Book of Revelation (13)
Notes
Transcript
Handout
We are continuing our study of Revelation we are in ch 6.
Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!”
Now we know form chapter 5 and maybe need a refresher that the Lamb is of course Christ, but that the scrolls are the plans of God that only the lamb can open. Remember we talked about John weeping because their was no champion to open the scrolls until the slain lamb (ch5) came and took the scrolls from the hand of God and began to open them.
Today we are opening some of those scrolls and talking about what is to come, but this next verse is pivotal in understanding the lens through which we see Revelation.
And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.
Now who do you believe this rider to be?
There are two schools of thought. I’ll give you both and then tell you which one I subscribe to and why— The first school of thought is that this is Jesus—We know in Rev 19 Jesus is on a white horse and it’s how the Jewish people expected him to come. Those who take this stance usually consider Revelation as history more than prophecy.
The second school is this is the Anti Christ.
I align more with the second and here’s why.
Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
Right this is the first seal, starting the Great Tribulation. Jesus wouldn’t yet be riding on a horse because the “son of destruction” has yet to be revealed. Also we know that Satan can only mimic or copy that which God has done---there is only one creator so it would suit his personality to mimic Jesus’ triumphant return knowing that God’s people will be watching for this white horse.
And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray.
For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.
From this verse we see that although it’s alike in many aspects to the coming of Christ. The issue with fakes weather it be fake people, fake money, or a fake Christ is that all too often to those who don’t pay close attention the fake looks so real until you get to the details.
A bow without arrows—Christ is always referred to a sword. If you read Rev 19Jesus comes with a sword that comes out of his mouth.
A bow without arrows symbolizes conquest and war. Being without arrows could mean that the war was already won—symbolizing the ride home of victory. This lines up with v2 where he came out conquering/wining.
A crown was given to Him- we already know that after Jesus’ death he was given the crown and the position he stepped down from—not only that Rev 19 tells us the he will dawn many crowns.
The greek word here is Stephanos- which means the victor’s wreath not diadema which meant a royal crown.
When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!”
And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.
Notice this rider doesn’t come with war, but he came to take peace. The greek word Eirene- Defined as the ability to make peace. One of God’s greatest gifts to us. We know peace is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. The retraction of this peace causes mean to slay-actually slaughter each other.
Hell is the absense of God and the peace he brings. Peace is not the natural state of humanity as in most things it contradicts our normal responses.
When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand.
And I heard what seemed to be 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 wine!”
When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!”
The third seal represents famine and hunger. Scales were used to properly measure out food portions. The voice that cries our A quart of wheat for a denarius. A Denarius is a days wage. Today at $10 an hr for an 8 hour shift would be $80. This would be 10-12x the normal cost of a quart of wheat in those days. Equivalent of a gallon of milk would cost $36-43.
When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!”
And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.
These would be known as the Reapers so to speak. They are gathering up the souls of those dead. We know Death and Hades will eventually be thrown into the lake of fire (20:14).
Now we have to remember that even in the darkest of times the limits are set by God as to how much he will take. To this point we are at 1/4 of those on the Earth.
To this point it could be believed that those who follow Christ are still on the Earth as:
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne.
They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.
They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.
We have to remember that this picture of the souls is a metaphor for martyrdom not a realistic picture of the state of souls.
And the priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense before the Lord that is in the tent of meeting, and all the rest of the blood of the bull he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.
The blood of the animal sacrifices were poured out at the base of the alter for the atonement of sins.
Paul refers to his death as being poured out like a drink offering in Phil 2:17
The question posed is a question that has been asked through the ages all the way out to the beginning of life
My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O Lord—how long?
O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save?