Revelation 7:13-14 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes, who are they, and where did they come from?” 14 I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
 
ONE of the 24 elders asked and then answered the question, “These in white robes, who are they, and where did they come from?” The elder is using the method of a teacher who asks a question to get a student and class focused on the lesson to be spoken. The elder had John’s attention. John was ready to listen to him, and I hope we are, too. The elder’s answer affirms that Jesus is, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29) The uncountable multitude of Jesus’ church revealed in verses 4-12 are dressed in white robes of salvation. No longer will they face the tribulation of opposition, sin and temptation. Their lives marked with struggles for the Kingdom of God on earth are finished. Their lives in God’s heavenly Kingdom have begun. Their salvation and eternal life is made possible because of Jesus.
   I know to many that this seems elementary teaching; we’ve heard this many, many times. But even that repetition must be a reason to stop and consider afresh the Lord God’s extraordinary grace. Stop to consider God’s extraordinary sacrifice and magnificent gift of his great salvation. How joyful to know you are a child of the Living God.
   How miraculous it is that blood can wash a robe white! This is God’s new creation power: Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” ( John 11:25-26) And we know that in Christ we are a new creation. The old is gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17) Jesus is of the eternal God. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. (John 1:1-2) He spoke into a formless void to create a beautiful earth and endless universe. The Father, Son and Spirit demonstrate throughout the Bible “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26b)
   Remember that Jesus has called John into Heaven to show him what must take place after this. (Revelation 4:1b) In God’s gracious plan, salvation must take place. The Bible is God’s redeeming story to cleanse our sins, so we will forever live in Heaven’s holy perfection. Believe this and be saved. Know this and trumpet the good news to all who will listen.
 
Prayer: In thanksgiving and joy, I am eager to wear the white robe you have prepared for me, Jesus. Amen.

Revelation 7:4-12 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel. 5 From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000, 6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000, 7 from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000, 8 from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000. 9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”
 
LOOK here! What is God doing? In the previous scripture, we learned he sealed his own in Jesus’ blood. Now we see a great gathering of his people. It is not a few, it is not even only 144,000 as some believe. The 144,000 from 12 tribes of Israel symbolize God’s complete work among the Jews. Rejoice and be sure, John reports that God’s eternal church is a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.
   Think of it! This great number is the result of 12 men who obeyed Jesus to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19) Empowered with the Holy Spirit, the Helper, God’s faithful disciples proclaimed the message that has formed the church.
   Do you think John was overwhelmed with joy when he saw this? By this time in his ministry, John had been persecuted and isolated. He has preached the good news to many deaf ears. He had struggled with church members turning from Jesus to their former idolatrous ways. The apostle experienced the frustrations and limitations of any earthly evangelist, pastor and teacher. But here God gave to John the vision of eternal joy and victory. The cross is done. Death is gone. Sin is washed clean Jesus’ church waved palm branches and sang praise songs. This must be a great encouragement to all who are called to preach, teach and evangelize  the gospel. Praise the Lord O my soul and all my inmost being, praise his Holy Name. (Psalm 103:1) Revelation’s foundational theme of victory through the tribulation is again reinforced in the vast view of the eternal church to come.
    
Prayer: “Amen! (May this be according to your will.) Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”

Revelation 7:1-3 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3 “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”
 
