The balance of God's character

Revelation 6:9-17 “The balance of God’s character ”

Intro… Puppies and babies…everybody loves em…unless they aren’t trained…

”train up a child…” (Prov. 22:6)

What makes a good parent, or dog owner? Someone who has a good balance of love and discipline. No one likes an untrained child or dog…

When we think of God, it’s more comfortable to imagine his love, grace and mercy than his judgment and wrath.

Today we’ll see both important sides of God.

Text: Revelation 6:9-17

Big Pic: A good sign of growth and maturity for a Christian is a healthy understanding of God’s love and mercy as well as his wrath.

Previously we have studied the scroll which contains the future of mankind…

It can only be opened by Jesus…

It has seven seals and the first four seals were opened in last weeks study… the four horsemen of the apocalypse…God’s judgment on the earth.

Today we look at seals 5, and 6.

One of the primary doctrines of the Reformation, taught by Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox and others, is:

The Sovereignty of God. “All things are under God's rule and control, and nothing happens without His direction or permission.”

This helps especially when studying Revelation, end times, God’s judgment, wrath etc. (For some, uncomfortable subjects)

This week’s passage in Revelation is about the Sovereignty of God, especially with regard to God's children who suffer for their Faith, God's power over natural disasters, and God's power over all mankind, rich or poor.

When we study Revelation, God’s judgment and wrath, it’s important to remember that God is fully in control of all these events.

Nothing is spinning out of control at the end of this earth.

v. 9-11 The fifth seal. “The glory of the martyrs.”

“Under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they bore. “

This scene is occurring in the temple of heaven.

The altar depicts their sacrificial suffering because of their faith and their witness.

They were crying out with a loud voice, asking for God’s judgment and vengeance. “How long, O Sovereign Lord, holy and true…”

The key to understanding revenge and vengeance is that God must be in charge. This is his thing, not ours.

It’s so tempting to want to take revenge into our own hands…

And the surprising answer is that God will restrain his wrath until the last martyr has been slain.

To me, this hints at the necessity of people dying for their faith…

Their reward for dying for their faith?

A white robe and rest, until the number was complete of those being killed for their faith. (readers 3:4-5, 7:9 & 14).

This white robe is a “garment of honor in everlasting light.”

This robe represents victory because of their purity and faithfulness.

What a great group to be a part of!

Who are these martyrs? (readers 13:15, 18:24, 20:4)

Not long after (6:15-17) God answers their request with the very ones who had put them to death.

“Every Christian should be prepared for martyrdom. Christians cannot express their communion with the Lord more perfectly than when they accept the suffering and the glory of martyrdom.”

So, whether that’s actual death or getting picked on…

v. 12-14 The sixth seal. “The judgment of the wicked.”

Great earthquake, black sun, full moon like blood, stars falling out of the sky to earth (a massive meteor shower?)

The sky vanished like a scroll rolled up (window shade)…every mountain and island removed.

Now we get to use a fancy word…

These are eschatological signs. From eschatology a system of doctrines concerning last or final matters such as death, judgment, the future, end times.

These eschatological signs point to the imminent final day of the Lord.

Isa. 2:10, 19, 21, Matt. 24:29, Luke 21:11

It can be difficult to know how literal the whole description should be taken.

V. 13-14 “as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit,” “like a scroll being rolled up.”

Regardless, it is a scene of catastrophe and distress for the whole earth.

This is the “terrible visitation of God’s final judgment on the earth.”

No matter how literal this passage ends up being…

“All hell broke loose.”

The luminaries that have marked earth’s times since creation (Gen. 1:14) will be removed.

This is a preview of the coming destruction of the first heaven and earth, but not necessarily the end of the world.

Similar imagery is used in Ezekiel, Joel and Isaiah.

These are big signs that the end has arrived…obviously if we witness something this drastic.

v. 15-17 You can run, but you can’t hide.

The entire population of rebellious humanity (rich and pour, great and small, slave and free) ran and hid themselves in caves because they were afraid.

These people would rather be buried under mountains and rocks than face the pain and terror of God’s judgment.

Since all kinds of people are included, we cannot say that God’s wrath is only directed at the powerful or rich or “wicked.”

God’s judgment will fall on all who refuse to repent and instead worship demons or idols and persecute Christians.

What are these people afraid of? The wrath of the Lamb.

An interesting metaphor because Lambs are usually gentle.

Jesus may be the Lamb of God, but he’s also God and God can be gentle and wrathful.

Lamb of God the band...

We always want to have a healthy respect for both sides of God. (today’s theme)

And that’s why in Revelation the wrath of God and of the Lamb is a continuing theme.

