CHAPTER 18
At the beginning the Book of the Revelation, the glorified Messiah told John to write on three subjects:
In the fourth chapter of the Revelation, John begins to write about the third group葉hose things which are future. To make sure John understood the visions he would receive, Messiah literally brought him up to heaven. It was crucial that John see "what must take place after these things" from God's perspective. We will see why, momentarily.
Many believe John's being called up into heaven signifies the rapture. Why? Because a trumpet is mentioned, and a believer (John) goes up to heaven. True, there is a connection between the rapture and a trumpet. According to Scripture, seven angels will each sound a trumpet, and the rapture takes place when the last one has sounded (see Revelation 8:6). But folks, this is not a trumpet; it is a voice! John heard someone with a voice like a trumpet saying, "Come up here" (Revelation 4:1).
A little analysis shows this can't be the rapture. Note John's experience carefully. (1) He was called up for a moment, and then returned in exactly the same condition. (2) He did not become immortal, as believers will at the rapture. (3) the "call to come up" had a specific purpose; that is, to learn about the future. By contrast, when the church is raptured, there won't be any future left to reveal! The Bible says by that time, "the mystery of God is finished" (Revelation 10:7).
Why then do some cling to such a belief? The answer is simple. Either you "see" the rapture in verse 4:1 or face the fact that the church will go through tribulation. That is because there are no other verses in the first five chapters which could possibly indicate the rapture. Therefore, if you are determined to get the church out before the afflictions of Chapters 6-16, you have no choice; you have to interpret John's call up to heaven as the rapture.
After arriving in heaven John saw sights that stir the hearts of Messiah's followers. There before him was the majesty and beauty of their final destination葉he place Messiah said He would prepare for them. Of course the throne of God was central, and all around it were magnificent beings praising the Lord, God Almighty.
After a while, John noticed a scroll in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. In those days they didn't have books. Instead, pages of parchment were glued together and rolled into scrolls. As we will soon see, that particular scroll is crucial to our understanding of the last days.
There has been much conjecture about the scroll. Some believe it was the entire Book of the Revelation. Another theory is that it was a legal document葉he actual title deed to earth. From the context, however, it appears there is a simpler explanation. The scroll was probably a script of all that God wanted done. The writing, which filled both sides of the scroll, contained every detail of God's plan, including every angelic assignment. The scroll itself had seven parts, and each had its own seal. As a seal was broken, another part of the scroll was unrolled, and additional orders became visible. That means God's plan would progress in stages. Each section of the scroll brought Messiah closer to His throne.
John didn't read the scroll's contents. He saw the results. Unquestionably, a lot was happening behind the scenes, but John saw only a few highlights and the final outcome.
When Messiah broke the first seal, the End Times began in earnest. We can only speculate about all that seal set in motion. Since it kicked off the End Time agenda, it perhaps contained orders for Michael to cast Satan out of heaven. All we are sure about, however, are the three events actually recorded by John:
Notice how little is written about this event. Until we reach the critical point of the last trumpet, God will continue to limit our knowledge (see Revelation 10:7). What He does reveal though, always has a purpose. In this case, it is to give us assurance and comfort. As the seals unfold, the grisly details may surprise us, but there is never a doubt about who is in control.
Our first task is to find out who the rider is. Let's look at what we know. He is already armed, for he has a bow. By command from God's throne, the rider is beckoned to come (forth). At that time the rider receives a victor's crown. This verse tells us that until God gives him leave (at the first seal), the rider can't defeat anyone.
Our most promising clue about the rider comes from his conquests. Obviously, nations have been conquering other nations throughout history. So, what John saw had to be more than an ordinary conquest. In fact, John saw the mother of all conquests! Nothing less than conquering the world was in view here. For that reason, we immediately know the rider was Antichrist, since he is the one who conquers the whole world:
...and authority over EVERY tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him [the beast] (Revelation 13:7).
Now we are beginning to see why John was taken to heaven. When the seals are broken, there won't be any visible signs on earth; men will see only the results. Without the record of what John saw, believers would be in the dark. Imagine their panic as Antichrist suddenly rises to power. Picture their confusion and despair. But thanks to John, the saints will have insight which will enable them to persevere. At that time, they will understand what is happening, even though the rest of the world does not. The words of Daniel come to mind;
And those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever (Daniel 12:3).
When John records that Antichrist has a bow, he is indicating weapons which make world conquest possible. However, he brings more to the table than military might; Antichrist also has the full backing of the devil himself. That being the case, his rise isn't all that remarkable. With his Satanic intelligence, he will be a master at manipulating the masses. He will shrewdly promise what mankind wants above all else用eace and prosperity. Moreover, unlike contemporary politicians, Antichrist will appear to have the power to deliver on his promises. So, based upon some minor military excursions (overthrowing three nations), and widespread popular support, Antichrist quickly takes control.
