The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Revelation 6:1–17)

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Revelation 6:1–17)
Revelation Series: Part 15

Pastor John Bornschein

Calvary Fellowship Fountain Valley

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Early Edition was a popular television program in the early 1990s that featured a young man that regularly received the next day’s newspaper a day ahead of time. Because he always knew the future, the man’s task in each episode was to save people from a tragedy or problem he had read about in tomorrow’s newspaper. So, if he knew a building was going to burn, he tried to keep people from entering into it. Or if someone was going to be hurt by an act of violence, or in an accident, he tried to prevent the encounter from taking place.

Most of us would like to have the knowledge that this man did. Yet, we fail to realize that the book of Revelation is an “early edition” of future events. Now we have arrived at Revelation 6 which is the precursor to a 7-year period called “the tribulation” (Matthew 24:21; Revelation 8–18). This section makes up almost two-thirds of the book of Revelation. This should cause us to stop and ask, “Is Revelation relevant? If so, why should we spend energy studying the time before and during the tribulation period when we believe (or hope and pray) that we will be raptured prior to this time?”

Studying the tribulation serves several important purposes: (1) the pre-tribulation and tribulation period should scare the living daylights out of us. God’s holiness, as expressed through His justice and wrath, should overwhelm us. It should spark a newfound appreciation for His love and grace; (2) the tribulation should also sober us. It should lead us to take our lives more seriously and to live them according to eternal values. As a result, we will not put so much attachment upon the things of this earth, once we see what will become of them. We will also live more thoughtfully for eternity, finding our source and satisfaction in God; and (3) the tribulation should compel us to go out into our world as ambassadors for Jesus Christ, delivering people from the wrath to come. Believe me when I say that no human being will want to go through this time. If all of these terrifying events don’t cause us to tell others about Jesus Christ, what will?

Today we are looking at the first set of judgments on the earth as the seals are being opened. So, one question that comes up is – “How long does it take to open the seals?”

The short answer is – we don’t know. But here are some theories I have summarized for you:

33 years: Revelation 6 could be a period of 33 years with Revelation 8 starting the final seven years for a total of 40 years. 40 years was the number it took for Israel to be purified and ready to take the Promised Land, and 40 years was the period between Jesus’ death and resurrection and the fall of Jerusalem.

3 years: Since the Trumpets will align with the Feast of Trumpets, the final Shemitah cycle, it is possible that the 10 days that Smyrna was told to persevere (the 10 days of trouble – Revelation 2:10) could all imply that the Seals will last three years (one year for every day Christ was in the earth) followed by seven years of tribulation. The last seven years is referred to as “one week” in Daniel 9:27, so it is possible that 10 days could refer to 10 years.

40 days: We can look at the plagues of Egypt and see that this destruction occurred over a period of 40 days (Exodus 7–11), and it was over 40 days that Goliath tormented Israel and insulted the God of Israel (1 Samuel 17). Jesus defeated Satan in the wilderness after 40 days (Matthew 4) and 40 days was the number it took to cleanse the earth for Noah (although Noah was on the ark for approximately 330 days after the rains stopped – Genesis 7–8).

10 days: We could take the 10 days of trouble (Revelation 2:10) spoken of to the church of Smyrna as a literal 10 days in a future tense but, given the magnitude of the global impact that occurs and the cultural response time for implementing new systems of governing (scales for food distribution – see Seal #3), it seems feasible to deduce that a period of 40 days to three years is more likely.

Revelation 4, 5, and 7 seem to go together (things that occur in a heavenly realm are not necessarily on the same timeline as they are here on earth – especially given that heaven is a place of timelessness). Prior to the Rapture, it is possible that the final church era will experience the trials of the first six seals. This is why we must persevere (just like Jesus directed Smyrna to do). The good news is that the Rapture appears to occur before the seventh seal is opened – the final seven years of trial like the world has never known that is poured out upon mankind (known as “the tribulation”).

Revelation moves from the Courtroom scene of Revelation 5 to the seals and then back to the multitudes of heaven. One way to interpret this may be like John bearing witness to the Courtroom, then a DVD player is pulled out in front of those seated as witnesses and shows what will come of the six seals. Once this message is played, the DVD is turned off and the Courtroom scene continues – which may explain why Revelation 4, 5, and 7 seem to be one concurrent scene with a flash-forward revealing what will happen when the scrolls are opened by the breaking of each seal.

It is also important to understand that the opened seals don’t end when the trumpets of Revelation 8 start blowing. These will become compounded trials upon the earth. The seals are not resealed, but those judgments continue. We will have the seals opened, trumpets blown, and bowls poured out by the end.

Some say that the seals, trumpets, and bowls are the same judgments revealed in more detail as you progress in Revelation, but that is clearly not the case.

The seals being opened reminds me of when the military would drop bombs or shoot missiles at a beach front to “soften them up” before the ground troops would go in.

Jesus is about to gather his troops and cleanse the land. He did this before with Joshua. In fact, pop quiz, who led the battle against Jericho? Many will think Joshua did, but rather we read in Joshua 5, that Joshua encounters the Lord, I believe it was Jesus (a Christophany). He then tells him to have seven priests to lead the Ark with shofars.

Did you know that Jesus (Yeshua) is a variant word of Yehoshua (Joshua)?

Joshua was a commander who leads a 7-year campaign against seven of an original 10 nations.

He will send in two witnesses, sound seven trumpets, and they will watch signs and wonders occur as a result in the heavens – hailstones, fire from heaven, the sun going backward, etc.

Then as the kings of the land run in fear, they will hide in caves (Joshua 10). So what Jericho represents is what we see unfold here in the last days.

Jesus will sovereignly judge this world (6:1–8). The first four seals seem to belong together (6:1–8). (1) They are introduced by one of the four living creatures (6:1, 3, 5, 7). (2) Each seal is preceded with a call to “Come.” (3) Each seal contains the image of a horse and rider (6:2, 4, 5, 8). (4) In each of the seals there is a progression of meaning given for each of the four seals: conquering, making war, famine, and death. (5) Each of these seals is opened by the Lamb, Jesus Christ. (6) Each seal is given its authority by Christ (“and to him was granted…”). John sees the whole process of judgment under the control of God. The conqueror has only what Almighty God allows him to have. God is completely sovereign, so His people do not need to be dismayed. The fifth and sixth seals seem to be distinct (6:9–11, 12–17) and the seventh seal introduces the trumpet judgments (8:1).

Keep in mind that we have not yet entered the 70^th week of Daniel – the final seven years. Our focus today is what happens as global economies and powers shift from events that unfold at the opening of the seals. This sets the stage for the Beast.

The First Seal (6:1–2)

“¹ Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.” ² And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.” (Revelation 6:1–2)

John was an eyewitness of this revelation that came to him as action scenes in a film rather than as words from the pages of a book. When the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals on the scroll that He had taken from God, one of the four creatures (Revelation 4:6–7) called out with a voice of thunder. The “voice of thunder” is symbolic of judgment, as a coming storm. It is a voice of terror, majesty, and judgment! The command given is, “Come.” This was probably an invitation to the first horseman rather than to John or to Christ. The angel gave this command four times (6:1, 3, 5, 7), and each time a horseman on a horse came forth. In 6:2, a rider came riding on a white horse with a bow and a crown for the purpose of conquering.

This verse does not say who rides this “white horse.” However, it is most likely the coming Antichrist (Daniel 9:26–27; 1 Thessalonians 5:3). This rider represents a conquering power that no one can resist (Matthew 24:3–6). This person has the semblance of Christ (trying to look like he is the Christ who comes on a white horse – but he is not Christ (Revelation 19:11–19). He comes as a deceiver (John 8:44).

