REVELATION 6
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THE WHITE HORSE
THE WHITE HORSE
DIVISION IV
THE SEVEN SEAL JUDGMENTS: EVENTS PRECEDING THE GREAT TRIBULATION, 6:1–7:17
A. The Lamb Breaks the First Four Seals of the Book of Destiny: The Appearance of the Antichrist and His Power, 6:1–8
(6:1–7:17) DIVISION OVERVIEW: End Time: the dramatic moment has arrived. God’s book—the book of destiny, the great book of history, the book that spells out what is to happen in the end time—is now to be opened. But note: the Lamb does not open the scroll at this point. He merely breaks the seals. And the events of the seals are not the end of history itself. They are the events which immediately precede the end. The seals of a book have to be broken before the book itself is opened. The seals are preliminary to opening the book. This is exactly what Christ Himself said. Remember the apostles had asked Christ two questions: When would the temple be destroyed, and what would be the sign of His coming and of the end of the world (see Mt. 24:3)?
⇒ Christ answered by giving nine signs, and He called this period of history “the beginning of sorrows” (Mt. 24:5–14, esp. v.8). After He had given the nine signs, He said “then shall the end come” (Mt. 24:14).
Note that it was after the nine signs, after the “beginning of sorrows” that Christ said the end would come. By the end He meant what He Himself called the great tribulation that is coming upon the earth in the end time. (The following chart will perhaps help us see what our Lord predicted and what is now beginning to happen in the book of Revelation.)
THE END TIME
The Words of Christ
The Book of Revelation
• The beginning of sorrows: preliminary sorrows, trouble and evil in society and nature, yet world evangelism continues (Mt. 24:5–14).
… corresponds to
… The Seven Seals (Re. 6:1–17)
• “The Great Tribulation”: unparalleled trials (Mt. 24:15–28).
… corresponds to
… The Seven Trumpets, the bowls, and the beast (Re. 8:1–18:24).
• “The Son of Man coming”
… corresponds to
… The Final Triumph of Christ (Re. 19:1–22:21).
Note the clear and astounding similarity between what our Lord said and the book of Revelation. The very similarity shows the mind of God revealing these things. This should make every person, believer and unbeliever alike, stand in stark amazement and bow before Him who alone can save us and give us life eternal.
⇒ There is a similarity between “the beginning of sorrows” (Mt. 24:5–14) and the seals of Revelation (Re. 6:1–17). The end of the world will not come all at once. The future will be filled with wars, natural disasters, persecutions, and the claims of false deliverers (messiahs). And at the very end there will be an increase and intensification of the signs. But this is not all. There is to be a terrible sign: the appearance of the rider on the white horse (see note—Re. 6:2), “the abomination of desolation” (AV), “the desolating sacrilege” (RSV), “the man of lawlessness” (2 Th. 2:3), the “little horn” (Da. 7), the antichrist. This person will afflict the people of God beyond imagination. (See note—Re. 11:7.)
⇒ There seems to be a similarity between “the great tribulation” spoken of by Christ and the seven trumpets, the seven bowl judgments, and the beast covered by Revelation.
⇒ Others point to a great similarity between “the beast” (antichrist) pictured time and again in Revelation and “the abomination of desolation” spoken of by Christ (see DEEPER STUDY # 1, 2—Mt. 24:1–31; note—Re. 11:7).
This distinction is extremely important in understanding the book of Revelation. Why? Because our Lord Himself said the same thing. In essence He has told us how to outline and look at Revelation. Therefore we are most wise to follow the outline of the end times that He has given us. In the final analysis it is better to be simple minded and to follow what He has said than to be wise and strike out on our own and end up adding something to His Word that displeases Him (cp. Re. 22:18–19). We reverence and fear Him. We want to be acceptable to our wonderful Lord, and during these latter years, more than anything else in all the world, we want to show our love for Him by obeying Him and following His Word to the utmost. For this reason, we shall approach the Revelation as our Lord predicted the end time. (See outline and notes—Mt. 24:1–51; 25:1–46 for more discussion.)
(6:1–8) Introduction: 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 appeared (vv.1–2).
2. The second seal: a red horse and rider appeared (vv.3–4).
3. The third seal: a black horse and rider appeared (vv.5–6).
4. The fourth seal: a pale horse and rider appeared (vv.7–8).
1 (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.
⇒ He is the deceiver; therefore, he appears in white (Mt. 24:5; 2 Th. 2:11).
⇒ The crown he wears is different from the crown worn by Christ in Re. 19. It is the crown of the conqueror (stephenos) not the royal crown of a king (diadema).
