The beginning of the end - Part 2
Notes
Transcript
John looks to the future as the second seal is opened by Jesus Christ and it unleashes…
I. The Red Horse Rider
Revelation 6:3–4 “When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.” Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth (Jesus removes his restraint and permits it), and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.”
Revelation 6:3–4 “When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.” Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth (Jesus removes his restraint and permits it), and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.”
a. The color red is the color of fire and blood, so this red horse rider symbolizes the bloodshed of war. The false peace of the Antichrist comes to an end, and God allows war to come upon the earth. And because
a. The color red is the color of fire and blood, so this red horse rider symbolizes the bloodshed of war. The false peace of the Antichrist comes to an end, and God allows war to come upon the earth. And because
b. In verse 3, note what John says about the rider, “power was given to him that sat on thereon to take peace from the earth.” Who gave him this power? It wasn’t Satan, as some suggested.
b. In verse 3, note what John says about the rider, “power was given to him that sat on thereon to take peace from the earth.” Who gave him this power? It wasn’t Satan, as some suggested.
c. Remember in chapter 5, it was God who held the scroll with the seven seals and the Lamb who took it and began to open up each seal.
d. Please understand that the Tribulation period is not the wrath of the Antichrist and Satan. The 7 years of Tribulation are the result of God’s wrath being poured out on a world that rejected Him and Jesus Christ.
d. Please understand that the Tribulation period is not the wrath of the Antichrist and Satan. The 7 years of Tribulation are the result of God’s wrath being poured out on a world that rejected Him and Jesus Christ.
e. And it is interesting that Jesus prophesied that world peace would quickly turn to a world of problems. Turn to
Mark 13:7–8 “But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.”
Mark 13:7–8 “But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.”
f. Whenever there is an absence of peace there will always be the presence of problems.
f. Whenever there is an absence of peace there will always be the presence of problems.
g. Verse 3 clearly shows that what happens when peace is taken out of the earth, John says they should kill one another. People will kill one another without guilt or shame. The violence will happen on a large scale, and it will be common, calculated, and without conscience. There will be the loss of life during wars, civil disobedience against non-Christians (Matt 24:6-7),
g. Verse 3 clearly shows that what happens when peace is taken out of the earth, John says they should kill one another. People will kill one another without guilt or shame. The violence will happen on a large scale, and it will be common, calculated, and without conscience. There will be the loss of life during wars, civil disobedience against non-Christians (Matt 24:6-7),
Matthew 24:6–7 “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.”
Matthew 24:6–7 “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.”
There will be the slaughter of Christians (Matt 24:9; Rev. 6:9).
Matthew 24:9 ““Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.” Revelation 6:9“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 testimony which they held.”
Matthew 24:9 ““Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.” Revelation 6:9“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 testimony which they held.”
We are seeing the killing of Christians in Africa, the Middle East, China, and in America, although it has been happening on a small scale.
And as I think about the sick killing that rampages in our time, it seems as though people in this world are not moved by it. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has read their Bible. Jesus said these words.
And as I think about the sick killing that rampages in our time, it seems as though people in this world are not moved by it. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has read their Bible. Jesus said these words.
Matthew 24:12 “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” James 4:1–2 “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.”
Matthew 24:12 “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” James 4:1–2 “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.”
Killing today has become normalized, no shock value any longer. Even when it is announced on the news, it seems as though the news anchors are just quick to move on to the next story. And if people are not directly associated with the violence, they pull out their cellphones and record it, while others just go on with their everyday lives.
Killing today has become normalized, no shock value any longer. Even when it is announced on the news, it seems as though the news anchors are just quick to move on to the next story. And if people are not directly associated with the violence, they pull out their cellphones and record it, while others just go on with their everyday lives.
h. Verse 3 states that the rider was given “a great sword.” This sword refers to a short sword that would be used in close combat. It is great because it is a weapon that was often used by assassins. John is given a vision of war, assassinations, and worldwide massacres.
h. Verse 3 states that the rider was given “a great sword.” This sword refers to a short sword that would be used in close combat. It is great because it is a weapon that was often used by assassins. John is given a vision of war, assassinations, and worldwide massacres.
II. THE NEXT SEAL UNLEASHES A BLACK HORSE RIDER Revelation 6:5–6“When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard 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 the wine.””
II. THE NEXT SEAL UNLEASHES A BLACK HORSE RIDER Revelation 6:5–6“When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard 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 the wine.””
a. The color black is a symbol of famine, suffering, and death. This will occur when you have a worldwide war and food supplies run dry, and those who control the food are attacked and killed. Again, Jesus prophesied that this would occur in
a. The color black is a symbol of famine, suffering, and death. This will occur when you have a worldwide war and food supplies run dry, and those who control the food are attacked and killed. Again, Jesus prophesied that this would occur in
Matthew 24:7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
Matthew 24:7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.
b. Although there have been famines throughout the history of the world, nothing will be able to compare to this famine during the Tribulation period. Why?
c. John says that the rider is carrying “a pair of balances in his hand.” This pictures the magnitude of the economic collapse around the world, which will result in the rationing of food during the Tribulation. You see, in the 30s, during the Great Depression, there was a food shortage, but there were soup lines with enough food to go around. Even today, in famine-ridden countries, food is provided to assist.
c. John says that the rider is carrying “a pair of balances in his hand.” This pictures the magnitude of the economic collapse around the world, which will result in the rationing of food during the Tribulation. You see, in the 30s, during the Great Depression, there was a food shortage, but there were soup lines with enough food to go around. Even today, in famine-ridden countries, food is provided to assist.
d. But when the 3rd seal is broken, and this famine comes, people will not be able to find enough food to live on.
d. But when the 3rd seal is broken, and this famine comes, people will not be able to find enough food to live on.
e. As the black horse rider appears, John says that he
v.6 “heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny.
v.6 “heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny.
f. God is in the midst of the four beasts, and He is stating to the readers and hearers of Revelation, that the famine will be so bad that food prices will skyrocket. A penny is a denarius, which is equivalent to a full day’s wage.
g. For you see, a measure of wheat is only 1 quart (the equivalent of 1 loaf of bread), and that will not satisfy one person for one day, and money will be limited as well, and so people will hardly have enough money to provide enough food for themselves and their families.
h. Note at the close of
Verse 6, God warns the people, He says, “See thou hurt not the oil and the wine.”
Verse 6, God warns the people, He says, “See thou hurt not the oil and the wine.”
This is a warning to protect what little you have because the worst is yet to come. Through all this war, death, murder, and famine, God still issues out a measure of Grace.
i. This is the first half of the Tribulation. All of this breaks out because people have refused the truth of God’s Word, forsaken Jesus Christ, and embraced the Antichrist’s false peace. And just think, this is only the beginning of sorrows, for there is yet another 3 ½ years of Tribulation.
