Revelation Study 11. Revelation 6:1- 17 pgs 79-82

 1. What happens when the Lamb opens each of the first six seals?

1 A white horse

2 A red horse

3 A black horse

4 A pale horse

5 The martyrs under the altar demand justice

6 A great earthquake, sun is darkened, moon red, stars fall, sky vanishes, mountains and islands removed. Earthly peoples know that the wrath of God and the Lamb has come on them.

 

2. From the descriptions in 6:2-8, what do you think each of  the four horsemen represents?

white = militarism, conquest, ambition. possibly leading to the other 3, or false religion

Unlikely to be Christ and the conquering gospel, because of 

- parallels with seals and trumpets

- similarity to the other 3 riders

- holding of a bow, not a sword

 

red = war and violence

black = famine and inflated (8-10x normal) grain prices, but limited. Perhaps the rich will not suffer.

pale ['chloros') = Death and Hades, given power over 1/4 of the earth.

The riders are "given" and "permitted" - they remain under God's authority. 

 

3. What do the judgments wrought by the four horsemen have in common?

They care at the bidding of the living creatures 

They cause human suffering

They are limited in scope. Some people survive 

 

For Thought and Discussion: Do you think the four horsemen represent  judgments God has been sending throughout the last days? Do you think they refer specifically to the last few years before Jesus' return? Explain your reasoning.

Optlonal Applkatlon: Could you say that your life thus far has been a sacrificial offering to God? Think about and meditate on Romans 12:1 and 2 Timothy 4:6, looking for ways to live like those poured out on the altar of God. 

"How long?" echoes the psalmists (31:1, 89:46)

The Lamb suspends judgment till the last martyr is slain  

All of our lives are to be offered to the altar, poured out in totality before Him.

My time, energy, talents, gifts, relationships belong to Him. 

 

4. Jesus gave His own discourse on the end times in Matthew 24:4-51 (paralleled in Mark 13:1-37 and Luke 21:5-31). What does Jesus say about wars and famines in Matthew 24:4-8? 

Wars, rumours of wars, famines and earthquates 'are but the beginning of the birth pains' 

After the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars fall, then the powers in the heavens will be shaken and the Son of Man wll come in clouds with great power and glory.

The tribulations of the earth will become worse and worse until He comes. 

 

An earthquake previously announced the terrifying arrival of the Lord in his glory (Ex. 19:18; Ps. 97:5; Ezek. 38:19–20), but his final coming will shake both earth and heaven (Hag. 2:6; Heb. 12:26–27).

 

 

	Matthew 24	Revelation 6
Seal 1 Conquest, false religion	For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. (v.5)	And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer. (v.2)
Seals 2, 3, 4 (War, Scarcity, Death)	And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. (v.6-7)	And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword. (v.4) And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard what seemed to be 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 wine!” (v.5b-6)  And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth. (v.8)
Seal 5 (The martyrs)	“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (v.9.-13)	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 witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (v.10)
Seal 6 (The coming of the Son of Man)	“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (v.29-31)	behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, 13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. 14 The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. (v.12-14)

 

5. The fifth seal is an interlude rather than a judgment (6:9-11). What is the answer to the martyrs' question in 6:10?

"A little longer"

The altar is referred to again as ‘golden’ (8:3), contains fire (8:5; 14:18), has horns (9:13) and  testifying to God’s true judgments (16:7)

The deaths of the martyrs are acceptable to God, since they are found under the altar. 

 6. Revelation 6:10-11 was an important insight into heavenly reality for John's first-century readers enduring persecution. Why is this an important insight for you and other modern Christians? 

 The redeemed, fully sanctified saints pray for God's justice to be done. Vengeance must come by His hand. The prayers are right, and God will indeed establish justice.

God has the right timing, even for worthy prayers.

7. How will people-mighty and lowly-react to the sixth seal's judgment (6:15-17)?

There will be no distinction between the mighty and the lowly - all will hide from the wrath of God and the Lamb.

"the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free" encompass the entirety of society

 

8. How is this a warning or an encouragement to you?
 We cannot escape God's judgment with earthly resources. People will seek to endure earthly sufferings in preference to God's anger. (cf. Hos 10:8  they shall say to the mountains, “Cover us,” and to the hills, “Fall on us.)

God's justice will prevail. 

  

For Further Stuldy: How does Revelation 6:12-17 fulfill Isaiah 2:6-22? 

 The rich, beautiful and proud will be fully and finally humbled, They will realize that their idols are false gods.

 Reformation Study Bible

6:1–8:1 Judgments from God’s throne unfold as the seven seals are opened one by one. The participation of the Lamb reminds us that such judgments are based on His unique qualifications and accomplishments (ch. 5). In formal structure, 5:1–8:1 runs parallel to 8:2–11:19. Each has an opening scene introducing the origin of the judgments (ch. 5; 8:2–6). Six judgments follow (ch. 6; 8:7–9:21). A dramatic interlude promises care for God’s people (ch. 7; 10:1–11:14). The seventh and climactic judgment follows the interlude (8:1; 11:15–19; Introduction: Outline). The seven judgments move forward toward the Second Coming, which occurs in 6:12–17 and 11:15–19. 

 

The first four of the seven judgments have an inner unity. The four living creatures of 4:6 and the four horsemen of Zech. 1:8 are reflected in 6:1–8. The four major regions of the world (dry land, sea, fresh water, and sky) are considered in 8:7–12.