Believe it or not, most will regard this as a positive development. No doubt the media will. From man's point of view, a one world government does make sense. With wars a thing of the past, swords can be beaten into plowshares, and the world economy should boom. For those reasons, when Antichrist assumes his role as world ruler, most anticipate a future of unending peace and prosperity.
Contrast that with the world situation today. Even with the collapse of Soviet communism, and the Middle-East "peace process," does anyone truly believe peace will come? Are the nations disarming and eliminating their defense budgets? No, but when Antichrist comes, that will change. For the first time in history, the whole world will dare to think peace. And why not? With a world ruler who wants peace, and possesses the power to enforce it, how could it be otherwise?
God's purpose, however, is to enthrone Messiah溶ot Antichrist. Although it was His command that allowed him to go out "conquering," God doesn't intend for Antichrist's rule to be a long one. At the moment men begin celebrating peace, God makes His next move葉hat is, opening the second seal.
While they are saying, 'Peace and Safety!' then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape (I Thessalonians 5:3).
No sooner do Satan and his Antichrist establish their kingdom, than God sets out to destroy it. Again, we are given no details, but peace is suddenly taken from the earth. A rider on a red horse is commanded to "Come" (forth). To him was given a great sword. Now, instead of peace, men resume killing one another. Whether this means widespread revolts against Antichrist's rule, or a return of fighting between nations, we can't be sure. Since no details are given, we can only focus on the "big picture." Above all, we must remember that this is a spiritual battle. With that in mind, did you think God would let Satan's unlawful kingdom go unopposed? The coming judgments will begin the process of destroying everything Satan has established on earth.
Men seem to be caught in the middle of this conflict. That is, of course, no concern to Satan. God, on the other hand, genuinely cares about men, and He has no desire to see them destroyed. For that reason, until the very end He continues to warn them of coming judgment. Though the wars of the second seal are limited, they do have a purpose. Through them, men's confidence in Antichrist is shaken, and no doubt some will begin to reconsider their options. In fact, through these warnings, God draws some out of Satan's kingdom and into His own.
A normal consequence of war is famine, and this war is no exception. This famine, however, is an unusual one. The rider on a black horse is ordered to come forth, and he is seen carrying a pair of scales. No doubt, this puzzled John until a voice from the throne explained:
A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius... (Revelation 6:6).
A denarius was a day's wage for an unskilled worker. If that wage would only buy a quart of wheat, that meant he could earn just enough to survive. If he had a family, he would have to buy the cheaper barley so he could feed them too.
What is unusual about this famine is that people aren't dying from it. Perhaps it should be thought of as a depression instead of a famine. That would be consistent with what God does throughout the early seals: namely, warning men while He undermines Antichrist's kingdom. Through all this, God wants men to see how foolish it is to put their confidence in Antichrist. Now, in spite of his worldwide economic programs, only the barest necessities are available. The result of God's intervention is that men will begin to question Antichrist's plan, as well as his power.
It should be mentioned that this warning is apparently not heeded by the rich. Their luxuries, symbolized by wine and oil, are not affected. What Messiah said about the rich will remain true to the very end:
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God (Mark 10:25).
Like a father dealing with a stubborn, unyielding child, God now increases the severity of His warnings. When the fourth seal is broken, strong medicine is prescribed. The second and third seals brought limited rebellions and partial food shortages. By summoning the rider on the ashen horse, God intensifies His attack against Antichrist. Now, fully a fourth of his kingdom is under siege, and many begin to die from the wars, famine, and pestilence.
Notice that the rider is followed by someone called Hades. Since that is where the unsaved dead reside, it may be that those dying have taken the mark of the beast. (The Bible teaches that believers who die go to be with the Lord.)
When Messiah breaks the fifth seal, the scene changes. John moves from watching the calamities on earth, to the altar in heaven. Beneath it he saw the souls of those who had been martyred because they maintained their testimony about the word of God. In the Old Testament, the blood of sacrificial animals was always poured out beneath the altar. Now the souls of the saints, whose blood was also poured out, are seen beneath the altar. That shows how much God esteems their sacrifice.
Are these (as some teach) believers who were martyred centuries ago? Perhaps some are, but that's not what John is revealing by this seal. What is pictured is a counterattack by Antichrist. During this seal, Satan viciously pursues both Israel and the church. It may be that as God confounds Antichrist and his kingdom, these people are offered as scapegoats. Nero and Hitler used that tactic, and perhaps Antichrist does also. Nevertheless, this murderous program doesn't last very long. We know that because God tells the martyrs they are to wait just a little while longer.
Because so much happens during the sixth seal, we are going to devote the entire next chapter to it. By way of a preview, it definitely gets better for the believers.