⇒ The bow symbolizes conquest. In the Old Testament it is always the symbol of military power (Ps. 46:9; Je. 51:51; Ho. 1:5).
⇒ 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. (See The Little Horn of Da. 7; The Man of Sin and the Beast and the Ruler of the Restored Roman Empire of Re. 13; the Abomination of Desolation of Mt. 24:15.)
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.
“And then shall that Wicked be revealed … even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved” (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.
“And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie” (2 Th. 2:11).
“For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled” (Re. 17:17:).
Thought 1. What could cause men to turn the government of the world over to one man? Christ Himself told us. (Note that all of this is given by Christ in Matthew 24:1f.)
⇒ 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.
“For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many” (Mt. 24:5).
⇒ 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 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).
⇒ 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).
⇒ 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.
“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another” (Mt. 24:9–10).
⇒ 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).
⇒ 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 begging for 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.
“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Mt. 24:12).
2 (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 who is given a great sword. He is the rider …
• of strife
• of violence
• of assault
• of division
• of abuse
• of anger
• of hate
• of uprising
• of murder
• of insurrection
• of war
• 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 not say, but note these facts:
⇒ The last days will bring terrible days of evil and truce breaking.
“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” (Re. 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” (Jn. 8:44).
⇒ The antichrist who will be the supreme representative of the devil upon earth will become a mass murderer and use the sword against both God’s people and those who oppose him. This is one way that he brings the 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 of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Re. 13:7–8; see Re. 17:15–18).
“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 and his government bring to the world or else he is the antichrist himself. To say one is to say the other. When the antichrist and his government appear upon the world scene of human history, he will bring peace and safety for a while. But then there will be a break in his peaceful behavior: he and his government will explosively destroy the peace of the world. This will take place right before the great tribulation takes place. It is the increased world violence that Christ predicted for the end time, right before the great tribulation.
“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).
3 (6:5–6) Antichrist—Four Horsemen: 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. The end times will see an intensification of all the terrible sufferings known to man.
Note two points.
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. Note that it took …
• 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. But note: there will be plenty of oil and wine. How could oil and wine which come from trees and vines be available when wheat and barley are scarce and shriveled up with a draught? From stockpiles and from the fact that trees and vines have roots more deeply in the ground than crops. They can usually survive and produce more through a draught than crops. Also, trees will produce for years without being cared for. War will keep men from growing crops, but trees will keep on producing without much attention. Oil and wine were luxury items in the ancient world. As is true in most famines, the wealthy will have food, the poor will not.
The end time will be marked by famine after famine all over the world. It will take all a man can do just to survive.
“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: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places” (Mt. 24:6–7).
“They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field” (Lam. 4:9).
“Our skin was black like an oven, because of the terrible famine” (Lam. 5:10).
4 (6:7–8) Antichrist—Four Horsemen: the fourth seal is the thundering appearance of a pale horse and its rider. The Amplified New Testament 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. Note: this rider also seems to represent the terrible devastation caused by the antichrist and his government or the antichrist himself. Two significant facts are given about him.
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.
2. 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 and genocide, by deliberately setting a policy to destroy certain races or groups of people.
Thought 1. 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 worldwide holocaust or a Stalin to create a worldwide Siberia where millions upon millions of people were killed (see note—Mt. 24:6–7 for more discussion).
⇒ 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.
Thought 1. 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. If so much death from starvation occurs when we could stop it but don’t, how many would be dying from starvation due to the kind of world war we would see in the modern world? How much of the earth would be scorched and unfit for farming? How savage and lawless would people become if they were starving and saw someone with a little food? (See note—Mt. 24:7 for more discussion.)
⇒ 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. (See note, pt.2—Mt. 24:7 for more discussion.)
Thought 1. 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, aids, and diphtheria. 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.
“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: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places” (Mt. 24:6–7).
Thought 1. 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.
B. The Lamb Breaks the Fifth Seal: The Slain Martyrs, 6:9–11
1. They were under the altar
2. They were slain for God’s Word & testimony
9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
3. They were crying for justice
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
4. They were given white robes
5. They were assured of justice
11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
B. The Lamb Breaks the Fifth Seal: The Slain Martyrs, 6:9–11
(6:9–11) Introduction: the dramatic moment has arrived. God’s book—the book of destiny, the great book of history, the book that spells out the future of the world—is now being opened. There is only one Person worthy enough to open it—the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The book is so important and secretive, it contains such important subjects, that God has had seven seals tied around it for all of eternity. No one has ever seen the contents of the book; no one has ever seen the events that are to happen at the end of the world. But now, in the most dramatic of moments, Jesus Christ has stepped forward to the throne of God and taken the book out of God’s extended hand. Standing around the throne with pounding hearts burning with anticipation were all the heavenly host and John the apostle to whom God was giving this vision. Then the most astounding thing happened. When Jesus Christ began to break the seals in order to open the book—when He broke the first seal, out from under the seal leaped a horseman. What was written in the book was actually leaping off its pages and being acted out before John and the heavenly host. It was like a dramatic book of pictures or of a movie of the future, of the events that are to happen in the end time.
