Teaching the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27) Welcome to our service Please visit our website: www.livingstonesnewforest.org.uk

Revelation chapter 6 The scroll is opened Teaching the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27) Revelation chapter 6 The scroll is opened Please visit our website: www.livingstonesnewforest.org.uk

We start the journey into The Great Tribulation 7 seals The seventh seal covers the bulk of the tribulation 7th seal contains the seven trumpets These herald seven judgements on the earth 7th trumpet begins the seven bowls of God’s wrath Also known as the seven last plagues Each bowl worse than the last

Undoubtedly a time of wrath The tribulation is the wrath of God poured out Chapter 15 v 1 God’s wrath ‘filled up’ or ‘made complete’ Chapter 6 v 17 The great day of His wrath Chapter 10 v 7 The fulfilling of all prophecy Chapter 11 v 18 God’s wrath is come Wrath applies to the whole tribulation Chapter 16 v 1 Bowls of wrath Chapter 16 v 17 “It is done!” Why wrath? To avenge the blood of His saints on the earth

Avenging the blood of the saints Revelation 6 v 10 How long oh Lord until you avenge our blood And 16 v 6 Blood to drink because they shed the blood of the saints 17 v 6 The woman drunk with the blood of the saints 18 v 20 The saints avenged on her 19 v 2 the avenging of the blood of the saints a righteous act of God

The lamb opens the first seal Thunderings and loudness Chapter 11 v 15 – loud And verse 19 – thunderings Chapter 16 verse 17 & 18 – loudness and thunderings & “It is finished” Jesus bringing God’s judgement to the earth alone – no help! Isaiah 63 Then comes the four horsemen of the apocalypse Mirroring the warnings in Matthew 24

Matthew 24 instructions Four horsemen in parallel Deceivers White horse Wars Red horse Famine Black Horse Pestilence Pale horse

The white horse rider Who is he? Not Jesus – on a white horse like Jesus, but nothing else in common Jesus is in heaven opening the seals This person – ‘he’ – is on earth not in heaven The remaining seals are judgement not comfort He wears a stephanos crown (a victor’s crown) as one who conquers Jesus wears many diadems (royal crowns) as he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev 19 v 12) Authority given unto him – Rev 13 v 4 Restraint is now withdrawn and the tribulation begins with unrestrained deception

The white horse rider 2 Thessalonians 2 v 9 & 10 – Satan can do miracles to deceive 2 Cor 11 v 13 describes both Satan and his servants as deceivers Matt 24 v 4 – Take heed about deceivers V 23 – false messiahs White horse is a counterfeit of Revelation 19 When Jesus comes everyone will know Carrying a bow – Jesus has a sword Conquering to conquer – a rise to power as a result of conquest

The red horse rider Red speaks of blood Matt 24 v 6 & 7 Could be the same person Matt 24 v 6 & 7 Wars and rumours of wars and Nation against Nation (ethnos) etc Power given to him to take peace People killing each other in an unrestrained way (Eph 2 v 2) 1 Thess 5 v 2 & 3 – when they say peace and safety, sudden destruction comes Jesus said “Peace I give to you” – here is much slaughter Great sword – Military power in the hands of one man

The black horse rider Deprivation A day’s wage for a loaf Barley is cheaper but second best – usually animal food Blackness associated with famine in other places in scripture Jeremiah 14 v 2-6 Lamentations 4 v 8 & 9 Lamentations 5 v 10 Oil and wine not touched – associated with riches – luxury items still available

The pale horse rider Pale = chloros, a pale sickly green Sword – war, executions or both Hunger – famine and possibly governmental mismanagement of food resources Death Beast of the earth – seems to imply animal attack Restraint has left the earth This is just the beginning – it gets worse! Thank God for His mercy and that we will not be there.

Teaching the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27) Welcome to our service Please visit our website: www.livingstonesnewforest.org.uk