In 2 Corinthians 11:13–15, we read that the workers of the Antichrist will disguise themselves as workers of the Lord, his Apostles, and even ministers of righteousness:

“¹³ For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. ¹⁵ Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” (2 Corinthians 11:13–15)

The horse was considered a war machine in biblical times. “White” symbolizes righteousness and holiness. The bow, mentioned without reference to arrows, may suggest, that the rider is engaged in “peaceful conquest” by diplomacy and without bloodshed. But it is common in the Scriptures for the bow, as a symbol of hunting or of warfare, to be mentioned alone and still to symbolize violent conquest (Isaiah 41:2). This is analogous to frequent references in Western America to riders going forth with rifles, without mention of bullets. The bullets – and likewise the arrows – are assumed. He also has a “crown.”

We should note that this bow may be a symbolic image of a covenant (like the rainbow of God to Noah) that he comes in the name of peace and conquers through the illusion of peace. Daniel 8:25 says that “he shall magnify himself in his heart and by peace shall destroy many.”

He gains power through the message of peace – looking like a messiah who offers hope in chaos. In fact, in Daniel 11:23–24, we are told that he will acquire power with only a small number of people with him at first because he will offer political solutions for peace and they will allow and desire him to lead them. Then he will rule for seven years according to Daniel 9:27 (but not the whole world) – not until his attempted conquest of the whole world at the final 3 ½ years (1,260 days) of his rule (Daniel 11:40–45) when he breaks the covenant with Israel.

Rise of the Beast

§  The empires of the beast unite (Daniel 2, 7, 8, and 11; Revelation 13 and 17)

§  White horse, red horse, black horse, and green horse go forth – establish authorities who bring forth judgment (Revelation 6, Seals #1–4; Zechariah 1:7–11, 6:1–8; False Prophet: Matthew 24:24; 1 John 4:1–6; 2 Peter 2:1–22; 2 Timothy 4:3; 2 Corinthians 11:13–15; Matthew 7:15)

This Antichrist, the 8^th ruler (Revelation 17:11), comes to power from a kingdom that represents seven past, present, and future kings/kingdoms (Daniel 7:17, 23; Revelation 17), and is supported by ten kings who will be subject to the Antichrist himself (Revelation 13:1–10) along with Mystery, Babylon. When we get into Revelation 13 and 17, we will cover this in more depth.

The Antichrist (the Beast) is mentioned 46 times in the Bible – 33 times in the Old Testament and 13 times in the New Testament.

Who gives him this crown? Notice Romans 13:1: “For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”

An angel tells Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4:17, “The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men.” God is sovereign over all earthly authority, and it is from Him that this horseman receives his crown and purpose.

This crown represents a power grab for world dictatorship.

Crowns generally represent some state of honor or blessing for the wearer. We normally associate crowns with royalty, which in Classical Greek is represented by the word diadema, which has come down to us as “diadem.” The word in Revelation 6:2, however, is stéfanos, a circlet, wreath, or garland, oftentimes made of leaves and twigs, but sometimes of precious metals. It was awarded as a prize of victory or triumph, as a symbol of honor or authority, as a badge of civic worth or military valor, or as a sign of nuptial joy or festal gladness. Due to the verse’s heavy martial emphasis, it is likely that the horseman’s crown signifies triumph, authority, or military valor.

This horseman goes “out conquering and to conquer,” a fairly literal rendering of the Greek. To us, this phraseology sounds strange, but it is merely expressing two different tenses of the same verb (nikao, “conquer,” “subdue,” “overcome,” “prevail,” “get the victory”): the present participle and the aorist subjunctive. In other words, John is telling us that the horseman begins and continues to conquer, and he will certainly conquer or will ultimately conquer. The implication is that his entire purpose is to conquer, to dominate, to subjugate the peoples of the earth.

Overall, the white horse and its rider are vivid representations of a powerful, aggressive, victorious force running unrestrained over mankind. Like a knight in armor or a soldier in full dress uniform, the first horseman appears to the eye as glorious and noble, but its intent is to kill, destroy, and subdue its enemies. Its white façade is deceptive, concealing a deadly, unholy purpose.

These interpretations of the symbols may seem highly speculative and arbitrary until we unlock their mystery with the key supplied by Jesus Christ Himself in the Olivet Prophecy. In a series of four verses, He decodes the meanings of the Four Horsemen. Of the white horseman, He says: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Christ, and will deceive many” (Matthew 24:4–5; see Mark 13:5–6; Luke 21:8). The white horse and its rider may represent religious deception.

The Antichrist’s reign includes war under the guise of peace. Peace is a buzzword today. Many of the world’s greatest thinkers speak of the need of a one-world government – a new world order. The Antichrist will camp on this and make “peace” his campaign message. Of course the world will buy in, which will allow him to be enthroned on earth as a “god” and political leader.

A number of years ago, the newspapers carried a story of a woman in Fayetteville, Arkansas, who named the United Nations as the beneficiary of her $700,000 estate, “in the fervent hope that this relatively small contribution may be of some effect in bringing about universal peace on earth and good will among men.” Upon reading this account, J. Vernon McGee, the well-known radio preacher, commented, “[That woman] poured [her] money down a rat hole,” because you cannot buy peace with $700,000 or even $700 trillion. Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, is the only way to find peace.

Again – we will cover more about the Beast, this Antichrist in Revelation 13 and 17, but let me summarize what we know about this world leader.

Supporting passages about him (along with the False Prophet): Ezekiel 28:1–10; Daniel 7:7–8, 20–26, 8:23–25, 9:26–27, 11:36–45; Zechariah 1:7–11, 6:1–8; Matthew 7:15, 24:4–5, 23–24; Mark 13:5–6; Luke 21:8; 1 John 2:18, 22, 4:3; 2 John 7; 2 Thessalonians 2:3–10; 2 Peter 2:1–22; 2 Timothy 4:3; Revelation 13:1–10, 17:8–14

The Antichrist could rise from an Assyrian nation – (see Isaiah 10:5–19; Micah 5:5–6) but he may actually be of Israelite lineage (Daniel 11:37–38; Ezekiel 21:25–27 – from the tribe of Dan – see Genesis 49:16–18). This may challenge you a bit, because we have been so convinced for years that the Antichrist would arise from the Holy Roman Empire and the Catholic Church. We will talk about that in a moment and expand on it further as we study Revelation 13.

The nations that made up the Assyrian Empire were Turkey, Iraq and Syria. Some suggest that Iran was in there too, but they are most likely Persian but Assyria would have held parts of Iran.

