Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

In early centuries, churches were built with the pulpit on the east end.

The sun rises in the east, and believers were supposed to look to the east for Christ’s return ().

During the Reformation, the pulpit was moved from the side of the nave, and people were positioned around it as focus point (amphitheatre style).

There was a separate room for the Lord’s Supper with long table for the people to sit.

During the Reformation, the pulpit was moved from the side of the nave, and people were positioned around it as focus point (amphitheatre style).

There was a separate room for the Lord’s Supper with long table for the people to sit.

In the third century, basilicas had east ends raised a little, with a “bishop’s chair” at its center, from where he preached and was surrounded by presbyters.

In front of him was the Lord’s Table, around which deacons grouped.

Today, many church building incorporate the above features: amphitheatre-styled seating around the pulpit, with raised platform—all to prepare to see the Lord return, but we know a few things must first take place.

Transition:

Recall that the throne-room vision of prepares the way for God’s righteous judgments that commence in chapter 6. Jesus, the worthy one (5:2–5), now begins to open the scroll by breaking the seals.

(This initiates three sets of judgments: seals, trumpets, and bowls) When all seven seals have been broken, the scroll opens into the trumpet judgments (8:1) with the last trumpet going into the bowls.

The first four seal judgments (6:1–8), more famously known as the “four horsemen of the Apocalypse,” serve God’s sovereign purposes and usher in the events of the end of the age.

The evidence suggests that these disasters run simultaneously throughout history rather than one after another in a severe trial right before Christ returns.

When the Lamb opens each seal, John hears one of the four living creatures saying, “Come.”

He then sees a horse of a particular color carrying a rider who executes the judgment.

From the actions of the Lamb and the four living creatures, as well as the past perfect tenses (i.e., “was given”), we again see God’s sovereign control of human history.

Scripture Reading:

Interestingly, these first four seals focus on the depravity of humankind as a means of showing that “YHWH simply allows human sin really to come full fruition, turn in upon itself, and self-destruct.”

This actually supports the notion that some of God’s judgments just involve allowing evil to run its course.

There is those that will argue as to whether any or all of what is pictured here has already taken place.

While conquest (v. 2), widespread warfare (v.

4), and devastating effects from famine on economies (vv.

5–6) have occurred throughout history since the first century A.D., NO catastrophe has devastated a full fourth of the earth (v.

8) which means this is still future.

John now begins to describe the first half of Daniel’s 70th week (),

that seven-year period referred to as the... tribulation.

I wholeheartedly believe that the big event is described in

and

the rapture will occur by now, BUT...

Everyone here who approaches the timing of the rapture which is NOT mentioned in Revelation must realize that if these timing questions have been debated over centuries, then YHWH probably made them not clear for a purpose.

Churches and seminaries have made their interpretations of these debated issues part of their doctrinal statements—just as our constitution agrees with me on pre-tribulation rapture.

But we must understand that other Christians who disagree with our positions are doing only that—disagreeing.

The positions regarding postmillennialism versus premillennialism do not make a difference as to whether one is a believer or not.

The cardinal doctrine of salvation is whether a person believes that Christ, our Savior and King, will indeed one day return for His people and whether one has trusted in Him as his/her personal Savior.

From there, the timing of Christ’s return or when the church will be raptured are merely issues for discussion—not fundamental doctrines that affect fellowship, let alone a person’s salvation.

So The Lamb has taken the sealed scroll; He is about to open the seals and declare wrath on the now godless world.

With the opening of each seal in heaven, a terrifying event will take place on earth—just as Christ taught when He spoke about the end times in — a chapter you must read and know to understand what is coming.

Actually, it is soo important, let’s quickly read it together:

Back to Revelation’s four horsemen, and as we’ve already seen hints of, John sounds much like the Old Testament prophets as he articulates his visions.

The mention of colorful horses in the OT is in and , where riders on different colored horses are sent by YHWH in two of Zechariah’s visions as instruments of judgment on his enemies—which were the surrounding nations of Israel.

In addition, the first four seals closely parallel the “birth pains” that Jesus mentions in his Olivet Discourse: wars, nations rising against nations, earthquakes, famines, pestilence (; ).

As we’ve already seen hints of, John sounds much like the Old Testament prophets as he articulates his visions.

The specific background here is and 6:1–8, where riders on different colored horses are sent by YHWH as instruments of judgment on his enemies.

In addition, the first four seals closely parallel the “birth pains” that Jesus mentions in his Olivet Discourse: wars, nations rising against nations, earthquakes, famines, pestilence (see ; ).

Transition:

Revelation uses various symbols to communicate meaning, so it is highly likely that these colors of these horses are indeed communicating meaning.

The outline this morning will be color coded

When interpreting the significance of colors in Revelation, it’s important to give appropriate weight to the immediate context.

For example, although the color white can represent the righteousness and glory of Christ (e.g., 19:11), it can also signify victory without demanding that the source of that victory be a righteous or positive figure.

This seems to be the case in , where the white horse signifies military victory as judgment.

I.

Your Voice Sounds a Little White (vv.1-2)

John’s heavenly vision continues as he observes the Lamb breaking the first seal.

Rev

The Lamb alone is worthy to break each seal and unfold the scroll, indicating Jesus’s leading role in the consummation of human history.

While John sees the Lamb, he hears the thunderous voice of the first living creature command the first horse to come forward.

As chaotic it will become on Earth, this is is orderly, restrained judgement as we’ll see more of in a few moments.

This won’t be the last time we hear of a voice sounding like thunder-- ; — in each case, it is always a being from Heaven sounding like thunder.

Illustration:

6:2

Although Jesus rides a white horse later in the book, & has been crowned “King of kings and Lord of lords” (19:11), the immediate context demands that this rider cannot be Jesus and must be connected to the other three horsemen as a symbol of divine judgment.

The crown sometimes throws people off to think Jesus

Illustration:

However this white horse rider has a bow and a crown to symbolize an unstoppable conqueror, an indication of a military sense of conquest and war.

When interpreting the meaning of colors in Revelation, it’s important to give most the attention to the immediate context.

Here for example, the color white usually represents the righteousness and glory of Christ (as it does in 19:11), HOWEVER it does not signify that here in our passage this morning.

White can also signify victory without necessarily demanding that the source of that victory be a righteous or positive figure.

This is certainly the case here, where the white horse signifies military victory as judgment.

Other colors appear here and in other parts of Revelation.

From these contexts in this one book, we can understand the symbolism

Symbolism

Golden

1:13; 15:6; 17:14; 18:16

Divinity, splendor

White

1:14; 2:17; 3:4, 5, 18; 4:4; 6:2, 11; 7:9, 13, 14; 14:14; 19:11, 14, 14; 20:11

Victory, purity, resurrection

Rainbow

4:3; 10:1 means Omnipotence

Omnipotence

Red

here in 6:4; & then 12:3 means Slaughter, war, violence

Slaughter, war, violence

Black

6:5, 12 means Disaster, economic hardship, famine

Disaster, economic hardship, famine

Light or “Pale” is actually yellowish-green, or the color of a corpse.

in this chapter and in chapter 8:7; 9:4 Pale means Death

6:8; 8:7; 9:4 means Death

Death

Blue 9:17 means Smoke

9:17

Smoke

Yellow 9:17 means Sulfur

9:17

Sulfur

Fiery

1:14; 2:18; 4:5; 10:1; 19:12 means Judgment

Judgment

Purple and scarlet

17:4; 18:16; cf.

18:12 means Royalty

Royalty