Lesson 16Revelation 6: 3-8 |
We are not told the amount of time between each of the seals' openings. Therefore, I believe that time frame is not what God wants us thinking about. When we focus on time, we miss the lessons and conversations that enable us to move on to the next thing. Please do not rush through these lessons just because you are feeling uncomfortable with the subject matter. The question should be: "Why am I feeling uncomfortable with this subject?" Could it be that you are not sure if you will be left here on earth to go through what is described in Revelation 6? Let us take a moment to address your concerns.
1) Have you asked Jesus Christ to come into your heart and be your Savior and Lord? If you have, then you are saying that Jesus saved you from hell and that He has the right to use your life (His temple) for His glory even when you do not see how He is doing it.
2) Are you living like you have been saved from hell? I know that we make mistakes, but they should not be the same mistakes repeatedly.
3) Are people seeing a different person than they saw 3 months ago?
4) Are you spending time with God in prayer and studying His word?
5) Have your friends changed and are you still hanging with the same negative group?
PLEASE DO NOT RUSH PAST THESE QUESTIONS thinking that you know these questions and answers and have already dealt with them.
In the first two verses of Revelation 6, we saw the antichrist coming on the scene. We are not sure how long he is given to pursue peace on earth. He is able to bring peace to a world that is in a confused state. People have disappeared with no bodies found (the Rapture). There are neither Christians nor the Holy Spirit left on earth. Without them evil is free to do anything and everything (2 Thessalonians 2:6 -7). Therefore, you can see why those who remain on earth will accept any form of peace. Remember that Jesus is using these events to bring souls home to Him.
Why do you think God would let peace be the first seal?
Could it be that there is only one real peace that can come only from God (John 14:27, 16:33, Luke 1:79)? This antichrist has conquered a state of confusion, with a peace that is only in the peoples' minds, a false peace. It is not manifested anywhere else on earth.
The opening of the next seal releases a red horse. The red is for blood and vengeance. With this, we can see that peace appears to be gone. Let us remember that the Holy Spirit and the body of Christ are not on earth. Therefore, with this horse and rider we are going to see war like we cannot imagine. Before there were Christians praying in the world. In fact, all of the events, which take place from Revelation 4 on, take place without the presence of Christians and the Holy Spirit. So as bad as you think the world is now, these times cannot be compared with what is to come.
The rider is given power to take peace from the earth and to kill. Who are the "they?" The rider was given a great sword, so this rider is a fighter with great power. Look closer at what is being said here. This rider will bring about great wars and murders will increase. Can you see the peace on earth? No, what we see is blood and people not knowing who to trust and what to trust. God will be doing what he said in Jeremiah 25: 15 - 33 and Ezekiel 38 - 39. Neither treaties nor contracts will be worth the paper on which they are written.
With the release of each horseman, we have a different living creature telling John to come and see. All that is close to the Lamb is used to bring John closer to the scene and to Jesus. Yes! Jesus is using all that is around us to bring us closer to Him. Yet, will we see Him? Are we too busy seeing the problems and not looking for God?
The third seal is opened, releasing the black horse (famine) and the rider has a pair of balances in his hands. In Revelation 6:6, John says he heard a voice in the middle of the living creatures giving orders. Jesus controls the seals and can order the events in His hand. God wrote what is in the book, but Jesus gives orders for carrying out the events and they must be carried out. These orders are very clear. The word "measure" means 1 quart in today's measurements and the cost is 32 dollars. The cost represents a day's pay.
When this third horseman is loose, the first and second horsemen are still on the move. Can you picture how the antichrist is feeling seeing his conquest falling apart? The people go from confusion, then to peace, to a major war, and then to famine. Remember that Jesus is still reaching out to the world to bring them home to God. This third rider is told that he is not allowed to touch the olive oil and wine (grapes). Look at what he is told to do with the items that are important to life. The famines start small then grow, which means the poor will feel the effects first. Do not think that God is just punishing the poor, He is working on all people.
The horsemen are getting more severe in their actions. There is one more that is at the top of the line of the horsemen. The pale horse and his rider, who is called Death, brings even greater suffering. Death is the only rider with a name. Look at the tools he is given to carry out his orders: hunger, death, dangerous animals, and sword. Yet, with all these tools, he can only affect one-fourth of the earth (land). Please do not think that this one-fourth of the earth is in only one place. No, just the opposite is true. It occurs ALL over the earth. Therefore, no one can escape from him. They have peace, war and murder, and a famine that are not limited to anything but the earth. Then comes Death with the power to affect one-fourth of the earth. If we look closely at Death, we will see that he has a partner, who is called Hell. Why is Hell following Death? Also why is Jesus letting him follow? In order, to answer that question, we need to look at the meaning of the word "Hell" here. Hell means a place of departed souls or a holding place for souls. Hell is one of the places that God will call to release its inhabitants for THE JUDGEMENT (Revelation 20:13). If Jesus is trying to bring souls to him, why do they go to hell to wait on judgment? (Ezekiel 5:16 - 17, 14:12 - 23) These are those who have hardened their hearts toward God. In addition, God is using these horrendous situations and death to bring others to Him.
You may think that only mankind is affected by what is going on. This is far from the truth, for the animals are affected too. When you take their natural food sources, they will hunt the next best thing, people. Even with the animals hunting people because of their need for food, those deaths can ONLY be a part of that one-fourth of the earth that Death is told to effect. Do not just think of flesh eating animals, also include snakes, spiders, ants, birds, and anything that kills.
Along with the animals, there is hunger killing people. If hunger is killing, what is the status and condition of the food supply? Remember, the second horseman is still out there along with the third horseman. Where do these people hide to keep safe and at the same time get food? At night, the animals can smell and see them and if they go out in the day, they can be killed. What would be the condition of their minds? However, the first horseman said that he would bring peace. Unlike the saints who disappeared in the rapture, those left behind will see these dead bodies. Many will begin to wonder why the difference? What happened to those other bodies? Did the UFOs get them or did the government do something? With all that is going on these people must find their way to God without the help of the Holy Spirit. Their questions at that time may be the following:
Why is this happening to me?
How can I fix it?
Where do you start looking for answers?
These are some of the same questions being asked today. Therefore, those of you who know Jesus Christ must help people who are lost today to answer their questions.
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