But note a significant fact: Christ has not yet opened the book or scroll; He is merely breaking the seals. What John and heaven are witnessing are the events that are to happen right before the end time, the period of history that Jesus Christ called “the beginning of sorrows.” Again, the events of the seals are preliminary to the end time. They are coming upon the earth before the end time. They have to be broken—their breaking open has to take place before the book and its events can be seen. Four seals were broken in the previous passage. When they were, the four horsemen of the Apocalypse leaped forth and executed their wrath upon the world. Now it is time for the dramatic breaking of the fifth seal, time for another astounding event to leap across the scene of world history.
1. They were under the alter (v.9).
2. They were slain for God’s Word and testimony (v.9).
3. They were crying for justice (v.10).
4. They were given white robes (v.11).
5. They were assured of justice (v.11).
1 (6:9) Fifth Seal—Martyrs—Altar, Heavenly: the Lamb of God, the Lord 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 the Lord 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.
The slain martyrs are under the altar. Remember what Scripture teaches about the tabernacle: the furnishings of the tabernacle were only patterns of the worship center in heaven (see Ex. 25:8–9, 40; Nu. 8:4; He. 8:5; 9:23). This means that there is a perfected altar of sacrifice in the throne room of heaven. What is the altar of sacrifice or what is called in the Bible the brazen altar? (See note and DEEPER STUDY # 1—He. 9:11–14; see Ex. 39:39.) It was the altar where the animals were sacrificed. The blood was poured out at the foot of the altar, symbolizing that the animal was being sacrificed for the person offering it.
This is the picture here: the lives of the martyrs, their blood, has been sacrificed and poured out for God. The martyrs have offered their lives up for God, paid the supreme price and literally sacrificed all they were for God. They offered up their lives upon the altar of sacrifice for God. Therefore, 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.
Thought 1. 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 faithful every minute of every day. What a precious and heartwarming thought! To be close to God, close to His throne and presence, serving Him throughout all of eternity and then laying down one’s life for Him.
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (Mt. 16:25).
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Lu. 9:23).
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Ro. 12:1–2).
“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Co. 6:19–20).
“Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all” (Ph. 2:17).
2 (6:9) Martyrs—Witnessing—Word of God: the slain martyrs are slain for God’s Word and for the testimony they had borne for Christ. There are two things here.
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
• live by it
• read it
• study it
• witness to it
• teach it
• preach it
• pray over it
Because of this, the world will react against the Word of God and kill believers. Why?
⇒ The world will react because God’s Word demands that a person give his first loyalty to Jesus Christ. In the end time under the antichrist, the peoples of the world will be required to give their first loyalty to the state. The government will demand loyalty to the state first, then the people can have freedom of religion and worship whatever god they wish. The state will develop the idea of what could be called a state religion, something close to what exists in some states today. Believers, of course, can only give their first loyalty to Christ; therefore, they will be killed, for they cannot deny the Word of God.
“And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men” (Ac. 5:27–29).
⇒ 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. 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. People will …
• reject God more
• curse God more
• deny God more
• ignore God more
• neglect God more
• disobey God more
• disbelieve God more
The point is this: the world in the end time will reject God’s Word. The world and its government will demand that believers give their first allegiance to the state and that they keep quiet about the righteousness proclaimed in Scripture. The government will be like so many governments that deny a personal God and have a law against worshipping a personal God. The state will be atheistic and exalt itself as god.
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Ac. 17:11).
“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe” (1 Th. 2:13).
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Ti. 3:16).
“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (Js. 1:21–25).
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 Son 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 Savior of the world.
The believers of the end time will be martyred because they refuse to deny Christ. They will not deny their Savior and Lord, the Son of God Himself. (See Re. 1:9; 12:11, 17; 19:10; 20:4 for other references where martyrs died for their testimony for Christ.)
“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 Jn. 2:22–23).
“Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world” (1 Jn. 4:2–3).
“He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (1 Jn. 5:10–13).
Thought 1. The altar is mentioned throughout Revelation (Re. 8:3, 5; 9:1, 13; 11:1; 14:18; 16:7. In 8:3, 5, the altar would be the altar of incense.)