WITH the phrase “after this”, John continues to relate the sequence of events in Jesus’ revelation from the Father. Four angels – the seraphim - have been moving in obedience to God’s judgment against the earth. Now a fifth angel comes at the Lord’s command to protect God’s people – his church – still on earth. This fifth angel’s seal is not one of the seven seals Jesus has been opening. Before the seventh seal is opened, the Father mercifully sends an angel to protect his people from harm amid the earth-changing turmoil.
   Scripture has many passages describing God mercifully stopping his judgments and giving people a way to be saved. Israel’s history, for example, is one of rebellion against God. He judges them with conquest from foreign powers. Then he raises leaders in Israel to throw off the oppression. Since Eden, the Creator has been tearing down Satan’s evil on the earth to build a redeemed world, a new perfect paradise for his eternal church. Time and again the Lord God has proven he is the protective Good Shepherd who leads his people out of danger and into his perfection.
   Do you see salvation’s picture here? As the Holy Spirit has made  you God’s own, you are protected, sealed for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30b) with Jesus’ atoning blood. Jesus is God’s merciful intervention into the world’s sin. By his blood we throw off sin’s oppression to be free from the enemy’s control. How sweet and pleasing to know “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
   This seal is the Holy Trinity choosing, calling and sealing you against Satan’s mark described further in the vision. Be of faith. As the world’s destructive winds rage against you, know you can trust the quiet and gentle breeze of your Almighty God.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Holy Father, for your eternal peace. Thank you for marking my heart with Jesus’ blood! In his Precious Name, Amen. 

Revelation 6:15-17 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. 16 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! 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”
 
INDEED, who can stand before the holy God? No one who breaks his commands and rejects his law will be able to bear the sight of God coming upon his earth.
   Let’s look back to Eden to see this truth. What was Adam’s and Eve’s response to God’s approach after they had sinned? Genesis 3:8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”  The first couple knew God’s perfection. They knew their sin. They also knew God was justified to judge them. As a consequence of their guilt, they could not bear to stand before him face-to-face. Guilt cannot gaze upon holiness.
   That is the scene in Revelation 6. God reveals his righteous judgment through war, disease and earth’s violent shakings. All people on earth, even the rich and rulers realize their sins have made them defenseless against God’s holiness. In fear of meeting God face-to-face, they call the earth to fall in on them. Sadly, they do not even know that death is no escape against the Lord’s judgment.
On that day, at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in Heaven and on earth and under the earth 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11). The saved will bow their knee in worship. The cursed will bow their knee in fear and helplessness. Too late, they will recognize their mocking hearts and lying words against the Lord will condemn them to eternal Hell.
   We don’t know the day, but we do know it will happen. In his love, God wants us to be ready to meet him face-to-face. Who do you know mocks the Lord? Pray for them. Their souls are in mortal jeopardy.
 
Prayer: Lord God, please transform the minds and hearts of my family and friends who do not call on your name. Humble their hearts that they may be saved. Amen. 

Revelation 6:12-14 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, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
 
WHEN we reach the end of Revelation, we will see a more specific vision of God’s new Heaven and earth. That means the current heavens and earth will be changed. Just as in Christ we are a new creation, the old has gone the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17), the Creator will recreate a sin-broken physical world into his ultimate holiness.
   The sixth seal reveals sin’s affects and God’s redemption on the world. The earth will shake. Something will happen, perhaps volcanic eruptions, to turn the sun black. The black sun is as black sackcloth made from black goat hair. Sackcloth is repentance, mourning and humility. The physical changes will bring God’s people to their knees.
   The moon will look red due to the same atmospheric changes that turns the sun black. Meteors will be as stars falling to shower the earth. The sky rolling up as a scroll can signify other visual effects of the earth’s physical disruptions.   Or it can be Christ’s return on the clouds. The new Heaven and earth must form.
   Here is another picture of these events: Hebrews 12:26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken – that is, created things – so that what cannot be shaken may remain. The new Heaven and earth will be the unshakeable dominion of the Father, Son, Spirit and all his church. No sin will ever shake God’s eternal Kingdom. Again, in the tumult of dramatic disruption and change, we know the hope of God’s assurance of eternal life.
   Look upward to Heaven. Our salvation comes from Heaven. Our salvation will lead us to Heaven.
 
Prayer: Father, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Give us hearts to be still and know you are God. (from Psalm 46) Amen.

Revelation 6:9-11 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. 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?” 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.
 
