The Seven Seals

Introduction

Well, good morning!

If you have your Bibles and I hope that you do, open ‘em up with me to the Book of Revelation…chapters 6 and 7…and if you would hold your place there and also turn with me to the Gospel of Matthew chapter 24. We’re gonna be in the first and last books of the New Testament.

And listen, the reason for that…as I’ve been showing you through our study in Revelation…this book, it can’t mean for us, what it never could’ve meant for the people it was written to. And listen, this passage…which is one of those passages that I believe is oftentimes misinterpreted…misunderstood…its used to drive fear among people because of series like ‘Left Behind’…listen, its one of those passages, that you guys have been waiting for me to preach…and yes, if you’re wondering, I am gonna actually stake my flag down in some areas this morning…and I’m gonna tell you what I think certain things are like the 4 horsemen…but guys, this passage, it can’t mean to us, what it never could’ve meant to Christians during the first century. Revelation, it was written to them…and by the power of God, its used for us. And so, it can’t mean for us, what it did not mean for them. Which means, as we come to this passage and several more in the weeks to come…it means we can’t take this passage and make it mean something that would’ve meant something entirely different than what these men and women would’ve read in the first century.

Listen, what I love about John…he does this in everything he writes…he’s always pulling from the Old Testament. He’s a Jew at heart, right? He knew the Old Testament…most of the people he wrote to, they knew the Old Testament…and so, he was constantly pulling from it. And what I love about Revelation, its that it doesn’t actually tell us anything the Bible hasn’t already told us. It’s a reminder…its not really giving these first century Christians anything they didn’t already know. And listen, that’s the reason I wanna kinda walk through Revelation 6 and Matthew 24 together. Everything we’re gonna see here in our passage, we’re gonna see that Jesus already addressed these things in His ministry. Everything in Matthew 24, it mirrors everything in our passage.

Revelation, its not giving us this chronological account of what God’s gonna do in the last days. In fact, if you’ve been reading it like that, its probably why it seems confusing to you. Its probably why it doesn’t make much sense. We have to remember that God’s not a God of confusion…and we have to remember that Revelation, its meant to be a blessing…meaning, this book, its meant to be understood by us…and its meant to be applied.

If you’ve been with us these past several weeks…the main theme of Revelation, its been about the person…the work…the power…the glory of Jesus Christ. None of it’s been about how and when certain things are gonna happen, its all been about who and why certain things are gonna happen. And everything we’ve seen, it was written down to communicate the gospel and compel people to turn to the only One worthy of all praise and glory. That’s been the major theme throughout…its that Jesus, He’s sovereign, He’s in control…and that ultimately…nothing happens outside of His will.

Our passage this morning, its no different. Its all about the sovereignty of God and how He overcomes sin, how He judges sin…ultimately how He delivers from sin. And listen, I get it…the sovereignty of God, its a touchy subject in today’s world…it’s brought conflict to us in the past…its something Christians fight about…But listen to me…you’ll never understand what God intends for you to get from this book, if you don’t understand God’s sovereignty.

As we saw in chapter 1…Jesus, He has all authority…He alone sees the condition of our hearts. Chapters 4 and 5, it showed us that the plans of creation…from the start of creation until the last days of creation…those plans, they’ve been mapped out by God…nothing can change it…nothing can alter what God has planned to do. He’s sovereign. Meaning, not only did God create us…not only is He sovereign over good and evil…but it also means that He chooses. He chose to create…He chose to show grace…He chooses to judge…He chooses who to redeem…He chooses everything because it’s all His…everything belongs to Him and nothing, not even our will is greater than His power. And when we understand that truth about God…when we rest in that truth about God, it’s gives us great comfort in what it is God’s offered us…just as we saw last week.

And so, as we walk through this passage…I have three points for us this morning. Number 1, God is sovereign over sin…Number 2, God is holy and will judge sin…and then finally, number 3, God is gracious and offers deliverance from sin. These two chapters, as we’ll see, they communicate the gospel story all over again.

And so, if you’re ready, let’s dive into this first point together.

I. God is sovereign over sin

God is sovereign over sin.

