The Pattern of this World

Revelation 6:1–17 NIV

I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword. When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!” When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth. When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been. I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”

Introduction: 24-Sleepy Hollow - The TV Show - The Four Horseman are coming to bring the end of the world, with the last one being the most evil, the headless horseman from Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” They manifest as real horseman

25 - Good Omens - I didn’t watch any of this show, I don’t recommend it, but here is a picture of their depiction of the four horseman.

Interprative Reminders:

The Book of Revelation relies heavily on imagry from the O.T. - This is the key to understanding the unexplained in Revelation - This passage is no different, especially when it comes to the 4 horesman and the Calamity in the 6th seal.

We first want to ask, how would the 7 churches understand this passage, and then apply it to us.

Context:

God Creator of all Things is wants his will and his kingdom to be established, the scrolls are God’s will and testament to be done for the redemption of all creation.

Jesus is the only worthy one to enact God’s will, He alone is Lord, not Ceasar, everyone, and everything else is an underling.

Jesus is worthy precisely because of who he is, God-Man, but also by the means he conquered, not by, as NT Wright says, the love of power, but the power of sacrificial love. When we look at the Judgements, then I am going to make the claim that while Jesus is authorizing them, these are not coersive judgements, or power over judgements, but judgements of consequence. They are the natural outworking of sin, and Nations desire to power over.

26 - Jesus Judges the Nations.

Who are the 4 horseman.

The white horse - represents a nation, and in a bit you will see, any nation that sets out to conquer other nations. Some have interpreted this horse as Jesus, because of the whiteness of the Horse which shows up later in Revelation, and some consider this horse to be the or an Anti-Christ, a counterfeit Jesus if you will. In a bit, I will explain why I think it is neither, and it is something else, but for now I am going to suggest the white horseman is not Jesus, because the type of conquering suggested and the resulting 4 horeseman lend itself to the type of love of power that is contrary to the Jesus in Chapter 5. It is not the Anti-Christ, although perhaps influenced by anti-christ sentiments, because of what the O.T. imagry suggests this horseman is. For now we can also let you know that Nations who go out to war usually send their commanding officer out on a white horse, or

The Red Horse - Represents people killing eachother violently. And so this is a natural progression, a Nation (White Horse) goes out to conquest, the resulting conflict both within war, but also amongst people creates an environment of violence and hate.

The Black Horse - Economic Downturn and ultimately famine. Wars can kill economies, especially the victims. In ancient times when there were not international laws on war, fields were burned, sieges created starvation for whole families, people sometimes resulted to canabalism or even suicide as a result. So you can see here that Revelation is laying out the natural sequence of Nations will to power over, ie the Love of Power.

Finally, the Pale, Green Horseman - Reminds us of the Angel of Death in the Exodus Story. This summarizes the end result of the progression - Conquest leads to Violence and Economic Downturn, famine, which is then a breading ground for multitudes to die from Killing, famine, pestilence (diseases), and even as homes and fleeing from war occurs, homelessness which also means exposure to wild animals.

Who really are these 4 Horseman?

Zechariah 1 describes a vision of four horseman as well. They are described as the ones who patrol the earth. Then they give their report. "The earth is dwelling in peace." The text goes on to say that Jerusalem is not in peace (in exile), and the Lord is zealous for Jerusalem, He is upset by the nations who have secured their supposed peace by going beyond the punishment God had for Jerusalem by "furthering disaster." So here it is as though these who were sent to patrol the earth are now granted authority to take the ill-gotten peace from the nations, and in some way display to them they are not as incontrol of peace as they think.

Zechariah 6 explains a little more - The four different sets of colored horses again go out to patrol the earth. They are explained as the four winds or spirits of the heavens. In this text they have reported to the Lord, and have set the Lord's spirit at rest in the North Country.

So these figures are spirits, they are and have always patrolled the earth. We can not see them physically, and unlike the movies they are not going to manifest themselves like the pictures above.

