The Seven Seals | Hail to the Victor

I'm right the book of Revelation as we continue now

We are going to be in chapter 6 7 and 8 where we're looking at the seven seals

And as I say that out loud I can only picture some of you thinking of seven actual seals like animals

I can't shake that from my head right now, so I've it may ruin the entire sermon

But understand we are talking about seals as in like a wax seal

Actually my little brother Kenny he actually still uses one of those because I think in another life

Which we don't really believe in he was in medieval times, but understand that these seals are on the scrolls

That is one of the things that rabbis had to do in the temple the Sadducees the Pharisees you had to break the seal

To open the scroll and here we are setting the scene

For the opening of these seals. This is a triumphant moment

Culturally this is how they began

Let's just kind of say we were back in first century Jerusalem say this was the temple. I was the rabbi

That the center point of a service would be the opening of the seal

To read the scrolls of the Old Testament

We see that even in Jesus's ministry that he was tasked to do that Luke chapter 4

Luke 4 · chapter mention

It was the first kind of hit put on Jesus

He read the prophet Isaiah and said today this prophecy is being fulfilled basically because of me

And so this was a center point of the beginning kind of to midsection of the book of Revelation that each seal

Means something John's vision to the opening of the seven seals is revealing

Again, it's uncomfortable, but it's God's divine judgment and his control

Over history the lamb is the one worthy to open the seals

Demonstrating his ultimate authority over the unfolding of the history that will take place

Both that was that is that now is to come in the book of Revelation

This scroll can be misunderstood by a lot of people and a basic kind of good foundation

Understanding for us this morning is the scroll represents God's redemptive plan

And the culminating judgment upon the earth judgment redemption all is what's being taken place here

verse 1 and 2 of Revelation 6

Now I watched when the lamb lamb opened one of the seven seals

And I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder come

And I looked and behold a white horse

And 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 leave that up

That's an interesting that last section and he came out conquering and to conquer

So we're going to see four different horsemen

Horsemen would have meant something to the readers in the day

That horsemen came to deliver a message the color horse the color that they're wearing

And you know not like they had purple horses but the drapery over the horses

What the rider was wearing made sent a message

And I want us as we read this to go back to Palm Sunday in the gates of Jerusalem

What does Jesus come in to the gates of Jerusalem on big powerful burly horse?

No what did he come in on a foal of a donkey right?

So nothing that showed power and authority people did not tremble people did not flee

You saw certain colors that's exactly what you would have done

That if you were in a neighboring city and you saw one of these horsemen depending on its color

That was either a really good day or a really bad day

What we're going to see for now we're going to see that the four horsemen represent four things

The white horse is conquest the conquering victory the red horse war the black horse famine

And the pale horse death so if you think about that victory war famine death

So this is these things mean something

Showing how God has allowed these parts or these events as a part of his righteous judgment

To demonstrate his power over human history if you were in the first century these four colors

Would have made sense this would have been normal kind of vernacular that people would have used

Especially when you went to war old testament same thing this people would have known this

We don't really have anything like that today I thought about it

Like well what if we drove certain color cars and all that no it would not mean the same thing

How many of you have a red car? Yes and you're just full of war aren't you Gail?

No you know how many of you now a bunch of you are probably going to want to go white car right

Because you think you're conquering something but how many of you have a black car?

Death Jim Wiltshire you drive a car of death I've driven with you before

I've driven with you before and understand that you know so this is signifying certain things to who?

To the world where are these horsemen coming from not some barn these are coming out of heaven

I mean just kind of wrap that in your mind I don't think these are miniature

It's not little Sebastian right coming out of if you're not a parks and rec fan you didn't get the

reference and that's okay but this is a these are these are big things right this means something

This isn't little get that out of your mind

Let's jump before I get to the even though this point is for one and two I want to go three through

Eight because it conquers or it kind of now I got that word it covers all of it let's go to three through

Eight when he opened the second seal I heard the the second living creature say remember there's four

Come and out came another horse bright red its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth

So that people should should slay one another and he was given a great sword 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 and I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the fourth creature

Saying a quart of wheat for a denarii and three quarts of barley for a denarii and do not harm the oil

And wine and so understand that when he opened the fourth seal I heard the voice of the living

Creature say come and look 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 what I find interesting here though graphic

And awkward and weird is the fact that each rider was given authority did you catch that

