Revelation Sermon - 16

Revelation: How Long?

Revelation 6:9-17

1. Introduction – Last week we looked at a vision where John saw Jesus begin to open the scroll.

a. Now this scroll contains God’s plan to bring history to its divinely intended end.

i. Remember the scroll was sealed with 7 seals and Jesus, because he is the Lamb that was slain, is the only one worthy to break the seals, open the scroll and reveal its content.

1. The rest of the book of Revelation reveals the content of the scroll.

b. Last week we studied the breaking of the first 4 seals and we saw the infamous 4 horsemen of the apocalypse.

i. But what we saw was that these 4 horsemen don’t represent 4 separate realities; we aren’t going to see 4 giant literal horses galloping around the world.

1. What these horses and riders represent is what happens when God’s kingdom comes close to earth and it is resisted by sinful humanity.

c. God’s kingdom comes close to earth, and conquest increases and conquest leads to war which leads to economic injustice which leads to death.

i. The point of the horsemen isn’t for us to watch for the Nazgul riding around the earth. But it shows that ever since Christmas, ever since Easter – the first ones not the ones we’ve just had…

1. Ever since Jesus established his kingdom on earth, it has been resisted by the sinful tendencies of humans.

d. Seal 1 says if we don’t go the way of the Lamb there will be a greater and greater drive to conquer.

i. Seal 2 says if we don’t go the way of the Lamb there will be great and greater violence.

1. Seal 3 says if we don’t go the way of the Lamb there will be greater and greater injustice and hunger.

a. Seal 4 says if we don’t go the way of the Lamb there will be greater and greater sickness and death.

i. That’s the reality being presented by these 4 horsemen.

e. But seals 5 and 6 present a different side of that same reality. Because the reality is that in spite of the conquest and war and injustice and death – God is on his throne and his kingdom is moving close and close and he is bringing history to a close.

i. And yes, sinful humanity is resisting it’s coming. But seals 5&6 show us that despite resistance, the gospel is still going out.

1. There are still those who remain faithful to God and follow the path that the Lamb has laid out for us.

a. Seals 5&6 show us that even though they experience hardship and persecution and even death – there are still people on earth who remain faithful to God.

f. Seal 5 is a cry from the faithful ones. It’s the cry of history, “How long, O Lord?” how long will you allow all of this to go on?

i. And seal 6 gives us God’s answer. And answer is, “this will go on until the end.” God’s answer is ‘Wait it out.”

2. Seal 5 – And so this vision continues and John sees the Lamb, Jesus, break the 5th of 7 seals.

a. And seal 5 reminds us that things aren’t as they seem. There’s more to our present reality than meets the unaided eye. Seal 5 reveals that to us.

i. Seal 5 reveals to us that there are those who are martyred for their faith.

1. When we read this passage earlier, did you notice the location of these martyred souls?

a. The souls of the martyred faithful were under the altar?

i. Why under? Because that’s where the blood went.

b. In the OT, when a priest made a sacrifice, the animal would be killed, it’s blood would be drained.

i. It was thought that the blood contained the life and essence of the animal, so it was drained from the animal, and it was poured out around the bottom of the altar as another offering to God.

1. The carcass of the animal would be burnt on top of the altar.

a. We’ll get back to the significance of this picture in just a little bit because there are a couple things I want to point to you.

c. First, notice the content of their prayer. It seems a little odd, doesn’t it?

i. Jesus tells us that we are to love our enemies and pray for those who are persecuting us – why then do these martyred souls pay for vengeance?

d. What seal 5 shows us is that during the carnage of seals 1-4, while God’s coming kingdom is resisted, God’s faithful people are persecuted and killed.

i. But what we have to understand about this cry, this prayer, is that it’s not a cry for petty human retribution, it is a cry for divine justice.

1. Notice that even before the request is made, it is prefaced by describing God as sovereign, in control; it is prefaced by calling God holy – completely void of evil – wholly other than the rest of creation.

a. The request is prefaced by appealing to the truthfulness of God – he can’t sin and he can’t tolerate sin.

i. And it is after this preface that the request is made for God to work out his divine justice.

