John Brown :: Revelation 6:3-6

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Matthew 24:3-7 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. 6 "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. (NKJV)

1. Last week we took a little time to overview a portion of Ezekiel in order to get some background for this section of Revelation.

a) We found that war and famine and pestilence will definitely be a part of these judgments found in chapter 6.

(1) In which Russia, and Israel will play very important roles!

b) We took a look at the first "horseman" on a white horse who "went out conquering and to conquer."

c) Zechariah give us a little more information on these "horsemen"

(1) Zechariah 1:7-10 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet: 8 I saw by night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees in the hollow; and behind him were horses: red, sorrel, and white. 9 Then I said, "My lord, what are these?" So the angel who talked with me said to me, "I will show you what they are." 10 And the man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, "These are the ones whom the LORD has sent to walk to and fro throughout the earth." (NKJV)

(2) Zechariah 6:1-6 Then I turned and raised my eyes and looked, and behold, four chariots were coming from between two mountains, and the mountains were mountains of bronze. 2 With the first chariot were red horses, with the second chariot black horses, 3 with the third chariot white horses, and with the fourth chariot dappled horses -- strong steeds. 4 Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?" 5 And the angel answered and said to me, "These are four spirits of heaven, who go out from their station before the Lord of all the earth. 6 "The one with the black horses is going to the north country, the white are going after them, and the dappled are going toward the south country." (NKJV)

(a) These supernatural horsemen, whoever they are, are instruments of judgment in the hands of the Lord!

(i) Each has a separate task and the authority to carry out that task.

(ii) Notice that they receive their instructions at the foot of the throne!!!

(3) This morning we will turn our attention to the second seal and third seals and their respective "horsemen!

II. TEXT

A. Revelation 6:3-4 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, "Come and see." 4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword. (NKJV)

1. As red is color of blood, so will the result of this messenger be much bloodshed!

2. Notice that He doesn't do it himself. He just removes "peace from the earth".

a) The world has know only brief times of peace in all of it's history!

I don't know whether war is an interlude during peace, or peace is an interlude during war.

b) Now it will taken from the earth entirely.

(1) Peace treaties will be meaningless!

(a) 2 Timothy 3:3 tells us in the King James that they will be "truce breakers".

(2) The phrase "people should kill one another" implies that there will class wars, religious wars, and race wars as will as national wars!

(a) At the end of WWI, the League of Nations was formed in an effort to have peace in the world.

(b) Out of WWII, came the United Nations Organization, which also has failed to bring peace, and is financially bankrupt!

(i) Some of you may be familiar with the NUREMBERG TRIAL which uncovered that fact that Germany violated some 69 treaties from 1933-1941

(3) Ezekiel 38:21...."Every man's sword will be against his brother. (NKJV) (Illustration from headlines)

(a) Even in America we can see that safety and security is slowly disappearing.

(b) Many people carry guns on their person or in their car for protection. Never knowing when they might be society's next victim.

(c) Home and personal security equipment is quickly becoming the "hottest" resale items in the market. EVERYONE IS SCARED!

(d) When the Holy Spirit is removed from the earth ALL security will disappear!

(e) A couple of other insights: Satan is called the Great Red Dragon in Rev 12:3 and I don't think it is any coincidence that red is the color of communism!

(4) THERE IS NO PEACE WITHOUT JESUS!

B. Revelation 6:5-6 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come and see." So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard 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 the wine." (NKJV)

1. This time the horseman carries no weapons. This time it's a pair of scales!

a) At the onset of war there is always the promise of a "better world" and a better economy but famine always follows war!!!

(1) It has been the case in China, North Korea, East Germany, Cuba, and Vietnam.

(2) The scales as well as the black horse speaks of a time great death upon the earth!

(a) Lamentations 5:10 Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine. (KJV)

(b) Beating the plowshares into swords doesn't leave much time for farming!

(c) There are already, in many countries, long lines for simple things like bread and butter and milk.

(d) Men, women and children are starving to death all over the world and it has become "common" and accepted!

2. The severity of the famine is suggested in the phrase "A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius.. "

a) The word "measure" (translated as quart) is here used to denote the amount required to feed a man for one day. (Strauss)

b) The "denarius" was equivalent to a penny and that was at the time a days wages!

c) Barley will be a little cheaper than the wheat. You will be able to purchase 3 quarts of that for a days wages!

(1) Imagine, a person must work all day long just for enough food for himself, not including food for the rest of the family.

(2) And that is if he can find work at all!!

(3) Many will simply starve to death or commit suicide to keep form starving.

3. The "oil and the wine" have traditionally been the luxuries of the rich.

a) The poor will starving for lack of the "necessities" while those in powerful control will be enjoying "luxuries"!

b) It is also possible that the "oil" and "wine" refer to other things as well.

(1) Oil (petroleum) will increase in value and will very probably be critical in the Antichrist's vast empire and control of the world.

(2) And where the unsaved world be with out their beer and mixed drinks?

(3) These may be allowed to be a part of the deception and destruction!