These horses these horsemen did not come out out of their own will remember that from the very beginning

That this has all been the redemptive plan by God himself his sovereignty when we think of God's

Sovereignty nowadays right we will we will offer thanks to God's sovereignty for really dumb things

Right when all of a sudden you know you did not stop at that stop sign and you see that police officer

In the little mart parking lot no this didn't happen to me and understand that you don't get pulled over

Sometimes we could be like oh thank you God you are sovereign

Yeah I think that's a little cheap given this right even though in Indiana you've heard me say before

Stop signs are stopional understand that we don't necessarily throw that to God's sovereignty

Now we can use that in our lives for other things sickness all of a sudden what was a cancer

Diagnosis isn't anymore we can give thanks to God's sovereignty because even in the midst of death

And pain God's sovereignty can be our greatest comfort so understanding that I think it's amazing

That each rider is given authority because that indicates they didn't create it themselves

It was given to them by God's hand as he guides grim judgments

These judgments are scary these judgments would make for a movie that a barge of our kids should never see

That these judgments mean something and despite their destructive nature

Because we could just stop and go I don't want to go anymore I don't want to read anymore

Let's go to the book of John right because it's it's it's just easier let's go to something else

They are still even though it's destructive God's authority is all over it and serves his greater

Purpose as we said in judgment and redemption the imagery of the four horsemen show us that even war

Famine and death are not outside of God's sovereign plan sit with that for a minute

When I when I came upon that this week I just sat there because we know that there are places in the

World that are worn torn that death is just eminent and there's famine those are not outside of

God's plan yet we want to go on the offensive and say God are you really in control

Are you really in control in Israel are you really in control in Ukraine are you really in control in the south side of Chicago

Because all we hear is the death tolls is God really in control time out

Go back to what we just read pretty sure he is that he is in control and isn't it weird to think

Though we need to have you know a Christian response to those things that this is the judgment of the world

All encompassing these divine judgments actually show us and should give us comfort that God is in control

But we have to work there this understanding helps believers trust that no matter what chaos

That no matter what chaos and I use that term specifically unfolds in the world whether it's chaos in a country

Chaos in a school in your house in your mind in your heart in a relationship whatever it is

God is still on the throne and history is moving forward and moving toward his appointed time

Now if you're like me I struggle with that because there are days there are weeks that I sit in my office

And I go Lord you can come now it would be fine burn it up

But then there are days there are seasons that life's going well I'm going we still got jobs to do this is great

Let's just keep going God just wait we still have more to do and everywhere in between

And I know you find yourself in that place as well

But remembering those two truths God is still on the throne and history is moving toward forward and toward his appointed end helps me with this application

In times of global unrest or personal suffering trust that God's sovereignty extends over every circumstance

And that he is working all things for his glory and for the good of his people

So we see God's judgment we see human history now we are going to see a call to repentance

We have to see a call to repentance right that call of repentance is massive

That call of repentance here if you're seeing this and you're not you're not responding at all you're probably dead

Because this evokes response we have to understand these judgments both in history and in our personal lives

As we just said and we see now in verse 9 the cry the response is the cry of the martyrs

And again we talked about this in the first week martyr is someone who dies for the faith

A martyr is someone who dies for the faith get that down a martyr is not I'm having such a bad day

When you self-martyr you die to no one and nothing martyrdom is someone dying for the faith

Again too many examples we don't have that much time but 9 starting with verse 9

When he opened the fifth seal four are now done fifth seal I saw under the altar the souls of those who have been slain

For the word of God and for the witness they had borne they cried out with a loud voice

Oh sovereign Lord holy and true how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth

Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer

Sorry that's just hitting me very differently than it did Wednesday we'll get to that

Until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete

Who were to be killed as they themselves had been leave that up

I was going to go somewhere but I'm going to I'm going to pivot on this point because just like some of you

Kind of think it's a drag you're going to worship the entire time when you're in heaven

Check your heart don't email me just read the Bible check your heart

Understand that there's tension in this verse in a very similar place

People that were martyred for the faith they now are being brought to judgment

And they're asking for vengeance interesting never and this literally at today years old that I thought about it this way

Vengeance is mine says the Lord yet those that are martyred for their faith

I can't read this as they want their pound of flesh the earthly gym is reading it that way

And I'm finding tension now because I don't think that's the response that God gives would not be this

