Day 83: Our troubles will not be forever - Revelation 6:3-11

3-4 When the Lamb broke the second seal, I heard the second living being say, “Come!” Then another horse appeared, a red one. Its rider was given a mighty sword and the authority to take peace from the earth. And there was war and slaughter everywhere.

5-6 When the Lamb broke the third seal, I heard the third living being say, “Come!” I looked up and saw a black horse, and its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice from among the four living beings say, “A loaf of wheat bread or three loaves of barley will cost a day’s pay. And don’t waste the olive oil and wine.”

7-8 When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the fourth living being say, “Come!” I looked up and saw a horse whose color was pale green. Its rider was named Death, and his companion was the grave (Hades). These two were given authority over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword and famine and disease and wild animals.

9-10 When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony. They shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?” 11 Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters - their fellow servants of Jesus who were to be martyred—had joined them. Revelation 6:3-11 New Living Translation.

As the second, third and fourth seals were broken John saw three more horsemen on horses of different colours and the picture they presented was very gloomy. War and slaughter, destitution, and death itself through sword, famine, disease and even wild animals. But gloomy as that is, it is obviously the truth as we look back over the history of the world. The Bible doesn't pretend that life on earth will be trouble free, especially for Christians.

Christians differ when trying to explain the vision. Those who say the first horse represented war and conquests in general will conclude that these three horses represent the natural consequences war always brings. Those who say the first horse represented Christ and the gospel would say these three horses represent opposition to the gospel, judgements that God sends upon the world, and even sufferings Christians will experience in the world because of it's opposition to God. Those who hold this view would base it on verses such as the following:

In John 16:33 Jesus said to His disciples: “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” And in Luke 21:10-18 Jesus told them: “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven . . . they will even kill some of you, and everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But not a hair of your head will perish! By standing firm, you will win your souls.” Jesus clearly warned there would be upheavals in the world and that the gospel message would bring opposition.

But it’s that last sentence where Christians must put their confidence and hopes (even if we don't fully understand all the details.) “Not a hair of your head will perish - by standing firm you will win your souls.”

So look again at vs 9-11 of Revelation 6. What is the wonderful truth we are told there?

It tells us that there is life beyond the grave – death is not the end. Our souls live on (and will do so until our bodies are raised too). It shows that in heaven we will experience comfort and rest – and even honour. It also shows that there will be justice one day for all the harm the world did to God's people. And it shows that the troubles of this world will not be forever! God will put a limit even in our life now as to what Satan and unbelievers can do to us – and He has set a day when this world’s warfare against us will be over completely. Don’t lose heart through what you see in the world - keep Revelation 6:9-11 in your thoughts.