Horsemen on the Horizon l Revelation 6:1-8 l J. Allen Mashburn

Revelation chapter six is a shock to the senses.  In the past two chapters, we have been allowed to witness scenes of heavenly worship.  In this passage, we are going to see images of divine wrath.  We have been a place where there is praise and shouting.  We are about to examine a scene filled with pain and suffering.   In chapters four and five, we have been seated in “heavenly places” observing “scenes of joy”.  In chapter six, we are brought down to “earthly places” to observe “scenes of judgment.”

Beginning in chapter six all the way through chapter nineteen, we are placed in the middle of “Tribulation Period”, or the time known as the “Great Tribulation”.  This period of seven years is broken down into two parts, with each portion lasting 3 ½ years.

This period of time is clearly described in the Word of God.

·        Jeremiah 30:7, “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.”

·        Daniel 12:1, “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”

·        Matthew 24:3-24

·        Matthew 24:21-22, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.”

In this passage, the seven seals on the book in the hand of the Lord Jesus begin to be broken, one by one.  

As the seals are opened, a series of divine judgment is poured out upon the earth and those who dwell on the earth.  The four seals that we will consider in this message describe events that will take place during the first 3 ½ year portion of the Tribulation.

We are about to witness a time of destruction, devastation and death that can hardly be comprehended by our mortal minds.  These verses describe events that will take place on the earth after the church has been removed in the Rapture.  The world we are about to see is a world that has no Gospel witness. 

There are no Christians, no Gospel singing or preaching, and no peace.  This is a world that is in rebellion against its Maker; and it is a world that stands on the brink of terrifying judgments.