This past week, I went back to Revelation 6. I listened to our recent sermon, took some notes and went back into my BSF lesson as well since it captures this study at a different angle. It’s a good chapter! It’s better than I originally thought… Like Oh, the seven seals… kind of scary… While the representation of what’s happening/coming can be scary, there’s details I missed the first time around that point to His sovereignty.

---

As the seals unfold in the text and in the world, it brings understanding to what’s happening. They’re placed in a specific order and opened at the right times. The seals are not opened all at once or right after one another as if let’s get it over with.

With each seal opening by the hands of the One who is righteous and worthy, a creature summons a horse and rider, each a different color and depicted uniquely. Each rider enters with a different purpose. Something that was highlighted for the first time was that each rider was called by a creature.

When the first rider on a white horse enters after the opening of the first seal, some may think this is Jesus because of the white horse and the bow, crown and the conquering. There was some first century context to all this that’s really too long to get into, but the important thing is that to us and our first reading, this probably appears to be Jesus. Our first red flag is before the rider enters though.

Jesus, the Lamb, is opening the seals. Who calls the rider? Not Jesus, but a living creature.

Jesus wouldn’t be called by a living creature. Living creatures are called by Him. Living creatures fall down and worship Him.

The type of conquering this rider will be involved in is not the conquering Jesus did. Jesus conquered death. He overcame this world.

The white horse? It’s to give the appearance of just and righteousness. Scriptural backing tells us that there will be many who come in sheep’s clothing, but they’re really wolves.

Each rider is preparing the way for the next. The white horse prepares the way for the red horse, bringing bloodshed. This is the order of the first six of seven seals:

• False religion
• War
• Famine
• Earthquakes
• Persecution of believers
• People hiding in fear and cosmic signs

How could God allow this? These things are horrible. Not to be cliche, but aren’t the hard and unpleasant things necessary to appreciate and hope for the beautiful things in store for us? Can’t have a rainbow without a little rain.

God allows these things, but they are only with the boundaries He permits. They are not outside His control. He placed limits on each of these acts by these riders.

The powers of the world are only in power because God allowed them that power. He can take it away in a snap. There’s some wicked powers in today’s world, but there always has been. It’s like a revolving door. One exits, another comes to fill their place – maybe in a different country, different scope, but they’re there.

At the time of Revelation, Rome was conquering. They were the big dogs, so to speak. They believed they were righteous as well. They got rid of those who opposed them. That wasn’t bringing peace. That was a type of oppression.

The things of this world do not last forever. That goes for the power given to people on this earth.

---

Notes:

Know the voice of your Shepherd. Who are you listening to? When the antichrist presents himself, will you be fooled or turn away?

Just as God sets limits, it’s also good for us to have limits. Do you have boundaries of what is allowed to make it into your everyday life? How are you keeping your day to day pure from the influences of the world and it’s way of life?

Being afraid of dangers that come our way is normal, I’d say. How we respond matters, though. Are we cowering or facing it?

---

Additional reading:

• Revelation 5
• Matthew 24
• Ezekiel 14
• Zechariah 1, 6
• Psalm 13, 89

---

What stands out to you about the seals in chapter 6?

---

How can this encourage us today?

• There is a difference between what God acts and what God permits. Through it all, nothing is outside of His control.
• Peace that comes from God is freeing, not oppressive.
• The end doesn’t come until the task is completed. Keep holding onto His promises.
• He is with us through it all.

---

Have a great week!