1. The White Horse (verses 1-2)
2. The Red Horse (verses 3-4)
3. The Black Horse (verses 5-6)
4. The Pale Horse (verses 7-8)
5. The Martyrs (verses 9-11)
6. The Cosmic Disturbances (verses 12-16)

Revelation 6 is where the controversy of the book of Revelation really begins. All the controversy of Revelation has to do with the timing of the events that John sees.In chapters 1-5, the references to time have been relatively clear.

The book of Revelation begins with John as a prisoner on the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9), where he sees a vision of Jesus. If I would summarize chapter 1 for you, I would simply call it, “A Vision of Jesus.” This vision introduces us to the apocalyptic genre of the book of Revelation. Jesus appears as with white hair like wool, like snow (verse 14). His eyes burn like a flame of fire. His feet are life burnished bronze. His voice is like the roar of many waters. The idea of chapter 1 is to set up Jesus as the powerful one! The one who is capable to carry out everything written in the book of Revelation. While on earth, Jesus was gentle and lowly, but after his resurrection, he is strong and mighty!

Regarding the timing of the events of chapter 1, it happened when John was on Patmos. He saw the vision of Jesus, which transcends time. Then, in chapters 2 and 3, we have the letters that Jesus dictated to John to the churches of Asia minor. Hopefully, you are able to say the cities to which John wrote. Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. I would summarize chapter 2 with these words, “Letters to the Churches.”

The people in these churches were the original recipients of the book of Revelation. Through our exposition of chapters 2 and 3, I sought to continually remind you that John was writing to real people in real churches. Jesus directed his comments toward them, commending them for the good in the churches, and correcting them in the things that need to change in their churches. Our church ought to aim for the things that Jesus commends! Our church ought to forsake the things that Jesus condemns!

Now, there is some controversy here regarding the timing of these events. There are some who take the letters to these churches as descriptive of the major movements of history. This is called the “Historical Ages Interpretation." Ephesus represents the apostolic church until about 100 A. D., when persecution of the church really began in earnest. Smyrna represents the persecuted church. from 100 A. D., until 313 A. D., when the edict of Milan officially ended persecution of Christians. Pergamum and Thyatira represent the time until the Reformation in the early 1500’s. that is, from Constantine, through the dark ages, when there was little clarity as to doctrine and much heresy. Sardis represents the time after the Reformation until great revivals came to Britain and America in the early 1800’s. Philadelphia represents the days of the Great Awakenings with Whitefield and Edwards and Spurgeon, which launched a world-wide missionary movement. Finally, Laodicea represents the modern-day church with all of her wealth, and all of her apostasy.

There are some (not many today) who would embrace this as the proper reading of Revelation 2-3. I don’t think so. For simple reasons that it doesn’t quite work. The apostolic church, in general, was not a church that had “left its first love” as Ephesus did. During the days of the Reformation, the church wasn’t dead. It was budding life! Philadelphia was a small church, not like the ever-expanding church of the 1700 and 1800s. Certainly, today there is apostasy and wealth, but not all are wealthy in this world and not all are apostate.

But I mention this, simply to show the sorts of controversies that Revelation holds for us regarding the time of interpretation. I believe that these churches were real churches in Asia Minor, which is modern-day Turkey. The seven churches in Asia Minor formed a mail route if you will. They were on the mainland, just across the sea from Patmos, where John received his vision, and wrote the Revelation of what he saw, and he sent it to these seven churches (Revelation 1:11).

In Revelation 1 we have A Vision of Jesus. In Revelation 2-3, “Letters to the Churches." Next in the book of Revelation, we have “A Vision of Heaven.” If you remember, chapter 4 describes the setting of the throne in heaven. Then, chapter 5 describes the drama that took place around the throne. Revelation 4 described the throne, and it was majestic. With a sea of glass like crystal before the throne (verse 6), with an emerald rainbow around the throne (verse 3), with flashes of lighting and peals of thunder coming from the throne (verse 6). The one sitting on the throne was like a shiny, precious stone (verse 2-3).

