Sermon: Revelation 6-7 – “7 seals” Rev. Bruce Stanley www.stphils.org.au • Freedom of religion Modern day Turkey says: “Freedom of religion is guaranteed under the constitution.” Tilman was stabbed 156 times, Necati 99 times and Ugur’s stabs were too numerous to count. They were disembowelled, emasculated, fingers chopped off, noses and mouths sliced open, and many other horrible tortures. Their throats were sliced from ear to ear, and their heads practically decapitated.
This is the sort of environment in which the book of Revelation was also written. As John writes Revelation, the Christian Church is facing massive persecution from the Roman government. He’s in prison on the island of Patmos, 40 miles off the coast of modern day Turkey. And during this time of intense persecution, God gives John visions about the past, present and future. And John writes them down in a letter to encourage the churches in these very difficult times.
So let me start by asking – “Are you under pressure at the moment? What difficult times are you facing?” You may not face severe persecution for your faith like John, or Necati, but there may be other pressures in your life. And you may often find yourself asking: What next?! How much longer? Why me? Where am I headed? Who’s in control? All good questions, because we want to know how to make sense of things in this world, and we want to know that there’s some sort of plan. • Unveiling a King In November 2007, there was a big “revealing” in Egypt. King Tutankhamen was revealed for the first time in 3000 years. They lifted his fragile mummified body out of a quartz sarcophagus, and what was revealed was the 19 year old dead King Tut. A 3000 year old mummy. 5’6”. Buck teeth. Black leathery body. As we open up John’s visions of Revelation, the face of our King, Jesus, is revealed. But he’s not some dead mummy in a tomb. He’s alive and he holds in his hands a scroll, sealed with seven seals. And as Jesus removes the first 6 seals, John sees visions that reveal to us 6 realities of our world. • 6 seals, 4 horsemen and 2 realities. • 1st seal – conquest Jesus removes the 1st seal and John sees the white horse of conquest. The rider has a bow and a crown and he’s bent on conquest. That’s true in our
1 world today, isn’t it? It’s not hard to think of the many rulers out for conquest in our world. • 2nd seal - violence Jesus removes the 2nd seal and John sees the fiery red horse of violence. The rider is given power to take away peace and to make men slay each other. The revelation is that people will kill and hurt each other. That’s true in our world today, isn’t it? Over 44 million people have died violently in our world since the 2nd world war. • 3rd Seal – injustice Jesus removes the 3rd seal and John sees the black horse of injustice. The rider is holding scales. A quart of wheat for a day’s wages. In other words, for some people, it will cost them a day’s wages just to buy enough food for a day. Imagine paying $200 or $300 for a chicken to feed your family for the day! But the oil and wine , the luxuries, are undamaged. In other words, even though some will struggle to pay for their daily food, others will indulge in luxury. And that’s true in our world today, isn’t it? A child dies every 6 seconds from poverty. Yet each year countries like the USA, Great Britain and Australia throw out enough food waste to feed all the starving in our world. Luxury and poverty side by side. • 4th seal – suffering and death. Jesus removes the 4th seal and John sees the pale horse of death. The rider is named death. We see another vision that reflects our world today – a world of tsunamis, floods, earthquakes, natural disasters, disease.
These are the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse. • The 5th seal – Persecution continues. Then Jesus opens the 5th seal and John sees the souls of those who have been killed because of their faith in Jesus. And these souls cry out “How long until judgment?!” And they were told to wait a little longer until the number of their fellows servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.” Around 480 Christians per day are killed for their faith. • The 6th seal – the wrath of God. And finally, Jesus opens the 6th seal. And John sees a great earthquake – and all worldly things are destroyed. And, verse 15, the kings, princes, generals, the rich, the mighty, every slave and every free man runs for cover. In other words, EVERYONE! Everyone who fails to recognise Jesus as King in their life on this
2 earth will run and try to hide from the wrath and judgement of God. But no one will be able to escape.