My friend, Dwayne Weary, worked extensively to pull together the following about him (which Chuck Missler also supports in his studies about the Antichrist):

§  He will appear in the later times (Daniel 8:23)

§  He will not be fully revealed until the Day of the Lord has begun (2 Thessalonians 2:2)

§  The ‘Restrainer’ is now hindering him (2 Thessalonians 2:6–7)

§  He will be preceded by an apostasy, a great rebellion against God and His law (2 Thessalonians 2:1–3; Matthew 24:10–12)

§  He arises from the sea (generally symbolic of the nations of the earth in contrast to “the land” which often symbolizes Israel – Revelation 13:1)

§  He may be from the tribe of Dan (Genesis 49:1–17; Daniel 11:37–38; Ezekiel 21:25–27)

§  He overcomes three rulers in his rise to power (Daniel 7:8; 24)

§  One of the heads of this Beast seems to have a deadly wound but is healed (Revelation 13:3, 12, 14) – perhaps dying and ascending up from the bottomless pit (Revelation 17). This may correlate with a potential description we have of the Antichrist in Zechariah 11:17 where he seems to survive a sword or dagger wound to his arm and to one of his eyes (head wound)

§  He rises through his peace program (Daniel 8:25)

§  He is intelligent, persuasive (Daniel 7:8, 20; 8:23), subtle and crafty (Ezekiel 28:6). He rules over others by their own consent (Revelation 17:13)

§  He rules with absolute authority (Daniel 11:36) and he changes laws and customs (Daniel 7:25)

§  His motivation is power and control (Daniel 11:38) and he receives the power from Satan (Ezekiel 28:2, 9–12; Revelation 13:4; Daniel 8:25)

§  He makes a 7-year covenant with Israel that he breaks after 3½ years (Daniel 9:27)

§  He introduces idolatrous worship in which he elevates himself as a god (Daniel 9:27, 11:36–37;
2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:5)

§  He is a blasphemer toward the God of heaven (Ezekiel 28:2; Daniel 7:25; Revelation 13:1, 5–6)

§  He will gain control over Israel and adjacent territory (Daniel 11:42) and make his headquarters in Jerusalem (Daniel 11:45)

§  His kingdom will be lost and it will become the Kingdom of the Saints (Daniel 7:27)

Today the world is ripe for the rise of such a man with his world government as an answer to international problems. Prominent world leaders and movements have posed the idea that what we need is a world order with a charismatic leader who can mold the world into harmony and peace. In his book, written in 1973, The Day the Dollar Dies, Willard Cantelon quotes a number of world leaders to this effect. He writes:

Harold Urey said, “The only escape from total destruction of civilization will be a world government.” Robert J. Oppenheimer stated, “In the field of atomic energy, there must be set up a world power.” Arthur Compton added his word, “World government has become inevitable.” Dr. Ralph Barton Perry of Harvard said, “One world government is in the making. Whether we like it or not, we are moving toward a one-world government.” Professor Hocking wrote, “Therefore the alternative is that we vest all political power in one agency and resign that power ourselves.”

James Warburg says, “We are living in a perilous period of transition from the era of the fully sovereign nation-state to the era of world government.” In Between Two Ages, Zbigniew Brezinski, former assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, openly advocates a one world government as a necessity. And this is not even the tip of the iceberg. Such thinking is all part of a deluding influence that will continue to grow as a product of the blindness and rebellion of man against God, being blinded by his own natural blindness and by the deceptions of Satan, and even by God’s own sovereign judgment (Ephesians 2:1–3, 4:16–17; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 2 Timothy 2:26). Undoubtedly, this kind of thinking among world leaders will pave the way for the white horse rider who comes proclaiming peace, but it is really the system of the beast in disguise and a precursor to the horrible world conditions that will follow. In 2 Thessalonians 2:8–12, the Apostle Paul warns:

“⁸ And then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; ⁹ that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, ¹⁰ and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. ¹¹ And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, ¹² in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:8–12)

The Second Seal (6:3–4)

“³ When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.” 4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.” (Revelation 6:3–4)

When the Lamb broke the second seal on the scroll, John heard the second living creature order the second horseman forward. The red horse probably symbolizes bloodshed and war. The rider of this horse removes “peace from the earth.” Further, he was to cause men to “slay [lit. slaughter] one another.” The “great sword” represents authority to slay people. It does not denote only international warfare, but revolution in which people turn on one another. The result is anarchy, riot, and civil war. In light of the terrorism, bombings, and civil war taking place around the world, we need little imagination to think of what will be happening on an even larger scale.

It has always been so throughout history. Since the beginning of time, the world has only known 292 years of peace – in 6,000 years of recorded history, we have less than 300 years of times of peace.

Since Adam, there have been more than fourteen thousand recorded wars and fourteen billion deaths. The real estate damage alone could have paid for a golden belt around the world 97.2 miles across and thirty-three feet thick.

Six million Jews were killed from 1941–1945. However, the casualties felt across the globe totaled over 60 million people, which was about 3% of the 1940 world population (est. 2.3 billion). World War II fatality statistics vary, with estimates of total dead ranging from 50 million to more than 80 million.

In the last 400 years, European nations have signed more than 8,000 peace treaties. What our text tells us is that in the years just prior to the second coming of Christ, God is going to give civilization over to war (Romans 1:24, 26, 28).

A summary of events that may take place during the opening of the 2^nd Seal may include the following:

§  Wars, violence; ethnic (racial, religious, geographical) and national (Matthew 24:6–7; Mark 13:7; Luke 21:9–10)

§  Red horse, sword, takes peace from earth (Revelation 6:3–4)

§  Red horses go throughout earth (Zechariah 6:7)

§  Israel’s enemies attack (first war, Psalm 83; second war; Ezekiel 38–39; Joel 1:1–2:11)

§  The city of Damascus, Syria destroyed (Isaiah 17 and Jeremiah 49:24–27)

§  The city of Ammon, Jordan destroyed (Jeremiah 49:2)

§  Egypt becomes desolate and laid to waste (Ezekiel 29–32; Isaiah 19–20 – then restored by the Lord)

§  Moab destroyed (Isaiah 15–16)

§  Ethiopia judged (Isaiah 18, 20)

This attempt to destroy Israel then sets the stage for the Antichrist to bring peace with Israel at the beginning of the final seven years (Daniel’s 70^th week).

We will address this more in Revelation 13, but it is important to understand that with so much focus put on Rome as the city of seven mountains, we must remember that there was another kingdom to come after Rome that was a mix of what Rome had built – partly iron and partly clay (or ceramic) from Daniel 2.

Revelation 17:10 tells us that the heads of the beast were made up of five kings that were and have fallen, one that is and another that is to come.

Here are some empires that come to mind…

§  The Egyptian Empire (3100 – 332 B.C.)

§  The Babylonian Empire (1894 – 539 B.C.)

§  The Medo-Persian Empire (550 – 330 B.C.)

§  Greco-Macedonian Empire (331 – 31 B.C.)

§  Roman Empire (27 B.C. – 1453 A.D.)

Constantine moved the capital to Constantinople (Istanbul) in 330 A.D. This became the capital of the Ottoman Empire (1299 – 1922) and it was Suleiman I (The Magnificent – 1520–1566) who blocked up the Eastern Gate in Jerusalem to prevent the Jewish Messiah from returning through it.

We see in Ezekiel 38 and Psalm 83 that in both attempts to eradicate Israel, there is a coalition of Muslim countries that involve Turkey (a non-Arab nation).

Thyatira featured Jezebel (Revelation 2) and the description correlates with the woman in Revelation 17 and Thyatira is located in Turkey. Remember, Turkey is the focus of the first seven churches and Istanbul (Constantinople) is a city of seven mountains built on the fragmented Roman empire (the feet of the statue in Daniel 2).

Psalm 83 nations include:

1.      Turkey

2.      Jordan

3.      Lebanon

4.      Gaza (Hamas)

5.      Palestinians (West Bank)

6.      Egypt

7.      Syria

8.      Iraq

9.      Saudi Arabia

10.  Iran

So, where is the United States in all of this? It is difficult to say. We know that there is a foreign power that gives the King of the North a hard time attacking him with ships from the western coastlands in Daniel 11:30. However, we have to be honest with ourselves and realize that Rome wasn’t defeated militarily. It was defeated politically and economically. The nation went bankrupt – spiritually, politically, and economically. It divided up and fragmented from within, thus allowing other powers to rise because Rome could no longer afford to stand in the way and police the world.