Around the throne were 24 other thrones, upon which sat the elders, clothed in white garments (verse 4). Also around the throne were the four living creatures. They were unlike anything that we have ever seen on earth. Each of them had six wings (verse 8). They were full of eyes, all around in within (verse 6-7). And day and night, they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (verse 8).

Then, in chapter 5, we see the drama unfold. The one on the throne had a scroll in his hand, sealed with seven seals. This scroll and writing on front and on back. The dilemma of heaven was simple: Who can open the scroll? No one was found worthy to open the scroll! (verse 3). It led John to tears (verse 4). Finally, one of the elders said to John, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals" (Revelation 5:5).

As John looked, he saw the lion, which looked like a Lamb who had been slain (verse 6). When this lamb took the scroll from the one upon the throne, heaven erupts with praise! "And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth'" (Revelation 6:9-10).

This is our redemption! We look to this! We look to the Lamb that was crucified, but raised again! This is our hope, not that we are worthy but that Jesus is worthy! His death, burial, and resurrection satisfied the wrath of God for us! Jesus died in our place, that we might be one with him. The call of the gospel is to embrace this reality! that Christ died for our sins!

Now we get to chapter 6. Chapter 6 carries over from chapter 5, in that the entire chapter is focused upon the scroll. It said in chapter 5:1 that this scroll was “sealed with seven seals.” That’s what we see in chapter 6. We see the scroll. In chapter six, the lamb opens the seals. The title of my message is, “Opening the Seals.” Because, that’s what we see in Revelation 6. We see the Lamb opening these seven seals.

Now, before we read the text and get into the details, I want to mention that the backbone of the judgments that come in the book of Revelation, there are three sets of judgments: seals, trumpets, and bowls. The seals are mentioned in Revelation 6. The trumpets are mentioned in Revelation 8-9. The bowls are mentioned in Revelation 16. Between these chapters there are other events that take place. They are all like interludes to the backbone of the judgment of God.

Regarding these seals, trumpets and bowls, you have seven of each of these. Seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls. Each time a seal is opened, or a trumpet is blown, or a bowl is poured out, you see God’s judgment being worked out upon the earth. This is where there is great debate regarding when these things take place. There are those who take these events as all sequential in time. In other words, the seals take place first, then the trumpets, and then the bowls. But there are others who interpret the seals, trumpets and bowls differently.

Some take them as simultaneous. In other words, the seals are describing the events of God’s judgment until the final judgment. The trumpets tell the same story from a different perspective. The bowls tell the same story again, from a third perspective. The analogy has been used of different camera angles watching the same play in football. You get a different perspective from the sideline than you do from the end zone, than you do from the press box. It’s all the same play, but your different angles allows you to see things a bit differently.

If you take viewthat all of the events of Revelation are sequential, then when you get to Revelation 20 where it describes the “Millennium,” or the thousand years when Christ is reigning, then this must be in the future, after the bowl judgments. Today, we are living “before the Millennium.” This view is called, “Pre-millennial.” Or, “Premillennialism.” The seals, trumpets, and bowls all take place before the Millennium, the thousand year reign of Christ. But with the view, the seals, trumpets and bowls are taking place at the same time, Revelation 20 is simply another simultaneous look at the same events. In this case, the “thousand years” of Revelation 20 is taken symbolically of a “long time.” In this sense, there is no millennium. Thus, it’s “a-millennium.” Or, even better, “nunc-millennium,” meaning, the millennium is right now.

Again, let me emphasize that people who believe these things aren’t liberal. Many times, people can hear that the interpretation that the 1,000 years in Revelation 20 is symbolic and write off this view as “unbiblical” and “allegorical.” I would urge you to know that the amillennialist comes to that conclusion because of what the Bible teaches. For instance, let’s look back again at chapter 5:9-10.

Revelation 5:9-10
And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”

Did you notice the tense of these verbs here? They are past tense. That is, Jesus ransomed us with his blood! He has made us a kingdom and priests to our God! These are in the past tense. It is what Jesus has done for us! In other words, the amillenialist believes this to be true right now. The kingdom of Christ has already been established. That’s the tense of verse 10.

There are parallels in chapter 1:5-6. "To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen" (Revelation 1:5-6). This then, is also paralleled in Revelation 20, during the reign of Christ, "they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years" (Revelation 20:6).

