Chapter 4

After the marvelous vision of Christ in chapter 1, the messages to the seven representative churches in Asia in chapters 2 and 3, in chapter 4 the Apostle John is ushered by the same trumpet-like voice into heaven, where he is given a vision of the throneroom of God. 

With everything suggesting briliance, splendor and majesty, proceeding from the Presence of God the Father on the throne, John is given a front-row seat to the unceasing praise that the Father receives from all God's creation, from the the most unusal and celestial, the four living creatures, to the most regal, the elders in white robes with golden crowns. They together worship God, who is most holy, most sovereign, eternal, and the maker of all things. 

Brothers, this is the God we worship and serve. Let us not forget His majesty and splendor. Let us, therefore, give Him the reverence and obedience that our Creator and Sovereign deserves!

Chapter 5

We go into the throne room, where we encountered Jesus, the Lamb that was slain, the Lion of Judah, the One and Only One who is able to usher in the end of the story of the universe and bring about the victory of the saints. 

There is a scroll full of writing, so much so that it fills both the front and back of it. Nothing is left out. It has seven seals. It is complete. It is held by God the Father on the throne in heaven. He holds it in His right hand, the place of power and authority. A mighty angel appears, as if any angel is anything but mighty, yet this angel is notably mighty even among the angels. Consequently, as mighty as this angel is, all he gets to do is ask a question: Who is worthy to open this mysterious scroll and usher in the judgment of God, the victory of the saints, the end of the story of good versus evil? His question extends out to every corner of the universe, whether in the open spaces of heaven or in the deepest crevices of earth.

But there is only silence. This silence is only pierced by John, who begins to cry, perhaps thinking that there may be no good end to this universal struggle between good and evil, no vindication for the saints, no hope of eternal salvation. The question lingers: Is there no one worthy?!

One of the twenty-four elders tells John that there is. Only One! There can be only one: the Lion of the tribe of Judah. He has triumphed. He is worthy to open the scroll and every one of its seven seals. 

John sees a Lamb looking as if it had been slain. There can be no mistaking that this is none other than Jesus, for we soon learn from the universal praise that this Lamb shed His blood to purchase for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. As if to say, don't let this lamb, a lowly animal, fool you. He has seven horns, representing perfect authority and dominion. He has seven eyes, representing perfect knowledge, understanding and wisdom. He sends out the Holy Spirit with all perfection ("seven-fold") into all the earth to complete the redemptive work He began. The lamb is a lamb only because it represents the atoning, sacrificial work He accomplished to redeem mankind for God.

In answer to the question reverbrating throughout the universe, "Who is worthy?" Jesus answers, not by receiving the scroll, but going up to the throne and taking it from the right hand of God the Father. It is as if Jesus by His actions declared, "I AM worthy!" And in a most fitting response, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders immediately fall down before the Lamb in worship. Their praise is no longer just of God the Father who sits on the throne. Equal praise is now given to the Lamb. They are soon joined by myriads of angels in a unified chorus of praise. These are then joined by every creature, human, animal, celestial, terrestrial, marine, etc. All creation gives praise and worship to God the Father and to the Lamb. 

Brothers, this glorious Lamb, this Jesus, has purchased us by His blood so that we might be a kingdom and priests to serve our God and to reign on the earth. This is our certain future destiny! Let us praise Him. Let us worship Him. Let us trust and obey Him. For He has won the victory! As we bide our time here on earth until the time of the end, when the contents of the scroll will be both initiated and completed, let us be found faithful to live out all that God has created, called and gifted us to do. And let us remember, we are already overcomers in Christ!

Chapter 6

We saw and heard glorious and celestial praise to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb in chapters 4 and 5. We also learned that the Lamb alone is worthy to open the scroll and the seven seals, which contain the final judgments of God. 

In chapter six we find unique outcomes and revelations from each of six seals opened by the Lamb. The first four seals reveal four different-colored horses, each having a rider. And each of the riders are given authority to conquer, to stir up civil war, to create scarcity, and to kill by all manner of means. The fifth seal reveals Christian martyrs, crying out to God for justice and being encouraged to wait. Finally, the sixth seal reveals cosmic, cataclysmic signs and then the reaction of wicked leaders and people on earth trying to hide from the wrath of God. 

