Saturday, December 09, 2006
Revelation 6:7-17 ~ Jeff Ludington
Revelation 6:7-17
“three more seals”
Tonight will be a lot of new information:
· Stay with me, even if you don’t think you are getting it all
· It will make sense when we tie it together in the end
RECAP:
· Last week we looked at the first three seals on the scroll
o First: representing the Gospel reconciliation between God and Man
o Second: representing the discord the Gospel also brings
o Third: the heightened cost of our faith
· I got some really cool emails and calls this last week
o Many of you were challenged by asking the question
o “What has your faith cost you?”
· Tonight we talk about martyrdom
o When I tell you that these people have suffered
o And, we really haven’t
o Please realize that I am not down-playing your “costs of faith”
o Martyrdom is DYING for your faith
· We are going to take a look at the other side of the coin from last week
If last week was, “what is the cost of our faith?”
Then, this week is, “what is the cost of not having faith?”
PRAY:
Vs. 7-8a
When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him.
· Death – death is death
o Physical
o Absence of life
· Hades – the state of being dead – not necessarily Hell
This depends on your idea of Hell:
· If Hell is the Lake of fire – then Hades isn’t it
· If Hell is the Theological – separation from God
· This could be it – but not completed
Three ideas of after-death:
· Sheol:
o Hebrew idea of where you go when you die
o Was probably accurate before Christ died
o Divided into two sections
§ Abraham’s Bosom – those who died in faith
§ Gehenna – where Molech’s followers …
· Hades:
o This is simply the Greek idea of the state of being dead
o However, it’s usage seems separated from those who die in faith
§ But, it is not Hell
o Hell (Lake of Fire idea) hasn’t been created yet
Side note:
· This is not the same as Purgatory
o Purgatory – Catholic belief that you can “suffer” off some of your unforgiven sin
· The Cross of Christ either forgave sin, or didn’t
o Either way, you can’t work it off after death
Hell:
Revelation 20:14-15
Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
· This is our modern concept of Hell
· Lake of Fire
· Eternal punishment
So, Hades in this context seems to be where you go if you die without faith, until the judgment day comes.
· So, let me summarize
o Death is riding on a horse
o Hades, or separation from God, is following close behind
· Many are to be killed
o Some, without ever knowing the LORD
· This is happening today
Vs. 8b
They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
· Given power over a fourth of the earth
o Not everyone will die
o But many will
· Suffering
o Some will suffer famine
o Some will suffer sickness
o Some will die by animal attack
· This is happening today – and people are lost eternally
o This isn’t the saddest part
o It says that Hades is with Death
o That means that some will die apart from knowing Jesus
Vs. 9
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.
· Martyrs: in Heaven
o Those who have died in faith – are in Heaven today
o Specifically those who have suffered for their faith
When we think of suffering for our faith, it is not like this:
· Read Foxes, Chapter 1
Stephen
He died for faithfully preaching the Gospel to the betrayers and murderers of Christ. He was stoned to death.
James
Son of Zebedee, older brother of John: Persecuted by Herod Agrippa, James was led to the place of martyrdom, the person who had brought him to Herod repented of betraying him because of the apostle's extraordinary courage. His accuser fell at his feet and asked forgiveness, professing his faith in Christ, and then died alongside James. They were both beheaded at the same time.
Philip
He was scourged, thrown into prison, and afterwards crucified.
Matthew
The tax collector, disciple, and author of the gospel, was killed in Ethiopia with a halberd (like an axe).
James
The half-brother of Jesus, led the church in Jerusalem, and was the author of the Epistle. At the age of ninety-four he was beat and stoned by the Jews until his head split open.
Matthias
Least known disciple stoned at Jerusalem and then beheaded.
Andrew
Brother of Peter, was crucified on a cross.
Mark
Writer of the Gospel, was dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria as a sacrifice to a foreign idol.
Peter
Condemned to death, and crucified, in Rome. Jerome says that he was crucified, with his head down and his feet up, at his own request, because he said he was unworthy to be crucified in the same form and manner as the Lord was.
Paul
The Apostle: suffered under Nero. Paul was beheaded by a sword.
Jude
The brother of James, half brother of Jesus, was crucified.
Bartholomew
He was at cruelly beaten and then crucified.
Thomas
For preaching the Gospel in India he was martyred by being thrust through with a spear.
Luke
Author of the Gospel and the Book of Acts, was hung on an olive tree in Greece.
Simon
The Zealot: preached the Gospel from Africa to Britain where he was crucified.
John
The "beloved disciple", author of the book we study now. Planted the churches of Smyrna, Pergamos, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, and Thyatira. From Ephesus he was ordered to be sent to Rome, where he was cast into a cauldron of boiling oil. He escaped by miracle, without injury. Domitian banished him to the Island of Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation. He was the only apostle who escaped a violent death.
