Monday, December 04, 2006
Revelation 6:1-6 ~ Jeff Ludington
Revelation 6:1-8
“The first four seals”
RECAP:
· We are in the throne room
Revelation 4:1
Before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
· We have been invited up into the Throne Room in Heaven
· John is writing about:
o … what he is seeing
o … and, what he is told
Revelation 5:1
Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.
· A scroll
o We are not told what is written it
o Scholars disagree
· What we do agree on is that it is divinely inspired
· And, of great worth
Revelation 5:3
No one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could [was worthy to (vs. 2)] open the scroll or even look inside it.
· Whatever this scroll is
· It is definitely important
· Written by the very hand of God
· Therefore, no one was worthy to open it
Revelation 5:6-10
I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
· We have learned that “The Lamb” is Jesus most common name in Revelation
· He is the Lamb that was Slain
· He purchased us with His blood
· He alone is worthy to open the scroll
If you are new to the church, or not familiar with this kind of language, it could sound very weird:
Chrisianese:
· Why is Jesus called a lamb?
· Why is blood involved?
· How did Jesus purchase us?
· What is sin?
DEFINE: Sin: imperfection/failure
Share the Gospel:
· Genesis 3
· With sin, death enters in
· Fig leaves
· God offers a sacrifice
· God covers them with the skins of an animal
God must deal with sin, we cannot.
· Our only way of paying for sin
· Is to die, and be eternally separated from God
God doesn’t want that, HE loves you, and wants relationship with you.
WORSHIP:
· Since we want to focus on how to live a life of worship in this book of revelation
· We are not focusing on the whole futuristic prophecy thing
· We are focusing on TODAY
How to live a life of worship to the God who loves us TODAY!
This brings us to the scroll with 7 seals:
· This is where many interpretations depart
· We will focus on our book of worship here
Four Horsemen:
· The first four seals are brought on by 4 horsemen
o Horsemen are symbolic of the actions taking place
· These four take place during our lives
o Not prophetic visions of future times
· These are relevant to today
Vs. 1-2
I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.
· Jesus here opens the first of the 7 seals
· But what does it mean?
For 1 minute: quit thinking Bible, start thinking Hallmark:
· Valentines Day: do you have it in your head?
· What is the national symbol?
o Heart
· Who is the Hallmark mascot?
o Cupid
· What does Cupid shoot to pierce the heart?
o Arrows
Why:
· To get people to fall in love…
I want you to see this first seal like this, the bow is meant to deliver arrows, to make your heart fall in love.
A white horse:
· Salvation is riding out to humanity
· Represented by the purity of a white horse
A rider with a bow:
· You ever see the war movies with armor, archers, shields
· The arrow was designed to pierce armor
Just like an arrow is designed to pierce armor, the good news about Jesus is designed to pierce the hearts of men and women, and make them fall in love.
The rider is given a crown:
· Right from the beginning salvation is awarded a crown
· It is guaranteed victory for the rider
· God tells us that His word doesn’t come back void.
Bent on conquest:
· My wife often says I am “bent on …”
· It is when my focus is deepest
· It is when my efforts are directed fully
· I am “bent on…”
Here, Salvation is BENT on saving those whom God loves.
NOTICE:
· It isn’t the ARROWS that are mentioned
· It is the BOW
Psalm 44:4-8
You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob. Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes. I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.
· It isn’t about the skill of the arrow
· Or even the skill of the archer
· It is God whose words change lives
Each week we pray before service that it would be God’s words spoken here:
· My words do nothing
· God’s words give life
· It isn’t your skill in shooting the perfect arrow of the story of Jesus
· It is the strength of God’s words, His Bow, that pierce the hearts of those whom He loves
Vs. 3-4
When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!" Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.
· The sword here is common throughout scripture
· The word of God
· The Bible
· Ephesians 6 tells us that this is the Word of God
Now:
· How does one part of God’s Word bring love (the arrows of the Gospel)?
· And, then another brings war?
· This verse says:
o “take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other”
Peace between God and Man:
· The Good News of Jesus Christ (the Lamb who was slain)
· Reconciles us to God
· It brings peace to the heart who is saved from eternal separation
HOWEVER:
The Name of Jesus Christ:
· Seems to set one man against another
· If you don’t believe me, wait until someone says Jesus on TV!
Two examples from scripture:
Ephesians 2:14-18
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
· Through the good news of the Lamb who was slain
· We have “destroyed the dividing wall” between God and Humanity
· There is no barrier anymore
· Anyone can have a relationship with the living God
Matthew 10:34-39
Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn “a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.” Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
· Jesus is speaking here in Matthew
· He says, “don’t think I came to bring peace”
· I will turn a man against his own parents
· A daughter against her mother
What brings peace between you and God will also set you at odds with other people.
Vs. 5-6
When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!"
· Many people think of the scales as law/judgment
· That is our modern day context
· In this passage it is talking about the increased cost of things
· A quart of wheat is a full days wages ($300)
Just like the increase cost of a life lived out for Jesus!!!
What is the increased cost of the Gospel in your life?
· If the cost of your life hasn’t changed since you started living for Jesus
· Are you really living for Jesus?
What is the cost?
· Have you had to give up things that you used to do?
· Have you had to give up activities that you used to enjoy?
Share from my life:
· I had to quit getting loaded and doing crimes
· I had to quit hanging out with the friends I had
· I had to quit a life of crime and get a job
Lisa and I:
· We gave up pursuing income like we used to
· We have lost relationships with family members
· We have surrendered Saturday nights to ministry
Each of you sitting here has given up a Saturday night for God:
· Most of you used to have Saturday night plans
· But you sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel
The cost of living for Christ is often difficult, but is always worth it!