It is difficult to pinpoint the precise identities of these horses and their riders, but as brother Princeton demonstrated, perhaps the astute and diligent student of prophecy in every generation will find parallels and evidence in their contemporary history so that they can declare in their generation, as John did in his, "The time is near" (Revelation 1:3). Princeton saw Catholicism (white horse), Communism (red horse), Capitalism (black horse), and Islam (pale horse). 

The vision of Christian martyrs is both sobering and encouraging. Whether past, contemporary or still future, the vision portrays suffering, death, and apparent defeat for Christians on earth during the Great Tribulation. The encouraging victory and vindication await the end, when all who are to die in the Lord have died. Yet the victory and vindication is sure, as the signs in the heavens and earth and the foreboding cry of worldy rulers and people reveal. 

Brothers, John wrote of "brotherly companionship in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus" (Revelation 1:9). There is suffering now but a kingdom awaits. We are in an in-between time, where patient endurance is called for. Therefore, let us with patient endurance faithfully serve our God and Savior! 

Chapter 7

Praise God for brother John Fournace, who led our study of Revelation 7, where we find a break between the sixth and seventh seals, a break between the seal judgments and the trumpet judgments of God.

We are introduced to four angels, who have authority to harm the land, the sea, and the trees. People are not mentioned; however, they will likely be harmed when the natural elements are harmed. However, another angel comes forth to delay the four angels from bringing harm until the angel has sealed what appears to be a set number, 144,000, of God's servants from "all the tribes of Israel." Twelve tribes are listed and 12,000 from each tribe. The list is noticeably different from what we have seen before. The tribe of Dan is gone, as is the tribe of Ephraim. Joseph's name may be in place of Ephraim, his son, and Manasseh, another son of Joseph, is added. Even though names and tribes have changed, the number of tribes remain the same. The Apostle John makes a point of enumerating 12,000 from each of the listed tribes, which together make the 144,000 total. For this reason, I contend that we should not minimize the significance of a specific number being sealed or say t hat ever y believer is sealed. A distinction is made between these servants and the multitude of believers that "no one can count" in verse 9. 

Theologians have suggested that the 144,000 are previously unbelieving Jews, who come to faith during the Great Tribulation and become the evangelists to win multitudes of believers during this time. But we are not told where these 144,000 have come from. They appear again with the Lamb in Revelation 14, where they are further described as redeemed, virgins, blameless and completely truthful. Quite a remarkable description, even of believers! They are specially protected by God's seal; however, we are not told that this same protection extends to the "great multitude that no one could count" introduced in Revelation 7:9. 

The multitude comes from "every nation, tribe, people and language." They are before God's throne, wearing white robes and bearing palm branches, because they have come "out of the great tribulation" as Christians, for we are told that "they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." They have come out of the great tribulation, but it is not clear whether they have all been martyred (7:13-14).

What is clear is that they will be worshipping and serving God in heaven, and they will experience protection and provision and blessing from God and from the Lamb.

Brothers, while there are more questions and than answers here, we would be wise to take the attitude of the Apostle John, who answered the elder, seeking insight on the vision, with the words, "Sir, you know." God knows what these symbols, numbers and visions mean, and sometimes it is sufficient just to marvel that God is working everything out according to His good plan and that believers will experience His ultimate protection, provision and blessing in the end. May you be encouraged!

Chapter 7:13-8:13

Last week we began chapter 7, a kind of intermission in the drama of God's final judgments on the earth. In Chapter 6, Jesus, the Ruler of the Kings of the Earth, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the seed of David, the Lamb who purchased for God persons from every tribe, language, people and nation, who alone in all the universe is worthy to reveal and execute God's final judgment, opened the first series God's final judgments. 

The first four seals contained judgments characterized by conquest, civil conflicts, scarcity and all manner of death. These were only partial judgments (e.g. only 1/4 of the earth were killed) and manifested as various colored horses with riders on them, going forth to execute these judgments. No distinction is made here as to who would live and who would die.

