for justice against those who killed them and that judgment falls in the sixth seal points to the reference being to the end time martyrs.
But what John and the heavenly host see is probably the souls of all martyrs, for the souls of all are no doubt living together before God.
This is a most precious thought: the martyrs of God are very special to God, and because of their strong testimony and sacrifice for Him, they hold a very special place before Him.
in heaven the martyrs have a very special place before God: they stand at the foot of the altar. They are a group of believers who are given a very special place near to God for all of eternity.
There is a strong lesson in this for all believers of all ages. God has a very special place for those who are faithful until death, a place that is close and dear to His heart and throne. This should stir us to be faithfulevery minute of every day.
1. They were slain for the Word of God. In the last days of human history some people will still love Christ and still believe the Holy Scriptures. They will love the Word of God...
. believe it . witness to it
. live by it . teach it
. read it . preach it
. study it . pray over it
Because of this, the world will react against the Word of God and kill believers. Why?
ð The world will react because God’s Word demands that a person give his first loyalty to Jesus Christ.
ð In the end time under the antichrist, the people of the world will be required to give their first loyalty to the state.
ð The government will demand loyalty to the state first, then the people can have freedom of religion and worship whatever god they wish.
ð The state will develop the idea of what could be called a state religion, something close to what exists in some states today.
Acts 5:27-29
ð The world will react because God’s Word demands that a person live a pure and righteous life. In the end time people will be as they have always been: unwilling to give up the reins to their lives.
ð They will continue to rebel against God, to do what they want, their own thing, instead of living like God says to live. But in the end time rebellion against God will be intensified.
ð People will...
. reject God more . neglect God more
. curse God more . disobey God more
. deny God more . disbelieve God more
. ignore God more
The point is this: the world in the end time will reject God’s Word
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Tim.3:16).
2. They were slain for the testimony they had borne concerning Jesus Christ. The martyrs will believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior of the world. They will believe that God loved the world so much that He sent His on to save the world. But the world rejects Jesus Christ, His deity, that He is the Son of God.
The world is willing to accept that Jesus Christ was a great religious and moral teacher but no more than that. In the end time the world’s rejection of Christ as the Son of God will be intensified so much that they will kill all those who proclaim Christ to be the Son of God
The believers of the end time will be martyred because they refuse to deny Christ. They will not deny their Savior
"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also" (1 John.2:22-23
Rev 6: 10 martyrs cry out for justice
1. They address God as the Sovereign Lord, holy and true.
a. The Word used here for "Lord" (despotes) means Master or Sovereign. God is the supreme Master and Sovereign of the universe. Therefore, all prayer is to be directed to Him, for all lives belong to Him, the lives of the martyrs and the lives of their persecutors. 1,
b. God is holy,
c. God is true to His Word and promises.
The martyrs cry out for justice and for vengeance against their persecutors.
This is shocking, that believers in heaven would seek vengeance against men upon earth instead of loving them and longing for them to be saved. Is this an’ accurate picture? No, it is not. This is not what the martyrs are doing.
They are crying out for God...
. to stop the injustice against His Word and against His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
. to stop the injustice against His own glory and justice.
. to stop the injustice of sin and evil against Himself.
. to stop the injustice of unrighteousness and to bring righteousness to the universe.
REVELATION 6:11 Martyrs-White Robes: the slain martyrs are given white robes. The white robes stand for purity and righteousness.
Believers are made pure and righteous in the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
These martyrs are wearing the robes that all believers upon the earth will wear, the white robes of the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
Martyrs-Justice: the slain martyrs are assured of justice.
A glorious thing: the martyrs are said to be at rest in heaven.
ð They are resting in the peace of Christ, free from all struggle.
ð They are resting from all their exhausting labor upon earth
ð They are resting from the wicked of the earth.
ð They are resting from all the trials and temptations of life; they are to be freed from all tears and sorrow and crying and pain and death.
ð They are resting in the perfection of a new life, even in the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
. .
Look what the Lord tells the martyrs:
it will still be a little while before the end of the world comes.
The questionis not whether or not the end will ever come. It is coming. It is just that it is not yet time.
What a dynamic challenge for us! To be on fire for God and to be proclaiming Jesus Christ! We must not fear; we must be willing to witness for Him even if it means that we must die for Him and His cause of eternal salvation.
.
"Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God" (2 Tim.l:8).
Rev 6: 12-14 Judgment-Universe-World: there are the effects of God’s judgment upon the universe.
1. There will be a great earthquake.
Look at the word great. This will be no ordinary earthquake. The idea is that it will be beyond anything ever known to man.
Imagine the destruction of property, the loss of life, the fear gripping the
hearts of people, and the further damage caused by the aftershocks of the earthquake.
ð Jesus Christ Himself predicted there would be more earthquakes in the latter days than ever before. Mt.24:7
ð Revelation mentions three great earthquakes.
Rev.6:12
Rev 11:13
Rev.16:17-19
ð The Old Testament predicted earthquakes in the end time.
Ezk.38:19
Jer .4:24
Amos 8:8
Joel 2:10
2. The sun and moon will be eclipsed and blackened and stars or meteorites will shower the earth.
Very practically there are times when such astronomical happenings occur now.
The heavenly bodies are sometimes darkened by such catastrophes as volcanic eruptions, wind storms, and
smoke from fires.
Of course whatever darkens the sun hides the light of the moon and stars from earth.
Stars or meteorites of varying sizes fall from outer space to earth quite often.