Our country is over $19 trillion in debt – more than 104% of our GDP. That means we owe more than the whole country could make in one year. Our debt per U.S. Citizen is $61,340. Rome couldn’t sustain a socialist system, and neither can we. We can’t keep spending money we don’t have. So, when Israel needs us the most, we may not be able to stand with them any longer – lost in spiritual, social, economic, and political fragmentation.

We also have to recognize that there are six million Jews in Israel and there are nearly 6.5 million Jews in America. That means of the 15 million Jews in the world, most of them are in the United States.

The Jewish community – two percent of the U.S. population – has proved to be one of the most vibrant, creative and useful groups in American life. Its loss would be a loss for the entire nation.

American-Jewish accomplishments are well-known, frequently praised, and often resented. They include curing polio, building the A- and H- bombs, and winning more than 15 percent of Nobel Prizes in science.

Jews are ten out of 100 U.S. senators, three of nine Supreme Court justices, and the chair of the Federal Reserve and her two predecessors; a third of the Forbes 400’s richest Americans – and many leading philanthropists. Jews built great retail chains like Sears and Macy’s and computer companies like Oracle, Dell, and Facebook.

Jews practically invented Hollywood and established the three biggest broadcast networks. Broadway wouldn’t be Broadway without Arthur Miller, Steven Sondheim and Rodgers and Hammerstein. The New York Times and the Washington Post, were founded by Jews. And on and on.

Personally, I believe America has received a great spiritual blessing because of the presence of the Jews and our alliance with Israel.

“I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:3)

However, the Jews only make up two of the 12 tribes of Israel (Benjamin and Judah). So, we need to consider that there are 10 other tribes blended in with other nations. Perhaps some of this war with Israel is not just a war on the land of Israel but with the tribes of Israel. Thus, America may be a factor in the war, but not identified specifically.

The other side of this situation is yet another potential scenario. If the “liberal agenda” has its way, America will embrace Sharia Law and other potentially destructive doctrines and policies in the name of tolerance that will lead to religious and social persecutions that drive Jews back to Israel and Christians into hiding. One has to wonder if the prophecies of the people of Israel returning to the Promised Land have only been partially fulfilled given the large number of Jews still in America:

§  Gathering from worldwide dispersion begins (Jeremiah 30:3; Ezekiel 34:13, 36:11, 24, 37:21, 39:27)

§  Israel united, not separate kingdoms (Ezekiel 36:8, 11, 22–24, 37:21–22; Isaiah 66:7–9; Jeremiah 16:15; Deuteronomy 30:1–5)

Back to our rider. As with the white horse rider, so this rider is unnamed. Some see this as Russia because Russia is known as the Red menace and their army as the Red army. Certainly Russia, if she is the king of the North as depicted in Ezekiel 38 and 39, could fit strongly in the promotion of war and the removal of peace in the prior to and during tribulation period (see the other northern army that gives trouble for the King of the North in Daniel 11). Russia and her allies could easily help to promote the escalation of cold war to actual warfare (we see Russia actively involved in Syria today). But the primary emphasis is on the fact that prior to and during the tribulation, there will be constant tension among nations and the ambitions of men who will be clamoring for power and control. This will come to its climax just prior to the return of Christ. Walvoord understands Matthew 24:4–8 to apply to conditions characteristic of this era before the tribulation. Walvoord writes:

Though “wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6) are characteristic of the age, it is evident that warfare occupies a large place in the consummation of the age with a resultant great loss of life. There apparently is a series of wars, the greatest of which is under way at the time of the second coming. The hope of permanent peace by means of the United Nations and other human efforts is doomed to failure.

However, concerning the fact the seals closely parallel the events or signs of the end times spoken of by the Lord in His Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:1–15), Barnhouse writes:

The order of events follows closely that which was announced by our Lord in answer to the disciples’ questions on the Mount of Olives, “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many” (Matthew 24:5). This is the white horse. “And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars… for nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom …” (24:6–7). This is the red horse of war.

The short-lived peace which the world will have known in those early days of the tribulation (during part of the first half) will be broken by the red horse rider. International conflicts will begin to erupt all over the earth. We are not told here in Revelation 6 just what exactly causes this, i.e., the kind of political or military move, but men everywhere begin to slay one another. Until this point there would undoubtedly be “rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6), but then nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom (Matthew 24:7). These parallels between the seals and Matthew 24 are too striking to be ignored.

The Parallels Between Matthew 24:1–14 and Revelation 6
Conditions	Matthew	Revelation 6
False Christs	24:4–5	6:1–2
Warfare	24:6–8	6:3–4
Famine	24:7	6:5–6
Death	24:7–10	6:7–8
Witnessing	24:14	6:9–11
Cosmic Changes	24:29	6:12–23

The Third Seal (6:5–6)

“⁵ When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. ⁶ And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.” (Revelation 6:5–6)

A black horse followed, symbolizing the ravage of war, namely famine (see Lamentations 4). Black is the color of frightfulness and mourning. This third horseman carries in his hand a pair of scales that symbolize his work. These scales in the hand of the horseman are not the kind used by Weight Watchers, but rather is the kind of used to measure out grain. This implies that food will have to be weighed out and rationed with care. As is generally true, scarcity and famine follow war.

When bread was weighed out to be eaten, it symbolized scarcity (Leviticus 26:25–33; Ezekiel 4).

The denarius, as a Roman coin, in ancient times was a normal day’s wage. In New Testament times, this coin would purchase eight quarts of wheat, or eight measures (one measure equals about one quart) or 24 quarts of barley. Wheat was the better grain and barley was normally used only for livestock except in times of scarcity. During the tribulation, however, one denarius (a full day’s wage) will buy only one measure (about one meal) of wheat, or three meals of barley with nothing left. Of course, the larger the family, the worse it will be. But note the words, “do not harm the oil and the wine.” These were luxury items which will apparently be unharmed at this point. There will be plenty of luxury items but only the super-rich will have them. The average man will spend all he has on the bare essentials.

Just after World War I, there was a shortage of coal in Vienna and the police had ordered everyone off the streets by nine o’clock. The city was filled with wealthy refugees from Russia and other countries. Walking along the boulevard one afternoon as the crowds were coming out of the opera which began early to conform to the curfew regulations, there you would find men with bare feet in the snow, their skeletons covered with rags, their ribs seen through the holes in the cloths with which they attempted to cover their bodies. From time to time there was blood on the snow from their feet. Out of the opera came men escorting women with fortunes in jewels upon them. The beggars blocked the way to the fine limousines that came for the rich. Men began striking the beggars with their canes to clear the way for the women. Poor girls wearing torn clothing and in wooden shoes, clattered about clutching at the passerby and offering to sell themselves for a coin which at that moment could be purchased for one five hundredth part of a dollar. Mark well, there was no famine in Vienna. There was scarcity in the midst of plenty, but there was no hurt to the luxuries.

The picture here is scarcity in the midst of plenty.

Probably the wars that the ungodly rulers under Antichrist’s leadership begin will reduce the food supply greatly. These rulers will control it strictly with consequent suffering for many people (Luke 21:11). The price of wheat and barley will be very high. A quart of wheat would provide one meal, but it would cost a denarius, a whole day’s wages. “Do not damage the oil and the wine” means “do not tamper with,” reflecting the strict control over prices that ungodly rulers, under Antichrist’s leadership, will have at this time. The poor would have little money left over for oil, for fuel and health needs, and for wine to drink (Ezekiel 4:16–17). An inescapable outcome of war is starvation. Worldwide inflation destroys the world economy. Worldwide famine causes great shortages and inflation. Panic in the market causes people to stampede the marketplace to sell their stock. A worldwide depression will make people panic over bread-and-butter issues. The causes of the famine were not extremely severe, since they killed the wheat and barley, but not the vines and olive trees whose roots go deeper. As the tribulation grows worse, the rich as well as the poor will suffer, but at this early stage the poor will suffer perhaps more than the rich.