But here in revelation, Jesus gives these patrolling spirits the authority to enact the full consequence of the Nations actions of conquest/killing/famine/death sequence. It always comes back to them. This is reinforced by the 6th Seal.

On the 6th Seal:

Revelation 6:12 is using the language of "The Day of the Lord" from

Joel 2:30–32 LEB

And I will set wonders in the heavens, and on earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun will be changed to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of Yahweh. And it will happen—everyone who calls on the name of Yahweh will be rescued, because on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape, as Yahweh said, and among the survivors whom Yahweh is calling.

Revelation 6:13-14 is language from Isaiah 34:4 about when God will Judge the Nations. - It is a day of vengeance and retribution for the strife of Zion.

Isaiah 34:4 LEB

and all the host of heaven shall rot. And the skies shall roll up like a scroll, and all their host shall wither like the withering of a leaf from a vine, or like the withering from a fig tree.

Revelation 6:15 is using the language of Isaiah 2 about the Day of the Lord when he humbles people, here the people of Jacob specifically, but he humbles the proud and they hide in caves and crevices to be away from the presence of the terror of Yahweh. It is also a reference to Jeremiah 4:29 as Babylon envades Jerusalem (also considered the day of the Lord) and the people from every town flee to hid in the thickets and among the rocks they climb.

Isaiah 2:21 LEB

to enter into the crevices of the rocks and into the clefts of the crags from the presence of the terror of Yahweh and from the glory of his majesty, when he rises to terrify the earth.

Jeremiah 4:29 LEB

From the sound of a horseman and an archer every town flees, they enter in the thickets and among the rocks they climb. Every town is forsaken, and there is no person who lives in them.

Revelation 6:16 is an allusion to Hosea 10:8 which is what the inhabitants of the Northern tribe of Israel will say, when God punishes Israel for its sin and Idolatry by means of the Assyrians. The people will say to the mountains, Cover us, and fall on us.

Hosea 10:8 LEB

The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed. Thorn and thistle will grow on their altars. They will say to the mountains, “Cover us,” and to the hills, “Fall on us.”

And then there is Jesus is asked 1. When will you come again? 2. When will the Temple be destroyed.

Matthew 24:1–13 NIV

Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Notice that the 4 horseman according to Jesus are things that simply must happen, but the end is still to come. They are the Pattern of this World

Matthew 24:29 LEB

“And immediately after the tribulation of those days, ‘the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken.’

Quote from Isaiah 13 & 34 which again was about the judging of the nations.

Matthew 24:16 LEB

“then those in Judea must flee to the mountains!

How would the 7 Churches read this passage?

They would see themselves as the those who were being marytyred.

They would see the overall story line of the four horseman and the final wrath of God as being Jesus allowing other Nation(s) bring the full consequences back on the Roman Empire who bought their so-called peace by means of conquest. All it really did was cause people to kill eachother, cause famines, and then death by means of....

Jesus’ Judgement and wrath as the slain lamb is not to power over, but to allow, and give authority to the full consequences of the Nations actions to reverb against them.

If they are astute readers of the O.T., they would see this is actually a pattern in God’s way of dealing with the Nations who desire to Power over other Nations.

It is the pattern that Jesus used with Egypt - (more on that later) - The Plagues - The Day of the Lord

With the Canaanites - By the hands of Israel because after 100’s of years their sins and idolatries had become complete (or in other words so bad they could not be undone). - The Day of the Lord

With the Northern Tribes of Israel for their Idolatry/Injustice - God allowed the Assyrians to take them over - The Day of the Lord

Then with the Southern Tribes of Judah for their Idolatry/Injustice - God allowed Babylon to take them over. - The Day of the Lord.

Then Babylon because they were way more cruel than what God Desired, and the Persions took them over - The Day of the Lord.

Then according to Jesus, when the Temple was destroyed by Rome in 70 AD because they did not follow the way of peace - The Day of the Lord.

