Revelation 6
Notes
Transcript
Translation
Translation
Then I saw the little lamb open one of the seven seals, and I heard one of four creatures speaking with a voice like thunder, “Come”. I looked, and behold: a white horse! And the one sitting on it had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and the conqueror came to conquer even more.
Then he opened the second seal. I heard the second creature saying, “Come.” Another one came, a red horse, and the one sitting on it was given authority to take peace from the earth so that people would slaughter one another, and a great sword was given to him.
Then he opened the third seal. I heard the third creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold: a black horse, and the one seated on it had balance scales in his hand. I heard a voice in the midst of the four creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and don’t hurt the olive oil and the wine.”
Then he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold: a pale green horse, and the one seated on him was named Death, and Hades followed after him. Authority was given to him to kill a quarter of the earth by sword, famine, and disease, and by beasts of the earth.
Then he opened the fifth seal. I saw under the altar souls of those slaughtered for the word of God and because of the testimony they had. And they were crying in a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, the holy and true one? Won’t you judge and vindicate our blood from those who live upon the earth?” Each of them was given a white robe and they were told to rest for a little while, until the completion of their fellow servants, and their brothers, who were about to be killed just like them.
I looked then, and he opened the sixth seal. A great earthquake came, and the sun turned black as sackcloth, and the whole moon became like blood. The stars of heaven fell to the earth like a fig tree losing its unripe fruit when a strong wind shakes it. The sky split apart like a scroll rolling up, and every mountain and island was shook from their place. The kings of the earth, the courtiers, the generals, the rich and powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and in rocks on the mountains. They said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one sitting on the throne and from the wrath of the little lamb, because the great day of his wrath has come, and who can withstand it?
Who is God?
Who is God?
Marcion
Problems with OT
Scariness of Revelation
Is this the same God of love and mercy we know?
Seal 1: Gospel Victory
Seal 1: Gospel Victory
The New Revised Standard Version The Rider on the White Horse
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse! Its rider is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called The Word of God. 14
Rev 19:11-14 is clearly Jesus, is this the same horse?
Clearly parallels, but here Jesus is the Lamb.
Likely a representation of the victory of the Gospel, winning over more people.
Seal 2: War
Seal 2: War
Divorce metaphor: Destruction of Jerusalem
Matt 24:6
The New Revised Standard Version Signs of the End of the Age
And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet
Pax Romana is no more
Caesar holds the sword in Rome, God holds the sword in Heaven
Seal 3: Famine
Seal 3: Famine
Scales= economic harships
Food shortage = outrageous prices for food
Oil and Wine spared = hope for a future
Seal 4: Plagues
Seal 4: Plagues
Pale green, χλωρός, associated with the sick (sickly green).
Natural consequences of war include famine, disease, and (obviously) death
Seal 5: Concern for the Saints
Seal 5: Concern for the Saints
Martyrs mimic the cry of the psalmists, “How long, O Lord?”
“completion...” God can only withstand so much violence against his children.
Mercy and Justice
Our lives serve to accomplish the will of God, but our lives are not worthless to God.
Seal 6: The Day of the Lord
Seal 6: The Day of the Lord
Is 2:10
The New Revised Standard Version Judgment Pronounced on Arrogance
Enter into the rock,
and hide in the dust
from the terror of the LORD,
and from the glory of his majesty.
11 The haughty eyes of people shall be brought low,
and the pride of everyone shall be humbled;
and the LORD alone will be exalted on that day.
12 For the LORD of hosts has a day
against all that is proud and lofty,
against all that is lifted up and high;
Hos 10:8
The New Revised Standard Version Israel’s Sin and Captivity
The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel,
shall be destroyed.
Thorn and thistle shall grow up
on their altars.
They shall say to the mountains, Cover us,
and to the hills, Fall on us.
The Day of the Lord: Historical and Eschatological
God: Just and Merciful
God: Just and Merciful
God’s Justice cannot be understood apart from his mercy. The wrath of the Day of the Lord cannot be understood apart from the great Love God has for his people and his creation.
God truly is “slow to anger”
All of these “seals” serve as warnings for repentance.
The very first “warning” is the invitation of the gospel. God does not start with war and death.
So is war, famine, disease, and death God’s will?
Yes and no