"Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come.” 2 I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer."
Today, all one needs to do is pick up the Bible in one hand, and a newspaper in the other, to realize the fact that we are closing in on the shadows of this age. It's no longer just the religious fanatics of this world who are warning that the world is headed for chaos. Even the secular world is feeling a sense of impending doom. Doctors and scientists are continuously learning of new strains of bacteria which are resistant to all known antibiotics.
Viruses are mutating at a rate faster than science can come up with a vaccine. Even as the COVID-19 vaccination effort continues, we are being overwhelmed with news stories about new variations and mutations and people who have gotten vaccinated have again become infected with COVID-19 and died. Suggesting that immunity to the virus doesn’t last very long. Science now tells us that highly transmissible strains may create more virulent and dangerous variants, increasing the rate at which new vaccine-resistant mutants emerge.
Natural disasters are on the rise, in frequency and intensity. Scientists warn us of global warming and that these changes in climate not only
affect average temperatures, but also extreme temperatures, increasing
the likelihood of weather-related natural disasters and will severely impact future catastrophes. These changes have resulted in the intensity and frequency of droughts, storms, floods, extreme temperatures and wildfires.
In the 2020 Ecological Threat Register shows, that since the 1960's, the world has witnessed a tenfold increase in the number of natural disasters. In 2005, the world experienced the largest amount of natural disasters
on record, that left a death toll of more than 90,000 after 442 incidents with
another 160 million people in need of immediate assistance.
It is even more sobering to realize that no part of the world, is more than one year away from critical starvation, in the event of a serious crop failure. Researchers have warned that if action is not taken to protect the ecology, conditions will worsen.
With tensions in the Middle East rising and escalating quickly, it has become also a source of international tensions. Everywhere we look, the signs point to our world seems to be in turmoil and is nearing the conclusion.
Jesus warned us, that in the last days there will be a great increase in earthquakes, famines, and pestilences.
Before we come to our study of God’s Word, let us pray.
Heavenly Father,
Father, we thank You for Your Word, and see the way our world is headed. Help us to be able to discern the signs of the times. We know the world is headed for war; but first it’s headed for peace. Lord, we are grateful that in Christ, we have nothing to fear. For our hope is not in this world, but in Jesus Christ. As the whole created universe stands on the brink of destruction, we thank You for this powerful reminder, that we have the responsibility to warn the lost of this world of the trap in which they will be caught. Let us share the gospel with courage and boldness, as You prepare the hearts of those who will receive it. May it all be for Christ's sake and Your glory.
In Christ's name we pray.
Amen
Today's Message: The First Seal
Open your Bibles with me to the book of Revelation. Revelation chapter 6. Back in
We learned the only one who was worthy and able to open it was the Lamb of God, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Lord Jesus Christ. With the opening of each seal we will see the coming judgment as the wrath of God, the horrors of the tribulation are loose upon the earth, and they unfold before our very eyes as He takes back His universe.
In chapters 6 through19, the book of Revelation paints for us a graphic vision of unspeakable horror.
When you stop to think of all the atrocities that have taken place all over the world from the time of Adam and Eve, until now and what Jesus said, that none of it can compare to what the world is about
to experience in the Great Tribulation, it can be frightening, if not horrifying.
Christians, for many years, have been taught that things in the world are heading inevitably toward final war. We have all been told that we are headed
for Armageddon. It recent years, it has become even more of a reality, as we are witnessing the world fall into deeper and deeper chaos, confusion, disaster, and death. As we look at the world, people are growing more and more concerned about the character of society, about
the financial stability of our world, they are concerned about the food and the water supply, concerned about fuel
and the fuel supply, and concerned about the environment and global warning. It doesn't require much more information to realize that we are sliding into ultimately, a living hell.
However, I believe that before things get much worse, we are headed for a time of worldwide peace, worldwide prosperity, worldwide safety and security. It’s going to appear as if all the problems are solved. But, rest assured, it will be a deceptive peace and a false sense of security. Psychologically, socially, politically, economically, and religiously the trap is being set. And, the world is taking the bait.
I believe that we would do well to remind ourselves that an optimistic confidence of peace that was assured just prior to World War II. When Adolf Hitler deceived the world with his promises of peace. Never before in history has a man come so close to being the antichrist! Nearly everyone, including clergyman, misread Hitler, and so, they walked right into his false peace, and were slaughtered.
I truly believe that the tolerance of everything, and the political openness of the world, is surely a step toward the false peace of Antichrist. Religion will surely play a major part in it. We're already seeing the signs of that. The barriers, which have previously divided religion are coming down. They’re calling upon the churches to set aside doctrinal differences to form sort of one religious force. And, the intolerance for true Christianity is escalating in the process.
World leaders have become more concerned about the quality of life, then they are about national borders. With the rise of the Covid-19 pandemic, they’re increasing concerned about health and medicine. The underlying reason is, because these people believe that this is all we’ve got. There are literally so many illustrations that we could be here for hours, if not days.
Thomas Merton, one of the most widely-read Catholic writers of our time, wrote before his death, "My dear brothers, we are already one, but we imagine that we are not; and what we have to discover is our original unity." He was echoing what many Catholics, including popes, have long been saying. That we have these artificial barriers, whether Hindu, Muslim, Catholic, Buddhist or whatever, we’re all really just one. Let me tell you this, all of this drive for peace has nothing to do with the Prince of Peace. Their passion and endless pursuit for peace will only lure them into the clutches of Antichrist.