Let’s also not forget that God’s wrath is a present reality as well as an eschatological judgment.

God is God of the OT, NT and Revelation.

Conclusion:

UT sports headlines, “Saints Sinners”

One of the most severe fines in NFL history…they deserve it.

When that great day of wrath comes, who can stand?

Wow, all this doom and gloom, where is the hope?

Those who have given their hearts and life to Christ have nothing to fear.

Revelation 6:1-8 “The four horsemen of the apocalypse ”

Intro... The four horsemen of the apocalypse.

I think most people who have never even studied Revelation have heard of the four horsemen…

Although some interpretations differ, the four riders commonly are seen as symbolizing: Conquest, War, Famine and Death.

The Christian apocalyptic vision is that the four horsemen are to set a divine apocalypse upon the world as messengers of the Last Judgment.

This is the beginning of the great tribulation.

Text: Revelation 6:1-8

Big Pic: We don’t need to be afraid of God’s judgment when we know our hearts are truly His.

We go from Jesus’ words of instruction and warning to the seven churches, to images of worship before the throne of God in heaven…

Revelation now shifts to events on earth and God’s judgment.

Revelation 4-7, spans the entire time period between Christ's first coming and His return.

This section, is describing for us the history of the church in the world as she lives between the first coming of Christ and His return.

Last week we talked about the seven seals that protect the scroll, which reveals the future of mankind.

The first four seals are different from the last two in that they describe four horses of different colors with riders who are given different powers over the earth.

Zechariah’s visions of these horsemen are divine instruments of judgment of the enemies of God’s people.

v. 2 The white horse whose rider has a bow and a crown, came out to conquer.

Some people think this horse represents Christ, however, Rev. 19:11-16 is a better description of Christ on a white horse.

Remember the Lamb (who is Christ) is the one who opens the seals, so he can’t also be the one on the while horse here.

The rider on the white horse could more likely represent God’s enemy, the Antichrist and his forces which seek to conquer the followers of Christ.

The bow and crown represent war and conquest.

When we go with this explanation of the rider on the white horse, then we can see how each of the four seals (horses and riders) represent the conflict directed at Christians to test them and sift out false disciples.

v. 3 The red horse whose rider represents war (“permitted to take peace from the earth so that people should slay one another”) and he was given a great sword.

The color red symbolizes bloodshed and slaughter.

The great sword permitted the rider to take peace from the earth.

With the first horse, the pursuit of conquest brings bloodshed.

v. 5-6 The black horse whose rider carries scales for measuring grains and their prices.

This horsemen represents poverty and famine.

The grain prices cited here about 12 times normal.

Conquest and war will destroy trade routes driving prices up and producing scarcity.

Oil and wine…staple foods in the East, so this third seal brings poverty and partial, but not severe famine.

v. 7-8 The pale horse whose rider represents death and Hades (Hell).

2 Pale Rider “A mysterious preacher protects a humble prospector village from a greedy mining company trying to encroach on their land.”

Pale, yellowish-green, depicting death and decomposition-of a sick person in contrast to a healthy appearance.

This death is brought on by pestilence or plague, which often follows famine.

Death is no respecter of persons; it comes to believer and unbeliever alike.

Yet for the believer, there is comfort in knowing that we belong to the One who holds the keys to Hades and Death.

Death sums up the disasters symbolized by the white, red and black horses.

So these are God’s judgments carried out by various agencies, conquest, the sword, famine, plague and the wild beasts (horses) of the earth.

Even with the fourth horse, death, their authority to kill is limited to a fourth of the earth.

However, even a fourth of the earth would be a great tribulation, such that has never been seen before.

So…Revelation 6-19 could represent the great tribulation.

God’s providence restrains both his own wrath and humanity’s violence.

Four horsemen… four ends of the earth or the four corners of the earth.

These four horsemen ride forth to the ends of the earth; no part of the earth is left untouched. God’s judgment is total.

The horsemen of the apocalypse proclaim to us the activity of God!

God is active in the salvation of His people and in the judgments He pours forth upon the unrepentant.

In the same sense, hearing the word of God taught, either by me or someone else should wake us up to God’s judgment.

Let’s listen to God’s judgment now so when the four horsemen of the apocalypse show up, we are not afraid.

The image of the four horsemen/four winds/four corners of the earth/four tools of death is a theme in Zechariah, Daniel, Ezekiel and Jeremiah.

In Matthew 24-25 known as “The Olivet Discourse” (because Jesus sat on the Mt. of Olives) he speaks of the same judgment and tribulations.

So the concern is not so much for the detail specifics of each rider, but that they represent God’s judgment on the entire earth.

