Revelation Bible Study
January 10, 2007
Focus: 6:1-8:5, part 1
Questions
about Revelation 1:1-19
Revelation
6 introduces the opening of the seals.
We often wonder how can God be portrayed so violently?
- Here are some things to keep
in mind.
- John did not have visions of
future suffering, but suffering in his own day. Apocalyptic writing tries to give meaning to difficult
present events, not future events.
- Most of the images that John
used came out of his Jewish and Christian traditions. The violent language and imagery were
most likely adopted and adapted.
- The language that John used
must be kept in context. The
violent imagery is not the main focus, it points to the hope in the
end. Think about watching a movie
in which there is tragedy or violence.
Usually, the tragedy and violence are not the focus but sets the
stage for things to turn out “right” in the end.
- Keep John’s theology and
purpose in mind: John points to the person of Christ as Savior and also
John emphasizes universal human sinfulness. John assumes the oppressors and the Christians are
sinners. Christians are not
innocent and self-righteous.
Revelation does not present a theology of God’s revenge but of justice.
In
Revelation 5:2, the angel asks who is able to open the scroll and break the
seals? In 5:5, the conquering Lion is
revealed as the one who can open the scroll and break the seals. Then in 5:6, the Lamb appears and begins
opening the seals in chapter 6.
The
opening of the 1st four seals follows a pattern: (a) the opening of
the seal is announced; (b) one of the 4 living creatures says, “Come!”; (c)
John sees a horse of a particular color and the horse’s rider.
What
about the horses?
- The imagery comes from
Zechariah. In Zechariah 1:8-11,
the prophet has a vision of a man riding a red horse; behind him are red,
brown, and white horses. Zechariah
learns these have been sent by God to go throughout the earth. Zechariah 1:8-11 says: 8 In the night I saw a man riding
on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen; and
behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses. 9 Then I said,
"What are these, my lord?" The angel who talked with me said to
me, "I will show you what they are." 10 So the man
who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, "They are those
whom the LORD has sent to patrol the earth." 11 Then they
spoke to the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees,
"We have patrolled the earth, and lo, the whole earth remains at
peace."