Group Discussion Questions for 4/3/13: Revelation 6 Read Chapter 6 of Revelation at least 2 times, without looking at notes or commentaries. 1. Consider the progression of actions in the chapter as each seal is opened. Compare this progression to that found in Jesus' discussion in Matthew 24, especially verses 4-14 and 23-31. What similarities and differences do you find? 2. Read Joel 2:28 to 3:21. Again, compare and contrast this passage with Revelation 6. Are these sections talking about the same event? Now read Acts 2:14-21. Does your opinion change in light of the way Peter uses the Joel passage at Pentecost? 3. In addition, examine Isaiah 2, Isaiah 34:1-8, and Zephaniah 1:14-2:3. Also, recall that Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed and the Jews scattered in 70AD after a rebellion against Rome, prior to the writing of Revelation. To what extent do the prophecies of destruction found in the Old Testament and in Matthew correspond to the events of 70 AD? Can that event be the fulfillment of all these prophecies outside of Revelation? 4. The lamb breaks six seals in this chapter. Try to summarize the impact of the breaking of each of the seals. What do the consequences of the breaking of the first four seals have in common? Does the same creature call out each time? The living creatures call to whom? Does the text say that the horses and their riders obey the command of the living creatures? See Zechariah 1:7-11 and 6:1-8 for other examples of horses in prophecy. 5. When the fifth seal is broken, John looks underneath the altar. Has the altar been mentioned before? What is an altar doing in this place? Note that the blood of the sin offering was poured out at the base of the altar (Leviticus 4:7). What do the martyrs request? Are these martyrs being improperly revengeful? Are these requests consistent with Matthew 5:44? See also Luke 18:1-8. 6. How would you describe the events that follow the breaking of the sixth seal? Consider again the other prophecies referenced above. Is this the end of time? 7. Now compose a title for this chapter. Why does God see fit to include this chapter in the Bible? In what way do these events bring glory to (that is, display the character of) God? What impact should this have on us? Table 1: The Chiastic Structure of Revelation 1:1–8, Letter Opening: Revelation of Jesus and the Things That Must Soon Take Place 1:9–3:22, Letters to the Seven Churches: The Church in the World 4:1–6:17, Throne Room Vision, Christ Conquers and Opens the Scroll 7:1–9:21, The Sealing of the Saints and the Trumpets Announcing Plagues 10:1–11, The Angel and John (True Prophet) 11:1–14, The Church: Two Witnesses Prophesy for 1,260 Days, Then Opposition from the Beast 11:15–19, Seventh Trumpet: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” Worship! 12:1–13:10, The Church: The Woman Nourished for 1,260 Days, Then Opposition from the Dragon and the Second Beast 13:11–18, The Deceiving Beast (False Prophet) 14:1–19:10, The Redemption of the Saints and the Bowls of Wrath 19:11–20:15, Return of Christ, He Conquers, Sets up His 1,000-Year Kingdom, and Opens the Scrolls 21:1–22:7, New Heavens and New Earth: The Church in Glory 22:8–21, Letter Closing: Jesus Is Coming Soon Table 2: Parallels Between Daniel, the Olivet Discourse, and Revelation Dan. 9:26: “And Matt. 24:4, 5 (Mark 13:5, 6; Luke Rev. 6:1, 2: at the opening of the first the people of the 21:8): warning not to be led astray seal, a rider on a white horse goes prince who is to by impostors who come in Jesus’ out conquering and to conquer, come shall name saying “I am the Christ.” similar to the way that Jesus comes destroy the city in Revelation 19. and the sanctuary [cf. Matt. 24:6 (Mark 13:7; Luke 21:9): Rev. 6:3, 4: at the opening of the Rev. 11:2]. Its wars and rumors of wars, “for this second seal, a rider on a red horse end shall come must take place, but the end is not goes out to take peace from the with a flood, and yet” (cf. Rev, 4:1). earth, being given a great sword. to the end there Matt. 24:7 (Mark 13:8; Luke Rev. 6:5, 6: at the opening