~ Astronomical happenings will occur right before the end time.
Rev.6:13
~ Astronomical happenings occur during the tribulation.
Rev.8:12
Rev.9:2
Rev.16:10
~ Astronomical happenings will occur right after the tribulation when the day of the Lord comes.
Mt.24:29
Is.24:21-23
Ezk.32:7-8
Joel 2:30-31
JoeI.3:15-16
3. The heavens will disappear and the mountains and the hills will be moved out of their place.
What does this mean?
- that men are so frightened that they cry for the mountains and rocks to fall upon them. This is a prophetic way to describe the devastation of the astronomical happenings and the great earthquake and meteorites falling to earth.
REVELATION 6:12-17
"And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree" (Is.34:4).
"Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture
shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed" (ps.102:25-26).
"I beheld the mountains, and, 10, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly" (Jer.4:24).
"The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, ye,
the world, and all that dwell therein" (Nah.1:5).
[!j (6:15-16) Judgment-Universe-World: there are the effects of God’s judgment upon people. Note two significant
things.
1. Great fear will grip all unbelievers upon earth. Note the list of those who fear:
=> The kings and rulers of the earth will fear.
=> The great and powerful of the earth will fear.
=> The rich and wealthy of the earth will fear.
=> The military chiefs of the earth ~ill fear.
=> The mighty and the strong of the earth will fear.
=> The slave and insignificant of the earth will fear.
=> The free and independent of the earth will fear.
Every unbeliever upon earth will be stricken with terror, a maddening terror.
No one is going to escape the judgment of God,. And there is no partiality with God;
God has no favorites.
The world of unbelievers will quake in terror and fright before the unusual events happening in outer-
space and upon earth.
2. All unbelievers will cry for death.
The terror and fright will be so maddening that the world will panic.
People will be madly rushing about to hide in the secret dens and rocks of the earth, begging to die
"Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us"
Lk.23:30
"And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the
LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth" (s.2:19.
.10:8). .
Rev 6:16-17
the great day of God’s wrath is at hand.
What is the great day of God’s wrath? These two verses tell us. ~
=> It is the day when all unbelievers must stand before the face of God who sits upon the throne of the universe.
ð It is the day when all unbelievers must face the wrath of the Lamb; the day when they must face the Son of God Himself Jesus Christ whom they have rejected, denied, cursed, disobeyed
ð It is the great day of His wrath, the very day that His wrath is to fall, the very day that every unbeliever must. face Him.
ð it is the day when no unbeliever shall stand, the day when all unbelievers shall crumble and be subjected to the humiliation of eternal guilt, condemnation, and punishment.!
. The message to all people everywhere is twofold. .
1) All unbelievers will stand face to face With God on the great day of His wrath, and the day is right over the
horizon.
=> The wrath of God is coming upon the rich and the powerful who thought they were self-sufficient.
=> The wrath of God is coming upon the religious who thought they could be good enough and do
enough good to be acceptable to God.
=> . The wrath of God is coming upon the poor who thought they were too insignificant or else thought
their oppression would cause God to look upon them with mercy.
=> The wrath of God is coming upon the intelligent who thought they were too knowledgeable to
believe in Christ. ..
=> The wrath of God is coming upon the scientist and technician because they thought they had
progressed so far they could disprove God.
2) We must trust Jesus Christ and escape the great day of God’s wrath.
COSMIC DISTURBANCES AT THE DAY OF THE LORD
Revelation 6:12-14
The images in Revelation are not that unusual when compared to the prophets’ description
of the coming day of the Lord. The Old Testament has many of the same images that
John saw.
Isaiah 2:10-22 “. . . When the Lord rises to shake the earth, his enemies will crawl with
fear into holes in the ground.”
Isaiah 13:10 “The heavens will be black above them. No light will shine from stars
or sun or moon.”
Isaiah 34:4 “The heavens above will melt away and disappear like a rolled-up scroll.
The stars will fall from the sky, just as withered leaves and fruit fall from
a tree.”
Jeremiah 4:24-29 “I looked at the earth, and it was empty and formless. I looked at the
heavens, and there was no light.”
Ezekiel 32:7-8 “When I blot you out, I will veil the heavens and darken the stars. I will
cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give you its light.
Yes, I will bring darkness everywhere across your land.”
Hosea 10:8 “. . . They will beg the mountains to bury them and the hills to fall on
them.”
Joel 2:11, 31 “. . . The day of the Lord is an awesome, terrible thing. Who can endure
it? . . . The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon will turn
blood red.”
Joel 3:15 “The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will no longer shine.”
Amos 8:8 “The earth will tremble for your deeds, and everyone will mourn. The
land will rise up like the Nile River at floodtime, toss about, and sink
again.”
Nahum 1:5-6 “In his presence the mountains quake, and the hills melt away; the
earth trembles, and its people are destroyed. Who can stand before his
fierce anger? Who can survive his burning fury? His rage blazes forth
like fire, and the mountains crumble to dust in his presence.”
Zephaniah 1:14-18 “The terrible day of the Lord is near. . . . It is a day when the Lord’s
anger will be poured out. It is a day of terrible distress and anguish,
a day of ruin and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, of clouds,
blackness, trumpet calls, and battle cries. . . . He will make a terrifying
end of all the people on earth.”
Malachi 3:2 “But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able
to stand and face him when he appears? For he will be like a blazing
fire that refines metal or like a strong soap that whitens clothes.”
