Tag: Revelation 6:9-11
Heaven’s drama-the seven seals
Scripture reading for December 25th: Revelation 6-7
The drama in heaven continues with John watching the Lamb as He opens the scroll one seal at a time. With each seal, there is a revelation or picture that John saw and wrote down for us to experience. These visions represent judgments that are coming on the earth in the days to come. The Lamb opened the seals and one of the living creatures spoke to John explaining the vision.
The opening of the first seal brought a white horse and rider. The rider held a bow and rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. The second seal brought a vision of a red horse and rider. This rider held a sword and would take peace from the earth by causing men to slay each other. The third seal brought a black horse and rider. That rider held a pair of scales and spoke of famine. The fourth seal brought a pale horse and it’s rider was named “Death” and Hades was close behind. This rider was given power to kill a fourth of the earth with the sword, famine and plague and by wild beasts of the earth.
It was plain that the seals revealed judgments coming on the earth in the future. The fifth seal changed the scene from earth to heaven and the altar. Under the altar were the souls of a multitude who had been slain for their testimony and the Word of God. They asked the Lord how long before judgment would come to the earth for their blood. They were told to be patient until those who would be killed would be complete. (Revelation 6:9-11)
The sixth seal brought a great earthquake. The sun turned black and the moon turned blood red. The stars in the sky fell to earth and the sky receded like a scroll being rolled up. With this destructive turmoil, the people left on the earth hid in caves and among the rocks of mountains. They asked the rocks to fall on them to hide them from the face of the One on the Throne and the wrath of the Lamb. They were in fear and distress, but not in faith!
Revelation 7 brought an interlude in the heavenly drama. Between the opening of the sixth and seventh seal, John described the marking of 144,000 from the tribes of Israel. These were sealed with the seal of God on their foreheads. John then saw a multitude in white robes from every nation, tongue and tribe. They were worshiping the Lamb. John asked who these were and was told that they came out of the great tribulation and had washed their robes in the Lamb’s blood. (Revelation 7:13-14)
These awesome events are scenes of things yet to come. We must have the seal of God to avoid the seals of judgment opened by the Lamb. Are you washed in His blood and sealed with His Holy Spirit?
How Long, Sovereign Lord?
Scripture reading for December 7th: Revelation 6, Psalm 94, Proverbs 27
Revelation 6: 9-11 “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. 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?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been killed.”
As John witnessed the Lamb opening the seven seals, he saw a multitude of souls under the altar, all in heaven through martyrdom. They were calling out to the Sovereign Lord, asking “how long” before the judgment and avenging of their shed blood. At this, John saw them given white robes and instructions to rest a while longer. This indicated that there were others that would die as martyrs and join them, also robed in the white of Christ’s righteousness. After the full number of those witnesses would arrive at the altar, then the judgment would come on those on earth. The Lord is truly a ‘Stronghold’ and ‘Rock of Refuge’ for His people and the wicked will be wiped out by their own wickedness.
Psalm 94:22-23 “But the Lord has become my Stronghold, and my God the Rock of my refuge. He will bring back on them their iniquity and wipe them out for their wickedness; the Lord our God will wipe them out.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You that You are a Refuge for Your people, not only in this life, but for all eternity. Thank You for the promised justice for those of Your people who were mistreated and killed for their testimony of Jesus Christ. Through Your Word, we have a vision of what is to come. Use me to share Your Word of protection for believers and the judgment of the wicked as a warning and encouragement.
Proverbs 27:20 “Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and never satisfied are the eyes of man.”
How long?
Scripture reading for December 8th: Nehemiah 4-6, Psalm 98, Revelation 6
Key Scriptures: Revelation 6:9-11 “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. 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?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.”
The Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, opened the scroll given Him by His Father and began to break open the seven seals. Each seal brought new revelations of judgments falling upon those on the earth. The fifth seal brought a revelation of souls of martyrs resting under the altar in heaven. They were crying out to God, asking how long before the judgment of those on earth would be final. The Lord then gave them white robes and told them to rest a little longer. There were others on earth who would also join them there, resting and clothed in white. The time of the end-time judgments would require patience during the process and testing.
Psalm 98:8-9 “Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing the judgments of the last days to Your Bride, the Church. Help me to fight for my brothers, my sons, my daughters, wives and homes, even if great suffering or even death comes because of it.
Nehemiah 4:14 “And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, Who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your homes.”
“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)