The Civil War led to 600,000-750,000 American deaths.
In 1927, the Great Mississippi Flood displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
The Dust Bowl of the 1930s devastated the Great Plains of the United States.
In 1941, over 2,400 Americans were killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Over 58,000 Americans died during the Vietnam War.
In 1995, 168 people were killed in the Oklahoma City bombing.
Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks of September 11, 2001. Many others were killed in the wars that followed.
The COVID-19 pandemic rocked our entire world, leading to countless illnesses and deaths throughout the world.
Just recently, we’ve had devastating floods in the Carolinas and Texas.
Many of you have personally suffered from the destruction of hurricanes. Many of us have suffered in other ways.
Our world is plagued by suffering and catastrophe.
However, our world has not seen anything yet. Chaos and catastrophe are coming upon this world that will far surpass anything we’ve ever seen, and it will come by the hand of God.
As we start to learn of the opening of the seals that were on the scroll held by Jesus (as described in Revelation 4 and 5), we start to learn of these catastrophes.
Today’s sermon is entitled, “The Opening of the Six Seals.”
Lest you forget, there are seven seals, but we’ll learn about the first six today.
Before we go any further, let’s pray together.
(prayer)
Ok, let’s remember that John is in the Spirit, able to see up into heaven what will take place.
He saw God the Father majestically in His throne room. In the right hand of God was a scroll.
Then John saw Jesus the Lamb take the scroll from the Father because Jesus is worthy to take and open the scroll.
The scroll was sealed with seven seals. We’ll hear about six of those seals today.
To begin, we’re going to look at the first four seals.
Let’s notice . . .
I. The devastation of the horses.
What horses?
Well, let’s look at the passage. Look at verses 1-8:
1 Then I saw the Lamb open one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 I looked, and there was a white horse. Its rider held a bow; a crown was given to him, and he went out as a conqueror in order to conquer.
3 When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 Then another horse went out, a fiery red one, and its rider was allowed to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another. And a large sword was given to him.
5 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and there was a black horse. Its rider held a set of scales in his hand. 6 Then I heard something like a voice among the four living creatures say, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, but do not harm the oil and the wine.”
7 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 And I looked, and there was a pale green horse. Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following after him. They were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill by the sword, by famine, by plague, and by the wild animals of the earth.
Ok, we are introduced to four horses with riders in this passage: A white horse, a fiery red horse, a black horse, and a pale green horse.
Let’s look at these horses for a moment and the devastation that each represents.
First, notice the white horse and its rider.
These are revealed with the opening of the first seal.
Notice that one of the living creatures from Chapter 4 says, “Come.” This heavenly creature is either inviting John to come and see what is happening, or it is inviting the horse and rider to come. In either case, we see these events unfold in front of John.
This rider had a bow, indicating the ability to fight and destroy. He also had a crown indicating power and authority.
Then John says very clearly that the rider on the white horse went out as a conqueror to conquer.
This horse likely represents military-like destruction and devastation that will come upon the world.
Second, notice the fiery red horse and its rider.
Again, one of the living creatures says, “Come.”
This second rider was allowed to remove peace from the world so that people would destroy one another.
Whereas the first rider brought destruction, the second one brings chaos, allowing people to kill each other. This rider had a sword, again indicating that death would come with him.
Third, notice the black horse and its rider.
The third living creature says, “Come,” and we see that the rider of the black horse has a set of scales in his hand.
These scales may represent justice that is carried out, or they may represent the high price that will be paid for basic necessities during this time of great need.
In fact, we see in the passage that small meals that don’t provide much food will cost the amount of an entire day’s wages. That would be like one small meal costing nearly $200 today.
This rider represents great hunger and poverty that will affect the Earth.
Finally, notice the pale green horse and its rider.
The fourth living creature says at the opening of this fourth seal, “Come.”
In a way, this fourth rider and horse seem to represent a collection of all of the others.
This one brings death and Hades. Hades likely refers to the grave or to a spiritual death that comes with physical death.
This rider will bring death by sword, famine, plague, and wild animals.
In fact, this death and destruction will be so devastating during the fourth seal that one quarter of the world’s population will be killed.
If this were to happen today, it would bring the death of two billion people.
Church, we must recognize that these seals, horses, and riders represent death on a devastating scale.
We must also recognize that these riders are released by the hand of Jesus as He opens the seals of the scroll.
This death and destruction is part of God’s plan to bring judgment to sin and sinners.
As a pastor, sometimes I’m asked why God doesn’t stop sin. Make no mistake, one day God will eliminate sin and sinners, and it will be devastating.
Notice the devastation of the horses.
Next, notice . . .
II. The souls of the martyrs.
We’re now at the fifth seal. Let’s read about the opening of this seal.
