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When the Seals Open: Love that Won’t Let Go
Revelation 6
Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, heir to David’s throne has won the victory, He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals. —Revelation 5:5
Matthew 24-25 is often compared with Revelation 6, and is called the
Jesus: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills your prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate. For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’—Matthew 23:37-39
Jesus: … But you wouldn’t let me.—Matthew 23:37
First seal:
As I watched, the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals on the scroll. …I looked up and saw a white horse standing there. Its rider carried a bow, and a crown was placed on his head. He rode out to win many battles and gain the victory.—Revelation 6:1-2
The White Horse represents
Second Seal:
When the Lamb broke the second seal, …another horse appeared, a red one. Its rider was given a mighty sword and the authority to take peace from the earth. And there was war and slaughter everywhere.—Revelation 6:3-4
Jesus: And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.—Matthew 24:6-7
The Red Horse represents
Third Seal:
When the Lamb broke the third seal,…I looked up and saw a black horse, and its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice…say, “A loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley will cost a day’s pay.”—Revelation 6:5-6
The Black Horse represents
Fourth Seal:
When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, …I looked up and saw a horse whose color was pale green. Its rider was named Death, and his companion was the Grave. These two were given authority over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword and famine and disease and wild animals.—Revelation 6:7-8
The Pale Horse represents
Fifth Seal:
When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony.—Revelation 6:9
Jesus: Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers.—Matthew 24:9
Sixth Seal (part 1):
I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood. Then the stars of the sky fell to the earth like green figs falling from a tree shaken by a strong wind. The sky was rolled up like a scroll, and all of the mountains and islands were moved from their places.—Revelation 6:12-14
Jesus: Immediately after the anguish of those days,
the sun will be darkened,
the moon will give no light,
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. —Matthew 24:29 (also Isaiah 13:10)
Sixth Seal (part 2):
Then everyone – the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person – all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive?”—Revelation 6:15-17
Jesus: And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the people of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world – from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.—Matthew 24:30-31
The Lamb’s anger is the utter rejection, by Love incarnate, of all that is unloving. The only people who should be afraid of it are those who are determined to resist the call of love.—N.T. Wright (Revelation for Everyone, p. 68)
Next Week: Revelation 7
Discussion Questions
- What do the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse symbolize to you and how can these symbols be applicable to today’s society?
- How does the depiction of divine judgment in Revelation 6 shape your understanding of God’s character and His plan for humanity?
- How can the imagery of the martyrs in their white robes underneath the altar inspire you in your Christian journey?
- How does the anticipation of God’s final judgment shape your daily choices and priorities?
- How do the events of Revelation 6 inform your prayer life?
- How can studying Revelation 6 affect your view of the urgency of Christ’s message and the calling to share the gospel?