Now, personally, I don’t think that these verses require viewing the seals, trumpets and bowls of Revelation to be simultaneous. But there are those who simply see these verses as another indication that the kingdom of God is now! which is what the millennium (in its broadest terms) is describing. This is all a huge simplification. But I bring all of this up, just to help orient you toward the backbone of Revelation: the seals, trumpets and bowls.

So, with that as a long introduction, let’s read our text, Revelation 6, where we hear about the “Opening of the Seals."

Revelation 6
Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.

When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.

When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!”

When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

Revelation 6 describes the opening of the first six seals. The seventh seal comes at the beginning of chapter 8, which we will get to in a few weeks. Today, we will look at the six seals. So, how many points will I have to my message? Six points.

1. The White Horse (verses 1-2)

Revelation 6:1-2
Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.

This is the first of four horses that John sees in his vision. These four horses are often known as “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.” Each of them bring a portion of God’s judgment upon the earth. I think it best to look at the judgment that each horseman brings.

Regarding the white horse, we see him conquering. He has a bow in his hand (verse 2). He is given a crown to place on his head (verse 2). “He came out conquering, and to conquer” (verse 2). Now, some have taken this to be Jesus. After all, in Revelation 19, we see a rider on a white horse coming to make war (Revelation 19:11). Yet, I believe, that betrays the context here of the four horses. The other three are bringing hardships upon the earth: warfare, famine and death. I find it hard to pit Jesus here as different, conquering for the kingdom, while the other horses bring destruction. I think it best to take the white horse as a Christ-pretender, a false Christ, if you will. One who may look like Jesus, but is conquering for another kingdom.

I say this, primarily because the words of Jesus in Matthew 24. We looked briefly at this passage last week, when the disciples asked Jesus about “the sign of [his] coming” (Matthew 24:3). Listen to what Jesus said, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray" (Matthew 24:4-5). A rider on a white horse, looking like Jesus, but not Jesus, leading many astray and conquering, but not for God’s kingdom. Then Jesus continues, "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. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains" (Matthew 24:6-8).

Jesus mentions wars and famines and death, which is exactly what the other three horses are about. The first horse, the white horse, is about conquering. The second horse, the red horse, brings wars. The third horse, the black horse, brings famine. The fourth horse, the pale horse, brings death. Let’s look at these horses. Let’s look at the second horse.

2. The Red Horse (verses 3-4)

Revelation 6:3-4
When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.

This horse speaks of a time of conflict. The red horse comes and “takes peace from the earth.” The red horse brings world-wide warfare, where those on the earth are slaying one another. Again, this is exactly what Jesus said in Matthew 24. Jesus said that there will be “wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6). The red horse brings “wars.”

3. The Black Horse (verses 5-6)

Revelation 6:5-6
When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!”

Now, for us, this might be difficult to understand. We don’t typically go out and purchase a quart of wheat. Nor are we in the habit of purchasing three quarts of barley. Further, we don’t use a denarius today. But, a denarius is a day’s wage. So, it takes an entire day’s wage to purchase a quart of wheat, which makes a loaf of bread. A worker can’t feed his family! The black horse brings famine. The fact that this black horse was not to destroy the oil and wine, is simply a demonstration of God’s control over these judgments. It’s a bit like the discussion that God has with Satan concerning Job. It was only with God’s permission that Satan could destroy his family. It was only with God’s permission that Satan could touch job, but he was forbidden to take his life. Similarly here, the black horse brings famine, but the oil and wine will still flow.

4. The Pale Horse (verses 7-8)

Revelation 6:7-8
Then he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.

The pale horse brings “death.” In fact, we read here that this horse brings his death plague to a fourth of the earth. This may mean that a fourth of those on the earth will perish. It might also mean that this plague of death will affect a fourth of the earth, where they have authority to kill. Now, the big question is this: Have these things taken place? Or are these things still yet to come? I say a resounding, “I don’t know!”

