The Fifth and Sixth Seals
Notes
Transcript
Friends if you are able to stand please stand for the reading of God’s word. We read today from Revelation 6:9-17
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the word of God and the testimony they had given. They cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, the one who is holy and true, how long until you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?” So they were each given a white robe, and they were told to rest a little while longer until the number would be completed of their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters, who were going to be killed just as they had been.
Then I saw him open the sixth seal. A violent earthquake occurred; the sun turned black like sackcloth made of hair; the entire moon became like blood; the stars of heaven fell to the earth as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a high wind; the sky was split apart like a scroll being rolled up; and every mountain and island was moved from its place.
Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, because the great day of their wrath has come! And who is able to stand?”
Pray with me. Go ahead and have a seat.
Towards the latter part of Billy Graham’s life and ministry, he wrote books including some commentary on Revelation. Many know Billy Graham for his incredible evangelistic endeavors, but in his comments, he seems to struggle with whether or not he had made the Christian faith look too easy. Whether or not he had promoted what Dietrich Bonhoeffer had coined as “cheap grace.” Graham asks in his work, quote:
“In my eagerness to give away God’s great gift, have I been honest about the price He paid in His war with evil? And have I adequately explained the price we must pay in our own war against the evil at work in and around our lives?”
John Fischer, an author, singer, and speaker put it this way in the 1980’s:
“Point a gun at each of the 60million people who according to Gallup polls are born-again Christians. Tell them to renounce Christ or have their heads blown off, and then take a recount. I think Gallup, like Gideon, would find his troops dwindling. Actually, the price probably wouldn’t have to be so extreme today. Threatening to confiscate their TV sets might just produce the same results. When faith is cheap, it is easily pawned.”
Let’s be really clear - following Jesus isn’t a cute aesthetic. Its death to the our old lives of sin and by grace through faith being born again into a new life with Christ Jesus.
But sometimes we read certain passages without coming to grips with what that means. I think specifically of Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Present your bodies as a living sacrifice. That’s not just a caption to post on instagram with a coffee and a bible. Think about what that means! A sacrifice, in the jewish context, was an animal that was slaughtered on the altar!
So it’s saying - hey in the views of everything God has to offer - all his mercies and graces - climb up on the altar and allow yourself to be slain as a sacrifice to God. This is what’s worshipful.
Not looking just like your current age - but being completely transformed - so that we can know what is the will of God.
The Churches in Asia Minor to whom the book of Revelation was first written too were struggling with this. They had seen many of their friends and other believers put to death. And life was hard, and they were tempted to capitulate and participate in roman idolatrous life just like all their believing neighbors. And as some did, they appeared at times to have success from a worldly perspective. Perhaps they became a trade guildsmen, and started climbing the ladder up in the guild. Sure they had to go to a few pagan temples and offer sacrifices to the patron god of the guild, but they were being blessed!
And what’s the big deal? they still went to church on Sunday - and tithed. But now their tithe was bigger - so what?
All the while other Christians living the christ life and suffering, and dying. Living in the kingdom of God while Rome and Satan pretends to still be in charge. The question is who is actually being faithful, and who is actually the overcomer.
Today we continue as the Lamb opens two more of the seals on the scroll, the fifth and the sixth seal.
Last week we saw the arrivals of the four horsemen, and now we continue.
Let’s look at the fifth seal, starting in verse 9
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the word of God and the testimony they had given.
The first four seals saw the calling and release of the four horsemen - now the fifth seal - it’s not a judgment. No, John sees the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the word of God and the testimony they had given.
Notice that they are under the altar, their lives were an offering, but now they are under the altar - protected and safe.
Also - it is striking to me the language that they had been slaughtered, and how that parallels the description of Jesus from Revelation 5 - one like a slaughtered lamb.
These individuals share key characteristics with the Lamb of God, they have shared in his sufferings.
Verse 10
They cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, the one who is holy and true, how long until you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?”
These Martyrs who are apparently in the heavenly temple of God cry out, loudly
Notice they address Lord, the one who is Holy and True. They are calling on God to act in accordance with his character - he’s Holy, utterly unique, distinct, and unsoiled. And True - Just and righteous.
