Troubles are Coming! Revelation 6:1-17
Triumphalism, an expectation that Christians should expect to live healthy, successful lives here on earth is a major problem, yet this is being taught in many churches in the world with most unfortunate consequences. The Christian writer Gordon Fee, who comes from a Pentecostal background, has written,
“Triumphalistic theology (or Triumphalism) is a theology prevalent in many denominations but generally found in Pentecostal/Charismatic circles. Such a theology focuses on the Christian life being one of glory while neglecting that it is also to be one of suffering. Now while it is true that we are promised glory in this life (though not the kind we may crave) we are most certainly promised suffering as well. This obviously is not appealing to most, how much more so to those living in a highly consumeristic land. Nevertheless the New Testament makes clear that it is fully natural for believers to suffer. Yet somehow this suffering aspect is either not talked about or referred to as merely a footnote in ‘prosperity gospel’ teaching. But one does not need to look far for Biblical support of the Christian call to suffer, one reason why rapid spread of triumphalism should come to us as a shock (unless it’s taken into account that a large number of Christians are in fact biblically illiterate).”1
The book of Revelation has much to say about this false doctrine. In chapter 4 we are given an image of heaven, with God sitting there in majestic glory. There he is worshipped,
"You are worthy, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honour and power. For you created all things.” Revelation 4:11
In chapter 5 we are introduced to a scroll, written on both sides. This is the same scroll that Ezekiel saw and was told to eat;
“I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe.” Ezekiel 2:9
But then Ezekiel ate the scroll,
“So I ate it and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth." Ezekiel 3:3
This scroll tells us what will happen on earth, and this will be terrible, but we are to be assured that there will be honey for God’s people. In Revelation chapter 5 we read that there was no-one who could undo the scroll. Only someone who has control of all that was to happen could do this. John wept when he saw this, but then he was told,
“Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Revelation 5:5
The Lamb of God then came and took the scroll and everyone in heaven also worshiped him, singing:
“You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, because you were slain and with your blood you purchased men for God every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the Earth.” Revelation 5:9-10
Then every creature in heaven and on Earth and under the Earth will sing,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever!” Revelation. 5:13
It is important to note that Jesus is treated in the same way as God his Father. They are of the same divine substance.
In chapter 6 Jesus is described as the Lamb of God. He is a Lamb because he became the final sacrificial lamb who died to pay for the sin of all humanity so long as they accept him.
The Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Seals 1 to 4
Jesus then opens the first seal. As he does so one of the four living creatures (see Revelation 4:6-8), who were each covered with symbolic all-seeing eyes, says with a voice of thunder, “Come.” God is in control of all that is to come. Then the first four seals were opened and each is significant.
These four seals tell us of the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Each one is introduced with the word, ‘Come.’ God is in control of all that is in the sealed scroll. How are we to understand these Four Horsemen?
1. The rider on a white horse - he held a bow and was given a crown and he rode out as a Conqueror, bent on conquest. v. 2
2. The rider of a fiery red horse - he takes people from the world and has a large sword. v. 4
3. The rider of a black horse has scales in his hand to wear food. He represents famine and poverty. v. 5
4. The rider of the pale horse was named death and a fourth of the Earth will die by the sword, famine and plague. v. 8
God is saying that oppression, war, famine, disease and death will be the lot of all people living on Earth, and this includes the Christians. However we must remember that the rest of the book teaches us that God is in still in control of all that is to come.
Jesus’ teaching about the End-times
1. The white horse
This teaching in Revelation was nothing new. Jesus had said just the same before he was crucified. The disciples had asked him,
“What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age." Matthew 24:3
Jesus replied,
"Many will come in my name, saying, "I am the Christ," and will deceive many." Matthew 24:5
“For false Christ's and false prophets will appear and perform great signs of miracles to deceive even the elect – if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time." Matthew 24:24
This horse and its rider appears righteous but its rider has an aggressive weapon, a bow. Religious deception has been rife since Jesus's departure from Earth. There have been many religious leaders with great charisma who attract many to follow them, but they are so often in it for themselves. They want riches in this life and they want to control people. Yet such false leaders draw people away from God. There have been many false leaders who present themselves as prophets. Joseph Smith founded the Mormons even though he was known to be a fraudster, people such as Joel Osteen have popularised ‘triumphalism’ and the ‘prosperity gospel’, Muhammed is said to have founded Islam though now there is much evidence that counters this claim.
2. The red horse
This represents bloodshed and war. Its rider has a sword, he takes peace from the Earth and causes people to kill one another. Jesus said,
“And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars . . . But the end is not yet." Matthew 24:6
God’s people will be caught up in this, but God is still in control.
3. The black horse
Jesus said,
“And there will be famines . . .” Matthew 24:7b
John tells us that the black horse’s rider has scales with which to weigh the scarce food and supplies. So famines will increase around the world. These occur largely because of wars and drought. God’s people will inevitably suffer from some of these problems but we are reminded repeatedly that the Lord is still in control.