This is martyrdom:
This is why I have such a tough time with churches that teach that when things get too tough, and tribulation comes, God will take away His church to Heaven.
· Things have always been bad
· God doesn’t take His faithful out
o He strengthens them to survive it
o He promises us the strength to survive
Then, He does honor them in Heaven!!!
Vs. 10
They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?"
· They have earned the right to ask this
· They have truly suffered
· They want to know
“How long… until you judge the inhabitants of the Earth and avenge our blood?”
· WE are not that holy
· We don’t get to pray prayers like that
How long, does this injustice have left God?
Vs. 11
Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.
· White robes represent their righteousness
o Their accomplishment is recognized
o They are rewarded
· God honors those who suffered for their faith
Remember last week:
· What is the cost of your faith?
· Whatever it is, it will be worth it
· God will honor any sacrifice made for the sake of the Gospel
The martyrs are told to wait:
· Wait, because there are believers are still on the earth
o And, there are some that need to come to faith still
· Earth cannot be judged until the fullness of the Christians is complete
· Some of these will die for their faith
By Their Blood:
Vs. 12-14
I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
· This language is used to represent judgment
· This language is used two other times:
Judgment of the earth:
Mark 13:24-27
But in those days, following that distress, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
· When the end actually comes (notice believers are still alive)
· Judgment will come
· Lightning, darkness, thunder…
Judgment of Jesus for sin:
Matthew 27:45-54
From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"-which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"
Judgment is a very scary looking thing!
Vs. 15-17
Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"
· It is right to fear the judgment of God
· It should not be fearful for the follower of Christ
· But, should motivate us to share Jesus with others
Let’s tie this together:
· We have talked about Hades, Hell, a Lake of Fire
· We have talked about Martyrdom
· We have talked about Judgment
What does this have to do with us?
Think back to Genesis 5-9:
· Noah and the flood
· … … … … …
· No flood – Noah built an ark in vain
Now fast-forward to the Gospels:
· At the end of each Gospel, Jesus is hung on a cross
o He is punished for our sins
o He is crucified and dies
· … … … … …
· No punishment – Jesus died on the cross in vain
We talked about the cost of our faith last week:
· This week we see martyrs dying for their faith
If there is no judgment and death, there would be no reason for you to suffer for your faith.
· Even more so
· IF there is no Death and Hades
· There is no reason to share your faith
Each time Jesus taught on Hell, He was speaking to believers to motivate them!
“three more seals”
Tonight will be a lot of new information:
· Stay with me, even if you don’t think you are getting it all
· It will make sense when we tie it together in the end
RECAP:
· Last week we looked at the first three seals on the scroll
o First: representing the Gospel reconciliation between God and Man
o Second: representing the discord the Gospel also brings
o Third: the heightened cost of our faith
· I got some really cool emails and calls this last week
o Many of you were challenged by asking the question
o “What has your faith cost you?”
· Tonight we talk about martyrdom
o When I tell you that these people have suffered
o And, we really haven’t
o Please realize that I am not down-playing your “costs of faith”
o Martyrdom is DYING for your faith
· We are going to take a look at the other side of the coin from last week
If last week was, “what is the cost of our faith?”
Then, this week is, “what is the cost of not having faith?”
PRAY:
Vs. 7-8a
When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him.
· Death – death is death
o Physical
o Absence of life
· Hades – the state of being dead – not necessarily Hell
This depends on your idea of Hell:
· If Hell is the Lake of fire – then Hades isn’t it
· If Hell is the Theological – separation from God
· This could be it – but not completed
Three ideas of after-death:
· Sheol:
o Hebrew idea of where you go when you die
o Was probably accurate before Christ died
o Divided into two sections
§ Abraham’s Bosom – those who died in faith
§ Gehenna – where Molech’s followers …
· Hades:
o This is simply the Greek idea of the state of being dead
o However, it’s usage seems separated from those who die in faith
§ But, it is not Hell
o Hell (Lake of Fire idea) hasn’t been created yet
Side note:
· This is not the same as Purgatory
o Purgatory – Catholic belief that you can “suffer” off some of your unforgiven sin
· The Cross of Christ either forgave sin, or didn’t
o Either way, you can’t work it off after death
Hell:
Revelation 20:14-15
Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
· This is our modern concept of Hell
· Lake of Fire
· Eternal punishment
So, Hades in this context seems to be where you go if you die without faith, until the judgment day comes.
· So, let me summarize
o Death is riding on a horse
o Hades, or separation from God, is following close behind
· Many are to be killed
o Some, without ever knowing the LORD
· This is happening today
Vs. 8b
They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
· Given power over a fourth of the earth
o Not everyone will die
o But many will
· Suffering
o Some will suffer famine
o Some will suffer sickness
o Some will die by animal attack
· This is happening today – and people are lost eternally
o This isn’t the saddest part
o It says that Hades is with Death
o That means that some will die apart from knowing Jesus
Vs. 9
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.
