Revelation 6:1-8:5

What’s Happening?

John has just been told that the names of all the faithful slain that Jesus will resurrect are contained in a sealed scroll. Only Jesus can bring about the resurrection the scroll promises. And before Jesus announces God’s resurrected Kingdom, he must first break off the seven wax seals (Revelation 5:1-5). 

When Jesus breaks the first four seals, the creatures around God’s throne call upon four horsemen. They describe the aftermath that Jesus’ death, resurrection, and enthronement have on earth. Jesus’ Gospel victoriously marches throughout the world, but as it does, division, destitution, and even death follow (Revelation 6:2-8). Jesus reigns, but his people still suffer. 

Jesus then breaks the fifth seal and John sees that around God’s altar are all those who have died for the message of Jesus (Revelation 6:9). They ask God when he will finally vindicate their deaths, by raising them back to life over their enemies (Revelation 6:10). But instead of an answer, they are told to wait until more of their brothers and sisters die for the message of Jesus (Revelation 6:11). Each waiting martyr is given a white robe symbolizing their heavenly power and authority, that more of their brothers and sisters have yet to receive through their deaths.

Jesus then breaks the sixth seal, and the earth seems to fall apart. Using language common to Israel’s prophets and Jesus, the sixth seal describes a time when the temple in Jerusalem would be destroyed (Revelation 6:12-14; Matthew 24:4-8). During that time, the rulers responsible for killing Jesus and his believers will flee to the mountains since they did not listen to his warnings about the temple’s coming destruction (Revelation 6:15-17). Then John sees a vision where Jesus protects and gathers those who obey his warnings (Revelation 7:1-3). Amazingly, those who have been faithful to Jesus aren’t just from the 12 tribes of Israel but all the tribes of the whole world (Revelation 7:4-9, 14). And together they worship God for protecting and saving them from the destruction that came to Jerusalem and its temple (Revelation 7:10-12, 15-17). 

Finally, Jesus breaks the seventh seal and silence falls as everyone in heaven waits for the scroll to be read (Revelation 8:1). But it isn’t read immediately. Like many royal announcements, trumpets are called to play first (Revelation 8:2). Then an angel takes a bowl full of the prayers of God’s people and pours it out on the earth. As the prayers requested, God purifies and shakes the earth of all wickedness, preparing it to be filled with his resurrected saints (Revelation 8:3-5). 

Where is the Gospel?

Resurrection from the dead and triumph over enemies will come for God’s people. But first, more enemies are rallied against God and his people. The good news is that as more saints die under wicked powers, more rulers join Jesus’ vindicated kingdom when they are raised. Further, their deaths and their prayers serve as God’s means of purifying the earth and preparing it for the Kingdom of resurrection. 

This is good news for the many believers who are right now suffering and dying for Jesus. As followers of the King who ruled through dying, we follow his example and endure under suffering even unto death (1 Peter 2:21). Our initiation into Jesus’ Kingdom is our baptism into his death (Romans 6:3). Every Christian will live sacrificially on the path of the crucified King (Matthew 16:24-26). All followers of Jesus will suffer and die. But the book of Revelation tells us that all who die with Jesus will soon rise and be vindicated with him too.  

Death is not the end. It is the way to victory and life (Matthew 16:25). A crucified King rules in heaven. He is setting all things right. Nothing is out of reach of the king who descended as low as the grave and ascended as high as the heavenly throne. His kingdom will surely come to fill all creation with resurrected life.

See for Yourself

I pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see the God who brings life from death. And may you see Jesus as our crucified King, raising to victory all those who have died with him.