I came into this week going they want their pound of flesh, but the spirit's moving in me right now

That can't be the case yet. Look at the response. They're given a white robe and told to wait

How often in our lives

And again, this is the level of martyrdom and this is where I think sometimes we believe in such a pg version of faith

That we think we're martyred when someone posts something negative against us about our faith

I mean that's laughable compared to this but understand that when we are in a season where we're being attacked for our faith

We like to self-martyre but understand that even those who were actually martyred for the faith are given a white robe

That means something we'll get that in a second and told to wait

Straw poll some of you know where I'm going how many of you love waiting

Is that Wyatt I could see that yeah, you're a farmer you have to wait

Look at that 300 people here

We hate waiting but put yourself as an actual martyr given an audience with the Almighty

He gives you a white robe and told to wait

But then there's a number that needs to be complete go to the last article the belgian confession one of our kind

Until the number of the elect is complete christ will come and all will be finalized so what does this actually mean

Understand that the white robe is likened to that final crown

Because where did we see white robes already we saw it on the elders those that were leading the worship leaders of the white robes

That is what we are called to that is what we will be given when we finish this race

We will be given that white robe of peace that white robe almost like a graduation gown if you will saying friend you've made it well done good and faithful servant

But some of us struggle with that because we want more I have suffered for the faith to the point of shedding blood

Well no but I have suffered for the faith

They will get that resolve but what it's showing us

Their cry is not one of personal vengeance but a desire for God's righteousness to be upheld

Understand I wanted to go pound of flesh but you can't you can't given the response Jesus or that God is giving

Is that martyrdoms die for a reason or martyrs die for a reason they die because they believe every single word of this book

They believe the beginning and they believe the end

Now for some of us we just like to camp in the Jesus we just yeah let's just do all the Jesus things let's just do the gospel things

I love when he heals I love when he saves right the interactions he has with people like he's just awesome

Maybe you are watching the chosen you see this kind of likable figure that is Jesus which I think is completely right

But understand this is the end we can't just camp in there there needs to be a sense of urgency of what is to come

It's a cry for justice think about that I'm sure you all have your own definition of what justice is in your life

This is a cry for the kind of eternal justice that Christ died for

Connect those dots that when we see injustices in the world this is that application

When we feel frustrated by injustices in the world or in our lives remember that God is not inactive

He is waiting for the right time to bring about justice in its fullness so pray for patience and trust God's perfect timing

But that binds us that trust word I am hurt and I want vengeance vengeance is mine says the Lord I want them to get theirs

They will but trust it trust my timing says God like we do that we do we just because we really would love it

God if you could just be more like a genie in the bottle that I wish you would smite them and I want you to do it tomorrow

No you you think you want to be the conductor of this play you think you can have the baton of life and go right or here right or there

War famine injustice justice death none of us are meant to do that and how do we know that we're not meant to do this

It's exactly why Adam and Eve cannot go back to the garden

They already have the knowledge of wisdom the knowledge of good and evil they go back and eat the tree of life now they're stuck

And by them I mean us there's so much here the cries for injustice the cry for patience and we're not done that's just the fifth seal

So let's go to verse 12 the sixth seal and the day of wrath that's fun Revelation 6 12 when he opened the sixth seal I looked and behold

There was a great earthquake oh my okay and the sun became black as sackcloth the full moon became like blood and the stars of the sky fell

To the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale that's G-A-L-E not actor off the sky vanished like a scroll

That is being rolled up and every mountain and island was removed from its place 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

Calling to the mountains and the 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

For the great day of the wrath has come and who can stand leave that up go back

Who does God humble in the final days he humbles the great ones the generals the rich the powerful and everyone is slave and free

He humbles all of us you want to conduct this you want to direct this play no you don't and if you do let's have a conversation

Because there is an ego there and a pride that is actually dangerous that understand fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne

They knew who it was they always knew who it was and they didn't care they weren't ready hide us

Isn't it funny that if you go to the beginning of that verse there's a great earthquake what is God showing he is control over all this friends

That every earthquake all of that the opening seals cataclysmic events earthquakes the darkening of the sun the stars falling from the sky

What like that's more than just the eclipse we had a couple months ago we all got those cute glasses or maybe you're like me and tried to do it without him

I'm just kidding I didn't do that but understand this is very different your kids are not coming out of the classrooms to look at this through a shoebox