This is God’s revelation. This is God’s picture of reality that he wants us to see. This is what has happened, what IS happening and what WILL happen. But what do we DO with this? Let me suggest two things to put these revelations of reality into perspective for us: • 1. Life now is difficult. We cannot escape world conquerors, violence, injustice, death and persecution.
But as Christians, we are realists. Not “optimists” or “pessimists” when it comes to the reality of this world. We know that all the suffering and tragedy and death in this world will not just stop because humanity will suddenly wake up one day! We don’t think death is going to just stop one day. We realistically know that death will always be there. The revelation is that there will be more injustice, more conquerors, more violence, and more Christians dying for their faith. We’re not optimistic in the sense that we think the world will overcome these things on its own.
But we’re not pessimistic either. As Christians we know that we can work to overcome some of the tragedy of this world. We see this world as a place to share God’s love – to help the oppressed, to speak up for those treated unfairly, to be generous to those in need, to work for peace. We’re not pessimistic because we know God’s love can make a difference in our world.
But we are realistic. We understand the way the world is. We know that a perfect world will only come when Jesus returns. Perhaps you are struggling right now. Perhaps you’re facing difficult times. Perhaps you’re overwhelmed. Revelation speaks to us in our struggles. It reminds us that life is difficult, and the world is a difficult place. We need to be realistic about that. BUT,
• 2. Our hope gives us perspective. John writes this letter to encourage Christians to turn away from what the world offers, and to continue to put our hope in the world to come.
“The inhabitants of the earth” in verse 10 is talking about everyone who finds their wealth in this world. So many people commit to building their life here, on this earth. But people who build their hope on the things of this earth, people who find their meaning in life from the things of this earth, will have it all taken away by that 3 earthquake of verse 12 – the day of judgement that destroys every material thing. And it’s easy to forget that and to lose perspective as a Christian. It’s easy to make our home here on earth and put our hope in earthly things. It’s easy to be distracted. But imagine living in John’s time. One week you’re sitting next to Theo in Bible study. The next week he’s not there because he’s been killed for believing in Jesus. You could be next. And you hear these words about your future: • Revelation 7:17: 17For the Lamb at the centre 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." This is our hope. Our hope is in the future. Our hope is in Jesus.
What a great challenge that is for us today in our society. Surrounded by comfortable lives – our houses, cars, our rich food and wine – what a challenge it is for US to say: “None of this comfortable material world matters. My hope is in the future with Jesus.”
We really do have a huge challenge before us as “comfortable Christians” – a real challenge to truly live as people who have our hope in the future with Jesus. Not in this world. Not in our physical health. Not in our material possessions. Not in our careers. Not in our earthly future. But in Jesus.
How do we do that? How do we keep our hope in the world to come? • Taking it to heart Let me suggest three little things you might like to try this week: 1. Spend an hour this week praying for your Christian brothers and sisters facing persecution. Pray that God will give them strength as they face trials we could not imagine. Pray and remember the reality of our world from God’s perspective. 2. Spend some time this week calling some of your church family. Ask how they’re going. Share a meal with them. Pray with them. Write them a letter of encouragement. Why? Because we all need each other to remind us that our hope is in the future. We just can’t do it alone. And we need to be aware of each other’s needs if we’re going to be able to support one another. 3. Finally, write down your own biggest struggles right now. And spend time handing them over to God this week. Ask him to give you His perspective on your difficulties. Be reminded this week that your hope is beyond this earth. (Time to write things down... then pray) 4
• Freedom of religion
• Unveiling a King
6 seals: 4 horsemen and 2 realities.
1st seal – conquest
2nd seal - violence
3rd Seal – injustice
4th seal – suffering and death.
5th seal – Persecution continues.
6th seal – the wrath of God.
1. Life now is difficult.
2. Our hope gives us perspective. Revelation 7:17 17For the Lamb at the centre 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."
• Taking it to heart
5