They are asking him to know operate in line with that - and then they question - HOW LONG?
How Long until you judge. Woah. That’s a counter cultural statement, for those who have overcome and were slaughtered for their testimony to long for the justice and judgement of God specifically for those who are living in the ways of the world and brought about their demise.
Part of this is call is spelled out in the seals themselves. The horsemen are parts of the judgement, and we will see to come and recapitulated throughout Revelation judgment to come.
But it is rather uncouth to speak longingly of God’s justice and his judgement. In many ways we are living in a similar time to that of the Judges - where everyone did what was right in their own eyes, and no one was allowed to tell them theyre wrong.
We live in a time where we have torn down every god and made ourselves god. When we do away with our view of objective right and wrong, yes, judgement is something to be reviled.
However, we don’t live in that fantasy world! There is an objective right and wrong. There is an eternal law giver. Our hearts are right to be angered by injustice and abuse. We should shutter at wars and atrocities. We should want the wicked to get justice - we are just called to leave vengeance for the Lord.
It is right for our souls to want things to be made right and for justice to come.
When we are wronged, it is only natural to feel offended - we are just called to demonstrate the forgiveness of God in those situations, and we trust that God will make sure all things are right in the end.
The martyrs here are calling out asking for God to act. They want the wicked to meet their end. They want an end to the suffering.
And what is compelling - is that God responds to their cry. Verse 11
So they were each given a white robe, and they were told to rest a little while longer until the number would be completed of their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters, who were going to be killed just as they had been.
In response to their loud cry - they are given first a white robe. This should make us think back to the messages to the seven churches, specifically Sardis - which in Revelation 3:5 this was written:
“In the same way, the one who conquers will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels.
So we see a fulfillment of the promise of Sardis played out in the martyrs of the fifth seal.
This white robe obviously shows us the image of purity. They have been purified by being faithful, or full of Faith, and they have been tested by God.
GK Beale writes this when it comes to the white robes:
“Robes are given not only as a reward for purity of faith but as a heavenly declaration of the saints’ purity or righteousness and an annulling of the guilty verdict rendered on them by the world. In this picture is an assurance to the saints still on earth that their vindication before God without doubts awaits them.” - G.K. Beale; Revelation
But that’s not the entirety of God’s response. Looking back at Revelation 6:11
So they were each given a white robe, and they were told to rest a little while longer until the number would be completed of their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters, who were going to be killed just as they had been.
They’re given the white robe - and then they are given a response - they’re told to rest a little while longer - until the number would be completed of their fellow servants and their siblings who were gonna be slain just like they were.
Woah - apparently there is still more to be down - remember why these slain under the altar were there - because they were preaching! And they were martyred for their testimony. So there is more preaching to be done. I think of Matthew 24:14
This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
There still is more to be done, more will still be slain - both figuratively by submitting to Christ, but also, sadly, literally, as the world and the best rage against the family of God.
Looking back at verse 11, Revelation 6:11
So they were each given a white robe, and they were told to rest a little while longer until the number would be completed of their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters, who were going to be killed just as they had been.
The phrase “a little while longer” has brought some consternation - but we need to remember that time from Gods perspective is entirely different then ours. 2 Peter 3:8-9
Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
God assures the slain - but still is seeking those he wants. And where it may seem like a long time - it is but a blip when one considers the eternal nature and promise of our God.
But pause here with me - friends- a whole seal on the scroll. A key part of the unfurling of the work of the Lamb of God - is God listening, blessing, and responding to his people. And they ask him to act - and he acts, on his time frame - but friends let’s marvel at this - God hears us, and we are a key part of His Plan.
We are not some insignificant cosmic accident - but members of his family. Parts of his temple. And The God of the universe hears our prayers and concerns and pain, and he acts. That is marvelous to me.
But as we turn to the sixth seal - we see God respond to the cries of his people, we will see incredible judgement upon the unbelieving world.
There is some debate, as one would imagine, as to where each of these seals take place in the timeline of history.
Some view all the seals and trumpets and bowls, all sequential and to take place in the future.
