REVELATION 6:12-17
SUBJECT:
TRIBULATION SEAL JUDGMENTS
THEME: The Lamb breaks the sixth seal, sending
God's judgments upon the earth.
And I
beheld when he had opened the sixth
seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as
sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13 And the stars of
heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when
she is shaken of a mighty wind. 14 And the heaven departed as a scroll
when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of
their places. 15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the
rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and
every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the
face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
(Rev. 6:12–17, King James Version).
INTRODUCTION:
The term “Avengers” has been associated with Marvel Comics since
the Fall of 1963 featuring superhero characters like Hulk, Thor, Ant-man,
Captain America, Iron Man and Wasp. Many others would join “Earths Mightiest
Heroes” periodically to fight the onslaught of evil and to avenge the earth. In
recent years some of these characters became household names upon being brought
to the silver screen through Marvel’s Cinematic Universe. Movies featuring Iron
Man, Hulk, Thor, Black Panther, and the Avengers have become so popular that
they routinely shatter box office records with each iteration.
While these
comic books and movies are firmly situated in fantasy and action/adventure,
there is a real Avenger that predates them all. In fact, He is absolutely
anchored in reality and transcends all else and all others bearing the title
Avenger. This is the real Original Avenger: The Lamb a.k.a. the Lord Jesus
Christ! While He is the original Avenger, His work as an Avenger is yet future.
It will unfold during the judgments of the Tribulation Period of the book of The
Revelation apocalypse. Yes, He is being opposed by the forces of evil and sin
today, but eventually His patience will expire. It is then that He will deal
decisively with sin and vindicate His servants who have suffered for
righteousness sake.
The worship
described in The Revelation chapters 4-5 is preparation for the wrath described in
Revelation chapters 6-19. It seems strange
to us that worship and judgment should go together, but this is because we do
not fully understand either the holiness of God or the sinfulness of man. Nor
do we grasp the total picture of what God wants to accomplish and how the
forces of evil have opposed Him. God is long-suffering, but eventually He must
judge sin and vindicate His servants. Look now as the Original Avenger breaks the sixth seal on the scroll....
LESSON:
The Sixth Seal: The Seal of the Wrath of
the Lamb (Rev. 6:12-17).
The
martyrs in Heaven cried, "Avenge us!" but the unbelievers on earth
will cry, "Hide us!"
— The SIXTH SEAL is now broken which
introduces World Chaos— the great day of God's wrath begins— and catastrophic
judgments upon the universe and the natural world are unleashed (Rev. 6:12-17).
— In this paragraph we find that the
universe is shattered, that continents shake, the sun is darkened, stars and
meteors fall and whirl through space, and sinners will hide in fear. Both heaven and earth feel the judgment of
natural catastrophes.
— The terrifying results of opening of the
sixth seal will cause all unsaved people, small and great, to hide in caves,
calling for the rocks to crush them rather than face God's wrath.
— Thus far the troubles upon the earth have
been the result of man’s actions under God, but here we witness the beginning
of the anger and wrath of Almighty God and the Lamb.
Isaiah 13:9-13, Behold, the day of the Lord cometh,
cruel both with wrath and fierce anger,
to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
[10] For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give
their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall
not cause her light to shine. [11] And I will punish the world for their evil,
and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud
to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. [12] I will make a
man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.
[13] Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her
place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
But
remember, this is still only the beginning and not the final judgments. The
seals of the Book are being broken and then the other judgments can be read.
Therefore, the seal judgments are events that are to happen at the outset of
the Tribulation period. Here is the beginning of God's wrath against the
violence, hatred, and rebellion of a corrupt and evil world. Let’s take a moment to note what John felt,
saw, and heard.
A.
JOHN FEELS THE IMPACT OF THE LAMB’S WRATH ON THE EARTH (Rev. 6:12 a).
Once again,
the Lord Jesus brakes yet another seal form the scroll which is the title deed to
the earth. Through these series of judgments, He will punish sinful mankind and
prepare the earth for His future kingdom. The first development is the news
that a great earthquake strikes. The opening of the sixth seal will produce
worldwide convulsions and catastrophes, including the first of three great
earthquakes (Rev 6:12; 11:13; 16:18-19).
1. There Will Be a “Great Earthquake.” Vs. 12
Rev.6:12,
And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became
black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood.
— Note the word “great;” this will
not be an ordinary earthquake. The shaking will be beyond anything ever known to
man.
— Imagine the destruction of property,
the loss of life, the fear gripping the hearts of people, and the further
damage caused by the aftershocks of the earthquake.
