Revelation 6:9-17
Notes
Transcript
Handout
INTRO
The temperature inside Mammoth Cave is about 54°F, year-round. Temperatures near cave entrances can go a bit higher or lower.
Mammoth Cave has, so far, more than 426 miles of cave passage mapped, making Mammoth Cave by far the longest known cave in the world.
We were around 300ft underground when we were there at mammoth cave.
PRAYER
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MESSAGE
Those who follow Jesus should expect persecution.
Those who follow Jesus should expect persecution.
9 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.
NOTE: Imagery Shift
Revelation: Verse by Verse The Fifth Seal Reveals the Martyred Saints (6:9–11)
At the opening of the fifth seal, John sees the souls of the slain “under the altar.” This image stems from the sacrificial system, in which the blood of the sacrificed victim is poured under the altar. These martyrs were sacrificed for God.
souls of the slain = martyrs - tribulation??
Be faithful in His Word.
His Word is true, therefore…
believe it
share it
slain = slaughtered = the lamb who has been slain Rev 5.6.
Opposition should only make us speak more of Him!!
Be faithful in your Walk.
2 Timothy 3:12 “12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”
Acts 14:22 “22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”
Matthew 5:10–11 “10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”
John 15:18–20 “18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.”
1 Peter 4:13–14 “13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.”
this has always been the way
it is going to get worse before it gets better
understand that the reward outweighs the cost
Those who follow Jesus should trust His sovereign timing.
Those who follow Jesus should trust His sovereign timing.
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?” 11 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.
VENGEANCE?? or Imprecatory prayer…
is it ok to speak this way?
Pour out your heart in prayer.
God will ALWAYS answer the prayers of His children
Psalm 57:2 “2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.”
Psalm 74:10 “10 How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever?”
Psalm 79:10 “10 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes!”
Not a prayer of revenge but of vindication / justice !!
Rest in the providence of His plan.
God will NEVER allow sin to go unpunished
Genesis 4:10–11 “10 And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.”
Exalting Jesus in Revelation We Should Trust Our Sovereign God to Do Right according to His Time (Revelation 6:10–11)
Pastor Adrian Rogers used to say, “God is never early and He is never late. He is always right on time.”
God’s TIMING is perfect
Revelation 22:13 “13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.””
Revelation 21:6 “6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.”
Have you been wounded?… cry out to God about it and leave it before Him!
God’s CARE is complete
Given a white Robe
Told to Rest
When the Lamb comes again it will be undeniable.
When the Lamb comes again it will be undeniable.
12 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. 14 The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
Allegorical Interpretation: … unlikely
It will be cosmic in scope.
All of creation is under his control!
Ezekiel 38:20 “20 The fish of the sea and the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the field and all creeping things that creep on the ground, and all the people who are on the face of the earth, shall quake at my presence. And the mountains shall be thrown down, and the cliffs shall fall, and every wall shall tumble to the ground.”
It will be clear in cause.
Jesus is opening these scrolls
v16 - everyone will know
Revelation 1:7 “7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.”
The wrath of the Lamb will be comprehensive and horrific.
The wrath of the Lamb will be comprehensive and horrific.
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?”
No one’s position in life will matter.
God is no respecter of persons…
7 people groups
Romans 2:11–12 “11 For God shows no partiality. 12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.”
No one can hide from judgement.
Not even death will hide you
Psalm 139:7–8 “7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!”
who can stand ??
There is a day coming when all things will be shaken, when all things will be exposed, when the Lamb comes in the day of God’s wrath…
Those who follow Jesus should expect persecution .
Those who follow Jesus should expect persecution .
1. Be faithful in His Word .
2. Be faithful in your Walk .
Those who follow Jesus should trust His sovereign timing .
Those who follow Jesus should trust His sovereign timing .
1. Pour out your heart in prayer.
2. Rest in the providence of His plan.
When the Lamb comes again it will be undeniable .
When the Lamb comes again it will be undeniable .
1. It will be cosmic in scope.
2. It will be clear in cause.
The wrath of the Lamb will be comprehensive and horrific .
The wrath of the Lamb will be comprehensive and horrific .
1. No one’s position in life will matter.
2. No one can hide from judgement .
Matthew 21:42 “42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”
GROUP QUESTION
What comes to your mind when you think of a lamb? a lion? How does Jesus embody characteristics of both of these animals?
Why is the stereotypical picture of Jesus as simply “meek and mild” inadequate to understand who He is? What images and scenes from Scripture fail to line up with this simplistic portrayal?
Why does faithfulness to the Word and to the testimony of Christ so often lead to suffering and persecution? How does God view this suffering?
Why is it acceptable for the martyrs to call for God to avenge their death?
What are some burdens on your heart that need to be poured out to the Lord in prayer?
What comfort does God’s sovereignty give to believers as they experience persecution? When have you faced opposition because of your faith and had to trust in the Lord’s perfect plan?
Why do we not have to wonder if Jesus has returned? What does this text tell us about “the Day of the Lord”?
Why will social and economic statuses not matter at the time of judgment?
In this passage those faced with judgment try to avoid it by seeking death. What is your natural response when faced with judgment and accountability for your sins and failures?
If people know Christ is bringing judgment, why do they still flee rather than repent?
Psalm 90:13 “13 Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants!”
General Prayer
1 Thessalonians 5:17 “17 pray without ceasing,”
Philippians 4:6 “6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Ephesians 6:18 “18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,”