Today’s Reading: Revelation 6; Psalm 78

“Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.” – Revelation 5:5b

The Lamb breaks the first seal and one of the four living beings says with a voice like thunder, “Come!” Picture a white horse approaching the throne, its rider carrying a bow. A crown is placed on his head and he rides out to win many battles and gain the victory (6:1-2).

The Lamb breaks the second seal and the second living being also says, “Come!” A rider on a red horse approaches the throne carrying a mighty sword. He is given the authority to take peace from the earth and replace it with war and slaughter everywhere (6:3-4).

The Lamb breaks the third seal. “Come!” A rider on a black horse approaches carrying a pair of scales in his hand. A voice from among the four living beings says, “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.” (6:5-6)

The Lamb breaks the fourth seal. The fourth living being says, “Come!” and a pale green horse approaches with Death and the Grave riding on its back. They are given authority of one fourth of the earth – authority to kill with the sword and famine and disease and wild animals (6:7-8).

The Lamb breaks the fifth seal and now John sees that under the altar stand those who have been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful to their testimony. They cry out for their blood to be avenged and they are told to rest a little longer. There are more martyrs joining them (6:9-11).

The Lamb breaks the sixth seal and there is a great earthquake. The sky is transformed as the sun turns black, the moon turns red and the stars fall from the sky. The sky is rolled up like a scroll and all of the mountains and islands are moved from their places. From the most powerful of leaders to slaves, everyone hides from the One who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb (6:12-15).

And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive?” – Revelation 6:16-17

So often our focus is on the sacrifice of the Lamb, and how the blood was shed for our transgression. Beautiful poems have been penned and songs have been written to draw our attention to the salvation made possible because Christ the Lamb was willing to pay the price for our sins. But what do we do with the wrath of the Lamb? What do we do with scripture like Revelation 6?

There will be a day when every person will be held accountable for their choices made. For those who choose to believe and then boldly confess that Jesus is their Lord, there will be an eternal reward. But for those who reject the gift of salvation and who refuse to place their faith in God, there will be eternal separation and pain. Better to experience the scorn and bullying of this world as they reject the One in whom we place our faith than to experience everlasting shame and torture. Better to experience the love and grace extended by the Lamb than the wrath of the Lamb unleashed on all who have rejected his gift of salvation.

Then the Lord rose up as though waking from sleep,
like a warrior aroused from a drunken stupor.
He routed his enemies
and sent them to eternal shame. – Psalm 78:65-66