And so, hopefully you’ve read our passage for this week…Revelation chapters 6 and 7…and if you remember last week…we saw this incredible picture of Jesus, where it showed His worth and glory. And if you remember, in the hand of God the Father, there was this scroll…and this scroll, it was all of God’s plans for all creation…it was the plans for their restoration…it was the plans for their judgement…its all of God’s plans for all creation. And if you remember, that vision, it showed us that only Jesus was capable of taking the scroll and putting into action all these plans.

And so, as we come to chapter 6, we see that Jesus begins to open this scroll, seal by seal. The first four seals…they’re known as the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Now I want you to remember, there’s all kinds of interpretations on what these are…what they mean…are they literal? Symbolic? Right?

But regardless, these guys, they’re not good! These horses, they’re never gonna star in the next Spirit movie by Disney…(actually the way Disney’s going, maybe they will)…but I think you get my point…these guys aren’t good. They’re scary…they bring bad things with them. They’re not good for humanity.

But I want you to pay attention to this…look at chapter 6, verse 1, “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!” 2 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.”

And so, here’s the first and most important thing I want you to get here…and then I’ll give you what you’re looking for…what I think these guys are. It says the Lamb…Jesus…He opened the seals one by one, and He allowed these things to happen. Notice it says that a crown was given to this white rider as well. We see permission given…authority given. Jesus is in control. The seals, again…they’re part of HIS plan. They’re found in His scroll. Nothing’s catching Him off guard here…its all happening just the way He planned from the very beginning. God is sovereign over everything…don’t lose that as we walk through this.

And so, what’s all this mean. Well, if you remember…I talked about the four living creatures a little last week. And if you remember, I mentioned that I believe they represented all of creation, right? The number 4, it used in that way all throughout Scripture to discuss completion in creation. But notice that while Jesus opened the seals…who called out to the different riders? It was one of the four living creatures, right? The first…it says, “Come!” In verse 3, another living creature says to the second rider, “Come!”. In verse 5, the third living creature says the same thing…and then finally, again in verse 7…And so, we have 4 creatures…4 riders here in this passage.

If you’ve been keeping up…John’s discussed the holiness of God…we saw our need as Christians to be set apart in chapters 2 and 3…we’ve seen the of idea of sin, even in the last chapter where no one was worthy of opening the scroll. I believe these seals…which again are God’s foreordained plans for all creation…what we’re seeing in these first few seals, its the sin that exists in all of creation. All creation, because they desire the things contrary to God, they’re calling out to all the things that lead them away from God which is what I believe each of the four horsemen represent…its basically the consequences of sin.

And so, the first horsemen…this white rider. Some have suggested this guy’s Jesus…but listen, I just don’t see that. There are many similarities to the description we’re gonna see in chapter 19 when Jesus comes back to conquer and judge…but there’s a huge difference between this white rider and the one that depicts Jesus later on in Revelation…this rider, he’s carrying a bow and not a sword. He’s an imitation…he’s not the real thing. He looks like Jesus, but as we see, he’s not Jesus. I believe this white rider, he’s the Anti-Christ.

Now, let me be clear…I don’t believe in the idea of a single Anti-Christ. In fact, the only time that term’s used…its in John’s epistles. Specifically in 1 John chapter 2 where he talks about multiple antichrists. And listen, in this passage, he basically says that all those that reject the gospel and don’t put their faith and trust in Jesus, they’re all antichrists.

John writes:

1 John 2:18–22 (ESV)

Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

Listen, there’s some important things here…first, its that John says all unbelievers, they’re the antichrist…they’re the one’s clinging to a false sense of security and salvation. But second, he says that they’re in the last days…2,000 years ago. I believe these seals, they were opened at the cross and since then…since the church was established…we’ve been in the millennial kingdom since. Now, this’ll come back up in chapter 20…but I do believe in the Amil view of Revelation.

So again, who’s this rider?

Well, flip with me over to Matthew 24…Again, Revelation doesn’t tell us anything new. Jesus, I think, told us who this rider was. Verse 3:

Matthew 24:3–5 (ESV)

As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.

