A Revelation Invitation

Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.

When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.

When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!

When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth. (Revelation 6:1-8 ESV)

In chapter 5 we witnessed the arrival of our champion, the Lamb of God. Heaven and earth rejoiced over the one who is worthy to take the scroll and preside over the breaking of its seals. However, when he proceeds to do so, disaster follows. This does not look like victory. The world appears to be descending into chaos. Has something gone terribly wrong? We could easily think so until we notice heaven’s role in these events.

As the Lamb opens each seal, the voice of one of the living creatures is heard saying “Come!” This is a heavenly invitation, a command from the throne. As incredible and even confusing as it might appear, each of these horsemen is authorized by God to fulfill a purpose. The first horseman was given a crown. The second horseman was given a great sword and permitted to make war. The third horseman was sanctioned to spread scarcity. The fourth living creature was given authority to kill. Their missions were God ordained. They were not only allowed to wreak havoc but were expected to. While conditions in the world are worsening rather than improving as we might have hoped, these horsemen reveal the true condition of the world. The world has chosen its own path to follow pursuing its own, godless aims. We are privileged to see it all for what it truly is—the way of destruction. If we put our faith in a human, political leader as our champion, we will be deserving of the resulting conquest (white horse), war (red horse), famine and economic oppression (black horse) and disease and death (pale horse). For people who reject the rightful king in order to embrace false gods like power, wealth, pleasure, comfort and self, the four horsemen reveal what those people will receive as a consequence.

What becomes of the faithful who worship the one who sits on the throne and who follow the Lamb? Will we avoid these impending tribulations? It doesn’t appear that we will. So what should we make of this? These horsemen are not the enemy. Rather they do us the favor of exposing the fragility of these worldly systems. We will watch as the nations crumble under the weight of their own evil systems. These horsemen set in motion God’s plan to judge evil. With an ironic twist they show us how God will begin freeing us from these evils. We need to trust that no matter what happens God has a plan for judging and defeating wickedness and sin. Revelation reveals to us that when we behold conquest, war, oppression and death, the unseen hand of God is actively working for the good of his creation and his people. We can trust him. We must trust him.

This view of the world can be disheartening. Our only comfort comes from knowing that the one who breaks the seals is sovereign over it all. Our solace is in the Lamb who comes to heal the world. And the world desperately needs healing. As he opens the seals we see his initial steps at delivering God’s justice to the world. Rather than being alarmed as the world is, we are reassured knowing that our sovereign God is actively pursuing the redemption and renewal of his creation.

Sovereign Lord, I am troubled by what I see going on in the world. I know that it is all part of your plan to save it. But it seems so unsettling. So much evil and oppression. So much death and destruction. Help me to find comfort in your sovereign purposes and in the solid hope that you will one day redeem and renew all things. Amen.