Safe from God s Judgment Revelation 6 -7

Safe from God’s Judgment Revelation 6 -7

We’re born into a suffering world

We’re born into a suffering world Eden Genesis 12 Judgment Genesis 3 Revelation 20 Heaven Revelation 21 -22

Our suffering world

1. The suffering of our world (Seals 1 -4) Revelation 6: 1 -8

Seals 1 -4 Horse 1 2 3 4 • • • What? Bow (& arrow) Crown Conquest Sword No peace Kill each other Weight scales Food costly Oil, wine OK “Death” Kill ¼ earth Famine, disease Meaning Human kings win War & fighting No basic food Rich/poor gap Death, sickness, no food

Matthew 24: 6 -9 6 You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains. 9"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.

Human power is given and limited by Jesus Horse Rider What? 1 Given a crown (2) 2 Given power to take peace (4) 3 Don’t damage oil & wine (6) 4 Given power over ¼ earth to kill (8)

2. The Suffering of God’s people (Seals 5 -6) Revelation 6: 9 -17

Revenge Christians are to live by grace, not revenge, trusting God to deal with injustice

Joel 2: 31 -32 31 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. 32 And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.

Matthew 24: 29 -31 29 the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky … 30 they will see the Son of Man (Jesus) coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory, 31 and he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

Who are the 144, 000? • Most numbers are symbolic in Revelation • Other symbolism is used in Rev 7: 14, 17 • 12 = God’s OT people (eg 12 tribes of Israel) • 12 = God’s NT people (eg 12 Apostles) • So 12 x 1000 = 144, 000 = all God’s people

Who are the 144, 000? What John heard What John sees Who? Lion (5: 5) Lamb (5: 6) Jesus 144, 000 Jews (7: 4) Great multitude All God’s from every nation people (7: 9) Same thing, but different picture

3. The Salvation of God’s people Revelation 7

The only way to be safe from God’s judgment is to trust in Jesus’ death to forgive your sins

Most expensive clothes $6 million dress worn by Marilyn Monroe

For Christians, suffering in this world will end after death For non-Christians, suffering will be much worse after death