4. The pale horse
Death is the end result of wars and illness. In Luke’s version of the ‘signs of the end times’ he includes the word ‘pestilences’.
“There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven." Luke 21:11
Pandemics such as the ‘Black Death’, Spanish and Asian Flu, Ebola and Covid are all signs that we are in the last times. We should remember that this phrase does not mean that Jesus’ return is imminent as ‘the last times’ is a technical term referring to the whole period of time between the Lord’s first appearing and his future return in glory. John describes death as a pale green horse, the Greek work is ‘chloros’ from which we have the words ‘chlorophyll’ and chlorine, a green gas.. This word aptly describes the appearance of people who have died and whose bodies take on that pale green appearance.
There is no escape. All of us, Christians and non-Christians alike will face these same horrors in our lifetime. There is no way out but the difference is that Christians have the Lord alongside them as they suffer and they have a glorious promised future to look forward to. All of us will face the death of members of our families and friends, and we will have to face our own, but the Lord remains with his chosen people.
It is important to realise that once each seal is opened, it remains opened and its consequences are added to the others and are taking their toll. Yet Christians are reminded to remain steadfast and faithful because of God’s promise that there will be immense benefit for those who do so.
False teachers
I expect you have had people coming to your door or confronting you in the street who suggest that, because of all the tragedies are going on today, the end of the world must be near. The inference is that people should join their sect to escape. When this happens, just smile and remind them when the end-times began and what Jesus taught,
“You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come." Matthew 24:6
Assurance for those who belong to Jesus Christ
In the midst of all this havoc we have the assurance that the Lamb has overcome and has chosen a group of men and women to be his very own, his chosen people.
“You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God - and they will reign on Earth.” Revelation 5:10
Please note the tenses used in this sentence. ‘You have made them,’ is in the past tense. We were saved when we turned to Christ to live for him.
“ . . . to be your people” is present tense. If I am not living as Christ wants I need to review whether Jesus really is my Lord.
“ . . . and they will reign on earth” - is in the future. The Christians hope is in a future world, not in this present one.
Jesus also taught that his people will reign but only when the Son of Man returns to rule.
“I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me with also sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last and many who are last will be first." Matthew 19:28-30
Unfortunately some Christians have missed the significance of these tenses. They want to reign in this world now. Even in the early troubled Corinthian church there were pseudo-elders who ‘have begun to reign’ (1 Corinthians 4:8)!
In the Medieval world some Popes and bishops tried to reign with the sword. Some tried to defend Christianity, or their version of it, with war and persecution. There are even some evangelicals today who speak of ‘reigning with Christ now’. No, the glory is to come. In the early church the main role of elders, presbyters and bishops, for these words all meant the same - a local church leader, was to teach God’s word. They would teach, as the rabbis did, from a chair at the front. The Latin for chair is ‘cathedra’. This is the origin of the word ‘cathedral’. What a tragedy it is when bishops or elders seek power in this life instead of preparing people for the next by majoring on teaching God’s word.
Jesus told Pilate,
“My kingdom is not of this world - if so my servant would fight.” John 18:36
Violence closes people’s ears and they stop listening to what we have to say. Aggressive argument has the same effect. It is similar to the effect of Peter when he tried to defend Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane by attacking a guard with the sword-and cut his ear off!
Our weapon is the teaching of the word of God. This is the Sword of the Spirit. We convince people by gentle persuasion, by showing them the evidence, appealing to their consciences and reminding them that we all need Jesus the Son of God, the Messiah to save us for eternity.
Just like these four Horsemen, men throughout history have gone to war with grandiose schemes to conquer the world and bring in their Utopia with them in charge. Alexander the Great, Stalin, Hitler, Man Tse Tung, Pol Pot and Putin have all been such worldly dictators. The issue is one of power and who has the right to control people and societies.
At the end of the book of Revelation, Jesus himself comes riding out on another white horse, a very different one, to take control in his perfect gracious humanity. Until then we will have to face all sorts of disasters.
The reason God’s people are warned about these things is to reassure us. These disasters occur, not because God has deserted us, but to help us keep true to what really matters. The book of Job tells us that tragedies are Satan’s work - what God wants is for his people to remain faithful whatever happens to us. Job, in spite of the disasters that came his way, could still say,
“I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes - I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me.” Job 19:25-27
Job recognised that there will be a real physical resurrection. Without these repeated warnings people could well be worried that God has deserted them when troubles arrive. Jesus warned his followers that before he returns;
“Watch out that you are not deceived, But they will seize you and persecute you. But make up your mind not to worry.” Luke 22:8
Keep trusting, whatever happens to you. Seals 5 to 7
Only the return of Jesus will put a final stop to the evils of the world. Peter was crucified, Paul was beheaded. Cranmer, Latimer and Ridley were burned at the stake as were many others. Jesus however promises us,
“Not a hair on your head will perish! Stand firm and you will win life.” Luke 21:18
Jesus is talking about the resurrection life, not the here and now. It is important to stress this because the fifth seal is now being opened:
“I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained." Revelation 6:9
The lesson is clear, God wants his people to remain true to the Word of God and keep testifying to others that they too can be saved from God’s coming judgment.. They called out in a loud voice,
“How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of Earth and avenge our blood." Revelation 6:10
They had maintained the witness to Christ and they're now waiting to see what awaits them in glory.