For sure, there are things in these four horsemen that have taken place. With the white horse and false Christs, many since the days of Jesus have arisen, claiming to be the Messiah. Shortly after Jesus ascended into heaven, Josephus, the historian, tells of several men who rose up, claiming to be the new Messiah (Antiquities 20:8:5; 20:5:1). Our day and age have known a few who have arisen as well. Such a plague has always been with us. There is nothing special (or must be future) about the white horse.

With the red horse, and the wars that come, there have always been wars. In fact, really, the world has never known peace. Not in the days of Jesus. Not shortly after the days of Jesus. Not now. Shortly after Jesus ascended, Jerusalem was sacked by the Romans in 70 A. D. Throughout history, there have always been wars. Our country has known of war: the Revolutionary War, the Civil War. Our world has experienced two world wars. Right now, there is a major war in Ukraine, which could lead to World War III. There is nothing special (or must be future) about the red horse.

With the black horse, and famine, there has always been seasons of famine upon the earth. In Bible times, Agabus foretold of a famine that would take place “over all the world” which “took place in the days of Claudius” (Acts 11:28). In our day, there are currently famines in Yemen and Sudan and Ethiopia. There is nothing special (or must be future) about the black horse.

With the pale horse and widespread death, there have been times when war and disease have traveled throughout the earth. In fact, during the bubonic plague (1346-1353), 30-60% of the European population died. Some estimates would even say that half of the earth died in that plague. We just went through a world-wide pandemic, which could have been worse. Can you imagine what could have taken place if COVID was more lethal than it was? I’m not sure that there is anything special (or must be future) about the pale horse.

It’s difficult if not impossible, to know the times of these things. I’m not at all sure that these events must await some future fulfillment. But this, I know. God has it all under control.

5. The Martyrs (verses 9-11)

Revelation 6:9-11
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

These verses take us to see those “who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had born” (verse 9). We call these, “martyrs.” We find their souls under the altar, crying out for vengeance in verse 10! Many Christian martyrs die willingly for the sake of Christ. Stephen preached and was stoned to death. His last words were prayers for those who killed him. He fell to his knees and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:60). Then he fell asleep in death.

On July 6, 1415, when John Hus was tied to the stake and given one last chance to renounce his beliefs, he responded, “Lord Jesus, it is for thee that I patiently endure this cruel death. I pray thee to have mercy on my enemies.” On October 6, 1536, William Tyndale's final words before the chain around his neck strangled him to death were, "Lord, open the king of England's eyes." But in heaven, under the altar, their disposition has changed. Rather than praying for salvation and mercy upon those who put them to death, we have words seeking vengeance.

Revelation 6:10
They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

It’s an appropriate prayer. “Vengeance is mine” says the Lord. Revelation is a book of vengeance and retribution for all those who failed to repent of their sins and follow Jesus. Those souls who are under the altar, merely echo that theme. The horses going out, wreaking havoc on the earth, are merely the beginning of birth pangs (as Jesus said in Matthew 24:8). As the book of Revelation unfolds, we will see God protecting his people, and pouring out his vengeance upon the unrepentant!

This brings us all to a point of application. Are you one of those who will receive the favor of God, through your faith in Christ? Or are you one of those who will face the wrath of God, because you have refused to bow the knee to Jesus? The best way to answer this question is to look at your life. Is there evidence in your life that you have turned from your sin and trusted in Christ? Has he been working in your life? Has he given you godly desires and appetites? Are you overcoming the world? When we looked at the message that Jesus gave to the churches, they all finished with the admonition to overcome, to conquer. This is the call of the book of Revelation, despite the speculation, despite the mystery of when these things will take place, to remain faithful to Jesus.

Matthew 24:12 talks about the signs of his coming, and about lawlessness increasing, and the love of many growing cold. But then gives the promise, “But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13). In Revelation 12, we will read about those enduring until the end. "And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death" (Revelation 12:11).

This message of faithfulness to the end, and possible martyrdom, is the message of Revelation to the original readers. Those in the churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea, were living in difficult times. John described himself as a “partner in the tribulation” with them (Revelation 1:9). Some were even facing death! Jesus called them to endure! I love the response that comes to these martyrs. When they said, “How long until you avenge our blood?”