of the shall be war. 21:11): famine, “the beginning of the third seal, a rider on a black horse Desolations are birth pains” goes out with scales, and the price of decreed.” wheat and barley is greatly inflated. Matt. 24:7, 9–12: famine, tribulation, Rev. 6:7, 8: at the opening of the believers put to death, hated, falling fourth seal, a rider named Death away, betrayal, false prophets, rides on a pale horse, and Hades lawlessness, lovelessness. follows, and they kill with sword, famine, pestilence, and wild beasts. Matt. 24:14: the gospel of the Rev. 6:9–11: at the opening of the kingdom is proclaimed to whole fifth seal, John sees martyrs under world, “then the end will come.” the altar, and they are told that the number of martyrs must be completed before the end comes. Dan. 9:27: “And Matt. 24:15 (Mark 13:14): “the Rev. 11:2: the courts of the temple he shall make a abomination of desolation.” trampled for forty-two months; Rev. strong covenant 13:14, 15: the image of the beast with many for speaks and is worshiped. one week, and Matt. 24:29 (Mark 13:24, 25; Luke Rev. 6:12, 13: at the opening of the for half of the 21:25): “The sun will be darkened, sixth seal, there is an earthquake (cf. week he shall put and the moon will not give its light, Matt. 24:7), and “the sun became an end to and the stars will fall from heaven.” black as sackcloth, the full moon sacrifice and became like blood, and the stars of offering. And on the sky fell to the earth” (cf. Rev. the wing of 8:12; 9:2). abominations Matt. 24:32, 33 (Mark 13:28, 29; Rev. 6:13: “the fig tree sheds its shall come one Luke 21:29–31): the parable of the winter fruit when shaken by a gale.” who makes fig tree: summer is near when its desolate, until leaves appear, and these signs the decreed end mean the end is near. is poured out on Matt. 24:30 (Mark 13:26; Luke Rev. 6:15–17: kings, great ones, the desolator.” 21:27), “Then will appear in heaven generals, the rich, the powerful, the sign of the Son of Man, and then everyone seeks to hide “from the all the tribes of the earth will mourn, face of him who is seated on the and they will see the Son of Man throne, and from the wrath of the coming on the clouds of heaven with Lamb, for the great day of their wrath power and great glory.” has come, and who can stand?” Matt. 24:13, 14, 22, 24, 31: the elect Rev. 7:1–17: the elect are sealed. will persevere until the end, the gospel will go to all the elect, the days will be cut short for the elect, the elect will not be led astray, and they will be gathered. Matt. 24:21: “great tribulation” Rev. 7:14: “the great tribulation.” Matt. 24:31: “he will send out his Rev. 8:1–5: at the opening of the angels with a loud trumpet call.” seventh seal, John sees seven angels with seven trumpets (does Matthew’s single trumpet become seven trumpets the way that Jeremiah’s seventy years became seventy sevens of years in Daniel?). Matt. 24:31: the angels “will gather Rev. 14:14–16: the angels and the the elect from the four winds, from one like a son of man harvest the one end of heaven to the other.” earth. Table 3: The Trumpets & Bowls Trumpets Bowls 8:7: hail and fire, mixed with blood, thrown 16:2: bowl poured on earth, harmful and onto the earth, one third of trees burned up, painful sores on those with the mark of the and all green grass burned up. beast who worship its image. 8:8, 9: a great burning mountain thrown into 16:3: bowl poured on the sea, became like the sea, one third of the sea becomes blood, the blood of a corpse, every living thing in the one third of living creatures die, one third of sea died. ships destroyed. 8:10, 11: a star fell from Heaven on one third 16:4–7: bowl poured on rivers and springs of of the rivers and springs of water, many water, became blood, the angel of the waters people died. praises God. 8:12: one third of the sun struck, one third of 16:8, 9: bowl poured on the sun, allowed to the moon, one third of the stars, one third of scorch people, they cursed God, no their light darkened, and a third of the day repentance. kept from shining and likewise the night.