Revelation 6:1-17. Troubles are Coming!
Triumphalism, an expectation that Christians can expect to life healthy, successful lives here on earth is a major problem, yet it is being taught in many churches in the world with most unfortunate consequences. The Christian writer Gordon Fee, who comes from a Pentecostal background, has written,
“Triumphalistic theology (or Triumphalism) is a theology prevalent in many denominations but generally found in Pentecostal/Charismatic circles. Such a theology focuses on the Christian life being one of glory while neglecting that it is also to be one of suffering. Now while it is true that we are promised glory in this life (though not the kind we may crave) we are most certainly promised suffering as well. This obviously is not appealing to most, how much more so to those living in a highly consumeristic land. Nevertheless the New Testament makes clear that it is fully natural for believers to suffer. Yet somehow this suffering aspect is either not talked about or referred to as merely a footnote in ‘prosperity gospel’ teaching. But one does not need to look far for Biblical support of the Christian call to suffer, one reason why rapid spread of triumphalism should come to us as a shock (unless it’s taken into account that a large number of Christians are in fact biblically illiterate).”
The Book of Revelation so far
In chapter 4 we are given an image of heaven, with God sitting there in majestic glory.
"You are worthy, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honour and power. For you created all things.” Revelation 4:11
In chapter 5 we are introduced to a scroll, written on both sides. This is the same scroll that Ezekiel saw and had to eat;
“I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe.” Ezekiel 2:9
Ezekiel obeyed,
“So I ate it and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth." Ezekiel 3:3
This scroll tells us what will happen on earth, and this will be terrible, but we are to be assured that there will be honey for gods people. In Revelation chapter 5 we read that there was no-one who could undo the scroll. Only someone who has control of all that was to happen could do this. John wept when he saw this, but then he was told,
“Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and it's seven seals.” Revelation 5:5
The Lamb of God then came and took the scroll and everyone in heaven worshiped him, singing:
“You are worthy to take the scroll and open it seals, because you were slain and with your blood you purchased men for God every tribal language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the Earth.” Revelation 5:9-10
Then every creature in heaven and on Earth and under the Earth will sing,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever!” Revelation. 5:13
It is important to note that Jesus is treated in the same way as God the father. They are of the same divine substance.
In chapter 6 Jesus is described as the Lamb of God. He is a Lamb because he became the final sacrificial lamb who died to pay for the sin of all humanity so long as they accept him.
Jesus then opens the first seal. As he does so one of the four living creatures (see Revelation 4:6-8) who are all covered with symbolic all-seeing eyes, says, “Come,” with a voice of thunder. God is in control of all that is to come. Then the first four seals are opened and each is significant.
The Horsemen of the Apocalypse
These four seals tell us of the four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Each one is introduced with the word, ‘Come.’ God is in control of all that is in the sealed scroll. What are we to make these four Horsemen?
1. The rider on a white horse v. 2 - he held a bow and was given a crown and he rode out as a Conqueror, bent on conquest.
2. The rider of a fiery red horse v. 4 - he takes people from the world violently and has a large sword.
3. The rider of a black horse has scales in his hand to weigh food v. 5. He represents famine and poverty.
4. The rider of the pale horse v. 8 was named death and a fourth of the Earth die by the sword, famine and plague.
God is saying that oppression, war, famine, disease and death will be the lot of all people living on Earth, and this includes Christians. But we must remember that the rest of the book teaches us that God remains in control of all that is to come.
Jesus’ teaching about the End-times
This teaching in Revelation was nothing new. Jesus had said just the same before he was crucified. The disciples had asked him,
“What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age." Matthew 24:3
The white horse
Jesus said,
"Many will come in my name, saying, "I am the Christ," and will deceive many." Matthew 24:5
“For false Christ's and false prophets will appear and perform great signs of miracles to deceive even the elect – if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time." Matthew 24:24
This horse and its rider appears righteous but its rider has an aggressive weapon, a bow. Religious deception has been rife since Jesus's departure from Earth. There have been many religious leaders with great charisma who attract many to follow them, but they are so often in it for themselves. They want riches in this life and they want to control people. Yet such false leaders draw people away from God. There have been many false leaders who present themselves as profits. Joseph Smith founded the Mormons even though he was known to be a fraudster, people such as Joel Osteen have popularised ‘triumphalism’ and the ‘prosperity gospel’, Muhammed is said to have founded Islam though now there is much evidence that counters this claim.
2. The red horse
This represents bloodshed and war. Its rider has a sword, he takes peace from the Earth and causes people to kill one another. Jesus said,
“And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars . . . But the end is not yet." Matthew 24:6
God’s people will be caught up in this, but God is still in control.
3. The black horse
Jesus says,
“And there will be famines . . .” Matthew 24:7b
John tells us that the black horses rider has scales with which to weigh the scarce food and supplies. So famines will increase around the world. These occur largely because of wars and drought. Go’d people will inevitably become involved but we are reminded repeatedly that the Lord is still in control.
4. The pale horse
Death is the end result of wars and illness. In Luke’s version of the signs of the end times he includes the word ‘pestilences’.
“There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven." Luke 21:11
Pandemics such as the ‘Black Death’, Spanish and Asian Flu, and Covid are all signs that we are in the last times. We should remember that this phrase does not say that Jesus return is imminent as ‘the last times’ is a technical term referring to the period of time between the Lord’s first appearing and his future return in glory. John describes death as a pale green horse, the Greek work is ‘chloros’. This aptly describes the appearance of people who have died and take on that pale green appearance.
There is no escape, all of us, Christians and non-Christians alike will face these same horrors in our lifetime. There is no escape but the difference is that Christians have the Lord alongside them as they suffer and they have a glorious promised future to look forwards to. All of us will face death amongst members of our families and friends, but the Lord remains with each of his chosen people.
It is important to realise that once each seal is opened, it remains opened and its consequences are added to the others and taking their toll. Yet Christians are told to remain steadfast and faithful because of God’s promise that there will be immense benefit for those who do so.
False teachers
I expect you have had people coming to your door or accosting you in the street who suggest that, because all these tragedies are going on today, the end of the world must be near. The inference is that people should join their sect. When this happens, just smile and remind them when the end-times began and what Jesus taught,
“You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come." Matthew 24:6
Assurance for those who belong to Jesus Christ
In the midst of all this havoc we have the assurance that the Lamb has overcome and has chosen the group of men and women to be is very own.
“You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God - and they will reign on Earth.” Revelation 5:10
Please note the tenses used in this sentence.
‘You have made them,’ is past tense. We were saved when we turned to christ to live for him.
“ . . . to be your people” is present tense. If we are not living as Christ wants we need to review whether he really is my Lord.
“ . . . and they will reign on earth” - is in the future. The Christians hope is in a future world. Not in this present one.
Jesus also taught that his people will reign but only when the Son of Man returns to rule.
“I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me with also sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last and many who are last will be first." Matthew 19:28-30
Unfortunately some Christians have missed the significance of these tenses. They want to reign in this world now. Even in the early troubled Corinthian church there were pseudo-elders who ‘have begun to reign’ (1 Corinthians 4:8).
In the Medieval world some P{opes and bishops tied to reign with the sword. Some tried to defend christianity, or their version of it, with war and persecution. There are even some evangelicals who speak of ‘reigning with Christ now’. No, the glory is to come. In the early church the main role of elders, presbyters and bishops, for these words all meant the same, a local church leader, was to teach God’s word. They would teach, as the rabbis did, from a chair at the front. The Latin for chair is ‘cathedra’. This is the origin of the word ‘cathedral’. What a tragedy it is when bishops or elders seek power in this life instead of preparing people for the next.
BVP