As I’ve stated, I believe that in many ways, the final days began with the ascension of JEsus Christ, and so Revelation’s prophetic sections are not merely some futuristic description of the last 7 years on earth, but an ongoing redemptive, historical, idealist perspective, with the future climax in view. So I view the 4 horsemen as being active, and saints preaching and being slain as active.
I also view the seals, trumpets, and bowls in less sequential, but in a recapitulation, where He is stating the same things several times and several ways using old testament imagery to do so. And each of these is going to climax with the arrival of the wrath and coming of the Lord.
Beale summarizes it this way - “this means the the scope of John’s set of parallel visions deals with the course of history from the brith of the church at pentecost until the return of the Lord.”
And its that view, that as we get to the sixth seal, I believe we are seeing a glimpse of the final judgement. Largely because God just told his saints that this judgment wouldn’t take place until the number had been completed. So this seems to indicate that the persecution of Christians has run its course, and whats left is the judgement of the wicked.
with that let’s look at verses 12-14
Then I saw him open the sixth seal. A violent earthquake occurred; the sun turned black like sackcloth made of hair; the entire moon became like blood; the stars of heaven fell to the earth as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a high wind; the sky was split apart like a scroll being rolled up; and every mountain and island was moved from its place.
Earthquakes appear in the old testament and regularly indicate God’s judgement and his presence.
In this scene, we see the cosmos shaking, and reeling, as judgment as come, and the rightful king of the universe expells evil and remakes all things.
The Sun turns block, the moon reveals blood, the stars melt away, and the sky itself cracks and furls - and the mountains and islands reel and move.
A lot of this image is based from the Old Testament Prophecy that John takes and expands on.
There is debate on whether or not this section is literal or figurative. Beale writes on this that if its literal, then we see the final dissolution of the cosmos. But if its figurative, it could denote some temporal judgment or last judgment, but the best explanation is that whether it is literal or figurative - it likely depicts the last judgement.
How do those remaining on the earth respond? Is it with repentance? verses 15-17
Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, because the great day of their wrath has come! And who is able to stand?”
From high to low - all the people hide in the ruins, like adam and eve hid from God after the fall of man, and they wish for creation to wipe them out - for they don’t want to face God.
They are not repentant, they are hiding.
Notice - the great day of the wrath of God has come.
God has responded to his people, and executed his justice - and the question is posed:
Who is able to stand?
And for those who are rebelling against God, those who are in sin, the answer is an easy rhetorical answer; no one. Who could withstand all the wrath of God? Who is able to stand that? Who can with stand that?
Friends - this is why the sacrifice of Christ is so great. God poured his wrath on the son - that was due us. The full weight of the punishement on Christ - slain on our behalf. JEsus took this pain for his sheep! And was slain - but didn’t stay dead but defeated death!
Christ can stand! he is worthy!
But here’s the scandalous bit.
Because of Christ - because of his sacrifice, and his grace, and his salvation - when they ask Who is able to stand, if we peek ahead in revelation look at Chapter 7:9-10
Revelation 7:9–10 (CSB)
After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!
Who is able to stand? and john sees all the saints saved by the blood of christ, clothed it white - a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language sop many - STANDING BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD!
Who is able to stand? Christ and his redeemed!
WE IN CHRIST CAN STAND ALL THINGS AND BEFORE GOD!
Do you not see the glorious grace of God? Do you not see the greatness of the Lamb?
Friend the wrath of God that was due us based on our sin was put on Christ and now we stand before God for eternity.
Hallelujah! Friends we are saved! We are safe! And in Christ we can Stand! And we sing
Salavation belongs to our God! Who is seated on the trhon! and to the lamb!
I can think of no greater thing. Therefore we can approach the throne of grace with confidence, for we can stand before God, clothed in the rightesouness of God. Wow.
So What?
Friend - God hears his people. So we cry out. We pray, and continue praying. And we preach the word.
Do not grow weary of praying. Do not grow weary of telling others. Keep on going - for we will stand for eternity with God.
Friend if you know Christ and are born again - you are with God. You are safe secure.
But friends -if you don’t, would you repent and follow God? There is no saftey from his wrath.
I want to end, in 2 peter again. (worship team come up)
LEt me read this for us:
Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming. Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat. But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found without spot or blemish in his sight, at peace.
Let’s pray