DID you know martyrdom is in God’s plan of salvation for the world? Martyrdom is not a random act perpetrated in chaos. Suffering and dying for Jesus is one way God demonstrates true faith and ultimate reward. Since Jesus’ death, God has used countless devoted Christians to spread the gospel and expand his Kingdom as they died faithfully confessing love and devotion for Jesus. Each year that passes records more martyrs than the year before. As the Kingdom expands, it will confront more evil eager to destroy its voices. Our hearts break as we grieve for the countless martyred brothers and sisters who loved Jesus more than themselves.
   But there is no reason for sorrow! This scripture reveals martyrs have a special place at Heaven’s altar. They each wear a white robe of purity to mark their faithful lives and deaths. Satan has raised a deadly army against the Living God and all who serve him. We count it as a loss to Jesus’ church on earth to know faithful hearts have been stilled. But then we see sure hope in the martyrs’ reward.
   Taking up martyrdom’s cross is ultimate sacrificial love and heart worship of Jesus. Martyrs reveal what it means to physically and spiritually give one’s life to the One who has given us Life. Martyrs stir our faith and hearts because they fully live the great commands to love God and love one another. And they even love their enemies. Matthew 5:44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in Heaven. Children of the King follow the King even unto death.
   Understand this lesson in your heart and consider your response to threats against you for your faith. Examine yourself to ask, “Am I willing to suffer and die in my confession of Jesus, Lord and Savior?”  Will you rejoice if the opportunity occurs? Why wouldn’t you?  All martyrs will live in Heaven’s glory forever next to the King of glory.
 
Prayer: Praise the Lord God Almighty who is the joy of his creation. Amen. 

Revelation 6:7-8 When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. 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.
 
WHEN God gives John the picture of, “what must take place after this.” (Revelation 4:1b) we understand the vision is a preview of world events to begin at some point. Many believe Revelation’s trials, suffering, warfare and ultimate victory begin at a future date still to come. Others understand Revelation as a prophecy of both near future and far future that extends into eternity. They believe the Lord shows John the trials of spiritual warfare and God’s ultimate triumph from the late first century until the final judgment.
   Certainly the cataclysms of conquest (white horse), warfare (red horse), famine and disease (black horse) and death (pale horse followed by Hades – the grave) mark the world’s condition generation upon generation. Revelation assures us people will reject God’s righteousness until Jesus comes again.
   In this particular judgment, one-fourth of the earth’s population (2 billion people in 2022) die. This is far too horrible to consider. But is it not true countless millions of people throughout history have died violent deaths because nations and cultures reject God’s law? Evil’s warfare has destroyed life since the accounts of Genesis.
   But amid the deadly vision, the Bible shines God’s life promise: Isaiah 45:17 But Israel will be saved by the Lord with an everlasting salvation; you will never be put to shame or disgraced, to ages everlasting. And 1 Timothy 2:3 (Godliness and holiness) is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. Rejoice that God has not and will not allow all the earth to be destroyed and many will come to his saving grace. He withholds judgment from the great majority of mankind until the gospel is preached to all nations and tribes. People will be saved each day until history concludes with Jesus’ return.
   Revelation is a warning and a promise. Be alert to prepare your life against judgment. Trust in God’s sure salvation to save you unto himself.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your life-giving patience and your great love to teach us the way of salvation. We pray for those around the world who reject you. Turn their hearts to repent and be saved. Amen. 

Revelation 6:5-6 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. 6 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!”
 
IN succession, each of the four living creatures known as the seraphim call out a horse and its rider to initiate judgment’s violence upon the earth. God’s vision to John becomes more grim as it moves from conquest, to war’s bloodshed and now to famine. The food cost mentioned here would be 10-15 times above normal to John’s first-century readers. A day’s wages would buy food for one person, but there would be no food for any family member.
   Here is the price of mankind’s sin. Sin has brought God’s judgment on the world since the beginning. God would tolerate disobedience for several generations, then he would destroy nations for their gross sins. Wars caused food shortages and physical hardships. Rejecting God’s laws will cause physical starvation.
   This hunger and deprivation is not God’s will – his desire – for his people. He spoke very plainly long ago that obedience to his law is a key to peaceful and prosperous living. Listen to the Lord God’s promise in Deuteronomy 11:13 “So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today – to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul – then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil. 15 I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.”
   Then hear his warning: Deuteronomy 11:16 “Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. 17 Then the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and he will shut the heavens so that it will not rain, and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the Lord is giving you.”
   God’s Word became reality in Israel’s history several times. Disobedience in Israel led to drought, starvation, wars, conquest and enslavement. Ultimately Israel’s disobedience caused God to exile the Jews to Babylon. They lost heir land because they lost their love for God. Only in his grace did God restore them to the land, so they could begin again.
   In many places today we can see the church has “lost its land” – lost its influence and strength in the culture – because it has lost its love for God. A spiritual drought affects Jesus’ church. God has closed Heaven’s grace on those who reject him for worldly gain.   
   Are you hungry for God’s bounty in your life – his love, mercy, kindness, joy, peace and wisdom, for example? Might there be some sin keeping your spirit dry? Know Jesus will nourish you: John 6:35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”
 