1. Goud would actually be unjust if he let sin slide; he would be unjust if he didn’t punish those who wrongfully persecute his people.

e. How can a sovereign, holy and true God – a God who can’t sin or tolerate sin, how could he then let murder and sin slide?

i. What these martyred souls are crying out for is not some petty form of human revenge…

1. They are crying out for a manifestation of God’s justice – they are requesting that God demonstrate his holiness and standard of truth by bringing wrongdoers to justice.

f. Secondly, let’s talk about the white robes.

i. Notice again the two words, “was given.’ We saw this last week when the horse and riders were given authority by the Lamb.

1. Now here, God’s people are also given something, they are given white robes.

a. As we’ve seen throughout this study, the colour white represents purity and righteousness.

i. And here’s the significance of these white robes.

ii. On earth, these faithful Christians were declared guilty. They were convicted for being faithful to God and thus, the world that is resisting God’s coming leveled a guilty verdict on these Christians.

1. But in the heavenly court, things looked different – because these faithful ones were declared innocent.

a. And the white robes here are a heavenly declaration of the martyrs’ innocence.

i. These white robes in heaven annul the guilty verdict put on them by the world.

3. Not as they seem – And what the fifth seal reminds us is that things aren’t as they seem. There’s more to life – there’s more to Christian martyrdom than meets the unaided eye.

a. Remember Revelation was written to 7 historical churches who had experienced the martyr of some their church family members.

i. But this vision of the 5th seal is intended to bring them hope.

b. The 7 churches witnessed martyrs, John witnessed it, history has witnesses it.

i. Reformers and Puritans were burned at the stake for their faithfulness to God’s truth.

1. And we seen Christian martyrs as well.

c. Our youth group just watched a movie about a girl who was killed in the Columbine shooting – killed specifically because she was Christian.

i. Honestly, when I watched it, I was made at the senselessness of it all. It made my daddy heart hurt to think of the innocent loss of life.

1. But, then I read this passage. And it reminded me that through earthly eyes the martyrdom of people is senseless and horrible and horrific and pointless.

a. But Revelation 6, the breaking of the 5th seals gives us the heavenly perspective.

d. And whether it’s Christians killed in the 1st century by Nero or Vespasian or Domitian…

i. Or Reformers killed in the 16th, 17th or 18th centuries,

1. Teenagers killed for their faith in a high school shooting, or Christians killed by ISIS or in the Sudan or wherever…

a. To the heavenly perspective, the lives of these martyrs are poured out like an offering before God.

i. They’re blood is presented to God at the altar of heaven.

e. And in an ironic way, their deaths help further the kingdom of God on earth.

i. Much in the same ironic way that Jesus’ death ushered in the coming kingdom and showed us the way of sacrifice…

1. So too, as Christian martyrs follow in the sacrificial life of Jesus, they too help further the reach of God’s kingdom on earth.

f. And when we see Christian martyrdom in this way, when we see people count the cost and stand in courage and strength and faith even in the face of death…

i. We have to agree with the author of Hebrews who recounts other Christian martyrs and says, ‘the world was not worthy of them.’

1. There’s more to reality than meets the unaided eye. The breaking of the 5th seal reminds us of that.

4. Seal 6 – And with the breaking of the 6th seal, we have God’s answer to the prayer of seal 5.

a. How long? Wait a little longer, wait until the end has come.

i. And here, at the breaking of the 6th seal, I’ll once again remind us that symbols in visions aren’t meant to be taken literally.

1. We aren’t to watch for stars falling from the sky or wait to see the sky rolled up like a scroll.

a. These signs point to a reality beyond themselves. John is trying to find words to describe the indescribable.

i. Notice the word ‘like.” John is making a comparison here. Comparing what he sees to ordinary everyday objects that the people could relate to.

1. He’s not telling us that these events will actually one day happen.

ii. We only need to know a little bit about astronomy to know that it is literally and physically impossible for stars to fall from the sky to earth.

1. We need to figure out what reality the signs are pointing to.

b. And what these signs point to is an event called the day of the Lord.

i. Throughout the OT, specifically in the prophets, these events are described as happening on the day when God comes to judge the wicked.

