The book of Revelation is a powerful book that we often ignore because it is so difficult to understand.  And… the parts we dounderstand make us nervous!  However, God has promised to bless us for studying the book, so that is what we are doing. 

The 6th chapter offers some serious challenges, because it is so frightening!  But there is also comfort for those who are saved.  I plan to close this message with a challenge for us to lead others to Christ so that they too can look forward to a personal relationship with the Lord.

If your only reason for serving God is to miss hell and gain heaven you are missing a lot! That’s like having children just so they can take care of you in your old age so you won’t have to go to a nursing home.  It won’t work.  If you don’t nourish the relationship while the kids are growing up, they will put you in a lousy nursing home and never come see you!
 

This is not a pretty scene! As we discussed last week when we studied the first 4 verses, it is difficult to see our loving God allow some of these harsh things to happen!  But we need to remember that God does not want to punish people… He punishes sin. 

Jesus bore the punishment for our sins, but we have to accept His atoning sacrifice.  Those who refuse to accept God’s love must accept His anger and punishment.  The choice, dear ones, is ours!

Christ, the Lamb who died for our sins opens the seals.  The first seal He opened released a rider on a white horse.  This represents the initial period of peace that will follow the Antichrist’s ascension to power.  When the second seal is opened a red horse appears.  This signifies devastating judgments. 

This section of scripture is popularly referred to as "the four horsemen of the apocalypse,'' and the vision describes four destructive attacks on the earth.  I believe this vision refers to the end time.  The white horse and rider represent political might; the red horse represents warfare; the black horse represents famine; and the pale horse represents death. 

We should always use scripture to interpret scripture!  We teach that the Bible is the Word of God – cover to cover.  If so, and if it is a complete message, then we should be able to support what we teach and preach with other scripture. 
 

Back to Revelation 6.  The expanding political power of the Antichrist eventually leads to war, which will lead to shortages of staple goods and results in widespread death.  You see, those who miss the rapture of the church will realize that what they had been told was true! If you don’t serve God, you will not spend eternity with Him.  Many believe that churches will actually be fuller after the rapture then they are today because people will realize that their situation is desperate! 

There is also the similarity among all four horsemen and the Lord's description of the Tribulation in Matthew 24.  The timetable of the Antichrist’s promises of peace and prosperity may be determined through the examination of the parallel passage concerning the Great Tribulation in Daniel 9.   Daniel's Seventieth Week is divided into two periods of three and one-half years each.  The first three and one-half years is the period of promise, in which the initial horseman conquers primarily through peaceful means and promise. 

The purpose of the Great Tribulation includes the following: 

(1) the wrath and judgment of God;

(2) the awakening of Israel's longing for her Messiah and Deliverer, Jesus; and

(3) the final preparation for the return and intervention of Jesus.
 

During the seven devastating years of the Tribulation, life will be characterized by cataclysmic natural upheavals (verses 12-17), warfare, and general sorrows (verses 5-8).

The red horseman plunges the earth into war.  Promises of peace during the first three and one-half years of tribulation do not materialize.  This horseman immerses the earth in a bloodbath of unprecedented proportions.

Everything about the second seal judgment indicates bloodshed (e.g., red horse, take peace from, sword).  Inevitably following war, the black horse of famine arrives on the scene.  A quart of wheat (“choinix,” Greek) is an exceedingly small amount.  Yet it costs a denarius, which was the average day's wage for a workman.  Barley, the bread of the poor man, is only slightly more available.  Food is, therefore, exceedingly expensive and scarce.

The appearance and description of the pale fourth horse is that of death.  The pale, cold horseman relentlessly pursues his prey with renewed zeal.  Hades, or the realm of the dead, follows after him.

In verse 6:8, ashen = a sickly, yellowish-green.  This probably represents the inevitable result of disease that accompanies war and famine.  Death claims the bodies and Hades claims the souls and spirits of one-fourth of the world's population in this single judgment.

The cry today is for world peace – and it would be wonderful.  But God knows that it isn’t going to happen in this lifetime!  Satan is the god of this world, and his followers are not committed to world peace – everyone wants to be in charge.  If you doubt that, look at the mess we are in trying to select a new president of the United States!
 

God will take care of us.  But there will be great sorrow when we see that our friends and acquaintances missed the rapture!

We are to love one another.   We are to pray for one another… and help them whenever we can.  And how should we treat our enemies?  "Pray for those who despitefully use you," said Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.  As Christians we should always be humble, but operating from the position of strength. 
 

Consider three things:

1.  Are you prepared to meet the Lord face to face?  If not, please ask God to forgive you for your sin – and we all sin.  Then ask Jesus to come into your heart and life as your Savior. 

2.  Are your friends ready to meet the Lord?  If not, ask God how to go about bringing them to a decision.  It isn’t hard!  Just follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. 

3.  Proverbs 11: 30, 31: The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.  If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!  If you want to be wise in God’s eyes, win souls!
 

Please pray with me.

Gracious God, we thank You for Your word, for it is life unto our souls!  Your word teaches us the way to heaven and eternal life.  It teaches us how to live and how to die. 

We come to you this morning with gratitude in our hearts for Jesus, your Son, who died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins!  We know that if no one had told us about the way of eternal life, we would not have known.

And now we acknowledge our obligation to tell others of Your love and loving kindness. Please help us to be faithful witnesses and to seek ways to lead others to You on a routine basis. 

In Jesus’ name and for His glory we have prayed this prayer.

AMEN