3 (6:10) Martyrs—Justice: the slain martyrs cry out for justice. Note two facts.
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.
b. God is holy, completely set apart from all other beings in the universe. He deserves to look upon nothing but righteousness and purity and holiness. The martyrs want all sin and evil erased so that God will not be disobeyed any more by unholy living. Therefore, they address Him as the Sovereign and holy Lord.
c. God is true to His Word and promises. Therefore, He is the One who is to execute justice and bring all things to a climax in the end time. He is the One who has to stop all the evil and terrible things done by men. If justice is to be executed upon earth, He is the One who has to do it. Therefore, martyrs address God as the Sovereign Lord, holy and true.
2. 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. Their cry is a cry for vindication of the Word of God and of Christ, not a cry for vengeance. Note exactly what they are saying: they are crying out for God to avenge their blood. Why was their blood spilt? Why were they killed? Because the persecutors rebelled against the Word of God and against Jesus Christ as the Son of God. This is that for which the martyrs are crying, for vindication, not for vengeance. 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
They were, in essence, praying for God’s kingdom to come upon earth. Their Lord had taught them to pray both “your kingdom come” as well as “forgive those who do evil against you.”
Remember this as well: no one suffers the hell and wrath of sin any more than a martyr. A martyr has endured the greatest wrath and hell that sin can cast against a person: it is the fire and wrath of sin that kills him. Therefore, the martyr above all others knows how terrible sin insults and rages against God. When a martyr reaches heaven and sees the Lord and the Father and all the glory and majesty of heaven, and then begins to share with the Lord, the martyr is bound to cry out:
“How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” (Re. 6:10).
“O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?” (Ps. 74:10).
“How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire? Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name” (Ps. 79:5–6).
“LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves” (Ps. 94:3–4).
4 (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. (See note, pt.1—Re. 3:18–20 for more discussion.)
5 (6:11) Martyrs—Justice: the slain martyrs are assured of justice.
1. Note a glorious thing: the martyrs are said to be at rest in heaven.
⇒ They are resting in the peace of Christ, free from all struggle.
“There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God” (He. 4:9).
“And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled” (Re. 6:11).
⇒ They are resting from all their exhausting labor upon earth.
“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Re. 14:13).
⇒ They are resting from the wicked of the earth.
“There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest” (Jb. 3:17).
⇒ 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.
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Re. 21:4).
⇒ They are resting in the perfection of a new life, even in the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Co. 5:17).
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Co. 5:21).
“And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ep. 4:24).
“And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful” (Re. 21:5).
“He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness” (Is. 57:2).
2. Note what the Lord tells the martyrs: it will still be a little while before the end of the world comes. The question is not whether or not the end will ever come. It is coming. It is just that it is not yet time. There is still to be more witness borne to the world. The name of Jesus Christ has not been proclaimed enough to the world, not yet. And some believers are still to be martyred for the name of Christ. The number of martyrs are not yet fulfilled. The place for martyrs in heaven is not yet filled. More believers must be sold out to Christ and on fire proclaiming His salvation; more believers must die for His testimony before the end comes.
Thought 1. 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 Ti. 1:8).
“And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you” (2 Pe. 3:15).
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Ac. 1:8).
“For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Ac. 4:20).
C. The Lamb Breaks the Sixth Seal: The Great Day of God’s Wrath Begins—the Universe Will Be Shattered, 6:12–17
1. The effects of God’s wrath upon the universe
a. A great earthquake will strike the earth
b. The sun & moon will be blackened & eclipsed & the stars or meteorites will shower the earth
12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
c. The heavens will disappear & the mountains & islands will be removed
14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
2. The effects of God’s wrath upon people
a. Great fear will grip all the unbelievers upon earth
15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
b. All unbelievers will cry for death
3. The reason for the catastrophes & the panic of men
a. The wrath of God & the Lamb falls upon the earth
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
b. The great day of God’s judgment comes
17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
C. The Lamb Breaks the Sixth Seal: The Great Day of God’s Wrath Begins—The Universe Will Be Shattered, 6:12–17
(6:12–17) Introduction: the sixth seal is now broken and the great day of God’s wrath begins. The universe is shattered; both heaven and earth feel the judgment of natural catastrophes. But remember: this is still not the end of the world; it is still not the final judgment. The seals of the Book of Destiny have to be broken before the book can be read. Therefore, the seal judgments are events that are to happen right before the end begins. Here is the beginning of God’s wrath against the violence, hatred, and rebellion of a corrupt and evil world.