It’s the white rider, right? And so, here’s what I believe…the white rider…it’s anything and everything that pulls us away from Jesus. And guys, its gonna continue to get worse and worse as we move closer and closer to what the days of Noah looked like? Do we see evidence of that now? Absolutely! I mean just think about it…even the prosperity gospel…telling us that we can have health, wealth, and prosperity. That’s not the gospel of Jesus Christ…Or what about the world’s idea that there’s many ways to salvation? These are all lies…and they’re all meant to deceive us and lead us astray? But notice, where do these things come from? Man! Man is responsible for sin. We’re to blame…Prior to coming to faith, we all rebelled against a good and righteous God and we did everything in our sin nature to defy God. We brought on this white rider…and therefore, as John mentioned, the white rider…the antichrists…its all those believing in and sharing a false message of salvation…conquering the souls of those that will never be redeemed. It’s because of sin and evil in the world.

And then, going back to Revelation for a moment…chapter 6, verse 3:

Revelation 6:3–4 (ESV)

When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 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.

Jesus opens another seal and another rider, red this time, he’s released…and notice creation, they call out to him again. And so, this rider comes…and it leads to chaos…war! Anger! People turn on other people…and notice, again…Jesus He’s sovereign through this…He opened the seal…He gave this rider the sword and allowed this war and hostility to take place.

Turn back to Matthew 24 with me. Verse 6:

Matthew 24:6 (ESV)

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.

Again, in the same exact order…we see Jesus talk about the same thing. There’s gonna be wars and rumors of wars…people will turn against people. Guys, if you’re ever had a kid…you begin to realize very quickly on that we’re all born, bent for war…we’re all bent toward anger and rage. And listen, if you don’t believe me…just come spend an hour with Eli and when you take something he wants to play with away or when you’re ready to do something he doesn’t wanna do…just see how a 4 year old responds. It’s our sin nature…we’re all bent for war and rage. And if you still don’t believe me, go to a school board meeting…or just watch people during the election season. We’re bent for war and rage…And as sin continues to increase and become rampant…like the days of Noah…its gonna get worse and worse.

The next seal. Revelation 6:5:

Revelation 6:5–6 (ESV)

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. 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!”

Again…the main theme here…Jesus opened the seal…Jesus allowed this rider out. Again, creation, they’re calling out to this rider. They want him to come. But what’s this black rider symbolize? I think we’re seeing famine here. And listen, not the famine we all think about when we think of famine. I think it’s a spiritual famine. As sin takes root…it pulls us further and further away from the presence of God…and we become spiritually hungry and thirsty…its a spiritual famine. And in place of this spiritual famine, its gives us temporary pleasures of this world to keep us from the presence of God. We’re famished and don’t even realize it because of the other two riders…we’re blinded at this point because of sin. Which is why it says don’t harm the oil and the wine. This rider gives creation what it thinks it wants and keeps them from the things that actually bring life and satisfaction.

And so, what’s Jesus say about the end next in Matthew 24? Verse 7:

Matthew 24:7 (ESV)

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

Here it is again. Jesus tells us exactly what Revelation lays out for us here. There will be famines.

And then lastly, the fourth rider…Revelation 6:7:

Revelation 6:7–8 (ESV)

When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 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.

Again…Jesus opened the scrolls and He releases the last rider…which we see brings death. Of course, if you know sin…its nature…its consequences…What’s sin bring on humanity? Death!

But pay attention to the details here…this rider, that brings death…it was given authority…it was given the ability to devour the earth…it was given the sword and allowed to deprive people of spiritual nourishment. Jesus was in control and He allowed these things to happen.

And you might be sitting there thinking, “Wow, what a terrible God!”

Guys, we’ve talked about this…but if Jesus didn’t allow sin to take its course in humanity for at least a time…we would’ve all died and remained separated from Him for all eternity. All of us…because we’re the reason sin exists. It’s our fault…not God’s…Who called out to these riders when Jesus released them? We did! We wanted ‘em.

Jesus’s sovereignty over sin and His allowing of its dominion for a short period of time in His creation…it shows His mercy and His grace…and as believers, we have to cling to His promise that He’ll work all things together for the good of those that love Him!

II. God is holy and will judge sin

And then listen, this scene, as we continue on…it shows that God, He’s holy and that He will judge sin.

Throughout history, there’s always been a remnant of God’s people…and since the fall of man…God’s people, they’ve always been under attack. And if you study your Bibles, you’ll notice, typically, in the moments its at its worse, this is when God rescues His people and when He brings judgement against their oppressors.