--- Massive tsunamis will reach deep
inland the world around; these seismic sea wave will destroy all forms of life,
property, sea industries, and even entire coastal civilizations.
—
Bridges, sky scrapers, water tank towers, subways, and travel tunnels will
collapse. Power lines will be down, and
fuel, gas, and water lines destroyed. Pandemonium will grip what was once
‘civilized’ cultures. Without any intimation of exaggeration, desperation will
reach epic levels….
2. Christ Foretold Such Earthquakes.
Mt.24:7,
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there
shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes,
in divers places.
— Jesus Christ Himself predicted there
would be more earthquakes in the latter days than ever before. Down through history there have been many
earthquakes as the Lord Jesus stated (Matt. 24:7), but this one in Revelation will be more than an ordinary
earthquake.
— All the earth’s faults will begin to
fracture simultaneously, resulting in a cataclysmic, global earthquake. Every section of the earth will be jolted by
this killer quake.
3. John Mentions Three Great Earthquakes. (In the Revelation)
Rev.11:13,
And the same hour was there a great
earthquake, and the tenth part of the city [Jerusalem] fell, and in the
earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant [rest] were affrighted, and
gave glory to the God of heaven.
Rev.
l6:17-19, And the seventh angel poured out
his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of
heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. And there were voices, and
thunders, and lightnings; and there was
a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so
mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three
parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in
remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness
of his wrath.
4. The Prophet Predicted Such Earthquakes.
The
Old Testament predicted earthquakes in the end time.
Ezk.38:19,
For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that
day there shall be a great shaking in
the land of Israel.
Jer.4:24, I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
Amos
8:8, Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that dwelleth therein? and it
shall rise up wholly as a flood; and it shall be cast out and drowned, as by
the flood of Egypt.
Joel
2:10, The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall
withdraw their shining.
Hag.2:6, For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little
while, and I will shake the heavens,
and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land.
B.
JOHN SEES THE IMPACT OF THE LAMB’S WRATH ON THE UNIVERSE (Rev. 6:12 b-14).
All of
nature will be affected: the sun, moon, and stars, as well as the heavens, the
mountains, and the islands. Compare this scene with Joel 2:30-31 and 3:15 as well as with Isa 13:9-10 and 34:2-4.
1. The Sun and Moon are Affected. Vs. 12
The
sun and moon will be eclipsed and blackened, and stars or meteorites will
shower the earth (6:12 b).
— Very practically there are times when
such astronomical events occur now.
— The heavenly bodies are sometimes darkened
by such catastrophes as volcanic eruptions, wind storms, and smoke from fires. Of
course, whatever darkens the sun hides the light of the moon and stars from
earth.
— When the volcano Krakatau exploded on
August 27, 1883 with the loudest noise ever heard in the world, an estimated
cubic mile of rock entered the atmosphere.
The dust and debris circled the earth at a height of 17 miles (27km),
and for two years strange red sunsets were seen.
— This will be a period of great
darkness. Accompanying the earthquake
will be numerous volcanic eruptions; and large amounts of ash and debris will
be blown into the earth’s atmosphere, blackening the sun and giving the moon a
blood-red hue (Zech. 14:6,7).
2. The Stars and Meteors are Affected. Vs. 13
These
are star-like items falling and creating stellar showers with large heavenly
bodies crashing into each other and slamming into the earth’s atmosphere (Rev. 6:13). The stellar showers are likened unto winter
figs growing without the protection of leaves and are easily blown from the
trees. So, will the heavens be mightily shaken with the winds of God’s wrath
that even the stars themselves will fall!
— “Stars” and/or meteorites of varying sizes fall from outer space
to earth quite often. The word “stars” can refer to any celestial body, large or small, and is
not limited to the normal usage. The best explanation is a massive asteroid or
meteor shower.
— This at least in part is what is meant
by these passages; in addition, there will be unbelievable disorder inflicted
upon some of the stars above, disorder causing massive explosions like
fireworks will hurl meteorites throughout space. A massive volcanic eruption in the heavens
that affects all the universe! This
seems to be the case. We do know for certain that there is going to be a severe
intensification of astronomical developments, and they will shake the heavens
themselves!
— Scripture declares emphatically that
these events will occur during the end times. (Note: the stars fall to earth
only two times: here when the sixth seal is broken [Rev.6:13], and after the
tribulation when Christ returns to earth (Mt
24:29-31).
Matthew
24:29-30, Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be
darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens
shall be shaken: [30] And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in
heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see
the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
3. The Heaven and Skies are Affected.
The
sky rolls up like a scroll and will disappear (Rev.