Yet, in the fifth seal we get a glimpse of the souls of Christian martyrs, who are crying out to God for vindication and vengeance. If thingsa are in order here, they died during the time of these seal judgments. But they must wait for their vindication and vengeance until God has brought out the remaining Christans, who would be martyred as they were.

When the Lamb opens the sixth seal, there is cosmic disturbance. The sun becomes black, the moon becomes red, the stars fall from the sky, and every mountain and island moves out of place. Every earthly authority runs for cover as the great Day of God's wrath has come. 

Chapter 7 serves as a kind of intermission between the sixth and seventh seals. We are introduced to four angels, who have been given authority to harm the land, the sea and the trees. But these are held back from doing their dirty work until 144,000 people from every tribe of Israel are first sealed. We later learn that these 144,000 were redeemed from the earth, remained virgins, were completely truthful and blameless (cf. Revelation 14:1-5, presuming these are the same 144,000 as in chapter 7).

What is interesting is that in Revelation 14:6 another angel appears with "the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth - to every nation, tribe, language, and people." But whose doing the proclaiming? The angel? The 144,000?

Now, when we come back to chapter 7, after the 144,000 are introduced, we are told of a great multitude from every nation, tribe, people and language standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They are wearing white robes and carrying palm branches and giving glory to God and the Lamb for salvation. Later, an elder would reveal that these have come out of the Great Tribulation and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 7:14). In other words, these multitudes are Christians, who have come, likely as martyrs, out of the Great Tribulation.

Connecting chapter 14 with chapter 7, some theologians have suggested that the 144,000 redeemed and sealed Jews were those who proclaimed "the eternal Gospel" (14:6) to the world during the Great Tribulation, intiating a wave of conversions during this period, which led to major persecution and martydom of multitudes from every tribe, language, people and nation! These may be the rest of the "servants" and "brothers and sisters" God told the martyrs in the 5th Seal (Rev. 6:11) to wait for. It is only after their death and resurrection (in chapter 7) that God would respond to the imprecatory prayers (of vengeance and vindication) from God's martyred saints with the next series of judgements (Revelation 8:3ff).

As for the martyred saints, we get a glimpse of their future in Revelation 7:15-17. They wil be always before God to serve Him day and night in His temple. They will never hunger or thirst. They will never suffer the scorching heat of the sun - (perhaps there will be a kind of intense Global Warming occuring in the end times?) - because God will shelter them, and in the new heavens and earth, there will be no sun, as God's Presence will provide the light (Revelation 21:23). And the Lamb will shepherd them to "springs of living water", free from the curse of death (i.e. life-giving water, cf. Revelation 22:1-2). And God will wipe away every tear for their eyes, for death, disease, sickness, pain and loss, which are all a part of the old order, will be done away (cf. Revelation 21:4).

But, as for the unbelieving inhabitants of the earth, God's next series of judgments would come. Each series grows in intensity, signified by the increased proportion of death and destruction (from 1/4 to 1/3 to complete) and the intensifying openers: Before the seal judgments, there were "flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder" (Rev. 4:5). Before the trumpet judgments, there would be "peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquate" (Rev. 8:5). Before the bowl judgments, there would be "flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and a severe hailstorm" (Rev. 11:19).

Every seventh judgment seems to open up into the next series of judgments, so that the seventh seal was not a separate judgment but simply introduced the next series of judgments (i.e. the Trumpet Judgments), and the seventh trumpet introduced the next series of judgments (i.e. the Bowl Judgments).

So in Chapter 8, the seventh seal brings out the seven angels with the seven trumpet judgments. We are told that these judgments are a direct response to the prayers of all God's people (Rev. 8:3-4). As I mentioned in class, I don't believe these prayers are your typical prayers for blessing, health, and God's gracious providence. No, I believe these are the kind of prayers we read about in Revelation 6:10, where the martyrs called out to God, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood." They are prayers for vindication and vengeance by those who have been martyred during the Great Tribulation. In other words, the Trumpet Judgments may not be a punishment on the earth for Christians who have suffered for all time but rather the Chrsitians who have suffered during that very period. In other words, these judgments are not delayed judgments but immediate judgments for the crimes committed by the very people living in th e time of the Great Tribulation. 

