Revelation 6: 1 – 3 The First Seal: The White Horse
“Then I watched as the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say in a thunderous voice, “Come!”
So I looked and saw a white horse, and its rider had a bow. And he was given a crown, and he rode out to overcome and conquer.
The Second Seal: War
And when the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” Then another horse went forth. It was bright red, and its rider was granted permission to take peace from the earth and to make men slay one another. And he was given a great sword. “
We have just been treated to one of the most fantastic worship experiences recorded. But the Lamb did not come just to enjoy worship and praise. And now the seven seals are going to be opened.
The opening of the first seal summons a white horse and its rider, who carries a bow. In John’s day, victorious Roman generals would parade through the streets with their captives behind them, and white horses would pull their chariots. White was the symbol of victory. Releasing this rider on the earth meant that militarism and conquest would dominate the earth.
The opening of the second seal summons the spirit of war on a blood red horse. Once released, this spirit would bring unending bitter conflict throughout the world. Nation would turn against nation; tribe would turn against tribe, neighbors would turn against neighbor; and even brothers would seek to destroy one another. There would be no peace anywhere! Barclay comments that “It is still true that the nation in which there is division between man and man and class and class and hatred based on competitive ambition and selfish desire is doomed; and the world in which nation is set against nation is hastening to its end.”
What are the lessons that we can learn from these verses? First, we must realize that Jesus, the Sacrificed Lamb and Victorious King, is sovereign and has control over events. Second, we need to remember that no matter what happens, we can still trust God to care for us. Nothing should sway us from that trust. Dr. Jeanette Troupe was a pediatrician at the SIM Hospital in Jos, Nigeria in the 1960’s when Lassa Fever first broke out. Dr. Troupe was exposed to Lassa when she was doing a postmortem on a patient and accidently cut herself. One of Dr. Troupe’s missionary friends reminded her that “nothing can come to us without first going through God’s hands.” Dr. Troupe died from Lassa, but the information she secured helped save many other lives. Third, we should not become frightened by these visions. But we should realize that we stand on the brink of eternity. None of us knows the day or the hour when we will take that final step from this life to the next. Recognizing that our time is fleeting, we should do well to put our entire trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The only time we are guaranteed is right now. Today is the day to make that decision.
PRAYER: Father God, please help everyone who reads this devotional to turn their hearts to you and to put their trust in you! Let them truly follow you. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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