The Lamb Opened the
Sealed Book
– Revelation Six –
Revelation chapter six gives an account of the
Lamb opening six of the seven seals on the little book. It is at this point
that we begin to hear many of the wild and fanatic things that are taught by
men concerning the Revelation. There is no disagreement as to the first
chapters in the book. The Lord addressed the churches, showed both their good
and their evils and explained to them how to have God's approval.
Now the attention
of the book turns to that which was future at the time John wrote. The book
began with the words, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto
him, to shew unto his servants things which must
shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his
servant John." (Revelation 1:1) The things John saw dealt with things that
would shortly come to pass, but the principles would last throughout the
history of man.
The book of
Revelation does not name people and places. It gives principles of victory for
God's persecuted people. John wrote his message primarily for the encouragement
of the people of his own day. Much of the book was fulfilled shortly after John
wrote it by inspiration. However, the principles of the book were not exhausted
then. In the time that followed John there would be many events to which these
symbols and principles might well be applied.
God intended us to
understand this great book. It contains 278 references to the Old Testament.
Prophecy must be obscure by its nature. It is much easier to explain prophecy
looking back on it than it is to explain it looking forward. Revelation six
pictured Jesus opening the sealed book that dealt with the future of man.
Six seals are
revealed in this chapter. (1) The first seal revealed a white horse with a
rider that had a bow and a crown. (Revelation 6:1-2) (2) The second seal
revealed a red horse with a rider that had power to take peace from the earth.
(Revelation 6:3-4) (3) The third seal revealed a black horse with a rider that
had a pair of balance scales in his hand. (Revelation 6:5-6) (4) The fourth
seal revealed a pale horse with a rider that is named Death, and Hell followed
him. (Revelation 6:7-8) (5) The fifth seal revealed souls of those that were
slain for the word of God praying to God that He would avenge their blood.
(Revelation 6:9-11) (6) The sixth seal revealed a time of public commotion and
calamity. As Jesus opened the sealed book we observe God's purpose for the
persecuted church.
Seals one and two
were opened - Revelation 6:1-4: The first seal is a picture of victory for
God's people. The victor always rode a white horse after the battle. The one on
the horse is royalty. He had a crown on His head. Jesus said, "All power
is given unto me in heaven and in earth." (Matthew 28:18) The one on the white horse carried a bow. The
picture of the Christ was that
The second seal
revealed a rider on a red horse. Red represents danger. You can see war or
bloodshed in this symbol. Here is a picture of what the Devil did to try to
stop the work of the gospel. "Power was given to him that sat thereon to
take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was
given unto him a great sword." The Devil did not have this power on his
on. He was "given" or allowed to have this power. The power of the
Devil was not ultimate power because the power of God is greater.
Seals
three and four were opened – Revelation 6:5-8: The third seal revealed
a rider on a black horse. John "heard a voice in the midst of the four
beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three
measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the
wine." The picture here is that of economic discrimination in a time of
prosperity. A Christian man was allowed to buy only a meager amount of food for
one person with his day's earnings. That left nothing for food for his family
and other family needs. The persecution meant that Christians had nothing
beyond the necessities of life. However, on life’s
other side Christians have abundance and those that persecuted them have
nothing.
The fourth seal
revealed a pale horse and a rider named Death and Hell followed him. The pale
horse gave us a picture of death itself. Death killed and Hell (Hades – the
grave) followed to gather the slain. God's people are given hope because there
is not a complete destruction. God limited how far the destruction could go.
This fact is often seen in others visions. Christians should take courage. All
is not lost!
Seal
five was opened – Revelation 6:9-11: The fifth seal pictured souls
under the alter crying for vindication. The soul is the real person. Our body
is only a temporary house.
These precious ones
have died in the Lord and now they are in His presence. They were
"faithful" to God under all circumstances. They were concerned, not
for themselves but for the cause of Christ. God promised that He would judge
those that opposed His cause. The saints were to wait patiently in white robes
until that time.
Seal
six was opened – Revelation 6:12-17: The sixth seal pictured the day of
the Lord as a Day of Judgment upon a wicked nation. John used the same idea the
prophets had used to picture the judgment of God. "Alas
for the day! for the day of the LORD is at
hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come." (Joel 1:15)
This is just a picture or promise of that coming judgment.
The Christian would
think in this way, "For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall
be able to stand?" They would wonder what would happen to Christians when
God brought that terrible judgment. Revelation seven helped to answer that
question. The believer can stand in the face of this great wrath of God because
Jesus bore the wrath the believer deserved.
God's destructive
power will come against those that do not obey the gospel and serve faithfully.
To obey the gospel one must hear God's truth (Romans