Prayer: Lord God, I pray I obey your commands and help others to see the joy of living in your true Word. You are the Bread of Life. Amen.
 

Revelation 6:3-4 When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 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.
 
SIN divides. The very first sin was God’s children, Adam and Eve, turning their hearts from God’s law to seek their own reward. From that day, war has raged through families, countries and the world.  The first murder was Cain’s jealous heart killing his brother Abel. Genesis also relates how sin divided Noah’s family after the flood to begin the separation of nations that still occurs today.
   In addition are the conflicts that surfaced in Abraham’s, Isaac’s and Jacob’s families. The Old Testament records Israel’s 12 tribes dividing into 10 tribes to form Israel and two tribes to create Judah. The New Testament writers appealed to early church members to repent of conflicts dividing them. People pridefully oppose one other generation upon generation. We completely disregard God’s healing command, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34b)
   The fiery red horse is an image of bloody battle. Its sword-wielding rider will cause men to slay each other. Yes, sin forms a grim picture. We must see it. We must know Jesus’ own saving blood is the single sure way to peace in our hearts and one day in the world.
   Still, Jesus’ peace is for you and the world right now. Remember the angels’ proclamation in Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” God’s favor is God’s grace that draws people to himself. This is the gospel message that proclaims, “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:4)
   Jesus’ eternal peace is in the hearts of his own. Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
   As conflicts disrupt your personal peace, remember you belong to God forever. Be of faith to rejoice in the Lord’s ultimate promise of peace on earth. Give thanks that he has come in love for you. Know the blessing that you may live in peace with God and with all the saints forever.
 
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank you for your promise of peace for our eternal souls. Amen.
 

Revelation 6:1-2 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!” 2 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.
 
JOHN has seen the heavenly throne room and worship of the King. Jesus, the only One who is worthy to open the seven seals of the scroll, now begins to reveal the scroll’s promise of conquest, warfare, famine and death to come. As Jesus opens the first seal, a seraphim calls, “Come.” A rider on a white horse responds to the command. Given a crown of authority, he rides out into the world to conquer.
   What is the conquest? In the context, we can see the white horse and its rider representing our human desire to conquer. One consistent truth of mankind is that nations strive to conquer others. The passion for “more” or “better” stirs greedy hearts to violently expand territory, wealth and power.
   The Lord Jesus has opened a seal to reveal such conquering evil of mankind is loose on the earth. Those who read Revelation in the first century fully understood the power of men on horseback to conquer and destroy. People in the Roman Empire were particularly concerned about the Parthians to the east. With their cavalry, they had twice defeated the Roman army. God’s revelation to John, his church and to us is to teach us that mankind’s greed is the beginning of and reason for great human suffering. Remember the words from James 4:1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James admonished the early Christians to be content, to be satisfied with their possessions. If they needed more, they were to ask it of God with humble hearts for the means to serve others. They were not to demand from others for their own gain.
   Let us be content with our lives. Pray for your heart and for the nations to be satisfied. The Christian life is to be transformed from conquest to compassion.
 
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you have given us a vision of conquest rooted in our desire for what we do not have. Grow contentment and peace in our hearts. Help us to know all comes from you. Amen.