Revelation is about the unveiling of Jesus Christ to the entire world and the ushering in of God’s eternal and glorious kingdom.

John 17:4–5 (ESV) - I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

The scroll contains God’s plan of fulfilling His salvation of the redeemed and His judgement of sin.

Crossroads Statement of Faith
9 (Christ’s Return). We believe in the personal (Acts 1:11), bodily and glorious (II Thessalonians 1:10; Titus 2:13) return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The coming of Christ (Mark 13:33-37; Revelation 22:20), at a time known only to God, demands constant expectancy and, as our blessed hope, motivates the believer to godly living, sacrificial service and energetic mission (Titus 2:11-14).

Revelation 6:15–17 (ESV) - Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

Matthew 24:3–8 (ESV) - As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

2 Timothy 3:12–14 (ESV) - Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it.

Revelation 6:1-2 (ESV) - 1Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.

Rider 1 = False Christ

Revelation 6:3-4 (ESV) - When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.

Rider 2 = War

Revelation 6:5-6 (ESV) - When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. 6And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!”

Rider 3 = Famine

Revelation 6:7-8 (ESV) - When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.

Rider 4 = Death

Revelation 6:9-11 (ESV) - When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

Seal 5 = Martyrdom

Revelation 6:12-14 (ESV) - When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, 13and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. 14The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.

Seal 6 = Destruction

So what?
1. There is an evil in this world which warrants God’s judgement.

2. Understand the grace and mercy of God with which we live today.

Discussion Questions
1. What does Revelation 6 teach you about the character of God and the state of humanity?

2. What does this text teach us about suffering, perseverance, and God’s timing?

3. Nothing of the four horsemen of the apocalypse happens until Jesus breaks the seal, the living creature says, “come”, and the horseman is permitted or given authority to carry out the judgement. What does this truth teach us about God’s wrath upon the earth? What comfort or encouragement does this bring to you?

4. Read Revelation 2:8-11 and 6:9-11. What correlation is there between the letter to Smyrna and opening of the fifth seal? What is the call of Jesus, found in 2:10, to those in such a situation? Pause before question 5 and pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world. Pray as well for strength and faithfulness of your own hearts.

5. Discuss your response to the statement, “If we truly understood the holiness and magnificence of God (throne room) we would ask the question why does God wait, rather than, why does God destroy.”

6. How will this discussion encourage you to live a daily faithful life?