The angel, who initiates the series of trumpet judgments, combine the prayers of God's people with fire from the alter and hurl these down upon the earth. I get the sense that the fire represents God's power, which in response to the prayers of God's people will bring judgment down upon the inhabitants of the earth. After this, four trumpets follow that will destroy 1/3 of the land, 1/3 of the sea, 1/3 of the waters, and 1/3 of the lights. Again, partial but severe judgments. I will not speculate at this point what each of these judgments might represent, but it is sufficient to note that they are not natural but supernatural judgments of God. 

At the end of this series of four, an eagle proclaims, "You ain't seeing nuthin' yet," or more formally, "Woe!Woe!Woe to the inhabitants of the earth because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!" (Rev. 8:13). We will discover that while the first four trumpets were supernatural judgments of God using natural-world elements, the next three would be supernatural judgments of God using spiritual, even demonic forces. And while one might wonder, what could be worse than the destruction and death brought about by the first four trumpets, we will see that in the forthcoming judgments "people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them!" (Rev. 9:6).

Praise God for our salvation through Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away our sins! Brothers, we are meant to read these words and rejoice in God our Father and Christ our Savior! Let us diligently live faithfully for Him!

And one of the elders *said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.” And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth (Revelation 5:5-6). 

In John's Gospel, Jesus' forerunner, John the Baptist, declared to his disciples, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29). Jesus became God's sacrificial Lamb to atone for the sins of everyone who would trust in Him for forgiveness. Yet, this Lamb, who was slain, so humble, so meek, and so willing to be the substitute for our sins, is now recognized by the elders before the thone of God as "the Lion," with all the majesty, authority, power, and fearful spectre that such an image invokes.

As Jesus was the only One who could save fallen humanity from eternal damnation - the Lamb of God -, now He is the only One with the authority to judge those who rejected His salvation - the Lion - . He first came as a suffering Servant, but now He comes as a sovereign Judge. This is just as He said through John's Gospel, 

The Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son (John 5:22).

Friends, when we speak of the love of God and the meekness of Christ, some may confuse our language with weakness. When Christ is portrayed as a bloody Lamb, some confuse this picture with frailty. But let us be clear that there is no weakness or frailty in Christ, for He shows the greatness of His strength when He conquers death. No one took Jesus' life. He laid it down of His own accord and likewise took it up again:

The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again (John 10:17-18). 

The death of Christ must always be seen alongside His resurrection. Then, Christ's death will not be seen as weakness but as strength, for He did not run from death, nor did death overcome Him, but He embraced death in all of its ugliness and fullness, and then He overcame it, rising from the grave, never to die again. 

Now, we read in the Book of Revelation that Jesus would come as the Lion to judge, not only those, who rejected Him, but even death and Hades, for in the final judgment, they too will be thrown into the Lake of Fire, to languish in torment forever (cf. Revelation 20:14-15).

Friends, let us understand that the Lamb is the Lion, and as much as the Lamb represents God's mercy and grace toward us, who believe, the Lion represents God's holiness and fearful judgment toward those, who do not believe. Therefore, we make our appeal to everyone to quickly and completely receive God's grace, while it may be found, for the spectre of God's holy and terrible judgment awaits anyone and everything that come short of it.

As I look into this new year, my heart feels constrained within me, as I consider the Lamb, who was slain for my sins. In Him I feel the weight of my weakness, frailty, inability, and depravity. But then I see the Lion, who beckons me to follow Him. He has triumphed over my weakness and calls me to embrace His strength. So I follow the Lion, who is Christ triumphant. I can do all things through Him, because He strengthens me (cf. Philippians 4:13).

You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created (Revelation 4:11).