In another correlation, Amos 8 describes a famine of truth (the Word of God). I believe this will be occurring as well for there will be a great falling away from truth due to the calamities we will read of throughout these seals and after.

Famines, Earthquakes and Economic Woes

§  Famines, earthquakes in various places (Matthew 24:7; Mark 13:8; Luke 21:11)

§  Black horse, scales, food shortages, hyperinflation (Revelation 6:5–6, Seal #3)

§  Black horses go toward north (Zechariah 6:6); i.e., north of Israel

The fact that the voice announcing the prices comes from the living creatures that are in the middle of and around God’s throne (Revelation 4:6) suggests that God has something to do with price lists. When we watch prices go up and down, and when we hear the weather reports and crop reports, and when we listen to the latest stock prices and economic indicators, we never think of anything divine connected with them. How wrong we are!

Should a series of global, catastrophic events occur that would impact the United States, the American Truckers Associations report states the following:

Food

§  Significant shortages will occur in as little as three days, especially for perishable items following a national emergency and a ban on truck traffic.

Water

§  Supplies of clean drinking water will run dry in two to four weeks.

Health Care

§  Without truck transportation, patient care within the truck stoppage zone will be immediately jeopardized.

§  Hospitals and nursing homes will exhaust food supplies in as little as 24 hours.

§  Pharmacy stocks of prescription drugs will be depleted in less than three days.

Transportation

•     Service station fuel supplies will start to run out in just one to two days.

Financial Sector

§  ATM and branch bank cash resources will be exhausted in less than 24 hours. Average community banks will have roughly $20,000.00 on hand. The ATMs will have $3,000.00 at the beginning of the business day and will be refilled as needed. The tellers will have less, $2,000.00 being the norm – and this is reducing each year as we move to a cashless society.

§  69% of Americans have less than $1,000 in their savings accounts. In fact, “nearly half of families have no retirement account savings at all,” the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) reported.

The Fourth Seal (6:7–8)

“⁷ When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” ⁸ So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.” (Revelation 6:7–8)

The Lamb broke the fourth seal, and the fourth living creature called the fourth horseman out. John next saw an ashen horse the color of a human corpse. The Greek term for “ashen” (chloros) is the one from which we get our English word chlorine. It denotes a yellowish-green color as of a human corpse – the rider’s name is “Death.” Following on his heels is “hades,” which is the destination of the souls that do not know Christ as Savior (Luke 16:23).

Daniel 12:1–2 says that anyone whose name is written in the Book of Life will be delivered as multitudes will sleep (die) and go into the dust of the earth – during this time especially – but they will be awakened and some to everlasting life and others to everlasting contempt.

Perhaps John saw hades following death as a man on foot follows a mounted warrior grimly gathering in his victims, or as a hearse follows a horse. As John has already announced (Revelation 1:18), Jesus holds the keys to death and hades. As horrible as they are, their power is limited to what Christ permits; they too were “given” their authority.

God gives these enemies authority to take one-fourth of the world’s population. This is approximately 1.5 billion people. This is more than the population of China and the United States combined. This is the greatest destruction of human life recorded in history. This evidently is the total number that will die as a result of all the catastrophes predicted so far. The causes of death will be slaughter (the second rider), hunger (the third rider), pestilence or plague, and wild beasts. These catastrophes are war, the resulting famine, and disease. Attacks by wild animals will also contribute to the death rate. When we compare these predicates with Ezekiel 14:21
(1 Kings 8:33–39; 1 Chronicles 21:12), we realize that this is a listing of covenantal curses instituted when the people of Israel fall into idolatry:

§  Plagues in various places (Luke 21:11)

§  Pale/ashen/green horse, ¼ of earth killed by sword, famine, plague, beasts (Revelation 6:7–8)

§  Dappled horses go toward south (Zechariah 6:6); i.e., south of Israel

A plague can travel fast. Here are some shocking statistics:

§  Smallpox killed 300 million people in the 20^th Century alone!

§  The Spanish Flu killed 100 million people in less than two years (1918–1919)

§  Black Death killed 75 million people in the 14^th Century, or 60 percent of Europe’s entire population. The disastrous mortal disease known as the Black Death spread across Europe in the years 1346–53 (seven years)

§  Malaria kills two million people EVERY YEAR and has been doing so since 1600 A.D.

§  AIDS has taken 25 million lives and counting.

§  Typhus killed three million people between 1918 and 1922 alone!

§  Cholera has taken just under one million lives from 1817 to current times

The Fifth Seal (6:9–11)

“⁹ When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. ¹⁰ And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” ¹¹ Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.” (Revelation 6:9–11)

Earlier, John had seen a throne room in heaven (Revelation 4–5), but now he sees a temple. In this temple, there is an altar. This altar was evidently an altar of sacrifice rather than an incense altar (Revelation 5:8, 8:3–5, 14:17–18). Under this altar were the souls of people who had died for their faith in God and their faithfulness to Him during the first four seals period just described (6:3–8; i.e., in the tribulation so far; Matthew 24:9, 13–14; Luke 21:11). Perhaps the idea is that the lives of these martyrs were sacrifices to God. These faithful believers had been slain for their faith. John did not see their resurrected bodies because God had not yet resurrected them (see Revelation 7). John sees these martyrs very much alive. Men may destroy our bodies (the house for the person), but they cannot kill the soul or the person who indwells the body. At death, the soul of the person goes to be with the Lord (Philippians 1:21–22; 2 Corinthians 5:6–8). The body “sleeps,” but the soul of the person is conscious, awake. These believers were “slain.” This was a sacrificial term used for the slaughtering of animals for sacrifice. The emphasis seems to be on the fact they were not just killed, but slaughtered.

Jesus now opens the fifth seal and John sees, “underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained.” These martyrs “cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’”

In 6:11, John states, “there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.” In 6:10, John saw these martyrs calling out to their heavenly Master (Gk. despotes) to punish their murderers. “Master” implies divine might, majesty, power, and authority, and it stresses the absolute power of God. How much longer did they have to wait for God to avenge them? (Psalm 79:10, 94:3; Habakkuk 1:2). “Those who dwell on the earth” is almost a technical expression in Revelation describing unbelievers who are hostile to God. Contrast the prayers of Jesus (Luke 23:24) and Stephen (Acts 7:60) in which they asked God to be merciful to their murderers. The difference is that the time of God’s longsuffering has now ended and He has begun to pour out His wrath on sinners. Their prayers for justice upon their enemies are viewed as the fifth judgment against the earth-dwellers. This is not a cry for revenge, but for God’s justice and righteousness to prevail on earth against the sin and the atrocities of man, in rebellion to God (Romans 12:19). As in the disciples’ prayer, “Your kingdom come,” they are praying for the second coming which ushers in God’s righteous and just reign on earth.

Each martyr received a long, white robe. They had been faithful and had suffered martyrdom for their fidelity to Christ (Revelation 3:5, 7:9, 14). God told these martyrs to be patient. More people would experience martyrdom before the Rapture and before it would be God’s time for Jesus Christ to return to the earth and judge their living adversaries.

Apparently, religious persecution breaks out in the land of Israel. We would expect when the abomination of desolation occurs, there will be faithful messianic Jewish believers who will resist his pretensions. John sees the results of this persecution by the Man of Sin in Revelation 6:9. God will avenge the death of Christian martyrs at the right time and will give them special honor (Psalm 116:15). In the meantime, we must pray for those who will be martyred.