In Luke chapter 12, Jesus said " Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and
daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and
daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."
And, in Matthew chapter 24, Jesus says it starts with a deception, a very misleading proclamation. There will be many saying, "We’re come to bring world peace. We’re come to bring the new order." I can imagine all of these world leaders lining up to promise to deliver the world from its troubles. Proclaiming peace, peace, when there is no peace. Their false peace will rapidly crumble into war. It will be nothing more than a deceptive peace brought about by deceptive would be saviors! I believe that we can clearly see, how the world’s movement toward a global peace really does fit this scenario.
As I have been study the Scriptures, preparing for this message, I began think to myself, "If you think that we have destroyed this planet, just wait until you see what Jesus does to it."
Many think it’s Jesus Christ, but it’s not. Christ doesn’t come until the end of the tribulation. Besides that, Christ is the one opening the seal. Christ doesn’t carry a bow, He carries a sword. He doesn't wear one crown, He wears many crowns. Notice it says "and a crown was given to him." It does not appear as though he took it. I believe this means he is democratically crowned, he is given authority. As if he’s been honored by the world. "He went out conquering and to conquer." He will come as a victor, intent on conquering and controlling. His mission to impose one-world totalitarian authority over the souls of the men he deceived.
Many think it's the Antichrist, and, he's certainly there, but horses don’t represent individuals, they represent a force. This horse and rider represent the false peace headed up by Antichrist.
"Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, "Come." I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer."
In chapters 4 and 5, heaven’s praise was so glorious. Now, as the scene shifts from heaven to earth, a sudden silence. The Lamb breaks open the first seal, opens the scroll, the title deed to the universe. As He opens it, John sees a white horse, but not until one of the four living creatures calls that white horse and rider. The four living creatures are angels, cherubim, saying as with a voice of thunder, "Come."
The Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and as a reminder, seven is a
number of completion. That’s why there are seven seals, seven trumpets,
and seven bowls, because that completes the judgment. When all of them
are complete, the universe is Christ’s. Jesus divided it into two parts: the first part, the birth pangs,and the second part, the great tribulation, separated the abomination of desolations, which we read in Daniel 9. So, in the first half, you have the four seals, which is peace, war, famine, and disaster bringing death. Then, fifth seal is broken, the abomination, which triggers the persecution. The sixth and seventh seals bring the end. At the end of the seven years, Christ comes back.
So here in verse 1, we see the first horse is a white horse; he represents, as we will soon see, peace. Peace, war, famine, and death. In the Bible, a white horse symbolizes conquest. A bow is a symbol of
power and warfare, and a crown symbolizes dominion. There is coming one
last and final dictator to this earth and I believe that there is going to be conversion taking place, as soon as this time period begins. And, they are going to be persecuted. It’s the killing in Matthew chapter 24 that yields the martyrs in Revelation 6. The parallels are identical.
In Daniel chapter 9, "Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. And
he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the
middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering;
and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate."
The Messiah will be cut off, sixty-two weeks of seven years. The city is destroyed. The sanctuary is destroyed. If you remember, that
happened in 70 A.D. And there’s still a week that hasn’t
happened, one period of seven years. Verse 27 says, "And
he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week." That's the Antichrist. But in the middle of the week he puts a stop to the sacrifice and the grain offering, and commits the abomination of desolations. The Antichrist is the leading orchestrator of peace.
In verse 2, "I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer."
He will come on a platform of peace, once this peace is established, the Antichrist rises to the top. I'd like you to notice, there's no arrows, the absence of arrows speaks of a bloodless victory, just a bow, but
this last world dictator will bring death and destruction to this
earth. The deception is going to be so convincing, many of the Jews will believe him, and will think that their Messiah has finally arrived. So, Israel is a key player, however, it extends well beyond Israel. This will be a major peace treaty. In fact, this peace treaty with Israel is going to be so comprehensive and so complete,
that Israel is going to be back in their sacrificial system. They’re going to be back offering grain offerings.
God will convince the rulers of the world to give their power to the Antichrist. And, Satan will think that he’s ultimately in charge. Even while all the chaos seemingly rules, it is God who will control it all. Some of you may had that experience, where you thought you were choosing all your own
moves, thinking you have the advantage over your opponent, only to learn by the end of the game, that you were right where your opponent
wanted you to be, and now they are in complete control.
God going to allow this delusion run. The world is headed for war; but first it’s headed for peace. Everything is subservient to peace. Remember that. The world is going to fall into the false peace, and bow down to this great world ruler. Almighty God is directing the events of human history, and He's even using His enemies to accomplish His purposes and plans.
We'll look at the second seal and the unfolding events that follow next time.
In Closing..
I believe what John is describing 21st century events using his 1st century language. The signs
of the times are everywhere. If you are saved, thank God, because you will be long
gone to heaven by this point!
If you are not yet saved, today is the day to call out to the Lord Jesus Christ. To ask for forgiveness of your sin, repent and receive Him as your Lord and Savior, before the church age ends and the Kingdom age begins. In breaking these seals, Christ does not send disaster, for evil already exists in the hearts of sinful humanity. Rather, it demonstrates His lordship. Christ is unfolding a future in which He will triumph over every enemy.
May it be so..
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen
Copyright © 2019-2021 All Rights Reserved