The twenty-four elders give praise to God because He is the Creator of all things. God willed all things to exist and what He willed became real. The King James translates this verse a bit differently:

For thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created

Now, one translation is not more correct than the other; however, what the King James brings out that may be hidden in the language of the more modern translations is the nuance of the Greek words dia to, which is translated "because of" in the NIV, NASB, etc.

When dia is used with the Genitive Case it suggests instrumentality. When dia is used with the Accusative Case it suggests the grounds or reason for something. It is this latter grammatical construction that we find in this verse. 

Therefore, while we understand that God's will was the instrument for the existence and creation of all things, this passage does not emphasize the instrument as much as it reminds us of the basis, the grounds, even the reason for the existence and creation of all things. This is what is implied in the NIV/NASB translation "because of" but more explicitly stated in the KJV translation "for thy pleasure".

Friends, God did not simply will us to exist. He made us for the sake of His will. He created us for His pleasure. We were made not to serve our personal interests or even the interests of humanity. We were ultimately created to serve God's interests. This is why we were created and why we were saved. We were created and saved for the praise of His glory:

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory (Ephesians 1:11-14).

This expression "praise of his glory" is actually used three times in the first chapter of Ephesians (cf. Ephesians 1:6 "praise of His glorious grace"). As in the Hebrew, so also in the Greek, the three-fold repetition suggests not simply emphasis but superlative emphasis, even the ultimate goal (e.g. Isaiah repeats "holy, holy, holy" to represent God's supreme otherness in Isaiah 6). This is why the Westminster Catechism has as its first lesson: "The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever". 

Friends, we exist to fulfill God's will. We were created to please Him. He made us and saved us for Himself, for the praise of His glory. To the extent that we embrace this reality, it is to this degree that we fulfill our purpose, calling and greatest achievement in life. This is my heartbeat for myself, for my family, for my house church, for our martial arts organization, for this web ministry, and for whatever local church we finally find ourselves at home. 

Therefore, if you are suffering the "woe is me's" this New Year, I remind you that it is not about you. It is all about Him, to whom all creation declares,

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come (Revelation 4:8).

Let's simply get busy praising Him and in everything giving Him all the glory!

Consider these parallels between Jesus' Olivet Discourse in the Gospels with the Seal Judgments of Revelation 6. Whether you see the Seal Judgments as past or future, the connection between the Gospel account and these judgments is unmistakable.

 (Notes on Revelation by Dr. Thomas Constable - link to full commentary)

Friends, you may not realize this, but interpretations of this book literally run the gamut of history. Some believe that everything for the most part in this book was fulfilled in the first century around the time of the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in AD 70. Others have believed and believe now that we are living the Great Tribulation, given in chapters 6-18. Still others, among whom I subscribe, believe that the prophecies of this book are still future. While the latter view is currently the most popular, aided by a popular book and movie series, this by no means was the popular view in times past. 

While the question of eschatology ("the study of end things") was addressed at various points in history, it was hardly the burning issue of any period as much as it has been in the twentieth century. Furthermore, the big controversies over this book in our times have revolved around methods of interpretation, whether to read the book literally or figuratively, and around the assessment of times and fulfillments of the book's authorship and prophesied events. The predominant theological terms deal with two topics covered in the book, namely the Great Tribulation (Revelation 6-18) and the Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20). How you interpret these two events and how you place them in biblical history with respect to the first and second coming of Christ would identify you with one of a number of theological camps: (e.g...

• Amilllennial
• Postmillennial
• Premillennial
  • Pre-tribulational
  • Mid-tribulational
  • Post-tribulational

These are just some of the main classifications. There are others. There are some notable names identified with each view, and after spending some time in them, each have some reasonable arguments to support their perspective. I tend toward the Pre-tribulational, Premillennial viewpoint because I feel that it deals with all the biblical passages in the most comprehensive and consistent way. However, I would not call anyone a heretic for holding a different view. 

Now, you can easily read volumes on each view by doing a simple Google or Wikipedia search on each classification. On this site; however, rather than focusing on views, I prefer to stay nearer to the biblical text itself. I have found this to be safest and wisest thing to do.