◄ What Does Revelation 6:1 Mean? ►

When John was caught up into the throne-room of heaven, He saw a document sealed with 7 seals, in the hand of the Ancient of Days. It could only be opened by the Lamb on the throne. Only the slain Lamb of God was worthy to break the seals and open the scroll. He alone is worthy to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

The content of any sealed scroll is un-alterable... but this scroll was sealed before the foundation of the world, waiting for the One with the authority to break the first seal. God used the apostle John to be an eye-witness to the events in Revelation and he recorded the moment when the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals, "and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, 'Come.'"

Chapter 6 begins with the opening of the first seal of the seven-sealed scroll, triggering an unstoppable process, whereby Christ is revealed in all His power and glory, as the wrath of God begins to be poured out on a God-hating, Christ-rejecting, anti-Semitic, sinful world.

The Body of Christ are not present during the Tribulation, for the Church is removed at the Rapture - just prior to the 7-year Tribulation, for we are not appointed to wrath. Christ took the punishment we deserve at Calvary, when the full force of God's wrath was poured out on Him - in our stead.

God, in His sovereign authority, designed the Tribulation Period to humble the proud nation of Israel, who rejected their Messiah at His first advent. Its function is to prepare God's chosen people to embrace their Messiah and crown Him King, to call on His name for salvation, to preach the gospel of the Kingdom throughout the earth, to unite the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, and to fulfil God's precious promises to His chosen nation.

Rejecting their Messiah may have postponed God's plans for His people - for 2000 years, but God's redemptive plans will not be halted by His petulant people. And God has determined that they would complete all that He has planned for them to do and all that is prophesied in His Word. It is only when Israel, as a NATION, calls on the name of the Lord, that Christ will return to set up His Millennial Kingdom of heaven on earth... in preparation for His eternal rule in the ages to come.

While individual Jews can believe on His name and trust Him for their salvation, Jesus warned His rebellions nations, "you will not see Me again until You cry, 'Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord.'" This will only happen at the end of the Great Tribulation, when the entire NATION calls on the name of the Lord... but first, the wrath of God is to be poured out on His rebellious people and an unbelieving world.

Breaking the first of the seven seals will irreversibly set in motion the final 7 years of Daniel's 70th week - a period of unprecedented misery, which concludes with 1260 days - 'the Time of Jacob's Trouble. And John recorded his heavenly vision for our learning, "Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, 'Come.'"

For those who already have trusted in Christ - Jew and Gentile alike, His first advent has already secured forgiveness of sin and life everlasting. Those who have believed on Him are not appointed to go through this time of Tribulation. However, for those who continue to reject His first coming and delay trusting in Him during the dispensation of Grace.. will have to experience the final, terrible week of Daniel.

John watched as the Lamb broke one of the seven seals and He heard the thunderous voice of one of the four living creatures declaring, "COME!" This is the time that Michael the archangel will stand up and fight for God's people. This is the time that Satan will be cast down to the earth. This is the beginning of the dreadful 'Day of the Lord'... which must start with judgement for sinners but concludes with the eternal ages.

This is the point when John was commanded to "Come." Come and see the rider, on the first of four, terrible horses. This is the first horseman to gallop onto the world scene who will deceive mankind with the pretense of peace. This is the instant that will usher in an unprecedented time of evil, "such that hasn’t taken place from the beginning of the world - and will never happen again."

This evil rider John saw on a white horse, enters the scene as a charismatic, conquering hero. He wears on his head a victor's crown and comes in the power of Satan. He represents the antichrist, described by Daniel - but following in his wake is war, devastation, disaster, disease, and death.

Some are deceived into thinking that this is the true Messiah... but he is nothing more than the evil imposter, who has been prophesied of old... for JESUS is the faithful and true Witness. HE will also be riding a white horse but He will be wearing a kingly crown - and many royal diadems - and the kingdom of this world will become the Kingdom of our God and of His Christ - and He will reign forever and ever.

Heavenly Father, thank You for opening up my understanding of the 70th week of Daniel and for giving us the wonderful Revelation of Jesus Christ, the slain Lamb of God, Who is worthy to break the seven seals and bring to completion the evil rule of Satan. Thank You that the Lord Jesus is the righteous Judge of the earth, as well as the coming King of kings and our heavenly High Priest. As we draw closer to the day when Your kingdom comes and Your will is carried out on earth, I pray that many more would come to faith in Jesus as Messiah and Lord. This I ask in His precious name, AMEN.