Session 4 – Chapter 6 - 7
- Jesus’ work on the cross is personal but we also need to remember that it redefined the whole world and all of history
- Since the Cross, history has been the outworking of the judgment of the world
> Matthew 10 – Jesus came to bring a sword
> John 12 – Now is the time for the judgment of this world
- Seals are broken and expose the spiritual forces behind the destructive movements in history
- Exposing = judged
> Seen for what they are
- Evil spiritual forces
> Will face final judgement at the end of history
- Structure of the sets of 7
> First 6 = revelation of spiritual forces behind the history of the world
> Intermission – God’s redemptive purpose in the midst of judgment
> 7th in the set is overtaken by a new set of 7
- God is in control, but it is mysterious
> Examples – Judas, Pharaoh
> God does not will wickedness or evil
> God chooses to use rebellion and wickedness for his good purposes
- Timing of these sets of 7 – not sequential or chronological. They reflect forces at work in the world between Jesus ascension and his coming again.
- Readers are positioned between the 6th 7th judgments
> We’re not at the end (the 7th)
> We are near the end (the first 6 are all unleashed out in the world)
> We are positioned in the ‘intermission’ – protected by God in the midst of judgment
- All of this upheaval is ultimately a response to the proclamation of God’s word – the gospel
Chapter 6
- Seals 1-4:
1. Conqueror – deceives and oppresses
2. Peace taker / war maker
3. Economic devastation, inequality and exploitation
4. Death and Hades – sword, famine, plague, wild beasts
> Repeats throughout all of human history – characteristic of rebellion against God
- Seal 5:
> Martyrs – slain for maintaining the testimony of Jesus
> This is the most powerful spiritual force bringing judgment to the world
> Told to wait for justice until the full number has been gathered
- Seal 6:
> The rejection of the gospel and the suffering of God’s witnesses results in the Day of the Lord’s Wrath.
> He will turn up and consume all that is not holy
> The signs of His coming - All of creation shaken
> “Who can stand?”
Chapter 7
- The intermission
- God’s angels protect His remnant people before the destructive winds blow across the earth – They will be able to stand.
- 144, 000 sealed – symbolic picture – God will save the ‘complete’ number
> Ephesians 1:13-14 – Holy spirit seals us until the day of redemption
> Ezekiel 9:4 – a remnant is sealed, will not be lost to God
- The Great Multitude
> A number “no one could count”
> Those made righteous by the gift of God’s life given in Jesus
> Palm branches – connected with the saving work of God for His people
> Romans 8:31-39 – Nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”
Questions
1. What does the breaking of the seals reveal about the spiritual forces at work behind human history?
2. What is encouraging and what is challenging about how Jesus and the Father are ruling and working out their purpose in history?
3. What does it mean for us (in our thinking and experience) to know that we are sealed and preserved in the midst of the world?