Earthquakes the darkening of the sun stars falling from the sky the response of the people across all everywhere screaming just like that

That was great timing whoever that was that's fantastic keep it up that's the universal fear of that mom and dad but understand the universal fear of the world

And there's one realization that should humble us to the very end and to our core it's the realization that no one can stand before the wrath of God

The sixth seal points to a certainty and an eminence of God's final judgment it serves us today as a warning for the need of salvation

So what is that application live in the light of the coming judgment evaluate your life and make sure you are standing firm on your faith

Trusting in Christ's righteousness alone to stand before God's throne no one else is standing they're all hiding and here's the thing they knew

They knew and they thought they could stand anyway let that be a lesson to us as we close with the seventh seal

Fifteen that was 15 seconds of silence some of you can't handle that I can't I don't do well in silence ask my wife

We have fans and sound machines all over the place it drives her crazy I think that's a love in spite of that for me

That's 15 seconds of silence but we just had a grand orchestra of chaos grand orchestra earthquakes famine the sun's blood red the stars no more

All the four horsemen of the apocalypse all of these things and what is the final response in Revelation 8 1 through 5 when the lamb opened the seventh seal

There was silence in heaven for about a half an hour then I saw the seven angels who stand before God the seven trumpets were given to them

Another angel came and stood at the altar with the golden censer and he was given much incense to offer with all the prayers of the saints on the golden altar before the throne

And the smoke of the incense with the prayers of the saints rose before God from the hand of the angel then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth

And there were pearls of thunder rumblings flashes of lightning and an earthquake

The seven seals opened and what is the result silence for about a half an hour

This silence represents a holy pause a solemn anticipation before the Trump the trumpet judgments that follow the prayers of the saints which arise like incense before God are answered in the form of judgment on the earth

Friends I struggle with this one and I know we're going late

But what is the response to chaos a holy silence as someone who doesn't do that well I struggle because in chaos I want to respond usually with more chaos

Whether it's in my mind in my heart from my mouth in relationships whatever it is but what is the entire world's response to all of this

Silence and then what rises up the prayers of the saints they play a crucial role in God's plan they are not just heard but are acted upon signifying that God is deeply involved in the cries of his people

Silence emphasizes the weight of what is to come and the importance of prayer in spiritual warfare friends this isn't the end this is only chapter eight there's 21 22 chapters

In some ways the party is just getting started but understand as we continue on we need to apply a very specific thing to ourselves in our day to day life we need to pray with confidence

Knowing that our prayers reach God because of Christ and have a direct impact on his redemptive plan real quick your prayers don't change what God's going to do so don't pray like they should but understand that he hears your prayers

Make prayer a central part of your life seek God's guidance and intervention in all things so friends as we move from this place that was a one-two punch for some of you like let's just go back to the letters

Nope we're going to keep going forward but as we go forward two things should be standing out God is definitely in control and God is definitely redeeming his people

But for those that want answers now for those that are like I'm sick of the hurt and the pain understand that you have not martyred you were not martyred that is not part of your role though for some of us it might be who knows what the future holds

But what are those even given comfort that you have your reward but you need to wait a little longer so as we go into eight then nine and ten let's talk these five things quickly so how do we do this

Friends there's a lot of reality here that we need to share share the reality of judgment and the hope of redemption with the people in your life have direct yet compassionate conversations about the seriousness of sin and the hope found in Christ

First of all begin with your personal testimony and remember the plank in your own eye second use God's sovereignty as a foundation for bold evangelism we have confidence that God is in control of every encounter we have whether we plant seeds whether we water them or we see and see someone come to faith God is the one who causes growth

We must fight the urgency of the gospel message the judgments portrayed a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin and the reality of final judgment emphasize that today is the day of salvation that no one knows the day or the hour fourth be a living example of hope

Live in a way that shows peace and hope grounded in Christ instead of fear and despair. They'll know we are Christians by our love and love bears all things believes all things hopes all things endures all things.

And finally, invite people to encounter Christ in prayer. The imagery of the prayers of the saints and revelation eight ascending before God can be used to invite others into prayer as a means of seeking God.

Encourage non believers to see prayer as an open door to communicate with the creator of the world. And if you want to keep talking about this. Remember we do have that group going on in the community Life Center 1015 minutes after service.

Let's pray.