Sermon

Today, Pastor Storms taught out of Revelation 6:1-8.

Here are some things that stood out to me:

• Revelation is not concerned merely with events at the close of history. There are multiple sections of the book that recapitulates (reiterates) one another. Each of which begins with the first coming of Christ and concludes with the second coming of Christ and the end of history.
• The book of Revelation is built around three series of seven judgments.
• There is no mistaking that these judgments proceed from Jesus Christ. Each seal is broken, and thus its judgment unleashed on the earth by the "Lamb" (v.1).

The First Seal (6:2)

The identity of the first horseman is most likely a Satanic parody or imitation of Jesus, and is interpreted as evil.The language of "conquering" is also used in Revelation of the beast oppressing and persecuting the people of God ( 11:7; 13:7). The "bow" is the symbol of intention to conquer by military might and tyranny. Nowhere in Revelation or in the NT does Jesus carry a bow. He is pictured with a sword.

The Second Seal (6:3-4)

The second horseman has power to take peace from the earth so that people kill one another. This may also include persecution of Christians since the word translated "slay" is literally "slaughter."

The Third Seal (6:5-6)

The third horseman is the agent for famine. The overall picture here is of both scarcity and plenty, an economic imbalance in the supply of food and the necessities of life.

The Fourth Seal (6:7-8)

This horseman is given a name: "Death". "Hades". This horseman is given authority from God to inflict death by four means: sword (war), famine, pestilence, and wild beasts. These judgments are limited in their scope, touching only 1/4 of the earth.

Our reaction to these judgments should be gratitude and evangelism. First, the fact that you have trusted Jesus to endure in your place the wrath and judgment you otherwise deserve to experience ought to awaken profound thanksgiving for the forgiveness of sins. Believers will not have to endure these judgments. Second, countless individuals still abide under the wrath of God. If ever there were an incentive to take the gospel to men and women around us, this is it.