If you read our passage, the fifth and sixth seals, they show us another truth about God. God will judge men and women who turn from Him and live for the world…those who live in hostility toward God and His people. These seals ultimately depict the justice and judgment of God upon a sinful world, upon sinners who turn from Him and live for this world. I use that terminology very intentionally. In Revelation 6:10 (look at this with me) the saints under the altar of God cry out, “O Sovereign Lord … how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” You might underline that phrase “those who dwell on the earth” because it’s a phrase that we see (and are going to see more) used all throughout Revelation to describe unbelievers who worship idols and who rebel against God, people who live for this world and worship the idols of this world instead of worshiping God and living for another world. So unbelievers are described as “those who dwell on the earth,” those who turn from God and live for this world.

Real quickly…turn back to Matthew 24. Jesus says in verse 8:

Matthew 24:8–9 (ESV)

All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.

Jesus is telling His people here…”because of sin…because there will be those that hate Me…you will be persecuted…and you will be hated…You will be put to death.”

That’s what we see back in Revelation.

But notice, turning back there with me…these people that live contrary to God, that persecute God’s people because of their sin nature, they’re all under the judgement of God…which is a reality evident in the opening of the sixth seal.

Revelation 6:12 says:

Revelation 6:12–14 (ESV)

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, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.

Those verses, they’re loaded with all kinds of Old Testament prophetic pronouncements of God’s wrath that’s coming upon sinners. Isaiah 13, Isaiah 24, Isaiah 34, Ezekiel 32, Joel 2. This same scene—this earthquake—we’ll see repeated again after the sixth trumpet in Revelation 11 and the seventh bowl in Revelation 16…remember these aren’t a series of chronological accounts.

We may not know exactly when these things’ll happen, but we do know this: God will judge men and women who turn from Him and who live for this world. The scope of His judgment, it will be cosmic and the broadness of His judgment, it’ll be universal. Verse 15, it gives a list of every type of person—kings and great ones and generals and rich and powerful and slave and free. They’ve all, without exception, hide themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. The shaking of the heavens will strip away all their social distinctions as the judgment of God equalizes all of mankind. Everyone, from kings and presidents to kids and the poor, all will equally cower before the presence of God the judge.

And cowering, it’s the right word…because the effect of God’s judgment, it’ll be terrifying. Everyone, the Bible pictures, is hiding from the face of God and from the wrath of Christ. Don’t miss this.

Guys, you don’t wanna meet God face-to-face apart from the saving work of Jesus Christ. You won’t long to be with Him…you’ll long to escape His presence…Revelation 6, it pictures the people crying out for rocks and mountains to crush them…they think that’ll be better than facing the wrath of God in sin.

Listen, there’s people out there that think, “Oh, well hell, it won’t be that bad. It might be fun…we’ll party together!” Don’t be foolish…the effect of God’s judgement, it’ll be terrifying…and guys, no matter how much you try and escape it…His judgement, it’ll be eternal.

III. God is gracious and offers deliverance from sin

But praise Jesus for Revelation chapter 7…praise Jesus that He’s gracious and offers deliverance from sin. Jesus’ll save those who trust in Him and live for another world.

We see two pictures of God’s people here in Revelation 7…one which is a mass of people numbering 144,000 who represent the twelve tribes of Israel, and the other a multitude that no one can count from every nation, tribe, people, and language.

And, not surprisingly, there’s quite a bit of debate over who’s included in these groups. Certainly they both describe the people of God, but this first group … Is it literally 144,000 Israelites? Is it representative of all ethnic Israelites who’ll be saved before the second coming of Christ? Is it a figurative representative of all the people of God, Jews and Gentiles alike?

And then the second group … Is it a picture of martyrs, who like the group from Revelation 6, are clothed in white robes because they were slain for their testimony? Or is it a picture of all of God’s people, finally and ultimately joined together in heaven at the consummation of God’s kingdom?

Again, we just don’t have time to exhaust all the options and explore the strengths and weaknesses of each, but I am persuaded that these two pictures are of the same people from different perspectives at different times. Again, this passage…it all revolves around God’s sovereignty…and so, for that reason, keeping with that context…I believe these groups…which depicts God’s chosen people from the Old Testament and God’s chosen or elected people who were mended into Israel’s family in the church age…they all represent God’s family…God’s people.