Under the rule of Rome, records show over 45,000 Christians were slain by crucifixion, burned to death, and thrown to wild animals. Many believers were afraid about the unsure future. They were afraid of being strong enough to stand up to adversities that they would be facing and if they could endure the persecution.

NOTE: More than 70 million Christians have died for their faith since Christ (and that is a conservative number).

Persecution

§  Martyrs (Matthew 24:9; Luke 21:12)

§  Believers betrayed even by family, hated by everyone (Matthew 24:10–12; Mark 13:12–13; Luke 21:16–17)

§  Christian martyrs; more will die (Revelation 6:9–11, Seal #5); beheaded (Revelation 20:4)

These persecutions and false teachings going out around the world could lead to the Apostasy a “falling away” from truth (Mathew 24:10–12; 2 Thessalonians 2:2–7). This will occur again just prior to the coming of the two witnesses who will bring the truth once again (Revelation 11) at the very point with the Antichrist will declare himself to be god.

The Sixth Seal (6:12–17)

“¹² I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. ¹³ And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. ¹⁴ Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. ¹⁵ And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, ¹⁶ and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
¹⁷ For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (Revelation 6:12–17)

In 6:12–17, the scene shifts back to earth as Jesus opens the sixth seal. In 6:12–14, John tells us that the earth will be affected by six cosmic catastrophes. 13 times in the Scriptures we are told of how God stretches out the heavens and they are shaken at His word. In these three verses, God shakes the universe like a rag doll. As a result, the entire world will know that there is a God. They will also know that His divine wrath is unleashed against their rebellion. The first catastrophe that Jesus brings is a “great earthquake” that will rock the whole world (Luke 21:11). In 6:14, John writes, “every mountain and island were moved out of their places.” This is frightening! Then the sun will become “black as sackcloth made of hair.” “Sackcloth” was a very rough cloth made from the hair of a black goat and worn in times of mourning and despair (Revelation 11:3). The blackening or darkening of the sun as a sign, speaks of God’s judgment and the withdrawal of His longsuffering. It shows this will be a time of great despair for man. What causes this darkening? We are not told; we can only speculate. Perhaps it is caused by the ash, dust, and debris which will fill the sky when the earth begins to quake (6:14). This will undoubtedly cause volcanic eruptions which will make Mount St. Helens look like a hiccup by comparison. When there is a large volcanic eruption, the sun becomes darkened by the substances in the air.

Not only will the sun become black, John tells us “the whole moon became like blood.” As a sign, this speaks of the loss of life. How eerie this all will be, to look up at night and see a blood-red moon. Evidently, through the atmospheric changes brought about by the shaking of the earth and the heavens, particles or substances will be in the air which will cause the moon to take on a red cast.

John also says that the stars will be affected. The word “star” (aster) is used of any heavenly body seen at night (i.e., stars, planets, asteroids, meteors, etc.). These are not stars as we often use the word, which are huge and often dwarf the earth in size. These are likely meteorites, which are small by comparison to the earth. John compares them to unripe figs falling to earth from a fig tree when shaken by a great wind.

In 6:14, the sky will appear to split and roll back in two opposite directions (Isaiah 34:4). The universe will seem to be coming apart. Apparently, the opening of the sky will give earth-dwellers a window-like look into heaven where they see the Lord God and the Lamb. Apparently, this lasts for at least one full revolution of the earth so all the world sees this (Revelation 6:15).

In 6:15, John provides seven classes of society to stress the universal scope of this judgment. He then tells us that they “^15b And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, ¹⁶ and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! ¹⁷ For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (6:15b–17). These verses are truly tragic. In the midst of unbelievable suffering, mankind does not pray to God for protection from His wrath. Instead, they cry out to the rocks and the mountains. The inhabitants of the earth will recognize for the first time the source of their trouble, yet they still refuse to respond to God’s wrath. God’s wrath is one of His eternal attributes, the perfect complement to His love. The wrath of God is His necessary and just response to evil (Psalm 7:11). God’s wrath is presently being revealed against unbelievers by letting them go their way and face the consequences of their behavior (Romans 1:18–32). However, when the great day of God’s wrath occurs, He will be far more active in the execution of His anger.

Summary of Events:

§  Great earthquake, sun goes to black, moon becomes blood red, stars fall, terrain changes (Joel 2; Isaiah 34:1–4; Revelation 6:12–15, Seal #6 – timing may occur before 7-year tribulation and during)

This sudden fear of God by all the people of the earth may be why the Israelites want to rush to build the third temple, which will be embraced by the Antichrist (at first). Only a few months into his 7-year reign, he will allow Israel to begin construction and it will be completed by the 3½ point of his reign.

There is hope in the midst of this scene!

Many believe, as do I, that this may be the time of the Rapture (or the 1^st Rapture). Something like this happened before in history believe it or not, when the ground shook and the sky changed. It happened in Matthew 27. After darkness falls on the land, look what happens:

“⁵¹ Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, ⁵² and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; ⁵³ and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. ⁵⁴ So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:51–54)

To this day, there are still opened tombs where it looks like the side of the mountain was sheared off. It wasn’t just a tiny little ground rumbling. It was a serious event.

Could this be the moment (here in Revelation 6) when the dead in Christ are raised once again? That would make sense as to why Revelation 7 will follow this moment where we see the Saints gathered together in the Lord’s presence.

Dwayne Weary stated it well in his book “The Road to New Jerusalem” with the following words:

“With the breaking of the 6^th seal of Revelation 6, a great earthquake signals the coming of the wrath of God (Revelation 6:12–17). The fullness of the Gentiles has come in (Romans 11:25–29) as the church (the Bride of Christ) is taken to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 4:16–18; 5:9; Matthew 3:7; Romans 5:9) and the 7 years of tribulation are about to begin.”

We will talk more about the Rapture(s) next week as we read Revelation 7.

At this point, the world poses this question: “As a Christian, aren’t you supposed to be teaching that God is a God of love rather than a God of condemnation?” The inference is somehow you are being unloving by reminding people of God’s holiness and intolerance of sin. Suppose I tell my daughter, Aizlynn, that if she sticks her finger into an electrical outlet she will die. Am I being judgmental or loving? Warning people of inevitable consequences of sin is the most loving thing we can do, especially if it leads them to make the right choice.

I acknowledge that it is not pleasant to read about the carrying out of God’s judgment on the world. There are many questions surrounding God’s activity and His purpose in all this. It all seems so terrible. Why would God do these things, which cause such misery and pain? There are several reasons but three should suffice: (1) God wants to bring people to repentance; (2) God wants to demonstrate His patience; and (3) God wants to establish His justice.

Some lessons and applications may be drawn from this study: (1) Our passage teaches the absolute sovereignty of God. The four riders are given their authority from heaven. Everything they do is directed and limited by Almighty God and the Lamb. God’s people have nothing to fear from Antichrist, for the Lamb is their Lord. (2) The four seals demonstrate the self-defeating character of sin. Antichrist shows us in a graphic way the spirit of self-aggrandizement that is one of the fruits of sin. All God needs to do is let events take their course and sinners will inevitably be punished. (3) Christ’s work includes not only redemption, but also judgment. Those who will not embrace the Lamb as redeemer, and share with Him the inheritance of the kingdom of God, will themselves be embraced by death and hades and dwell in the kingdom of the dead. (4) In this passage Almighty God reveals what this vain, proud, and guilty world is coming to. Our civilization shall one day expire under the Antichrist. The immediate future, therefore, holds not peace, but judgment.

