Revelation 6 Lesson

BACKGROUND

Earlier in Revelation, we saw God sitting on a throne surrounded by four creatures, and twenty-four elders on thrones. There was a book that was sealed by seven seals, and only Jesus was found worthy to open it.

THE FIRST SIX SEALS EXPLAINED

In Revelation Chapter 6, Jesus opens that book by breaking the first six seals. The seventh seal is revealed in Revelation Chapter 7. 

There is some debate over what the opening of each seal symbolizes.   Most agree that in the final days, there will be an epic battle between good and evil.   Rulers in that time will commit horrible, sinful acts until Jesus defeats them.  

Most believe that the book held by God contains the complete history of the world; all things that ever were, and all things that ever will be.   Since the Bible does not say, it is impossible for us to know for sure.

What we do know, is that the opening of each seal triggered different events, and God wanted these events to be recorded for future generations to read.

Listed below is a summary of the first six seals that were opened and what God wants us to know about them:

1. A rider on a white horse.   Many scholars believe this to be an evil dictator that will rule over the earth in the final days,
2. The second seal deals with war.  For this seal, we see a rider on a red horse who was, “Granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him.” This is God asserting that He has the right to take peace from the earth as He sees the need to do so.   Mankind has always found reasons to go to war with one another.   Sadly, this will continue until the end of days,    
3. The third seal mentions a black horse and that its rider had two scales.  John writes that he heard a voice coming from the area of the four creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine.”   This seal is talking about a great famine overtaking the earth, one where a loaf of bread costs a day’s wages,
4. The lamb (Jesus) breaks the fourth seal. This time John sees an ashen (pale) horse. The person sitting on this horse had the name, “Death.” John writes that Hades was following him and that, “Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.” The fourth seal of the book has to do with death and hell (Hades),
5. In the fifth seal, instead of a horse, John sees underneath the altar, “The souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained.” They are held in reverence and John writes that they were each given a white robe. This is symbolic of their favorable position with God.  God knows who will be martyred and when.    Martyrs will be remembered and given special honor by God for their sacrifice,
6. As Jesus breaks the sixth seal, John gets a look at the things that will take place on the “Day of wrath,” which is talking about judgment day.   John writes, “I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

PREPARING FOR THE DAY OF JUDGMENT

The words in Revelation Chapter 6 are a prophecy.   They tell us about things that are going to take place in the future. This chapter of the Bible is talking about the end of days.   None of us know when that will be, so we need to make sure we have done everything we can to prepare ourselves for that day.

• “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” – Mathew 24:36.

Our salvation is not to be taken lightly, because it is forever.

The Bible tells us that each of us is going to be judged and sent to either Heaven or Hell forever.

Forever!

Nothing is more important than where we are going to spend eternity. And we have a say in that.

The Bible is simple in concept. God tells us what to do, and we do it. It is the human side of us that complicates things sometimes.

And when it comes to our salvation, there are five things that the Bible tells us must be done if we are going to be sent to Heaven.

FIVE MATTERS OF SALVATION

1. Believe in Jesus. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” – Acts 16:31,
2. Confess our belief in Him.“For with the heart a person believes, resultinginrighteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”– Romans 10:10,
3. Repent (turn away from) of our sins. “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” – Luke 13:3,
4. Be baptized.  “Baptismnow saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” – 1 Peter 3:21and “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” – Mark 16:16,
5. Obey God’s commandments.  “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” –Mathew 7:21. 

CONCLUSION

We will end today’s lesson with words written by the Apostle Paul to Timothy.   They are the same words that we hope to be able to say ourselves at the end of our lives.

And with God’s help, we can! (Philippians 4:13)

• “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” – 2 Timothy 4:7-8.