Revelation 6 Commentary
Matthew 24 has the same message but without the visual effects! The graphics in Revelation serve an important purpose: The Lamb has the final say on these events; it is seen in the fact that He is the only one able to open the seals.
JESUS [Matthew 24]: The man Jesus speaks of these events as historical elements in time and space. The language is plain human language. The speaker has removed Himself from the story.
JESUS [Revelation]: The risen Jesus speaks of the same events but with Himself at the center of it all. Yes, He was at the center of creation and so shall He be at the center of the closing times.
JESUS [Matthew 24]: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.”
JESUS [Revelation]: The ‘horses’ bring about trouble after trouble as the Lamb opens the seals. Probably the seals of “power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
One important takeaway is that the Lamb has ultimate control of events, including timing and space. Times and spaces.
The picture given is that John sees the future. But the fifth seal gives us a different picture. This is the church age. These things happen (at least partly) while the church exists – the time of the proverbial seven churches.
If Matthew’s plain language makes us easy, what of Revelation? Yet the message is meant to be understood. The LORD Jesus never spoke to confuse, but rather to inform.
Think of globalization and think of the Lamb. Think about the global village and how trouble in one place is trouble everywhere. Then know the scripture isn’t masking too much.
Matthew 24 covers the same period as Revelation. But Revelation is written several decades after Matthew. By this time, certain things in Matthew had already happened and were still happening: Destruction of the temple, persecutions, and martyrdoms.
Trouble doesn’t mean the absence of the sovereign rule of the Creator Jesus (the Lamb). He holds the key of death and life. He determines the time and space for these events.
The saint’s reaction is praise. Like the four living creatures, twenty elders, and the angelic company, the saint falls down in praise and worship. Jesus is in charge. The Lamb has the final say!
Of course, satan intercepts and claims control of these events. But we know better. Jesus has the key! We die because of God; satan may be a tool in the process but he doesn’t have the key. Praise the LORD!
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