Harry Truman was the caretaker of a recreation lodge on Spirit Lake, five miles north of Mount St. Helens’ smoke-enshrouded peak, in Washington. Harry had been warned by rangers and neighbors that the mountain was going to blow up. Geologists had been watching their seismographs for some time, and the evidence predicted that the volcano would soon explode with such a fury that it would flatten the surrounding forest.

Warnings blared from loudspeakers on patrol cars and helicopters, and blinked from battery-powered signs at every major crossroad. Radio and television announcers pled with their audiences to flee to safety. Harry Truman ignored them all. He grinned on national television and said, “Nobody knows more about this mountain than Harry, and it don’t dare blow up on him.”

On May 18, 1980, at 8:31 A.M., the mountain exploded. I cannot help wondering if Harry regretted his decision, in the millisecond he had before the concussive waves, traveling faster than the speed of sound, flattened him and everything else for 150 square miles. Did he have time to mourn his stubbornness as millions of tons of rock disintegrated and disappeared into a cloud reaching ten miles into the sky? Did he have second thoughts as the wall of mud and ash 50 feet high buried his cabin, his cats, and his freshly mowed lawn, or had he been vaporized when the mountain erupted with a force 500 times greater than the nuclear bomb that had leveled Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945?

Harry Truman is now a legend in Oregon. In gift shops he smiles down on customers from posters, T-shirts, and beer mugs. There is even a song about old Harry, the stubborn man who put his ear to the mountain, but would not heed the warnings.

The question that faces each reader today is this: How do you stand in relation to the Lamb who breaks the seals? Are you a Christian? Then you will be kept from “the hour” of tribulation (Revelation 3:10). Our Lord’s counsel to you is, “Be on the alert” (Matthew 25:13) and “Abide in Me” (John 15:4). Keep yourself in fellowship with Him. Be thankful that judgment for you is passed. No divine wrath remains for you. Are you not a Christian? There is only one way to escape the judgment of the Lamb who breaks the seals. Give your life to Him.

Source Material: Professor K. Krell – Moody Bible Institute, Dr. Chuck W. Missler – Koinonia House, Dwayne Weary – The Road to New Jerusalem, Everett F. Harrison, The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, New Testament, Chicago: Moody Press, 1962, Electronic Media, Charles Ryrie, Revelation, Moody Press, Chicago, 1968, p. 43., John F. Walvoord, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, Moody Press, Chicago, 1966, p. 124., Charles C. Ryrie, Ryrie Study Bible, Expanded Edition, NASB, Moody Press, Chicago, 1995, p. 2024., Willard Cantelon, The Day the Dollar Dies, 1973., James P. Warburg, The West In Crisis, Doubleday, 1959, p. 30., Donald Grey Barnhouse, Revelation, An Expository Commentary, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 1971, p. 124., Alan Johnson, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Vol. 12, Frank E. Gaebelein, General Editor, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 1981, p. 475., G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh, 1937, p. 32., Paul Steidl, The Earth, The Stars, and The Bible, Leon Morris, The Book of Revelation: TNTC (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987), 102, 104., J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible, 5 vols. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983), 5:941., David J. MacLeod, “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,” Emmaus Journal 1:1 (Winter 1991), 14., G. R. Beasley-Murray, The Book of Revelation: NCB (London: Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1974), 132., David Jeremiah, Escape the Coming Night (Dallas: Word, 1997 [1990]), 118., Hampton Keathley III, Revelation (Biblical Studies Press: www.bible.org, 1997), 148., Robert Jeffress, As Time Runs Out (Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1999), 89., Billy Graham, Approaching Hoofbeats: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Waco: Word, 1983), 13–14.

The Disposition of People in the Last Days

The Disposition of People in the Last Days– Points to ponder and questions to be asked.

D.P. Weary-May 18,  2017

Revision  a

The Church (Ecclesia):

            These are people who accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior by faith without seeing or being with Him personally. The Church began at Pentecost about 32 AD (Acts 2). The end of this church age occurs at the rapture of the Church when “the fullness of the gentile is come in” (1 Thes 4:13-18, 1 Cor 15:51, 52, Rom 11:25). We also know that the Church (God’s children, the Bride of Christ) is not destined to experience the wrath of God and will be concealed or hidden during the days of wrath (1 Thes 5:9, Rev 3:10; Psalms 27:5; 91:8; Noah, Gen 6; Zephaniah 2:3; Isaiah 26:20; Lot, Gen 19:15-16). Since the start of the pouring out of the wrath of God is said to begin at the 6^th seal of Revelation (Rev 6:16-17), the rapture occurs before or at this point. However Rev 2:10 tells us that the Church will experience tribulation (affliction) for 10 days (the Greek word primarily means a day). Since I believe that all of the Church is taken at the rapture (except for possibly the 144K Hebrews who serve God for 1260 days during the first part of Daniel’s last 7 years ,the 7 years of the wrath of God - more about this later), the 10 days must occur before the rapture. A speculation might be that these 10 days of trouble or tribulation are the days of the first 6 seals of Rev 6 where we find war, death, famine, and martyrs (implies that there are believers present during the first 5 seals).  Possibly the great falling away (2 Thes 2:3) also occurs during these days. It is interesting to note that in our day there is talk of a great, very short nuclear war (WW III) occurring in the near future involving North Korea, the USA, Iran, Russia, and the entire Middle East (Ezek 38?). If this is the second seal which brings war, then the coming of the Lord is very soon, maybe within 10 years.

The 144K Hebrew (Jewish) servants of God from the twelve tribes of Israel:         

            These Hebrews are seen as God’s special people on earth during the first 1260 days (42 months, 31/2 years) of Daniels 7 last years. They are marked for service in Rev. 7 and possibly taken to the “wilderness” ( a special, unpopulated place) at the midpoint of Daniel’s 7 years where they are nourished for 1260 days (Rev 12:6). The next time we read of them is in Rev 14:1-5 where they are seen standing with Jesus on Mount Zion. They are called the “first fruits”. Since the rapture of the Church has already occurred, these must be the first fruits of the sons of Israel of the 7 tribulation years. This implies either another rapture event, or that they are taken to a place of refuge where they are protected and “nourished” for 1260 days. There is a question as to where these 144K come from. Are they Jewish believers who are a part of the Church and are asked to stay and serve on earth for another 1260 days? Or are they Hebrews (Jews) that suddenly come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah right at the start of the 7 years? Since I believe that all of the Church is taken at the rapture, to me these would be Jews that accept Jesus as Lord and Savior (Messiah) at the start of the last 7 years.

 

 The two special witnesses:

            During the second half of Daniel’s 7 last years, 2 special witnesses appear on the scene to become God’s representatives on earth. These two have special powers and are protected from the Beast (Antichrist) for 1260 days. At the end of the 7 years, God allows them to be killed and their bodies displayed in Jerusalem. But after 31/2 days, they are resurrected (come to life) and then taken to Heaven (raptured) in the sight of the whole world (Rev 11). The times of the 2 witnesses are the times of the 5^th and 6^th trumpets, the first two woes. These are overt demonic attacks on people. During the 5^th trumpet, demons are allowed to torment people, during the 6^th trumpet demons are allow to kill people (Rev 9). The 7^th trumpet is the third woe and the 7 bowls of wrath. With it the wrath of God is completed, not started but finished or completed (Rev 15). This occurs at the very end of the 7 years. I suspect the 7^th trumpet is blown at the Feast of Trumpets at the end of the 7^th year and Christ returns on the Day of Atonement 10 days later. This would make the days of the 7^th trumpet and the bowls of wrath only 10 days long.

