The opening of the book of the inheritance of humanity now involves Jesus in showing to John the consequences of each person's acceptance or rejection of the Blood of the Lamb.
As John glimpses his first brief view of trouble and tragedy in chapter six he is, no doubt, so stunned by it all that Jesus gives John again, in chapter seven, a view of the great throne room of heaven. John's heart must have been heavy as he saw the opening of the first six seals, and it could have seemed to him that there was little possibility that anyone would be saved. But then, as he sees the great multitude of redeemed people in heaven he discovers that, through the Blood of the Lamb, many will overcome the pressures of evil and receive their purchased inheritance at last.
What "horse like" qualities do you see in yourself? e.g. speed, stability, hard work, need of direction, etc. What have others said?
If a tornado was sweeping toward your home now, what would be your greatest concern? What have others said?
As John sees the opening of the seals he views events of worldwide significance represented firstly by horses and riders.
"6:1) 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!"
What does 'white' tell you about the first horse? What have others said?
In what ways will a blindness to the truths of Jesus' word result in spiritual famine and starvation? What have others said?
Have you ever made this same cry? What can help you through in the end? What have others said?
"12) 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."
Cross Reference: Follow the sequence of events in Matthew 24:21-31. Does it appear that God's people will be taken up with Jesus before or after these signs in the sun, moon and stars? What have others said?
"15) 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?'"
Revelation chapter seven answers this all important question: "Who can Stand?" Will anyone who is alive when Jesus comes be ready to meet Him? What have others said?
"7:1) 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."
Cross Reference: Read Genesis 49 and identify the various personality types or problems the tribes may possibly represent. Can you identify with one or more of these personalities or problems?
"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."
"'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!'"
"14) I answered, 'Sir, you know.'"
"'they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. 16) Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. 17) For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'"
Here is a beautiful paradox of prophetic symbolism -- a Lamb is the Shepherd!
John is given a little foretaste of Revelation 21 and 22. Is this foretaste enough to make heaven seem like heaven for you? What have others said?
While this Snapshots of Revelation study guide is primarily concerned with your personal spiritual growth today, it is important to understand some principles of prophetic interpretation.
Just as the seven churches were seen to have an application to people in John's day, so did the messages of the seven seals. As with the seven churches, however, the seven seals reveal striking similarities to successive periods of church history.
The white horse fittingly represent the apostolic purity of the gospel that swept the Roman empire, while the red horse captures the tragedy of persecution that poured upon the believers until the time of the Roman emperor Constantine. Following the acceptance of Christianity by the Roman emperors much of the new religion was mixed with paganism and was exploited for political and commercial purposes. As the pale horse thundered forth, for at least a thousand years the world was gripped by spiritual death with only a few valiant souls upholding the torch of truth. From the middle of the sixteenth century onwards a general cry ascended for judgment and vindication and within one hundred years Bible students observed strange phenomena in the sun, moon, stars, and earth. Concluding this historical interpretation, Bible students today have seen humanity living in an age when the last three verses of Revelation 6 will take place.
Some modern futuristic interpretations of prophecy have speculated that the white horse represents Antichrist and that the other seals picture events during a great time of trouble on the earth after God's people have been secretly taken to heaven.
Clearly, the opening of the seals does have tremendous significance just prior to the second coming of Jesus. Prophecy was not given, however, to enable us to work out intricate details, places and dates of future events, but it was given so we may have confidence and strength in Jesus whatever the future may hold. (For example see John 14:29)
It seems that there are only three lines of prophecy in Revelation open to the possibility of both historical and last-day interpretation, namely, the seven churches, seals, and trumpets. The rest of the prophecies appear, like those in the writings of Daniel, to be anchored in time and place by a defined sequence of events.
Remember this: most Biblical writings are to be understood literally unless the context indicates otherwise, but it is vital to know that prophetic writings, such as we have in Revelation, are to be understood symbolically unless the context clearly shows otherwise. The clues to the meaning of prophetic symbols in Revelation are found in the Scripture. It is important, though, not to get so concerned about detailed interpretation of minutia that the big picture is lost sight of -- Jesus loves you and, although you may be surrounded by the intensity of trial and trouble, if you trust in Him you will be victorious at last.
If people are persecuted for their faith, what knowledge of the future would help them endure? What have others said?
How may Bible study, prayer and church attendance possibly help you avoid spiritual starvation? What have others said?
A seal is a sign of ownership. In what ways can an awareness of God's possession of your life protect you today? What have others said?
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Comments or Questions:
Why is Heaven's Representative Color White?
White is never used in the book of Revelation to represent anything other than the qualities of heaven -- purity, righteousness, and truth.
Revelation 20:11. Why do you think God sits on a white throne on the day of final judgment? What have others said?
Revelation 3:18. What is God's counsel to His people concerning white? What have others said?
Revelation 19:8. Nine times the book of Revelation describes God's people as clothed in white, bright, clean linen. What does this represent? What have others said?
Revelation 7:14. How is the beautiful whiteness of character achieved? What have others said?
Think About This:
If you came out of heaven's "laundry" today riding the white horse in white linen, how could you keep clean? What have others said?
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