Revelation

Lesson 4 w/answersRevelation 6:1 – 7:17

This week as we continue our study we’ll see God’s judgments begin on Earth and in heaven as the Lamb opens the seals on the scroll and the 144,000 last witnesses are sealed. From God’s Throne John sees the Lamb step forward and break the first seal – judgment begins and the arrival of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords draws ever closer.

Bible

May God bless you as you study His Holy Word this week.

In preparing to answer this week’s questions you should first read Chapters 6 and 7.

Now consider the following questions:

  1. As we begin to consider the great judgment coming upon the earth during the seven year tribulation period consider for a moment – is it possible that the first six seals could be seen as an overview of that judgment with the seventh seal unleashing six specific judgments (the trumpet judgments) more horrible than the previous, and the seventh trumpet declaring the worst of the judgments (the bowl judgments) just prior to Christ’s second coming and the end of the tribulation period? If so – how does that influence our interpretation of the first six seals?
    1. ANSWER: We first recognize as an overview then the first seal is perhaps setting the general stage over the entire seven year period, war, famine, disease and poverty/economic collapse – all will be very prevalent and exceedingly greater in impact as the tribulation period progresses. The same would then also apply for the other five seals. These events will all be on going during the seven year period. One approach is to see these first six as on going during the seven years with the trumpet judgments occurring during the second half of the seven year period, and the bowl judgments occurring during the last six months. Thus a pattern of greater and greater judgments as mankind approaches self destruction and Christ arrives at the final hour.
  2. How many horses are described in the reading? What are their colors and how is each one described?
    1. ANSWER 1: White Horse – A king who will conquer without bloodshed (he has a bow, but no arrows). This will be a king who comes to tremendous power through political means, not conflict.
    2. ANSWER 2: Red Horse – Peace is taken from the earth, great unrest, struggle, turmoil as never seen before will beset the earth – war will be widespread.
    3. ANSWER 3: Black Horse – famine, drought, economic turmoil will result as the basic cost of subsistence takes an entire day’s wages for the working class, while the wealth continue to live a life seemingly unaffected by these events “do not hurt the oil and the wine”.
    4. ANSWER 4: Pale Horse – Death and Hades. The result of the war, disease, famine, environmental disasters is that one fourth of the world will die in a very short period of time. Consider that should that happen today a million people a day would be dying.
  3. Does the scripture say who these horses ride against? (Anyone specific or everyone on earth?)
    1. ANSWER: Verse eight tells us it’s the “whole earth” being judged.
  4. Look at the description of the Pale Horse – 6:8. Following that description in the same verse it refers to the power of the four horses to kill – list the four ways these four horses are given power to kill and write beside each power the horse it applies to.
    1. ANSWER: The red horse is what kills through war and the black horse through hunger, death and the beasts of the earth.
  5. What does it mean given the power to kill “with death” in verse 8, and what power or manner of death is not mentioned?
    1. ANSWER: Real death is a separation from God with no hope of salvation. Many then will die not believing in Christ. The four horsemen are in addition to the normal forms of death – old age, accidents, birth related, and so on. Thus in addition to the normal cycle of life a great plague of death through war, famine, disease, and environmental disasters will breakout on a scale never seen before.
  6. How much of the earth is killed by the four horsemen? (verse 8)
    1. ANSWER: One fourth. Today’s world population is over 6 Billion, that would mean 1.5 Billion people would be killed either over a seven year period, or a three and half year period depending on how you interpret the timing of these judgments.
  7. What could the possible interpretation of these four horsemen be if we took them as a whole? Given that this is the beginning of final judgments on mankind and the earth what do you suppose Christ is revealing to us here?
    1. ANSWER: We can see a picture of great turmoil, political, economical, and environmental resulting in the death of one fourth of the population. In the midst of this a king will arise and through political alliances and his ability to influence other world leaders he will take power and be a mighty leader. Some interpret these events as all happening during the entire seven year period, others say these judgments won’t begin until the second half of the tribulation period, referred to as the period of great tribulation. We can also see that perhaps what is being revealed is a general pattern of judgment with more specific judgments being described in the coming trumpet judgments and then very specific and horrific judgments occurring near the end of the tribulation period, called the bowl judgments.
  8. Find the meaning for the symbols in chapter 6 – “mountain”, “island”, “stars” “sun” “moon”. See if these references help you define each symbol: Genesis 10:5; Isaiah 11:9; Isaiah 13:9-22; Isaiah 20:6; Isaiah 37:9, Isaiah 40:15; Isaiah 51:5; Daniel 2:35, 44-45; Revelation 1:20; Revelation 9:1; Revelation 12:1; Revelation 16:20.
    1. ANSWER 1: Mountain – government
    2. ANSWER 2: Island – countries either far away, or at least outside the border of another country
    3. ANSWER 3: Stars – angels, messengers
    4. ANSWER 4: Sun – The Triune God
    5. ANSWER 5: Moon – The Church reflecting God’s light
    6. ANSWER 6: The “Sun Clad Woman” of Revelation 12:1 – the nation of Israel
  9. How many total seals are there (see Chapter 5:1) How many seals are opened in Chapter 6, how many in Chapter 7?
    1. ANSWER 1: Six seals are revealed in Chapter 6 and none in Chapter 7, thus the activity in Chapter 7 occurs during the opening of the first six seals.
    2. ANSWER 2: No seals are opened in Chapter 7, the Seventh seal, which brings about the trumpet judgments is opened at the beginning of Chapter 8.
  10. How many servants of God are sealed before judgment begins? Are they Jewish, Protestant, Catholic, Gentiles, Italians, or Muslims? Read Joel 2:28-32, also see Revelation 7:4.
    1. ANSWER: 144,000 all Jewish.
  11. How many are saved during the tribulation by the witness of these servants? (7:9-14)
    1. ANSWER: “A great multitude which no man could number” are now in heaven from every tongue, every nation, all over the world who were saved by the gospel message presented by the 144,000.
  12. We read about the four horsemen and the six seals in Chapter 6 – based on our reading of Chapter 7 are the judgments described in Chapter 6 carried out before or after Chapter 7? (7:3)
    1. ANSWER: After. Note it says not to hurt the “Trees”….read Isaiah 10:33 to see that “trees” symbolize people of stature and authority, neither are they to hurt the earth until the servants are sealed. Thus the sealing of the 144,000 has to take place prior to the judgments being carried out.

Have a great week everyone!

Yours in Christ

Wes