Revelation 6-11 – December 28

When studying eschatology (end time events) it is especially important to dig into the word of God and truly find out why you believe what you believe. Many people are quick to believe things because their favorite preacher believes something… that can be presumptuous and foolish. Proverbs 18:17 says, “The first one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him.” If you have prejudges against anybody who believes differently than you do and you don’t take the time to listen to different viewpoints, you may just believe assumptions. Real truth can bear up under scrutiny. Even if you don’t change your mind after scrutinizing the truth and looking at different viewpoints, the process of searching will cause the truth to be strengthened within yourself.

Now let me say, the book of Revelations was written for you to understand; It was originally written to seven churches in Asia (See Rev. 1:11). It was written to simple people that were not highly educated; Holy Spirit will teach you as you meditate the Word of God.

In chapter 6, the Lord Jesus Christ opens the seals upon the scroll. When the first seal is opened, a white horse goes forth and its rider is the antichrist (the beast); this is the beginning of the great tribulation when restraint is lifted (See 2 Thess. 2:6-7). Below is a question and answer from “100 Most Frequently Asked Questions about the End Times” from the International House of Prayer on the subject of the white horse.

How do you know the horseman of the first seal judgment is the Antichrist?
The rider of the white horse has a crown (political prominence, Rev. 13:1-2, 7), a bow (military authority), and he is a successful conqueror. The nations have been enjoying a counterfeit worldwide peace (1 Thes. 5:3). This will end after the opening of the first seal, the fall of Babylon and the abomination of desolation. The color white symbolizes righteousness because his reign initially appears righteous. He is the counterfeit to Jesus who rides a white horse with truth (Rev. 19:11). It would be out of place to say the rider of this white horse is Jesus when the other three horses have negative judgment events that involve sinful actions of men. Jesus is gloriously pictured in Revelation in splendor in three places (Rev. 1:12-18;14:14-16; 19:11-16). There are significant differences between the white horse riders in Revelation 6:2 and Revelation 19:11-16.

Chapter seven is a parenthetical section of the book of Revelations. It puts a “pause” on the storyline to explain key points. Chapter seven tells how the great tribulation in the earth is not allowed to happen till the servants of God are “sealed.” It isn’t just 144,000 Israelites that are sealed, but “a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues” (See Rev. 7:9). In chapter 9, verses 3 & 4 we see how those who are sealed are not allowed to be harmed by the judgments of God. The verses say, “Then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. And to them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.” (Also see Ezekiel 9:3-5).

In chapter 8 we see the opening of the 7th seal on the scroll. The opening of the 7th seal is the seven trumpet judgments released by the “prayers of all the saints” (See Rev 8:3).  

Revelation 9:20-21 gives a glimpse of the darkness and depth of wickedness on the earth during the tribulation and judgments. The verses say, “But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.”

Chapters 9 and 10 are both part of a parenthetical section of the book of Revelations. I encourage you to eat the book and speak of the things that are coming (See Revelations 10: 10-11).