1. So what the 6th seal points to is the fact that on that day, when God comes to judge the wicked, there will be no hiding from his wrath.

c. Notice what is described as happening – sun, moon, stars, mountains…why are these objects singled out?

i. Because in the ancient world, people worshipped these objects. They were idols.

1. But what is shown here is that there is no security in the these created objects.

a. The sovereign, holy and true God who sits on the throne of heaven is more powerful than all of them.

d. And what the 6th seal shows us is there is no hiding from God. This seal instills fear for rebellious humanity, but it should bring hope and comfort to God’s people.

i. One day, God will vindicate his people. He will answer the martyrs’ prayer and he will avenge their deaths.

1. And on that day, there will be no security in created objects and there will be no place to hide.

e. Also, take note of the list of people in v.15. Most of those are positions of security.

i. Emperors, generals, the wealthy and powerful usually had some form of protection and security – whether physical protection or financial resources or both.

1. But on the day of the Lord, not even the rich, powerful or influential will be able to hide.

f. And why are they hiding? Because sin always hides from God. Think back to the first sin – when Adam and Eve heard God in the Garden – what did they do? They hid.

i. God’s presence exposes sin – and when God comes in power to avenge the death of his people…

1. When he comes and brings his kingdom with him… there will be nowhere to hide.

a. Not behind bodyguards, or bank accounts or in caves or mountains or on remote islands.

i. There is no security in any created being; security is only found in the Creator.

g. The 5th and 6th seals show us that despite the opposition presented in seals 1-4, the gospel is going out…

i. God’s kingdom is moving closer to its divinely intended end.

1. Seal 5 shows us the hardships that God’s people endure, while seal 6 shows us the comforting news that God will vindicate his people in the end.

5. Application – So for us today, what can we learn from this and apply to our lives?

a. First, these 2 seals remind us that discipleship, following Jesus, is serious business.

i. Christianity isn’t something you just add to your life, your fire insurance.

1. Following Jesus becomes your life.

a. It’s not that you have work you, home you, gym you, social life you, and church you.

i. No, you need to allow Jesus to permeate into every aspect of your life so everything you do becomes an act of worship.

1. So you see everything through the lens of faith.

ii. The image Jesus used for Christian discipleship was cross-bearing.

1. That doesn’t mean carrying a heavy and uncomfortable burden.

a. It means that you’re so committed to Jesus that you’d be willing to lose your life for him.

i. A cross, after all, is an instrument of death.

iii. The Christian faith isn’t an add on for life; it’s not something you dabble in or take up on the side.

1. It’s serious business that requires strenuous and a wholehearted effort and a wholehearted commitment to follow Jesus no matter the earthly cost.

b. Second – this passage reminds us to find our security in God. If you are resting on a social status for protection, or on your finances…know that those things are perishable.

i. Ultimately, there is no security in any earthly thing. God is our ultimate source of security because he is the only one who is eternally stable.

1. And he will one day judge the wicked and vindicate those who found their security in him.

a. It’s a no brainer about which side of that you want to be on.

c. And finally, this morning, be assured of God’s protection.

i. And when I say protection, I’m referring to spiritual protection, not necessarily physical.

1. Martyrdom is a real thing that is present in our world.

a. And don’t be fooled to think that since we live in Canada we’re exempt from it.

ii. Maybe one day we’ll all be faced with it.

1. Seal 5 reminds us that while Christian martyrs lose their lives on earth, their souls are kept safe at the heavenly altar.

a. Seal 6 reminds us that God will be faithful to those who were faithful to him.

iii. God will protect his people – maybe not always form physical harm, but most assuredly from spiritual harm.

6. Conclusion – So the question is asked at the end of verse 17, “Who is able to survive?” The wicked ask this question. Who can survive the wrath of God and the Lamb?

a. Revelation 7 answers that question for us. The next chapter reveals who can survive and why they are able to survive.

i. So this week, read chapter 7, and as you read answer these 2 questions – what leaps out at me? And, what puzzles me?

1. Next week, we’ll dive deep into this chapter and we’ll look at who the 144,000 are – I may need help, there’s math involved…

a. And we’ll study what it means to be sealed by God.