And Now, Revelations is suggesting it will happen to the Roman Empire

This Passage sets up the pattern of judgement of the Nations who Power Over throughout History. It applies to us, as we live in a Nation, and we can see it continuing. This is the Story of the Roman Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the British Empire, the Nazi Regime, and it will Happen to America. No Nation gets a pass. If we live by the sword, we shall die by the sword. Nations who think they have power to conquest others, so they can control peace, the economy, the etc., will find out that they are really not all that powerful, and Nations will be judged in the same way they judged, it will reverb back on them.

27 - Application Point: Don’t Be Alarmed that there will be war, famine, disease, and death in our world.

28 - The Nation’s Response to Judgement.

The Idea of people fleeing and hiding in caves out of fear of the Day of the Lord, is not too far fetched.

This actually happened at the fall of Jerusalem at the Hands of the Romans.

Archeologists have found caves where Jewish families fled and hid, and became bases for resistence against the Roman Conquest.

At the Mountain Fortress of Masada, A group of resistance fighters and their families were under siege by the Romans. Things got so bad, that they decided to commit mass suicide, before the Romans got to them.

Eventually, we know The Roman Empire lost the strengths that had allowed it to exercise effective control over its Western provinces; modern historians posit factors including the effectiveness and numbers of the army, the health and numbers of the Roman population, the strength of the economy, the competence of the Emperors, the internal struggles for power, the religious changes of the period, and the efficiency of the civil administration. Increasing pressure from invading barbarians outside Roman culture also contributed greatly to the collapse. Climatic changes and both endemic and epidemic disease drove many of these immediate factors. - Wikepedia

We can think of Hitler’s response to his campaign, ultimately he hid himself in his bunker and committed suicide, and many of the regime fleed, and were captured and executed for war crimes. - This was the Day of the Lord, and the Day of the Lord has happened many times through history.

The Nations wonder, “Who Can stand?” Revelation will answer that question.

29 - Application Point: Come Next week to find out who can stand when nations are judged?

30 - The Believers Response to Judgement.

This passage has to be both comforting and frustrating to the 7 churches.

Jesus has encouraged them to live in a completely different way.

to be about 100% Truth and 100% about Love.

to be faithful to Christ even in the midst of affliction and persecution even until death.

to avoid teachings that lead to idol worship, emperor worship, and sexual immorality

to be of Holy Spirit Life.

to patiently endure persecution.

to be zealously humble for the Lord.

When they do they will be killed. They are asking, not just to vindicate them, to get even with those who killed them, but to vindicate this ways of going about life.

Jesus’ Resurrection was not just vindication for his death, but it was vindication of his way of Ruling. His way was not the love of Power, but the Power of love.

Jesus vindicates them by giving them white robes - symbol of Christ’s righteousness.

But he also says, full vindication does not happen until all marytyers are martyered.

They get refreshment, but they also have to wait patiently.

OK, so the idea that Christians will escape from tribulation is highly challenged here. John already said he is a co-sharer in the great tribulation. but what is the effect.

A reminder, that Christ who is the only one worthy to bring history to its conclusion will vindicate will show his way to be the true way. It is encouragement that Jesus wins.

Realism - Don’t expect and easy time just because you are a Christian. The message of this book to patiently endure is a real one. - In this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have conquered the World.

Like next week we will see, Jesus is patient with all of the evil that goes on in this world, because the full number of all who will be saved has not been gathered yet.

We live in the now, but not yet.

So, we should not be surprised, by the wars that happen in our world, that we are experiencing a pandemic, that there is civil unrest, economic uncertainty. I don’t suggest we should be happy about it. But we are in less control of these things as we like to let on. And this passage seems lends credence to Jesus allowing, giving authority for these things to happen as consequence to human arrogance, human sin, and human love for power.

31 - Application Point: We, however, are called to conquer, by patiently enduring, and giving full vindication to Jesus. Are we doing that?

Conclusion: My hope is you can while maybe enjoy pop-cultures presentation of passages like this, but more importantly see the Truth.