Apocalyptic Insight: The Tribulation Begins
Revelation 6-7
September 24, 2023
Jay Haugh
This storm is a scroll and the scroll is the tribulation period.
The world is finally punished because they have refused and rejected God their Creator, Sustainer and Savior.
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!” —Revelation 6:1 ESV
First Seal: A false deliverer arrives.
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. —Revelation 6:2 ESV
the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. —2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 ESV
Jesus gives the seal judgments of the tribulation period.
The first sign is the first seal.
“For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.” —Matthew 24:5 NASB
Second Seal: War and Bloodshed
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. —Revelation 6:3-4 ESV
Third Seal: Famine
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!” —Revelation 6:5-6 ESV
It’s working all day for a loaf of bread.
Fourth Seal: Death
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. —Revelation 6:7-8 ESV
Fifth Seal: Martyrdom
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. —Revelation 6:9-11 ESV
Sixth Seal: Cosmological Disturbances
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, —Revelation 6:12-15 ESV
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.” —Revelation 6:16 ESV
The Seventh Seal: Seven more judgments
Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” —Revelation 11:15 ESV
“for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” —Revelation 6:17 ESV
Revelation 7 is an intermission.
John moves us chronologically, but he also educates us.
After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea. —Revelation 7:1-2 ESV
When the wind stops, rains cease, and drought begins.
“Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” —Revelation 7:3 ESV
And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel. —Revelation 7:4 ESV
“…will look upon Me [Christ] whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for him, as one mourns for an only son.” —Zechariah 12:10 NASB
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” —Revelation 7:9-10 ESV
There is a great multitude that believe and worship.
Big Idea:
God will bring judgment, but He is still faithful to save and to protect His servants.
Read: Psalm 29; Matthew 24:1-31; 2 Thessalonians 2
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Memory Verse: Revelation 4:11 NIV
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
The goal of these questions is to foster meaningful discussion and to encourage participants to reflect on God’s Word with the goal of leading to heart transformation. Feel free to modify or expand upon these questions based on the dynamics and needs of your Small Group.
Read Revelation 6
What is significant about the word “given” or “granted” in Revelation 6:2, 4, 8? In stories from Job to Revelation, we see God granting permission to Satan to terrorize humanity. Is this something you have wrestled with? How were you able to work through that in a healthy way?
Why is it right and loving for God to judge sin and exact justice? Why is it important to acknowledge and understand that God is both merciful and wrathful and not emphasize one over the other? How can we explain to others this duality of God?
With the absence of many Jesus followers, strife and conflict increase. What is the only message in this world that has the ability to bring peace? What is it about the Gospel message that makes it the only way? Why don’t we have peace now? Is peace on earth possible? Do you see yourself as an active participant in the global movement for Jesus? Why or why not?
The rider of the horse that comes forth from the fourth seal brings death. When talking with those who do not know Jesus, is fear an appropriate evangelistic tactic? What are some methods for sharing the gospel with those who do not yet know Jesus? What might keep you from responding to God’s call to share Him with others?
The Martyrs cry out, asking God how much longer until their blood will be avenged. Are you ever frustrated with God’s patience? What does God’s delay in judgment tell us about His character? In what ways do you think God’s patience serves as a model for our relationships?
Read Revelation 7
What mark of ownership in your lifestyle shows God’s possession of you? Do you have any habits you need to alter to better reflect the fact that God owns every area of your life?
What does it mean to be “robed in white” and made “white in the blood of the Lamb?” How does this relate to our understanding of salvation through Jesus Christ? In addition to Jesus’ redemptive work, what are some other primary tenets of the Christian faith? Are you familiar with the statement of faith and core beliefs of New Covenant?
Verse 7:14 indicates there are still people coming to faith during the tribulation. Do hard times draw you closer to God or push you away? Share with the group about a time when God was patient with you. Where else do we see examples of God’s long-suffering?
What does it mean for Jesus to be the “Lamb who will be their shepherd?” Does this imagery impact your understanding of what heaven will be like? If so, how? What does it mean to you to have Jesus as your shepherd?