1. The effects of God’s wrath upon the universe (vv.12–14)
2. The effects of God’s wrath upon people (vv.15–16).
3. The reason for the catastrophes and the panic of men (vv.16–17).
1 (6:12–14) Judgment—Universe—World: there are the effects of God’s judgment upon the universe.
1. There will be a great earthquake. Note 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.
⇒ Jesus Christ Himself predicted there would be more earthquakes in the latter days than ever before.
“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places” (Mt. 24:7).
⇒ Revelation mentions three great earthquakes.
“And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood” (Re. 6:12).
“And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant [rest] were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven” (Re. 11:13).
“And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath” (Re. 16:17–19).
⇒ The Old Testament predicted earthquakes in the end time.
“For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel” (Eze. 38:19).
“I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly” (Je. 4:24).
“Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that dwelleth therein? and it shall rise up wholly as a flood; and it shall be cast out and drowned, as by the flood of Egypt” (Am. 8:8).
“The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining” (Joel 2:10).
“For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land” (Hag. 2:6).
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.
Is this what is meant by these passages or is there to be unbelievable disorder inflicted upon some of the stars above, disorder causing massive explosions and fireworks and hurling meteorites throughout space—a volcanic eruption in the heavens that affects all the universe? There is no way to know. All we know is that there is going to be a severe intensification of astronomical happenings, and they will begin right before the end time comes.
Scripture declares emphatically that these events will occur during the end times. (Note: the stars fall to earth only two times: here when the sixth seal is broken [Re. 6:13], and after the tribulation when Christ returns to earth [Mt. 24:29–31]).
⇒ Astronomical happenings will occur right before the end time.
“And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind” (Re. 6:13).
⇒ Astronomical happenings occur during the tribulation.
“And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise” (Re. 8:12).
“And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit” (Re. 9:2).
“And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain” (Re. 16:10).
⇒ Astronomical happenings will occur right after the tribulation when the day of the Lord comes.
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken” (Mt. 24:29).
“Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible” (Is. 13:9–11).
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited. Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously” (Is. 24:21–23).
“And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light. All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord GOD” (Eze. 32:7–8).
“And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come” (Joel 2:30–31).
“The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel” (Joel. 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? Note 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.
“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, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly” (Je. 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” (Na. 1:5).
2 (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 will 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. They will be so frightened that panic will sweep the earth. No one is going to escape the judgment of God, and they all know it. 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. There will be a sense, an awareness, a consciousness that the judgment of God is looming right over the horizon. The very atmosphere of the earth will be heavy with the feeling that the end is at hand.
“Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty … and they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames” (Is. 13:6, 8).
“The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly” (Zep. 1:14).
“Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand” (Joel 2:1).
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 and to be annihilated in order to keep from having to face God’s eternal judgment.
“Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us” (Lu. 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” (Is. 2:19).
“And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it” (Joel 2:11).
“The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us” (Ho. 10:8).
3 (6:16–17) Day of the Lord—Judgment: there is the reason for the catastrophes throughout the universe and for the panic of men—the great day of God’s wrath is at hand. What is the great day of God’s wrath? These two verses tell
⇒ It is the day when all unbelievers must stand before the face of God who sits upon the throne of the universe.
⇒ 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, the Lord Jesus Christ whom they have rejected, denied, cursed, disobeyed, disbelieved, ignored, and neglected.
⇒ 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.
⇒ 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.
John Walvoord puts it in simple and striking words:
The Day of the Lord is a period of time in which God will deal with wicked men directly and dramatically in fearful judgment. Today a man may be a blasphemer of God, an atheist, can denounce God and teach bad doctrine. Seemingly God does nothing about it. But the day designated in Scripture as ‘the day of the Lord’ is coming when God will punish human sin, and He will deal in wrath and in judgment with a Christ-rejecting world. One thing we are sure of, that God in His own way will bring every soul into judgment (The Thessalonian Epistles. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1967, p.76).
But remember: this is a picture of what will be happening right before the Day of the Lord comes. It has not yet come. The end time has not yet happened. This event—the catastrophe in the heavens and on earth and the fright and panic that strikes people with maddening terror—all this is right before the end times begin. This is just the breaking of the seals of God’s book on the destiny of the world. The events within the pages of the book—the worst judgments—are yet to come.
Thought 1. 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.
“He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (Jn. 12:48).
“But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God” (Ro. 2:5).
“For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Re. 6:17).
“The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low” (Is. 2:11–12).
“Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity: and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible” (Is. 13:9–11).
“The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers” (Zep. 1:14–16).
“For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch” (Mal. 4:1).
Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Revelation, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1996), 100–113.
