Message

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Thank God for blessing our study of Revelation thus far. In chapter 1, we heard the first message of Revelation, “Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him,” and saw the vision of Christ the Lord glorified, ministering to his church. In chapters 2 and 3 we thought of Christ’s messages to the seven churches. Christ said to each church, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” The Spirit says to each church of every generation the messages of Christ. We prayed that we might be like the Philadelphia church which with little strength had kept Jesus’ word and had not denied his name. In chapters 4 and 5, we saw the glorious heavenly worship to the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb by all the angels and the whole creation. Especially we could hear the new song by the twenty-four elders, the representative of the redeemed people of the church, “You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” We prayed that we may be true worshippers of the Lamb with the new song in our hearts, following him in obedience to him. From chapter 6, all the way to the end of Revelation it is concerning what is described in 1:1, “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place” (1:1), in 1:19, “Write…what will take place later” (1:19) and in 4:1, “I will show you what must take place after this.” The events written here are very specific and unique, unequaled in human history, which lead to the end of the times and to the kingdom of Christ on the earth and to the eternal kingdom of God. We pray that through the study of Revelation we may be able to read the signs of the times, and see the way our world is headed. Today’s passage is about the Lamb’s opening seals from the first seal to the sixth seal and the response of the people of the earth to it. With the opening of seals God’s judgments begin, again unequalled in human history. When people thought that they were in the apex of human civilization, the best time of human history with their dream of utopia on earth by their human effort, humanity hit the bottom dispensing of morality in the name of a “moral revolution”. People are becoming and living like animals when they try to eliminate God in their lives and on earth. God’s judgment has to come ultimately with the returning of Christ to bring his kingdom on earth. First, the opening of the first four seals (1-8). Verses 1 and 2 say, “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.” Notably we see here a white horse and its rider with a crown. It is written in Revelation 19:11-12, “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns.” This is Christ Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords. Here in Revelation 6, at the beginning of the opening of seals, the counterfeit Christ, the Anti-Christ, or false Messiah, appears. One clear difference is that Christ had many crowns, while the counterfeit Christ had one crown given. He also interestingly held a bow but with no arrow. The absence of an arrow speaks of a bloodless victory. He rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. There is an emphasis on conquering. What kind of conquest? A conquest without bloodshed, that is a conquest of peace, worldwide peace, yet it is a disguised false peace. Since several decades ago, people spoke about a global world, global peace, and a global government that would aim to establish the New World Order. It seems to be more and more possible through the amazing development of scientific technology. The attempt and aim can be good, the idea that all people on earth will live together peacefully, becoming one politically, ideologically and even religiously. We hear much about acceptance and tolerance. People say, “Don’t think about sexual different practices” and “do not think about different religion practices”, “Why not just accept all and live harmoniously?” In that atmosphere, there is no tolerance for those who have a clear morality, while they claim tolerance for all people who are carefree in whatever lifestyle they have. The trend of the world is world peace, yet it is not possible only bringing disguised peace. In the Old Testament, false prophets delivered the message of peace, saying, “peace, peace”, while God’s judgment was impending (Jer. 8:11; 14:13). It is a deceptive peace. Likewise, when God’s fierce judgments are coming, people say more and more “world peace” in an attempt for one world government. To achieve global unity, everybody must work together for the purposes of science, medicine, economics, and food. We should also know that religious ecumenism is a key player in world peace and global unity, for religion can keep people apart. So somehow, religious barriers must come down. For this there is an active move toward a one-world religion, tolerance for everything. Ironically, however, intolerance for true Christians will escalate in this process. However, as we studied, the church is raptured before the false peace comes. So, they will think that the biggest barrier has been removed. There have been many antichrists or false messiahs throughout history. John wrote in 1 John 2:18, “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the anti-christ is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.” And then he said in 2:22, “Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son.” Historically, Hitler was considered an antichrist, and some others. However, there is one specific unambiguous anti-Christ that shows up at the end time. Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8, “Don’t let anyone deceive you in anyway, for that day will not come, until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God…And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendour of his coming.” As you see the descriptions, “the man of lawlessness is revealed”, “he may be revealed at the proper time” and “the lawless one will be revealed.” The similar expression is written three times. Here now in Revelation 6 the lawless one, the anti-Christ, does not show himself clearly as one who sets himself up against God, claiming he is God to be worshiped. He disguises himself, just spreading world peace, which is also disguised peace. He shows himself at the midpoint of the Tribulation. He is clearly written in Revelation 13 as a “beast”. Daniel 9:27 says, “He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple, he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.’” He is described as the prince who is to come in 9:26. He is also called “the little horn” in 7:8, “the king of fierce countenance” in 8:23, and “the willful king” or “the king who does whatever he wants” in 11:36. Now let’s think about the seven years of the Tribulation. Where do the seven years come from? Let’s look at Daniel 9:25-27. “Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the six-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering…” These are weeks of years, whereas weeks of days are described in a different way (10:2, 3). The time spans from Artaxerxes’ decree to rebuild Jerusalem, c. 445 B.C. (Neh. 2:1-8), to the Messiah’s kingdom. This panorama includes: (1) seven weeks or forty-nine years, possibly closing Nehemiah’s career in the rebuilding of the “street and well,” as well as the end of the ministry of Malachi and the close of OT; (2) sixty-two weeks or 434 more years for total 483 years to the First Advent of Messiah. This is 173,880 days. This was fulfilled at the triumphal entry on 9 Nisan, A.D. 30 (see notes on Mt. 21:1-9). The Messiah will be ‘cut off,’ (a common reference to death); and (3) the final seven years of seventieth week of the time of Antichrist (cf. v. 27). Look at verse 2 again, “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.” Now it seems to be a good understanding that world peace or one world government movement is done by a system like UN, since the anti-christ reveals himself clearly at the midpoint of the Tribulation. Now verses 3 and 4 say, “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 men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.” Definitely, the opening of the second seal brings the judgment of war. Of course, throughout human history there have always been battles and wars, including WWI and WWII. However, this time the war will be greater in scale and more severe and dreadful, such that the people of the world will not expect peace anymore. It says that peace will be taken from the earth. There seems to be no peaceful place on earth. And when we think of nuclear weapons, we can imagine that the severity of the war and men slaying each other will be very realistic. John says in verses 5 and 6, “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, ‘A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!’” The scales symbolize trade. An entire day’s wages is needed to buy two pounds of wheat. Two pounds of wheat can produce one or two loaves of bread. The high prices of wheat and barley indicate famine. It is so severe that an ordinary person will barely survive, using a day’s wages (probably about $150) only for a day’s meal; wheat will be three times more expensive than barley. It will be a worldwide famine. Still we see God’s mercy that the oil and the wine, probably the basic things for cooking, will not be damaged. Then verses 7 and 8 say, “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.” The opening of the fourth seal will bring the judgment of death, killing one fourth of mankind. How? It says, “by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.” So the fourth seal judgment is related to the second and the third, and they all bring the killing of one fourth of world population. It is really tragic that mankind will be killed even by the wild beasts of the earth. God’s creation order is for man to rule over all creatures including animals. But when creation order is gone, mankind will be killed by animals. When we think of the four seals, they are characterized by horses and their riders. Horses are representative of power, magnificence, majesty, conquest. And here comes the horse and the one who sat on it, its rider. The rider is not necessarily a person, as we have seen the rider of the fiery red horse, the rider of the black horse, and the rider of the pale horse. So we can say that the horses do not represent individuals, but a force. War is a force, famine is a force, and so is death. And as we thought, the white horse can be a force, since its rider, the Antichrist does not show himself clearly until the midpoint of the Tribulation. So it is good to think that the four seals are a sort of forces or powers with people directly involved. And they were given powers (crown, sword, to kill) and each of them was called by one of the four living creatures. It indicates that God is sovereign and he is in complete control. Second, the opening of the fifth and sixth seal (9-17). Now in verses 9-11 John says, “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 number of their follow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.” The opening of the fifth seal is related to vengeance due to persecution. While one fourth of mankind was killed, persecution for the believers in Christ was intense, yet many were willing to lose their lives to keep their faith in Christ Jesus. Those who had been unclear about their faith became very clear while undergoing the tribulation time. Also, they must have been new believers who were also ready to die for their newfound faith in Christ Jesus. When they were killed simply because they kept their faith in Christ and the words of God, they knew that it was a great injustice. Yet, they entrusted the judgment to God. Now their souls cried, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge 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 number of their follow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed. The God of Scripture is a God of vengeance. He Himself says, in Deuteronomy 32:35, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay.” In other translations (NASB), “Vengeance is mine and retribution.” Twice more in that same chapter, it is written in verse 41, “I will take vengeance on my adversaries and repay those who hate me,” and in verse 43, “…for he will avenge the blood of his servants; he will take vengeance on his enemies.” It is also written in Luke 21:22, “for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written” (ESV, KJV), in NIV, “For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written.” According to the gospel story, persecution will be official. It will be government led and religiously-inspired. When we think of our time, we can think that the courts will get involved in it. At the time of opening of the fifth seal, the days of vengeance have not been unleashed yet. But this is the prayer for vengeance. Then verses 12-14 say, “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 late figs drop from a fig tree. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.” This sixth seal judgment was different from other seals, in that it was solely God’s direction intervention without human beings involved. God acts without men. His judgment at the sixth seal is through astronomical natural disasters, involving a great earthquake, the sun, the moon, stars, the sky, mountains and islands. It is too shocking to imagine. Luke wrote in 21:25-26, “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint (scared to death) from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.” When we think of the opening of six seals from the first to the sixth, it is very much alike what Jesus said about the signs of the end of the age. It is written in Matthew 24:3-8, “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 Christ, 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. Nations 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.” And it is written in Luke 21:11, “There will be great earthquake, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.” So this part well covers the first four seals, deceptive peace, war, famine and the death by sword, famine and plagues. It seems to be a good understanding that the birth pains almost cover the first half of the seven year-tribulation. Let’s see this more. Jesus continued in verse 9, “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.” This is related to the opening of the fifth seal, the martyred souls crying out to God for vengeance. Then Jesus said in verse 15, “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation, spoken through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand…” As we studied above, this is the midpoint of the Tribulation. The abomination of desolations, which is identified as the midpoint by Daniel in chapter 7, which is also mentioned by Jesus here in Matthew 24, Luke did not mention in 21, but he mentioned succeeding events, calling this particular time the day of vengeance as we thought above. In this, Luke was talking about the time after the abomination, after the midpoint, namely the second half. The fury of God’s vengeance really hits following the midpoint. So, the fifth seal deals with the slaughter of Christians that starts with persecution in the first half and becomes wholesale massacre after the midpoint, and they keep killing Christians as long as they can until the very end. After mentioning the abomination that causes desolation written in the book of Daniel, Jesus told his disciples about the change of the sun, the moon and stars saying, “Immediately after the distress of those days, ‘the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time, the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn.’” (24:29) So when the six seals were opened, it was coming close to the end of the Tribulation, with the remain of the opening of the seventh seal which contains the seven trumpet judgements which will be poured perhaps in several months, and the seven bowl judgments be poured out perhaps in several weeks. Then Jesus will come for the final battle. We will think of this more as we study Revelation continually. We see that the sequence written in Revelation 6 is the same, absolutely consistent with Jesus’ Olivet discourse written in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21. The parallels are identical. Now let’s read verses 15-17, “Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man 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 stand?’” All sorts of people, surprisingly there are even slaves, seem to recognize God and the Lamb, and their wrath, but did not want to repent. Rather they hid in caves and among the rock of the mountains, as Adam and Eve hid among the trees of the garden (Ge. 3:8). They make every effort to escape from the wrath of God and of the Lamb. Instead of praying to God for his mercy, they call out to the mountains and the rocks. We see the disposition of fallen human beings. Yet, regardless of people’s response, one thing is clear. Now, man is having his day, but soon it will be the Lord’s day, the day of the Lord. One of the central prophetic themes in Scripture is the coming of the great day of God’s wrath, also known as the day of the Lord. Prophets in the Old Testament said of the day of the Lord repeated. Isaiah 13:9 says, “See, the day of the Lord is coming—a cruel day with wrath and fierce anger. Joel 2:11 says, “The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?” Amos 5:8 says, “Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord! Why do you long for the day of the Lord? That day will be darkness, not light.” Also, Apostle Peter said in 2 Peter 3:10, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare/burned.” On March 23, 1989, an asteroid a half-mile across missed earth by just 700,000 miles. No one saw it coming. If it had arrived a mere six hours later, it would have wiped out civilization.” When the day of the Lord comes, the prophecy will come true. People think the world become progressively better. However, according to the Bible, it never becomes better, but only worse, spiritually and morally, and even politically, socially and economically. God’s judgment in the end time is coming. As we studied, Revelation is the book of prophecy. Things will happen and must happen according to the prophecy. The time of tribulation is coming, and we must be prepared to meet the Lord in the air. The people of the world will become more and more unbelieving. But there are God’s chosen ones to be saved. We need to find them and let them hear the message of salvation and judgment to be able to escape from the wrath of God and of the Lamb.

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