Tag: Revelation 6
Who Can Stand?
Scripture reading for December 8: Revelation 6
“When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks , “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him Who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”” Revelation 6:12-17
John now beheld the opening of the seven seals on the scroll that Jesus Christ, Lion of Judah, had received from God the Father. As He opened each seal in heaven, there were consequences on the earth. This sixth seal brought an earthquake that evidently caused volcanic eruptions that darkened the sun and caused the moon to turn red. The stars began to fall from the sky in an apparent meteor event that shook all on the earth. The sky vanished and every mountain and island was removed from its place! The great shaking of the heavens and earth was now coming to pass. (Haggai 2:21-22, Hebrews 12:26)
These events now happening to those on the earth caused all, small and great to seek shelter. Not only shelter from the shaking and upheaval but shelter from the One seated on the throne and the wrath of the Lamb. These left on earth had rejected the Lamb as their ‘door to heaven’ but were now aware that these events were leading to the ‘great Day’ of God’s wrath. Jesus would have born their wrath if only they had humbly repented and called on His Name. Instead they call to the mountains and rocks to fall on them and hide them when the opportunity was there! Who can stand on that great Day?
Jesus is the One revealing to John these coming events that will one day usher in God’s will and kingdom on earth. As you examine your life, are you confident that God has rescued you from the coming wrath? If you really believe this revelation, what is one thing that you need to do or change?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your revelation of these things to come. It is Your love in Jesus Christ that draws me to repentance and faith in these truths. Open doors for me to share Your great love and mercy through Jesus Christ with those still in the darkness of sin and under sentence of death. Amen.
“Sovereign Lord, How Long?”
Scripture reading for December 7th: Revelation 6
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Revelation 6:9-11 “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until You judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” Then each of them were given a white robe and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.”
John had watched the Lamb on the throne open the seven sealed scroll he had been given. The fifth seal brought a revelation of souls under the altar who had been slain on earth for their testimony of Jesus. These souls were alive and calling out to God: “How long will it be until you judge the earth and avenge our blood?” They were told to wait until the full number of martyrs would be killed on earth!
Observations for over-comers: Jesus Christ, our “Over-comer”, revealed that there would be martyrs on earth during the last days but He would bring justice! “The righteous will be glad when they are avenged, when they bathe their feet in the blood of the wicked. Then men will say, “Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.” (Psalm 58:10-11)
The Seals are broken!
Scripture reading for December 8th: Revelation 6
God’s ultimate plan to call a people from among the nations as an inheritance for His Son would come to pass as the Son took the scroll and unsealed it.
“I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” I looked and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.” (Revelation 6:1-2) As John watched the Lamb open the seals, the four living creatures called out the command “Come!” and horses appeared with riders. Each horse was a different color with riders who brought God’s judgments on the earth. The white horse spoke of conquest, the fiery red horse took peace from the earth and men began to slay each other. The black horse was sent to bring famine to the crops affecting the bread supply. The final horse was a pale horse with a rider named “Death” and “Hades followed close behind him.” (Revelation 6:8) He was given power over one fourth of the earth!
The fifth seal brought John a vision of souls under the altar near the throne. The souls of men slain for their testimony of Jesus were there crying out, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” They were told they must wait until all martyrs were received. (Revelation 6:10) The sixth seal brought a great earthquake that shook the heavens and the earth, causing men to call for the rocks to hide them “from the face of Him who sits on the throne and the wrath of the Lamb”. God’s judgments brought no repentance! (Revelation 6:16) In contrast, those sealed in Christ Jesus long to see His face!