This is when God's awful judgement comes on those who refuse to serve him.
“Then each of them was given a white robe, . . .” Revelation 6:11
They are clad in God’s righteousness. They can be admitted to the marriage feast of the Lamb, the invitation to which is a gift of God, because they maintained their witness to Christ.
If you wonder, "Why hasn't Christ returned yet?” John gives this the answer,
“ . . . 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 were completed.” Revelation 6:11
The sixth seal is now opened. There was a great earthquake and the sun turned black. It describes an awful picture, told in cosmic terms, about God's coming judgement. The sun these people had relied on was now dimmed. The powerful and rich who have rejected the gospel of God's Son are now in dire trouble. They're trying to hide from God having become aware that there is another reality besides what goes on in this world, there is another world. However this realisation has come too late! These people who have lived without God now no they're wrong. They pray, but only to the mountains and rocks.They now recognise that there is a very powerful God.
“Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” Revelation 6:16-17
No one spoke more about the love of God for sinful man than Jesus. The Lamb died for us and calls out, “believe in me," "Follow me.” But if we reject what Jesus has done for us, we will ultimately face “the wrath of the Lamb.” Either we will perish or we will be given the free gift of eternal life.
The office of national statistics has recently produced some data showing that the median age of those identified as Christian in 2021 was 51 years. In 2011 it was 45 years. This means that fewer young people are following Jesus Christ. Faith in Jesus in Britain seems to be on the decline. The mean age of Christians is higher than all other main religions in this country.
Does our society not warrant God's judgement? God is righteous and he will judge all those who reject him and what he stands for. He will judge those who ruin others health and morals and his world.
Yet, in this fallen world, we must keep reminding people,
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
Our society is forgetting,
Gods holiness - we are being seduced into being tolerant and what God calls immoral. We have rejected God’s word to us.
God's wrath against those who reject his salvation and refuse to travel along his narrow road.
This is hard teaching but chapter 7 of Revelation reminds us that there will be a great multitude in heaven who say,
“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Revelation 7:10
Those who belong to Christ, who are his servants, will have themselves been marked with a seal.God knows those who are his.
The seventh seal is finally opened at the beginning of Revelation chapter 8, and now everything comes to a climax but those who are in Christ are secure.
“Never again will they hunger. Never again will they thirst.. the sun will not beat down on them.” Revelation 7:16
We will be with our Lord and Saviour in his glorious promised land.
Tacho’s story
The book “Tacho's Story" by Kitty Pride describes the life of a young lad who lived in a mountain village in Mexico. Kitty, and her husband Leslie, had spent 40 years with Wycliffe Bible Translators among the Chatino people there.
Tacho’s mother died when he was young. His dad and older brothers were addicted to drink, eventually became murderers and they then became outlaws. Tacho himself was taken to an orphanage some years later became a plumber. He married young and, like the rest of his family he frequently got drunk and got into fights. Everywhere around him was formal empty religion, all his family were baptised into the Roman Catholic Church but it meant little to them. The white horse of religion was rampant.
Fighting was part of his life. He was frequently imprisoned for his alcoholic excesses and violence. The red horse was rampant.
At times the family were short of food, partly because of the fighting and alcohol. The black horse was present.
Death was all too common an experience around him and his family. The pale horse was well known.
However the Lord stepped into Taco’s's life through his young brides uncle, Amadeo. Tacho recognised where his life was leading and determined to change direction. He started going to a Bible teaching church and recognised the difference in the lives of the Christian’s around him. However his old way of living still had a strong hold over him. Then one day, after severely beating up his wife in a drunken rage and causing her a miscarriage, he came to his senses and realised that he needed not just God's forgiveness for the way he was living but God's power to live a new life.
Tacho became a Christian. He then wanted to understand his new faith more and went, first to night school and then do a Bible College. He then decided to visit his outlawed family and when they saw the difference in him one by one they also became Christians.
This is what John is saying. Life is tough and we Christians live in the middle of this. We cannot escape from the problems of this world, but with God's spirit in us we also can become overcomes and be bright witnesses to the Lord Jesus both by what we say and how we live.
BVP
May 2023
1 Gordon Fee, ‘God’s Empowering Presence’(Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, reprint edition, June 1, 2009)