Revelation 6:11
Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

They were told to wait. They were told to wait, not for a time, but for a number. They were told to wait, until the other martyrs would join them. When the number is complete, then God would carry out his vengeance. But think about this. God knows the number of martyrs that will lose their lives for the sake of Christ. The LORD hasn’t yet returned, so the number is increasing. It speaks of God’s sovereignty. The number has a limit. God knows the number. He knows the names. He knows what you are experiencing.

Now, regarding the times of the 5th seal? It appears as of this has been happening since the day of Christ. But it will finish. I think Stephen is one of those under the alter, pleading for God to take vengeance. I think John Huss, William Tyndale, and John Roger, these men of the reformation, these heroes, are under the alter pleading for vengeance. In some regards I'm not sure this is a future thing, but you get the sense that the number's getting close. He's waiting to return until that number is reached. Once that number is reached, then that's the time that God is going to avenge. Maybe that's prophesied here in the sixth seal.

6. The Cosmic Disturbances (verses 12-16)

Revelation 6:12-16
When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

This great sixth seal is seemingly mounting up. Now I don't think the sixth seal has come to pass yet. There are some who look back to Isaiah and Jeremiah and see it talking about stars falling and interpret it to world rulers falling. I think this is going to be a cataclysmic sort of event in the future. This is exactly what Jesus said. If you go back to Matthew 24, it is very parallel to this. He says "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken" (Matthew 24:29). We see a similar thing here. There's earthquakes that shake everything, the sun goes dark, the moon becomes like blood and turns to red, and the starts of the sky fall to earth. Again this is what John sees. I have no idea how stars can fall from the sky being hundreds of thousands of millions of light years away. I'm not sure how the sky vanishes as a scroll, or how every mountain and island are moved from their place. Think of the Rockies being sea level and the islands gone. Cosmic disturbances and Jesus anticipated this. Now how this works out I have no idea. Whether all this is literal I do not know.

I listened this week to a podcast of a guy who was escaping the fires in Maui. He said to save his life he had to jump into the ocean, and it was so hot and smokey and difficult. He commented on how he looked up and he all this ash and he said it was so dark and it looked like the stars were falling out of the sky. That's what he saw, and so this is what John sees. How much of this is actually there? I don't know. But there is some sort of cosmic disturbance that is going to take place when the numbers of these martyrs is reached.

Notice how these people respond at the word of Christ. Last week we looked at Titus chapter 2 and how the return of Christ is our blessed hope. It was not the blessed hope for these people! It was the blessed dread. These are:

Revelation 6:15
The kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free.

These are people who presumably shaken their fists at God and wanted nothing to do with him. The unrepentant on the earth. They fear the coming of Christ. They'd rather die than face Jesus.

Revelation 6:15-17
...hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"

 This comes from Isaiah chapter 2.

Isaiah 2:19
And people shall enter the caves of the rocks
and the holes of the ground,
from before the terror of the Lord,
and from the splendor of his majesty,
when he rises to terrify the earth.

This is a common thing. When God is coming people seek any sort of refuge they can find. They're fearful of the wrath of the lamb. Now this lamb takes us back to Revelation 5. The lamb who is worthy to take the scroll because he's accomplished our redemption. In taking that scroll, with the martyrs, he's accomplished our salvation and he's also going to accomplish the judgement of the wicked who would rather die than face the wrath of the lamb. Verse 17 brings us a great question.

Revelation 6:17
for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?

Who can stand when the day of the wrath of Christ the Lamb has come? No one can stand on the day of the Lord. This is the eyes of flame of fire, feet like burnished bronze and the sound of mighty waters coming out of this mouth. That's who people have to deal with, and they are terrified.

Isn't this the message of the Gospel? The propitiation that God has turned his wrath away from us through the sacrifice of Christ. What can keep you from the wrath of the lamb? The sacrifice of the lamb. This lamb was standing as if he had been slain. Don't miss that this lamb is a crucified, resurrected lamb. He is the one with whom you can be freed. The one who allows you to stand on the day of wrath.

This sermon was delivered to Rock Valley Bible Church on August 20, 2023 by Steve Brandon.
For more information see www.rockvalleybiblechurch.org.