Look at verses 9-11:
9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the word of God and the testimony they had given. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, the one who is holy and true, how long until you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?” 11 So they were each given a white robe, and they were told to rest a little while longer until the number would be completed of their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters, who were going to be killed just as they had been.
Now, at one point, the four living creatures had each introduced the opening of each one of the seals. Now, there is no creature mentioned and no horse. This seal is unique.
With this seal, we don’t see destruction, though we do get a hint of why this destruction was happening.
Look again at verse 10 (near the middle). The people said:
“ . . . how long until you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?”
It seems that these devastating events described in the first four seals, and certainly the one that will be described with the opening of the sixth seal, are coming as a result of God’s judgment against sin.
Among the many reasons that God is pouring out His judgment on sin is that some of His people were persecuted (or harmed) for their faithfulness to Him.
Let’s go back to who these people are who are mentioned with the fifth seal.
Verse 9 says these are “ . . . the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the word of God and the testimony they had given.” So, this is the spiritual presence of the human beings who had been killed for following Jesus.
They are there before the presence of God under an altar. An altar is a place of sacrifice to and worship of God. So, these souls are there in sacrifice to and worship of God.
The souls are crying out to God, asking Him to judge those who harmed them. They want God to avenge their blood.
Notice something else about this passage. They were asking how long until God judges, but they are told to “rest a little while longer.”
The timing of how long they have to wait is dependent upon more souls being added to their number.
Verse 11 says those more souls would come from “their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters, who were going to be killed just as they had been.”
In other words, more followers of Jesus will be killed for their faithfulness to God.
The fifth seal makes it clear that God has not forgotten about those who died for their faithfulness to Him. They are, indeed, in His presence.
Further, more will die before the end of all things. However, God knows who every one of the souls is. He hears their cries, and He will avenge their blood.
God does not overlook sins committed against Him or against His people.
That takes us to the final point and the final seal for today.
The sixth seal reveals . . .
III. The wrath of God.
Let’s conclude this passage by looking at verses 12-17:
12 Then I saw him open the sixth seal. A violent earthquake occurred; the sun turned black like sackcloth made of hair; the entire moon became like blood; 13 the stars of heaven fell to the earth as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a high wind; 14 the sky was split apart like a scroll being rolled up; and every mountain and island was moved from its place.
15 Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 because the great day of their wrath has come! And who is able to stand?”
The catastrophe described in these verses is unlike anything the world has ever seen.
Some people have theorized that these verses describe a volcano. Though volcanoes may be a part of what is happening here, volcanoes don’t account for all the devastation that is described.
These will not be mere natural disasters. These will be supernatural disasters.
Disaster will be so widespread that every mountain and island will be moved from its place.
What kind of natural disaster can cause such mayhem? Certainly nothing this world has yet seen.
We learn of other cataclysmic disasters such as . . .
. . . violent earthquakes
. . . the sun and the moon changing in appearance
. . . the stars of heaven falling (perhaps like a meteor storm)
. . . and the sky being split apart
Pay attention to how the people of the earth will respond to the events described with the sixth seal.
Look at verses 15-17 again:
15 Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 because the great day of their wrath has come! And who is able to stand?”
The devastation will be so bad that everyone will hide for safety. There is no discrimination when it comes to the fear that will be present among those on the earth, powerful and weak, slave and free, rich and poor; all will search for safety and will be unable to find it.
Notice this, church: Those hiding want to be hidden so much that they want to have themselves covered with mountains so they do not have to face the wrath of God the Father and God the Son.
In other words, they would rather face a mountain falling on them than face the wrath of God.
That takes us to our bottom line:
Bottom Line: The world will not stand when God pours out His wrath.
This chapter ends with these words:
“ . . . the great day of their wrath has come! And who is able to stand?”
God the Father and Jesus the Lamb will pour out their wrath on the world, and those who do not belong to God will not be able to stand His judgment.
There will be no escape, there will be no safety, and there will be no hope.
By the way, we’re getting into the part of Revelation which describes parts of what many call “The Great Tribulation.” This is a time of terrible suffering, distress, and trouble poured out on the earth by the authority of God.
What we learn about in this chapter and following is terrible.
God will deal with sin and sinners.
There is only one hope to escape the terrible judgment of God. That hope is found in Jesus.
That’s our one weekly challenge.
Weekly Challenge: Find your hope in Jesus.
Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
What we deserve for our sin is the terrible death described in Revelation 6 and beyond. However, what God gives as a gift is eternal life in Jesus.
There is hope to escape this devastation now. That hope won’t be found forever, but it can be found now.
(Gospel presentation)
(closing prayer)
COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: The text contained in this sermon is solely owned by its author. The reproduction or distribution of this message, or any portion of it, should include the author’s name. The author intends to provide free resources in order to inspire believers and to assist preachers and teachers in Kingdom work.
