Lesson 17Revelation 6: 9-17 |
All of the seals that are opened up to this point have affected the earth. With the fifth seal, the scene is back in Heaven. John is now close enough to see all that is happening. Look at what he sees and hears. With the opening of this seal, he sees the souls of them that are under the altar. Where did they come from? Are these the souls of all believers from the Old and New Testaments and after the rapture? The answers to these questions are found in Revelation 6:9 - 10.
So let us examine these verses. In Revelation 6:9, we find the souls under the altar. The altar is a place of sacrifice. Therefore, these souls must have sacrificed something to get there. The sacrifice was their belief in God's word instead of following the world. Remember the word "believe" is an action verb, so they put their belief, their faith, into action even though they would be killed. This tells us that there are people who will kill to keep God's word from taking hold in the world. We can see this today in the world. In addition, we see that these saints have a testimony (a record, witness) to which they hold fast. These souls sound like they are not going to allow anything to stop them from keeping true to God.
In verse 10, a question is asked of them, which tells us from where they came. Look at the last seven words. These new believers died after the rapture. How do we know? The Word says "…on them that dwell on the earth?" Who are the only people on earth? Only those who did not make the rapture are on the earth. Remember that Jesus is still trying to bring the lost to God. We see that there are some who will come to Christ and die through the actions of the four horsemen, but more are on the way. Can you imagine how committed these new believers have to be? Do they have inner peace as we do now? Do you remember Jesus saying "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."(John 14:16 -17) How many times have we checked with the Comforter (Holy Spirit) before we do something? Some of us forget to check with the Holy Spirit even though we have that privilege. These new believers will not have that privilege or opportunity, but they will have God's Word, the Bible, to study for direction and confirmation. Do you think the Bible became important to them? How important is it to your life?
In Revelation 6:10, the saints under the altar ask a question that needs to be examined very closely. "…How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" Is this a weird question coming from these who are in Heaven? Do you remember that the fourth Horseman had Hell following him, which was a holding place? However, these souls are in heaven with God. (II Corinthians 5:8) So even when Christians die in that time they go to heaven. This verse shows a couple of things about God's attitude towards them that have rejected His Son. Firstly, He is not out to KILL immediately all of mankind for not loving His SON (II Peter 3:9). Secondly, people or things cannot change His plans for the earth nor do they move Him to rush His plans. This goes to prove the point that God is not issuing judgment as we think of it. He is offering a way home to Himself for those who will believe in Him. With this kind of heart and mind, how can we of today not serve Him gladly?
Too many of us today have the same attitude as those saints under the altar toward those that are doing us wrong. Observe the tone in which this question is asked. "…How long, O Absolute Ruler, holiest of and truthful, dost thou not judge and vindicate our blood on them that inhabitant on the earth?" The tone of this question is one of self-righteousness and being above all others. However, they seem to have forgotten that they were one of those who are lost. Remember, these saints came to God after the rapture. Is this not the way we sometimes act with God and how we treat other people? We praise Him and then try to get Him to do what we want. Is this how we pray to God about them that are mistreating you? Look at how God handles them in Revelation 6:11. He does not rebuke them for this attitude, but comforts them and encourages them to hold on by giving them white robes (pure clothes). God has them to relax and refresh themselves for a time, because there are more who will come home the same way that these new believers do. He reminds them that their walk will cause others to turn to Him.
In Revelation 6:12 - 17, the sixth seal is opened. It opens with some major events that the world has not seen or experienced before. These events may be actual events or symbolic, but in any event they are real. We will treat them in both ways in this lesson. Also, you are reminded to hold on to your faith and to thank God that you do not have to go through this. Nevertheless, there may be someone close to you who will have to go through this, because you will not tell them about Jesus Christ
With the opening of the sixth seal, there is a great earthquake that shakes the whole world. What is being presented here? The foundation of the world is coming apart; all that humanity has put their trust in is collapsing. The foundations of their houses and even the cars they drive no longer serve them, because the roads will not be safe. Think on this: if they were in airplanes where could they land? Remember that ALL of those other seals are still operating, being fulfilled. Along with the earthquake, we have the sun becoming as black as sackcloth. The sun was created to rule the day (Genesis 1:16) like the government rules the land. The sun symbolizes two things: the government and the sun or light that sustains life, which becomes black. The blackness is a sign of darkness and evil; we know that this is Satan's time.
Those who worshiped the sun, moon, and stars as gods, will see their gods fall. Does this remind you of the plagues of Egypt? All of those plagues sent by God attacked the Egyptian gods, for there is ONLY ONE God. Yes, even the moon is affected by the sixth seal and becomes blood red. Blood will flow even at nighttime. So, how do you sleep? Where is the peace that was promised? In addition, the stars start to fall to the earth in an untimely way. In these two verses, we have the main structures of the heavens shaken loose and falling upon earth. So what do these inhabitants of earth do, because even the "heavens departed as scroll when it is rolled together...?"
The word "heavens" refers to air or sky. The air will no longer be fresh and will become thick and hard to breath. How will people get oxygen? The plants need the sun and carbon dioxide to produce oxygen, but the sun no longer gives light, it is black, and the moon controls the oceans, but it is blood red. The air will be polluted, which means sickness will soon be rampant on the earth. In addition, the landscape will have some major changes, islands and mountains will move. Usually the oceans are controlled by the moon, but the moon will no longer be normal. This confusion and destruction will only be part of what the people will be facing. There are famine, wars, murders, and deaths already occurring and now this. You can see that all standards, services, and laws of governments and morals will be in chaos.
You may be asking, "why would God do this?" The answer is very clear, but you may not like it. He wants all of us at home with Him on His terms and He is willing to do anything and everything to get us home with Him. This is just like a parent who will do whatever they have to do in order to protect their children from danger.
In Revelation 6:15 and 16, we have societal standards and status breaking down and all the people are in the same situations and doing the same things. Leaders of governments, armies, scientists, slaves, and freeman are concealing themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains. Some of these folks are used to having people taking care of them in their mansions. Now they are hiding in caves or in the rocks of the mountains. Yet with all of this, they will not pray to God, but they pray to the mountains and rocks for help. The question that I think God may ask is, "What else do I have to do to get them to come to Me?" These people acknowledge and witness God's power and are still saying "no" to God. Nevertheless, they still have time before God allows them to be removed from this earth. In verse 16, we seem to have a repeat of Genesis 3:8, in that they want to hide from God and the Lamb. How can anyone hide from the face of God if God wants to get you?
Let us examine verse 16. They say to the mountains and rocks, fall on us, and conceal us from the countenance or presence of him that resides on the throne, and from the anger or indignation of the Lamb. With this prayer we know that they know that these events are coming from God and they know why the events are happening. So why do they not come home to the Father? Could it be that they still think they can control God and everything else. God did not give the mountains nor the rocks permission to hide them. These people, the lost, know that this is the tribulation.
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