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Revelation 6:9-11, When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.

In this chapter, we find Jesus Christ receiving a preview of world history from the first century to his return.  Each seal he opens reveals something different over the course of human history, none of which are desirable.  As you read through the text, try not to get stuck in taking the words literally.  Simply try to visualize what John is describing.  Each aspect of the text has deep meaning but wasn’t intended to be taken literally.  What these visions symbolize, however, are quite extraordinary.

When Jesus opens the first four seals, each action brings forth a rider on a horse.  The first four riders represent pretty horrible things for humanity, such as military conquest (the first rider), warfare (the second rider), famine (the third rider), and death (the fourth rider).  Wherever the first three go, death is sure to show up as a result.  As horrible as these four scourges are for the human race, the symbolism here indicates that Christ limits their power.  They could be worse.  God allows these aspects of our sin and brokenness to exist but he will not allow them to overtake the world. 

Just a small but interesting point: generally, we think of the number 4 in the book of Revelation as representing the world or the things of the world.  The first four horsemen have trampled all around the world throughout the course of history, devastating humanity.  But Christ has and will continue to limit their power.  He is the one who holds the keys to death (John 1:18).  Remember the first listeners to this message.  These words would remind them that there was more going on in the world, particularly in the spiritual realm, than they could see.  All the horrors they were experiencing on earth were real but there was something bigger going on.  Oh yeah, and Jesus would have the final word.

After the fifth seal was opened, something else shows up on the scene – an altar.  We find this in today’s focus verses.  Under the altar were the martyrs of the faith.  These were people who had been slain for their belief in Jesus.  They call out to Jesus, calling him Sovereign Lord, righteous and true.  But these souls are asking Jesus for justice, when their deaths will be avenged?  This is a grim reminder that Christians have and will continue to be killed for their belief in Christ.  How easy it is for us as Americans to set this reality aside, to forget that believers are being killed, tortured, or oppressed for their faith right now in various parts of the world.  What might God be calling us to do about it?

The sixth seal is a reminder of the natural calamities that have devastated the earth over thousands upon thousands of years.  Humans react by hiding or blaming God.  But before Jesus’ second coming, we can be assured that the earth will continue to experience disasters of all kinds.  The last line of the chapter is worth a mention.  It expresses that the day of the Lord’s wrath is coming.  The world will experience military conquest, warfare, famine, death, martyrdom, and natural disasters between Jesus’ first and second coming.  These things are part of being human and part of living in this world.  But ultimately, Jesus will prevail.  He will come in all his glory and judge all of the world.  I know we struggle with concepts like judgement.  But we have nothing to fear if we belong to Jesus.  While trouble is guaranteed as part of life, Jesus’ people can rest assured that we don’t have to be afraid.  We know the one who saves.  We know the one who will have final victory.  We can seek God’s Kingdom now and actively look for glimpses of the new creation to come.  Rest in that.

Let’s pray…Come, Lord Jesus, Come.  How we need you.  Help us to bring more of your Kingdom into this place right now, today.  More of you and less of me.  Amen.