Revelation 6
Highlights In Today's Reading:
Six sealed scrolls opened (Ch. 6). Death follows opening of each seal! The Lord deals with the servants of our God (7:3) — both Israel (7:4-8) and Gentiles (7:9-17). The 7th seal is opened (8:1), introducing the judgments of the seven trumpets. The first four trumpets are sounded (Ch. 8).
There is a future day not far away when Christ, the King of kings, will appear in judgment on mankind's rebellion against God — a judgment that is called the wrath of the Lamb (6:16). The kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains . . . and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (6:15-17).
Christ as the Lamb of God came to earth to portray the gentleness of God's love to all who receive Him as their Savior and Lord. But many have refused His love and have chosen to remain under the control of Satan in rebellion against a Holy God who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). To these, on Judgment Day, the loving Heavenly Father will have no other choice but to say: Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41). Jesus' revelation of eternal hell is unmistakable: The Devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. . . . And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:10,15).
Faithful Christians may not have much of earth's pleasures now, but earthly life is exceedingly short compared to the glorious privilege of being in the presence of the King of kings for all eternity. After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb (Lord Jesus Christ), clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb (7:9-10).
Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (I Cor. 15:57).
Thought for Today:
As humans, we can't comprehend eternity but we can look to it with confidence if we have washed . . . (our) robes . . . white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 7:14).
Cross References:
For Rev. 6:12: See Joel 2:31. Rev. 6:13: See Is. 34:4.Rev. 6:17: See Joel 2:11. Rev. 7:3: See Ezek. 9:4. Rev. 7:17: See Ezek. 34:23.
Word Studies:
6:13 untimely =b> green, unripe; 6:15 bondman =b> slave.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Shortwave Broadcasts in honor of Phyllis Wiley's birthday • Staff: Pam Pendergrast • Government Official: Rep. John Peterson (PA) • Country: Sudan (28.9 million) at the eastern end of the Sahara Desert • Major languages: Arabic and Nubian • Limited religious freedom • 70% Sunni Muslim; 19% Christian; 10% Traditional; 1% Other/None • Prayer Suggestion: Ask the Lord for wisdom and discernment (Prov. 2:1-6).
Memory Verse for the Week: John 14:6