The fate of Jews during the last 7 years:

            We might assume that these “witnesses” produced “fruit” or converts during the last 7 years. These are people who come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah and make Him the Lord of their lives. Since at the rapture, the fullness of the gentiles has already come, these converts must be Hebrews (Jews). Some of these believers will be martyred and may be the ones given seats of judges in God’s government of the 1000 year reign of Jesus on earth (the judicial part of His Kingdom government) (Rev 20:4). Others will live through the 7 years and go into the 1000 years as living humans. Others will just die during the 7 years. There is a question as to what happens to these people. It might be possible that these believers are raptured and taken to Heaven at the end of the 7 years when Christ returns as a part of the events of Rev 14.

The fate of gentiles:

            Gentiles who come to believe in Jesus and make Him Lord and Savior during the church age are raptured and taken to Heaven for the wedding of the Lamb. They are given to sit upon Jesus’ throne beside Him as His Bride to rule and reign with Him for eternity (Rev 3:21). This is the royalty part of God’s Kingdom on earth (King and Queen-the Bride of the King). My take on this is that Jesus sits on God’s throne in heaven beside the Father and with the Holy Spirit. This is God’s Holy Throne in Heaven and no one except the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit ever sit here. This is the Throne seen in Rev 4 and 5 and in the OT. The description is slightly different between the Throne in the OT and the one in Rev 4 and 5 because of the different functions happening at the time the Throne is seen. In the OT we see the Throne of God, Jehovah, the covenant making God of Israel. In Revelation we see, the Kinsman Redeemer, Jesus the Lamb, receiving the Title Deed to all the earth from the Father and the Throne is the Throne of the Father giving the title deed back to man, the second Adam. Further it is about to become the Throne of Judgment as the next events to occur are the breaking of the 7 seals of the scroll and the coming of the wrath of God. There is also a Throne of Jesus the King. It is on earth in Jerusalem from where He will rule and reign for 1000 years with His Bride at His right side sitting with Him on His Throne.

After the complete number of gentiles has come in (Rom 11:25), the gentiles who do not die during the 7 years of wrath must be the people who go into the 1000 years of Jesus’ reign on earth as living humans. Zech 14:16 tells us that there will be people of other nations living after Christ’s return that must come up to worship Jesus each year at the Feast of Tabernacles. Those that die have a very unpleasant experience ahead of them (Rev 14:10, 11).

Another consideration to ponder: From Luke 21:24, Jerusalem will be trampled down by gentiles “until the time of the gentiles be fulfilled”. Jerusalem is trampled down by the gentiles until the Lord returns at the end of the 7 last years so the time of the gentile ends at the Lord’s return. If this “time of the gentiles” is somehow interpreted to mean the same as “the fullness of the gentiles has come in” (Rom 11:25), then it seems possible that gentiles could be saved during the 7 last years. These saved gentiles that die during the 7 years then join the saved Jews of the 7 years that have died. What happens to them if the rapture of the Church has already occurred? We could speculate that they, like the saved Jews that die during the 7 years could be part of another rapture or reaping, possible as a part of the events of Rev 14.

A different rapture:

            If as some believe, the rapture occurs at the very end of Daniel’s 7 last 7 years, then the whole scenario changes. The Church, the 144K Jews and the two witnesses must be supernaturally protected or kept safe and protected during Daniel’s last 7 years.  If this is so, the words of Rev 3:10 (σε τηρήσω ἐκ – you will keep out of) must be interpreted as “protect you during or through”, rather than “keep you from or out of” the hour of trial. In this scenario the Church, the 144K, the two witnesses, and all saved during the 7 years are taken together at the end of the 7 years, regardless of whether they are dead or alive. This would possibly occur at the return of Jesus to earth, perhaps at the Feast of Trumpets that year. Here we have saved people, the 144K, and the two witnesses raptured (Jew and gentile) taken to Heaven, the dead going to Hell, and the living survivors (believers and nonbelievers) of the 7 years making up the human population of the 1000 year reign of Christ on earth. It is hard to correlate this scenario with the theory that the Jewish wedding and the fall Feasts of Israel are prophecies of the last days. Also the OT promises are to conceal (Sathar, hide or be absent) (Ps 27:5, Zeph 2:3) God’s people during this hour of trial.  Also Isa 26:19-21 tells God’s people to enter inner chambers and hide until the indignation is passed, when the Lord comes to punish the inhabitants of the earth. These promises sound more like, keep you out of, rather than, protect you during or in, the days of trial.

Considering the 24 elders of the throne in Rev 4:4 and the structure of the government of the Kingdom of God on earth:

            These elders are sometimes considered to be a representation of the Church. They have crowns and are clothed in white robes and sit on thrones. Note Rev 5:8-10:

[Rev 5:8-10 NKJV] 8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."

Here the elders seem to identify themselves by this song they sing. They sing that the Lamb has redeemed us (hemas – found in the King James and Young’s Literal versions) from every tribe and tongue and people and nation and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth. These proclamations identify the elders as the Church. However other versions of the Bible (NASB and the HCSB) omit the hemas (us) and use “redeemed people (or men) for God” and “made them kings and priests”. This makes a huge difference in the identity of the elders. Do they represent the Church or other redeemed men praising God for the Church? If they do not represent the Church, who are they?

Note that the Church (the Bride) sits with Jesus on His Throne as the royalty of the Kingdom Government. These elders sit on thrones around the Throne of God in Heaven. This might be reasonable since the Throne here is the Holy Throne of God in Heaven where only the God Head sits. The Church would be seen with Jesus (here seen as the second Adam), the Holy Spirit, and the living beasts around the Throne of God. It also implies that the Church is already in Heaven with the Lord here in chapter 5 before any of the seals of chapter 6 are broken. We also know that the Church does sit beside Jesus on His Throne on earth in Jerusalem from where He, with His Bride at His side, will rule and reign for 1000 years.

If these elder are not the Church, since all people are redeemed by Jesus’ death and resurrection, these elders could be twelve disciples saved by Jesus but also having been with Him. Jesus told Thomas that it was good to believe because he saw and touched Him, but it was better to believe without seeing Him (Jn 20:29). They were also promised to sit on thrones and judge the 12 tribes of Israel (Matt 19:28). We could speculate that the other 12 elders on the thrones could be OT saints saved by faith and obedience but kept with Abraham in the place of the dead (but in a place of comfort a far distance from the place of the dead where the rich man found himself) until Jesus after His resurrection went into this place and took them to Heaven (1 Pet 3:19; 4:5, 6; Luke 16:22-26).  These might be the 12 patriarchs of Israel, or other key players of the OT like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Daniel, etc.

This “court” of 24 probably represents the Heavenly Sanhedrin, the ruling branch of Jesus’ Kingdom on earth. As per the delegation of responsibilities as in 1 Chron 24, the 24 elders probably are the representatives or leaders of divisions of many others who actually administer in the Kingdom. The judicial part of the Kingdom government would be those that sit on thrones or seats of judgment (Rev 20:4). We can also see from Ezek 40:46 and 44:15 that there will be Jewish priests, the sons of Zadoc, ministering to the Lord and ministering in the Temple. It also appears that there will be a “prime minister” of this Kingdom called the Prince, possibly King David (Ezek 34:24; 46:2-18). I suspect that the angels make up the law enforcement branch of Christ’s Kingdom on earth.

             

      These considerations give us a glimpse of the governmental structure of Jesus’ Kingdom (the government will be on His shoulders-Isa 9:6) during the 1000 year reign of Christ on earth. But, the almost un-comprehendible part of this is that the Church, the Ecclesia, the Bride of Jesus the King, is the Queen who sits at His right side on His Throne. Indeed, we as believers in the church age are destined for the Throne.