Today’s passage: Revelation 6
Helpful thoughts:
- Six of the seven seals are opened by the Lamb of God in today’s passage.
- Only Christ (The Lamb of God) has authority to open these seals, and those who participate in bringing about the trouble associated with each seal only move forward with His authorization. Christ is in command.
- Seals 1-4 appear are tied together with the illustration of the riders and horses, as well as the command to “come.”
- The first rider on the white horse appears to be given authority on earth and uses it to the harm of the world. The rule of the rider on the white horse leads to the next three calamities; war, a ruined economy and famine, and disease.
- Seals 5 and 6 are tied together as well.
- The fifth seal draws our attention to those who have been martyred throughout history and to those who will be martyred during the tribulation.
- The sixth seal appears to (at least in part) answer the question of the martyrs. The rulers of the world and everyone else will hide in fear when the day of their wrath comes.
- No times are given in the text which indicate when the events of these seals will take place or for how long. The events of Revelation are not always given chronologically, but thematically. These seals could be an overview of the events throughout the time of tribulation.
Questions to consider:
- What limited the amount of destruction which was depicted in these seals? Who kept it from going any farther or getting any worse? Who is sovereign over all?
- What can we learn from the promises given to the martyrs? How was their victory portrayed? What can we learn from the fact that God intended for more of His children to become martyrs for his name during the time of tribulation?
- Who can stand against the Lord (verse 17)? After all of the questioning and speculating we could do after reading a passage like this, what is the only right response? What must the reader do in relation to the Lord?