“The first four seals”
RECAP:
· We are in the throne room
Revelation 4:1
Before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
· We have been invited up into the Throne Room in Heaven
· John is writing about:
o … what he is seeing
o … and, what he is told
Revelation 5:1
Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.
· A scroll
o We are not told what is written it
o Scholars disagree
· What we do agree on is that it is divinely inspired
· And, of great worth
Revelation 5:3
No one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could [was worthy to (vs. 2)] open the scroll or even look inside it.
· Whatever this scroll is
· It is definitely important
· Written by the very hand of God
· Therefore, no one was worthy to open it
Revelation 5:6-10
I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
· We have learned that “The Lamb” is Jesus most common name in Revelation
· He is the Lamb that was Slain
· He purchased us with His blood
· He alone is worthy to open the scroll
If you are new to the church, or not familiar with this kind of language, it could sound very weird:
Chrisianese:
· Why is Jesus called a lamb?
· Why is blood involved?
· How did Jesus purchase us?
· What is sin?
DEFINE: Sin: imperfection/failure
Share the Gospel:
· Genesis 3
· With sin, death enters in
· Fig leaves
· God offers a sacrifice
· God covers them with the skins of an animal
God must deal with sin, we cannot.
· Our only way of paying for sin
· Is to die, and be eternally separated from God
God doesn’t want that, HE loves you, and wants relationship with you.
WORSHIP:
· Since we want to focus on how to live a life of worship in this book of revelation
· We are not focusing on the whole futuristic prophecy thing
· We are focusing on TODAY
How to live a life of worship to the God who loves us TODAY!
This brings us to the scroll with 7 seals:
· This is where many interpretations depart
· We will focus on our book of worship here
Four Horsemen:
· The first four seals are brought on by 4 horsemen
o Horsemen are symbolic of the actions taking place
· These four take place during our lives
o Not prophetic visions of future times
· These are relevant to today
Vs. 1-2
I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.
· Jesus here opens the first of the 7 seals
· But what does it mean?
For 1 minute: quit thinking Bible, start thinking Hallmark:
· Valentines Day: do you have it in your head?
· What is the national symbol?
o Heart
· Who is the Hallmark mascot?
o Cupid
· What does Cupid shoot to pierce the heart?
o Arrows
Why:
· To get people to fall in love…
I want you to see this first seal like this, the bow is meant to deliver arrows, to make your heart fall in love.
A white horse:
· Salvation is riding out to humanity
· Represented by the purity of a white horse
A rider with a bow:
· You ever see the war movies with armor, archers, shields
· The arrow was designed to pierce armor
Just like an arrow is designed to pierce armor, the good news about Jesus is designed to pierce the hearts of men and women, and make them fall in love.
The rider is given a crown:
· Right from the beginning salvation is awarded a crown
· It is guaranteed victory for the rider
· God tells us that His word doesn’t come back void.
Bent on conquest:
· My wife often says I am “bent on …”
· It is when my focus is deepest
· It is when my efforts are directed fully
· I am “bent on…”
Here, Salvation is BENT on saving those whom God loves.
NOTICE:
· It isn’t the ARROWS that are mentioned
· It is the BOW
Psalm 44:4-8
You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob. Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes. I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.
· It isn’t about the skill of the arrow
· Or even the skill of the archer
· It is God whose words change lives
Each week we pray before service that it would be God’s words spoken here:
· My words do nothing
· God’s words give life
· It isn’t your skill in shooting the perfect arrow of the story of Jesus
· It is the strength of God’s words, His Bow, that pierce the hearts of those whom He loves
Vs. 3-4
When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!" Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.
· The sword here is common throughout scripture
· The word of God
· The Bible
· Ephesians 6 tells us that this is the Word of God
Now:
· How does one part of God’s Word bring love (the arrows of the Gospel)?
· And, then another brings war?
· This verse says:
o “take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other”
Peace between God and Man:
· The Good News of Jesus Christ (the Lamb who was slain)
· Reconciles us to God
· It brings peace to the heart who is saved from eternal separation
HOWEVER:
The Name of Jesus Christ:
· Seems to set one man against another
· If you don’t believe me, wait until someone says Jesus on TV!
Two examples from scripture:
Ephesians 2:14-18
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
· Through the good news of the Lamb who was slain
· We have “destroyed the dividing wall” between God and Humanity
· There is no barrier anymore
· Anyone can have a relationship with the living God
Matthew 10:34-39
Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn “a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.” Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
· Jesus is speaking here in Matthew
· He says, “don’t think I came to bring peace”
· I will turn a man against his own parents
· A daughter against her mother
What brings peace between you and God will also set you at odds with other people.
Vs. 5-6
When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!"
· Many people think of the scales as law/judgment
· That is our modern day context
· In this passage it is talking about the increased cost of things
· A quart of wheat is a full days wages ($300)
Just like the increase cost of a life lived out for Jesus!!!
What is the increased cost of the Gospel in your life?
· If the cost of your life hasn’t changed since you started living for Jesus
· Are you really living for Jesus?
What is the cost?
· Have you had to give up things that you used to do?
· Have you had to give up activities that you used to enjoy?
Share from my life:
· I had to quit getting loaded and doing crimes
· I had to quit hanging out with the friends I had
· I had to quit a life of crime and get a job
Lisa and I:
· We gave up pursuing income like we used to
· We have lost relationships with family members
· We have surrendered Saturday nights to ministry
Each of you sitting here has given up a Saturday night for God:
· Most of you used to have Saturday night plans
· But you sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel
The cost of living for Christ is often difficult, but is always worth it!