· Martyrs: in Heaven
o Those who have died in faith – are in Heaven today
o Specifically those who have suffered for their faith
When we think of suffering for our faith, it is not like this:
· Read Foxes, Chapter 1
Stephen
He died for faithfully preaching the Gospel to the betrayers and murderers of Christ. He was stoned to death.
James
Son of Zebedee, older brother of John: Persecuted by Herod Agrippa, James was led to the place of martyrdom, the person who had brought him to Herod repented of betraying him because of the apostle's extraordinary courage. His accuser fell at his feet and asked forgiveness, professing his faith in Christ, and then died alongside James. They were both beheaded at the same time.
Philip
He was scourged, thrown into prison, and afterwards crucified.
Matthew
The tax collector, disciple, and author of the gospel, was killed in Ethiopia with a halberd (like an axe).
James
The half-brother of Jesus, led the church in Jerusalem, and was the author of the Epistle. At the age of ninety-four he was beat and stoned by the Jews until his head split open.
Matthias
Least known disciple stoned at Jerusalem and then beheaded.
Andrew
Brother of Peter, was crucified on a cross.
Mark
Writer of the Gospel, was dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria as a sacrifice to a foreign idol.
Peter
Condemned to death, and crucified, in Rome. Jerome says that he was crucified, with his head down and his feet up, at his own request, because he said he was unworthy to be crucified in the same form and manner as the Lord was.
Paul
The Apostle: suffered under Nero. Paul was beheaded by a sword.
Jude
The brother of James, half brother of Jesus, was crucified.
Bartholomew
He was at cruelly beaten and then crucified.
Thomas
For preaching the Gospel in India he was martyred by being thrust through with a spear.
Luke
Author of the Gospel and the Book of Acts, was hung on an olive tree in Greece.
Simon
The Zealot: preached the Gospel from Africa to Britain where he was crucified.
John
The "beloved disciple", author of the book we study now. Planted the churches of Smyrna, Pergamos, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, and Thyatira. From Ephesus he was ordered to be sent to Rome, where he was cast into a cauldron of boiling oil. He escaped by miracle, without injury. Domitian banished him to the Island of Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation. He was the only apostle who escaped a violent death.
This is martyrdom:
This is why I have such a tough time with churches that teach that when things get too tough, and tribulation comes, God will take away His church to Heaven.
· Things have always been bad
· God doesn’t take His faithful out
o He strengthens them to survive it
o He promises us the strength to survive
Then, He does honor them in Heaven!!!
Vs. 10
They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?"
· They have earned the right to ask this
· They have truly suffered
· They want to know
“How long… until you judge the inhabitants of the Earth and avenge our blood?”
· WE are not that holy
· We don’t get to pray prayers like that
How long, does this injustice have left God?
Vs. 11
Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.
· White robes represent their righteousness
o Their accomplishment is recognized
o They are rewarded
· God honors those who suffered for their faith
Remember last week:
· What is the cost of your faith?
· Whatever it is, it will be worth it
· God will honor any sacrifice made for the sake of the Gospel
The martyrs are told to wait:
· Wait, because there are believers are still on the earth
o And, there are some that need to come to faith still
· Earth cannot be judged until the fullness of the Christians is complete
· Some of these will die for their faith
By Their Blood:
Vs. 12-14
I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
· This language is used to represent judgment
· This language is used two other times:
Judgment of the earth:
Mark 13:24-27
But in those days, following that distress, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
· When the end actually comes (notice believers are still alive)
· Judgment will come
· Lightning, darkness, thunder…
Judgment of Jesus for sin:
Matthew 27:45-54
From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"-which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"
Judgment is a very scary looking thing!
Vs. 15-17
Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"
· It is right to fear the judgment of God
· It should not be fearful for the follower of Christ
· But, should motivate us to share Jesus with others
Let’s tie this together:
· We have talked about Hades, Hell, a Lake of Fire
· We have talked about Martyrdom
· We have talked about Judgment
What does this have to do with us?
Think back to Genesis 5-9:
· Noah and the flood
· … … … … …
· No flood – Noah built an ark in vain
Now fast-forward to the Gospels:
· At the end of each Gospel, Jesus is hung on a cross
o He is punished for our sins
o He is crucified and dies
· … … … … …
· No punishment – Jesus died on the cross in vain
We talked about the cost of our faith last week:
· This week we see martyrs dying for their faith
If there is no judgment and death, there would be no reason for you to suffer for your faith.
· Even more so
· IF there is no Death and Hades
· There is no reason to share your faith
Each time Jesus taught on Hell, He was speaking to believers to motivate them!
