The Four Horsemen

Our attention is drawn to the four horsemen in our text today. Due to Hollywood and various forms of media our passage today has been given the status of folklore, myth, or legend in our culture.

Take note that what we are studying today in the scriptures is far from folklore and in the very truest sense is something we need to know and take serious.

Before we look at our passage I want us to consider briefly two attributes of God… that of His love and His wrath…

A God of Love…

This is such a comfortable picture of God isn’t it?! It’s accurate too… God declares this of Himself throughout scripture, some well known ones are:

John 3:16 (NASB95)

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

2 Corinthians 13:11 (NASB95)

Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

We desire the God of love and peace… who wouldn’t!?

A loving God would surly not judge, or exhibit wrath would He?

We fail to realize just how great His love for us is… He sent His Son to deal with our sin!!!

Romans 5:8 (NASB95)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Our problem is not that we can’t understand a loving God, it’s that we don’t fully grasp how evil sin is.

It is far easier to have a carefree take on sin and a cuddly warm feeling of God’s love...

It’s uncomfortable to gaze upon the disgust and filth of sin, understanding that we do not deserve the love God lavishes upon us

God is also a God who we should have a reverent fear for… when it comes to sin and evil, He is a God of WRATH...

God’s Wrath!!!

As we go through this powerful book of Revelation we need to remember that it is a book end… the last chapter. As we take this book in context, we must take it also in the context of ALL SCRIPTURE!

OT spoke of God’s coming wrath on sin (Joel, Zechariah, Daniel…& others)

When Jesus the Messiah arrived the thought He would bring His wrath on the Romans...

Judge, eliminate Romans, save Israel… instead we read in John 3:17...“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”

We stood condemned, judged already… Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

We see such a powerful vivid picture of BOTH… God’s Love & God’s wrath at Calvary, where the sin of the world is placed on His Son, the Lamb of God… and God the Son takes our sin on Himself.

What we see is God is allowing mankind to sin, Satan to engage in evil…

It is this SIN that God is judging… He is righteous & as such He deals with sin!

Sin & evil are unrestrained (God is still in control)

A right perspective of SIN helps us understand God’s Wrath and as we watch the Lamb of God peel back the seven seals we observe the beginnings of God’s Righteous Wrath… Revelation 6:1-2

The First Seal

Who is this rider on the white horse?

When does this occur?

What does this mean?

Once again I stress the emphasis that we look to scripture to interpret scripture…

When we read in Daniel 9:26-27 we learn about this individual… (anti-christ)

We also read in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8 about him…

Consider the timeline of things…

We have Christ first coming (that we celebrate this month!)

Christ assents to heaven… promising to return for His bride (The Church)

We as the church are “sealed with the Holy Spirit”

When He is removed as One who “restrains”

We are then “gather TO Him”

Then enters the “anti-christ / lawless one”

White a horse of victory, crown is victor’s crown NOT on of authority

A bow with no arrows… victory is gained by deceitful conquest (father of lies)

The peace he brings is a false peace… demonstrated as we see the other seals peeled back! Revelation 6:3-4

The Second Seal

The peace that is promised by the one riding the white horse is a counterfeit…

As this rider who rides a red horse, we see the absence of peace.

The false peace that surrounding people will drive doubt, suspicion, and uncertainty.

The “great sword” is a short sword used for assassination. One would draw the enemy close and pierce them.

Trust was lost, fear, anxiety… results in bloodshed (red horse)

Jesus (who is True Peace, “Peace on Earth”) would describe this time as when people and nations turn on one another

The third seal would only bring greater fear, panic, and desperation among mankind… Revelation 6:5-6

The Third Seal

The weight of God’s wrath will impact the world greatly…

As the Black horse and its rider bring with it FAMINE, UNREST, and PANIC!!!

Imagine, famine so great that a days wages only buys you a loaf of bread

Food becomes scarce, hunger drives people to panic, riots break out in cities (don’t damage the oil and wine)

Desperation sets in, poverty spreads, economic inflation…

God is striving to get people’s attention, as He did in Moses’ day before Pharaoh… and many will turn their hearts and shake their fist at God…

(demonstrated as we read the end of this chapter next week.)

The next horse and its rider paint a tragic picture of these times… Revelation 6:7-8

The Fourth Seal

In ride Death and Hades…

Death goes forth and takes the body as Hades takes the soul

We see the massive death toll that follows these previews three horses and their riders

It is as if these seals as they are broken give a summary of what these seven years will be… as we see the trumpets and bowls things get even worse!!! (the last part, 3 1/2 years is what is called “The Great Tribulation”)

FEAR is now gripping the world!!!

(NOT reverent fear, rather paralyzing, panic, fear)

Sword, Famine, Disease, Wild Beats (due to hunger and savagery)

We read 1/4 and it really does not sink in…

Population… 8.2 Billion

25% = 2 Billion, 47 Million

Take out the population of NORTH AMERICA, LATIN AMERICA & CARIBBEANS, EUROPE, AUSTRALIA

That would leave you with 225 Million left… over 2/3 of America!

If Christ returns today… I know soooo many who would be going through the things we discussed today.

How does this stir within you?

How does this foreknowledge stir you and I to action?

Many people I love would be facing God’s Wrath… WHAT DO WE DO WITH THIS??? I close with this…

Amazing Grace!

God is judging sin and evil. His wrath is being poured out on mankind… YET we still see His abundant GRACE extended in this time… 2 Peter 3:3-4, 9

Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? … verse 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

There are two things imminent in this life!!!

1- Your death

2- The Gathering of the Church to Jesus Christ

BOTH REQUIRE what Jesus Christ did for you at Calvary!

Where God’s grace & love collided with His wrath for you and me!

Ephesians 2:8–9 states… “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Are you right with God?

Have you seen your sin for what it is and repented and recieved what He so graciously gave you and I?

What AMAZING GRACE that He would extend such an offer of love.

May what we see in store as God pours out His wrath on sin and evil spur us on to share this grace, this message of Jesus Christ!

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