6:14 a).
The earth’s atmosphere will be somehow dramatically affected and the sky
as we know it disappears (Is. 34:4). I’m unable to
elaborate more on this mind-blowing statement in Scripture. This was the most dramatic judgment thus far
in this time of great distress before the Second Coming. But Scripture
predicted these developments in no uncertain terms in other places also.
Is.
34:4, And all the host of heaven shall
be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all
their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a
falling fig from the fig tree.
Ps. l02:25-26, Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the
heavens are the work of thy hands. They
shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a
garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed.
NOTE: Many interpreters have attempted to see a
figurative fulfillment to this prophecy or have sought a more rational
explanation by handling it in a non-literal sense. It is perhaps more accurate,
however, to take this prediction very literally; to resist explaining away the
clear emphasis on universal calamities and apocalyptic events. The trumpet and
bowl judgments, to be revealed later in Revelation, also include great
disturbances in the heavens and on the earth before Christ’s second coming.
4. The Mountains and Islands are Affected.
Rev. 6:14
— Every mountain, hill, and island will be
removed from out of their places (6:14 b). What
does this mean? This is a prophetic way to describe the devastation of the
astronomical events and the great earthquake and meteorites falling to
earth.
— Under the stress created by the global
earthquake, great segments of the earth’s plates will begin to slip and shift,
realigning whole continents.
Jer. 4:24, I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled,
and all the hills moved lightly.
Nah. l:5, The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is
burned at his presence, ye, the world, and all that dwell therein.
Remember: this is a picture of what will be happening in
the early portion of the Day of the Lord. These events-the catastrophe in the
heavens and on earth and the fright and panic that strikes people with
maddening terror-all this is right before the Great Tribulation. This is only
the breaking of the seals of God's great scroll and the events within the pages
of the book-the worst judgments-are yet to come. Who will be able to stand
before The Lamb: the universe’s mightiest Avenger?
CONCLUSION:
In Romans 10:9-13, God reveals how we can be saved and escape the wrath
that is coming; we are instructed to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ who died,
was buried, and rose again the third day:
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in
thine heart that God hath raised him
from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10, For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with
the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11, For the scripture saith,
Whosoever believeth on him shall not
be ashamed.12, For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for
the same Lord over all is rich unto all
that call upon him. 13, For whosoever
shall call upon the name of the Lord shall
be saved. (Rom 10:9-13,
KJV)
The Apostle Paul details the need to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord God, the
supreme authority sent by God the Father to provide the solution for humanity's
sin problem. By believing that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again as the
all sufficient payment for our sins, we are saved. God begins for the first
time ever to view us as righteous when we believe on Christ with all our heart
and we naturally now confess Him as the Lord and Savior of our lives.
Furthermore, we are assured of a growing confidence that such an outright
confession of faith in the Lord Jesus will not in any way fall short of God's
saving grace, be disappointed, proved foolish, or become the source of shame.
Paul further guarantees that anyone, whether Jewish or non-Jewish, who calls
upon the Lord Jesus Christ will be indeed rescued from eternal perishing and
the ultimate consequences of our sins. We must call upon the Lord for mercy
today and the Lord is generous to save anyone and everyone who truly calls upon
Him for deliverance from the ultimate condemnation of sin.
Beloved, salvation is by God showing undeserved favor on repentant
sinners who place their faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of
sins. When we examine our past, we can only discover that we do not
measure up to God's or our own expectations. We are guilty of significant and
small failures before a perfect and holy God. When Christians look at our
present situation, we understand that it is because of God's saving grace and redemptive
work on our behalf. When we consider our future, it can only be summed up as
the outcomes and provisions of Almighty God dealing with us most graciously. He
has an incredible plan for our present and our future. We deserve hell for our
failures, idolatry, and sin, but because of Jesus Christ we will enjoy forever
with God. What God has done for us He is willing to do for all who will repent
believing the gospel of grace.
Beloved, salvation cannot be earned, deserved, merited, bought, worked
up, or worked for. It is not for sale; it is already paid for and based on the
work of Jesus Christ alone. Like myself, you must come to God acknowledging
your sinfulness, confessing Jesus Christ, the Son of God as Lord and Savior,
and believing the Gospel—Christ died, was buried, and arose again the third day
as the Scriptures said He would. This Jesus died to pay the price for my and
your sins. When we trust Him, He will forgive, cleanse, and reconcile us to God
forever. Beloved, today is your day to come to Jesus Christ. Trust Him today as
Savior or face Him one day as The Avenger. The choice is yours.