Conclusion:

It is Christ Himself who sends forth the judgments that proceed from the opening of those seals.

God’s judgment is swift and sure, that’s never changed whatever imagery you use.

These four horsemen of the apocalypse are intended to point us to another Horseman. We read of Him in Revelation 19:11-16.

Are we ready for the Horsemen?

Psalm 68: 1-2, 17, 32-34

We find similar imagery in Zechariah 6:1-8.

In these passages we find the Lord coming from His holy habitation, riding upon the chariots, bringing judgment upon the wicked, and at the same time salvation for His people.

We need to remember that no matter who is riding on these horses, Christ will be the ultimate victor. (17:14)

Big Pic: We don’t need to be afraid of God’s judgment when we know our hearts are truly His.

Revelation 5 “Worship part 2 ”

Intro…“Why men hate church”

As men grow and mature in their faith, they can learn to sing more, however…

Text: Revelation 5

Big Pic: As the wonderful mysteries of our life and faith unfold, it should cause us to fall down and worship God (in confusion and/or delight).

In this heavenly vision that God gives to John, he sees not only God on his throne, but also the slain lamb which represents Jesus.

Jesus’ resurrection and power over death qualifies him to open the scroll and execute God’s future purposes for history, the destruction of his foes and the vindication of those who trust him.

As the Lamb opens the scroll’s seals, John sees images of God’s instruments of judgment and of the saints who will receive salvation.

John sees the right hand of God holding a scroll, sealed with seven seals.

The angel proclaims, “Who is worthy of open the scroll and break its seals?”

It’s kind of like the sword and the stone…

V. 3 No one is worthy in heaven, earth or hell…

Only God knows the future. We’re going to do our best to interpret this book of Revelation, but we have to remember to ultimately trust God.

V. 4 This troubled John to the point of tears (seeing that the church’s hope stood in jeopardy) until one of the elders said,

“Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Scroll

Similar to the scroll given to Ezekiel (2:9-3:3)

It’s not like most ancient manuscripts though which were hard to inscribe on both sides.

It did resemble a Roman will or contract deed with the contents written in detail on the inside and summarized briefly on the outside.

The seven seals represent the seven spirits of God.

This scroll could symbolize a will that is to be opened and its context executed…

Or it could symbolize God’s covenant with mankind, with the covenant curses being poured out due to mankind’s breaking of the contract.

This scroll contains God’s purposes for history, how things will ultimately end for all people.

But its seven seals prevent the full disclosure and enactment of its contents.

Lion of the tribe of Judah/Root of David

Both of these figurative titles used to describe Jesus are familiar OT messianic titles. (Gen. 49:9-10, Isa. 11:1 & 10, Jer. 23:5, 33:5)

The figure of a lion designated the conquering Messiah who would destroy Rome (Ezra 11:58).

The lion also echoes Jacob’s blessing on Judah conferring leadership over his brothers.

The root of David signifies the branch which sprung from Jesse’s root to restore David’s dynasty.

Jesus is the royal descendent of David and also the source of David’s rule.

The OT promise of a conquering lion is fulfilled in the NT reality of one who is also the slain Lamb, Jesus. v. 6

Jesus was like a lamb led to slaughter, bearing the iniquity of all and achieving their healing.

Isaiah 53:4-7

The Lamb’s seven horns symbolize great power. (Ps. 18:2, Dan. 7:24, Zech. 1:18-21)

His seven eyes are the seven spirits mentioned in Rev. 1:4-6 and these show that the Lamb’s knowledge extends throughout the whole earth.

v. 7-8 Jesus take the scroll and the four living creatures (all of creation) and the 24 elders (representing both Old and New Testaments) fell down and worshipped.

They sing a new song, similar to what we sang last week.

Harps (Psalm 33:2, 98:5)

Bowls in incense represent the prayer of the saints. (8:3-4) and that their pleas are heard and will be answered in God’s providential judgments.

v. 11-14 The worship builds to a crescendo.

Myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands…

The imagery suggests the infinite honor and power of the one who is at the center of it all.

As the scroll is about to be opened and the seven seals broken we will begin to see God’s purposes for history, how things will ultimately end for all people.

What is the proper reaction?

v. 8 & 14 “fell down and worshipped before the Lamb.”

Sang new songs, v. 9-10

For those who don’t like to sing as much….

V. 12 Saying with a loud voice “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”

A sevenfold blessing.

Conclusion:

Phil. 2:9-11 “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Someday we will all bow before Jesus, whether we want to or not.

So I guess we either learn to worship God now, every day, all the time, during the singing or not at church…