Just look at this picture here. We learn here in Revelation 7:1 that John saw four angels at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth (which, based on Zechariah, is likely a reference to the four horsemen we just saw described at the beginning of chapter 6). Another angel calls to them and says in verse 3, “Don’t harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads”. This picture, it takes us back to before the seals were opened, before the earth was shaken and destroyed. And so this picture depicts God, before sending His devastating judgments on the earth, marking His people to protect them amidst the tribulation He was about to bring.

Follow in your notes. Revelation 7:1–8, its showing us that Christians are secure on earth in the midst of tribulation and suffering. “The servants of God” (verse 3), which I believe these people, they’re symbolically represented here with a complete number—144,000. This is a number we’ll see again in Chapter 14 to describe God’s people. And then in chapters 21 & 22 where it talks about the new Jerusalem, we’ll see that the city, it has twelve gates, which are twelve pearls, on which are written the names of the twelve tribes, and the city has a wall 144 cubes in height with 12 foundation stones on which are written the names of the 12 apostles. Its all meant to show completion…12 and its multiples.

I don’t think this is just a part of the church or a section of the church or an ethnic group among the church. Nowhere else in Revelation is there ever a mention of Jewish believers apart from Gentile believers. This is the church, described like an army, preparing to go into battle amidst suffering and tribulation in the world (which was prophesied in places like Daniel 12), and God says, “I have secured them for this battle.”

Guys, here’s the message to these first century believers…and I believe its still a message relevant for us today. He’s telling His children here…that they’re gonna suffer. They’re gonna suffer as they witness to a sinful world. And it’s God’s foreordained plans for the future of His people to be slain because of the Word of God…for His people to suffer as they proclaim Jesus. Again, Jesus said the same thing in Matthew 24. And His message here…its that, He’s got them…they’re secure…He’s protecting them…they’re redeemed and like Jesus, they will overcome because ultimately He’s sovereign over everything. He’s telling them to not fear the people of this world who might have power to to destroy the body…but only God has power to destroy the soul. That’s in Matthew chapter 10. He’s telling them that they’ll be clothed in white…they’ll be redeemed and they’ll take their rightful place at His side because they placed their faith in the One that died for them. This picture of God’s sovereignty its meant to remind us that God’s in control…He alone saved us…through His power, He perseveres us…and because of who He is, He’ll redeem us in the end.

But listen to me…here’s the message to unbelievers…God’s giving you this because there’s still time…there’s time to repent and believe…there’s time to turn to God and to place your faith and trust in Him…there’s time to receive salvation and be counted among the saints.

The Bible, it tells us that all who trust in the sacrifice of Jesus on a cross, all who believe in the blood of the Lamb who died and rose again for you, they will shout God’s victory. They will serve in God’s presence. Day and night before His throne. They will soak in God’s glory. Just listen to the last part of verse 15, “He who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence”. Literally spread his presence, or his glory, over them.

Dear friend, don’t be among those that will cower at the sight of Jesus. Don’t be among those that will seek to run from God’s presence. You’ll be crushed under the weight of God’s wrath. Turn to Jesus…receive His free gift of salvation and deliverance…and trust in Him.

Closing

Reflecting on these two chapters, would you bow your head and close your eyes with me?

Listen…Wendy’s gonna come and play…the deacons they’re gonna come and prepare the Lord’s Supper for us this morning. All I want you to do this morning…its to find rest in the presence of God. If you’re a believer this morning…I know there’s things you’re walking through that are hard…I know some of you are facing real struggles, temptations…real things that seem to constantly discourage you…find rest in Jesus’s promise seen in Revelation chapter 7…understand the battle that’s waging around us…and find rest in Jesus’s promise…He will protect you…He will persevere you…He will deliver you…and guys, He will work all things together for good.

But if you’re here and you don’t know Jesus…would you take this time and just cry out to the Lord. Would you turn from the sin that consumes you…that causes all the things we just looked at…turn from the sin that leads to death and suffering…and would you turn to Jesus. Put your trust and faith in the One that sacrificed Himself for you. Turn to the One that took on God’s wrath for you. Place your trust and faith in Him as Lord…the only one that’s overcome death. Understand the serious consequences that comes from rejecting the gospel message…Turn to Jesus. Would you do that this morning?

Listen, you take this time and I’ll close us in just a moment.

[Prayer]

Matthew 26:26 (ESV)

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”

Matthew 26:27–29 (ESV)

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”