The opening of the seals in Revelation 6

Sermon notes from Sunday 10 June 2018

Revelation 6

As you read through the book of Revelation, Daniel and Thessalonians there are so many prophecies contained within each that you start to wonder if there is any point in reading them.  There is so much you don`t understand within each but books of prophecy are of the utmost importance.  They hold a value to our souls.  Here in these books God is giving to us a scene that will take place on this earth in coming days.  As we study prophecy and see things that will take place in the future we should be encouraged and comforted by these words.  As people who have been saved by God`s grace, we will not be on earth when these words take place.  We will be in heaven with the Lord.  Paul when writing to the Thessalonians, who were disheartened because there were certain loved ones who had passed away and therefore in their opinion had missed out, told them about the Lord`s coming again.  At the end of it all he told them "wherefore comfort ye one another with these words."  The first thing we receive from words of prophecy is comfort.  They also come as a challenge to us.  What about our loved ones, family members, those we love on this earth - they are going to be left on this earth, to the onslaught of the anti-Christ.  In chapter 5 we saw something happening, saw the title deeds of earth in a book.  The Lord takes them out of the hand of the one sitting on the throne.  He begins to open the seals, only he could do that.  He is the Redeemer and the coming king.  In chapter 6 we see these seals opened but the seventh is not opened until chapter 8.  Notice here because the Lord is in heaven, as he opens the seals, the consequences are seen on earth.  Wrath and judgment is being poured out here on earth.  People would rather not talk about the judgment and wrath of God.  They would rather hear about God as the one who loves us - John 3 verse 16.  "For God commendeth his love to us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us."  Jesus does say to those who knock on his door "I never knew you."

The delusion that is happening here.  The first seal that is opened brings great deception onto the whole earth.  The apostle Paul said in Thessalonians that people will believe a lie through the lips of the anti-Christ because he has the answer.  In verses 1 and 2 we read that this call "come and see" is not made to John.  The beast is not saying to John "come and see what will happen."  The beast is speaking to the rider on the white horse.  It is a war like picture.  These are not the beasts of the anti-Christ.  Each beast has a commission and they are around the throne of God.  The beast calls each horse into action.  This is the white horse.  Some have confused him with Christ.  In chapter 19 Jesus is coming on a white horse.  Remember the Lord is in heaven and he is opening the seals and the results are seen on earth.  The rider on the white horse is a victor, he has accomplished things, he is covering ground, making a name for himself.  Matthew 24 "let no man deceive you."  Even in the world in which we live there is a great deception.  Even in churches today people are being deceived.  They say "I have my own church and that is enough" or "there is no need for that preaching you do."  People do not want the truth today.  We are living in the age of deception.  This man is going forth to conquer.  1 Timothy 4 verses 1 - 4.  2 Timothy 3 verses 1 - 5.  Paul is telling Timothy "do not be deceived, you are going to meet religious men but it is only a form of godliness."  This man on the first horse has a bow but no armour.  There is no blood shed, it is a peaceful regime that will be brought in.  Revelation 13 verse 2.  The devil gave them the power and authority.  The world will be deluded by him.  Daniel 8 verse 24 "And his power shalll be mighty, but not by his own power and he shall destroy wonderfully and shall prosper and practise and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart and by peace shall destroy many; he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand."  This is the person that is coming.  Here is a man coming when the church of Jesus Christ has gone home.  This is the man we will look up to.  When that happens here on earth he will gather all the leaders of the world, set them down.  The whole world will follow after him.  2 Thessalonians 2 verses 4 and 5 "Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."

In verses 3 and 4 we see the devastation.  There has been peace in the land because of this man.  Daniel 9 verses 26 and 27.  He makes peace in the Middle East but worse is coming.  This peace treaty will be set up during this 3 1/2 year period but it will be broken.  A tremendous war will break out.  The mask will be taken off and the people will see a ruthless leader.  They will kill one another.  That refers to civil war.  There will be anarchy on the streets.  This is not something we can set aside.  This is coming, it is all part of the future.  

There will be a time of dearth - verses 5 and 6 the Lord takes this book into his hand and opens the third seal.  There will be a time of delusion and then a time of devastation followed by a time of dearth on the earth.  This time the rider is not holding a sword but a pair of balances in his hand.  Starvation will come upon the earth.  The scales are for measuring the wheat.  The cost of living will soar.  There will be a time when food sources will be scarce.  During the time of war money will be used to buy weapons.  People are forgotten about.  In Jesus` day a penny was the wages for a man for a full days work.  Here we read one penny will only buy enough for one meal in the day.  That will only be for one person - there will be nothing left for the rest of the family.  There will come a day when people will not be able to work and therefore not able to buy food.  There is also a reference to 3 measures of barley for a penny.  That surely is better value but the barley was used to feed animals.  The people will be buying the food for animals and using it to feed their families because it will be of more value or so they think.  The comfort from prophecy is that we will not be here during this time if we are saved, have trusted Christ for sins forgiven.  What about the challenge though?  Am I prepared to go to heaven on my own, without my loved ones?  We cannot do anything to save them but are we doing all to ensure they are saved, are we praying for them, seeking God for their salvation?  In this verse 6 we read that the oil and wine were not to touched but under these circumstances will anyone be able to afford them?

In verse 8 we see that wrath  follows hard.  When we read of war we know there will be rationing.  Famine brings poverty, disease and sickness.  A quarter of the world will be killed through this time.  There is a tremendous challenge on us all to reach the lost for Christ today.  Wouldn`t it be awful to miss out on God`s call today?