Embracing the Depth of God's Judgment in Revelation

Summary

### Summary

This morning, we delved into the often-avoided topic of God's judgment, particularly as depicted in the Book of Revelation. In many liberal Protestant traditions, God's judgment is typically framed within the context of social justice, focusing on issues like poverty and injustice. However, Revelation presents a far more profound and powerful vision of God's judgment. This vision is not just about social issues but encompasses the entirety of human existence and divine justice.

Revelation begins with letters to seven persecuted churches, setting the stage for a broader vision that weaves together themes from the entire Bible. The opening of the seven seals by the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, unleashes a series of catastrophic events symbolized by the Four Horsemen. Each horseman represents different aspects of God's judgment: war, violence, economic disparity, and famine. These judgments are not just historical or future events but are ongoing realities that reflect human sin and divine justice.

The fifth seal reveals the martyrs who have suffered for their faith, urging them to hold on a little longer for their ultimate redemption. The sixth seal brings judgment upon the powerful and wealthy, highlighting the comprehensive nature of God's justice. Before the seventh seal is opened, there is an interlude where 144,000 from the twelve tribes of Israel are marked, symbolizing God's protection and the fulfillment of His promises.

This vision culminates in a great multitude from every nation, symbolizing the ultimate fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham. This final vision challenges us to embrace the full scope of God's revelation, not just the comforting aspects of love and kindness but also the sobering reality of divine judgment. It calls us to a deeper faith, trusting that God's ultimate vision will be realized in His time.

### Key Takeaways

1. The Comprehensive Nature of God's Judgment: God's judgment in Revelation is not limited to social justice issues but encompasses all aspects of human existence. It challenges us to confront the full scope of divine justice, which includes war, violence, economic disparity, and famine. This broader understanding calls us to a deeper reflection on our own lives and the world around us. [03:26]

2. The Role of Jesus in Divine Judgment: Jesus, the Lamb of God, is central to the vision of Revelation. He opens the seals, unleashing God's judgment upon the world. This duality of Jesus as both the loving shepherd and the executor of divine wrath challenges our simplistic views of His nature and calls us to a more nuanced understanding of His role in God's plan. [06:48]

3. The Symbolism of the Four Horsemen: The Four Horsemen represent different aspects of God's judgment: war, violence, economic disparity, and famine. These symbols are not just historical or future events but ongoing realities that reflect human sin and divine justice. Understanding these symbols helps us grasp the depth and complexity of God's judgment. [09:06]

4. The Marking of the 144,000: The marking of the 144,000 from the twelve tribes of Israel symbolizes God's protection and the fulfillment of His promises. This act takes us back to the story of Exodus and the Passover, reminding us of God's faithfulness and the continuity of His covenant throughout history. [16:49]

5. The Ultimate Fulfillment of God's Vision: The vision of a great multitude from every nation, clothed in white robes and holding palm branches, symbolizes the ultimate fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham. This final vision challenges us to embrace the full scope of God's revelation, trusting that His ultimate vision will be realized in His time. [19:42]

### Youtube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[01:49] - Introduction to God's Judgment
[03:26] - The Lectionary and Revelation
[04:52] - The Vision of Revelation
[06:48] - The Wrath of the Lamb
[09:06] - The Four Horsemen
[11:07] - Economic Judgment
[12:57] - The Pale Green Horse
[14:45] - The Fifth and Sixth Seals
[16:49] - The Mark of the 144,000
[18:00] - Misinterpretations of the 144,000
[19:42] - The Great Multitude
[21:45] - Embracing the Full Revelation
[23:54] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Revelation 6:1-8 (The Four Horsemen)
2. Revelation 7:1-4 (The Marking of the 144,000)
3. Revelation 7:9-10 (The Great Multitude)

#### Observation Questions
1. What are the different aspects of God's judgment represented by the Four Horsemen in Revelation 6:1-8?
2. Who is responsible for opening the seven seals in the Book of Revelation, and what is the significance of this action? [06:48]
3. What does the marking of the 144,000 in Revelation 7:1-4 symbolize, and how does it relate to the story of Exodus? [16:49]
4. Describe the vision of the great multitude in Revelation 7:9-10. What do their white robes and palm branches signify?

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the comprehensive nature of God's judgment in Revelation challenge our understanding of divine justice beyond social issues? [03:26]
2. In what ways does the duality of Jesus as both the loving shepherd and the executor of divine wrath challenge our simplistic views of His nature? [06:48]
3. How do the symbols of the Four Horsemen help us grasp the depth and complexity of God's judgment? [09:06]
4. What is the significance of the ultimate fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham as depicted in the vision of the great multitude? [19:42]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the comprehensive nature of God's judgment. How does this broader understanding call you to a deeper reflection on your own life and the world around you? [03:26]
2. Considering the dual role of Jesus in Revelation, how can you develop a more nuanced understanding of His nature in your personal faith journey? [06:48]
3. The Four Horsemen symbolize ongoing realities such as war, violence, economic disparity, and famine. How do these symbols resonate with current global issues, and what can you do to address these issues in your community? [09:06]
4. The marking of the 144,000 symbolizes God's protection and the fulfillment of His promises. How can you find assurance in God's faithfulness during times of personal trials and tribulations? [16:49]
5. The vision of the great multitude from every nation challenges us to embrace the full scope of God's revelation. How can you cultivate a deeper trust in God's ultimate vision for humanity, even when it seems distant or unclear? [19:42]
6. How can you balance the comforting aspects of God's love and kindness with the sobering reality of divine judgment in your daily walk with Christ? [21:45]
7. Reflect on the final vision of Revelation. How does this vision inspire you to live out your faith with a sense of hope and purpose, knowing that God's ultimate vision will be realized in His time? [23:54]

Devotional

Day 1: The Comprehensive Nature of God's Judgment
God's judgment in Revelation is not limited to social justice issues but encompasses all aspects of human existence. It challenges us to confront the full scope of divine justice, which includes war, violence, economic disparity, and famine. This broader understanding calls us to a deeper reflection on our own lives and the world around us. The vision of Revelation presents a sobering reality that divine justice is ongoing and reflects human sin. It is a call to examine our lives and the world through the lens of God's comprehensive judgment. [03:26]

Isaiah 24:5-6 (ESV): "The earth lies defiled under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are scorched, and few men are left."

Reflection: In what ways do you see the aspects of war, violence, economic disparity, and famine in today's world? How can you respond to these realities in a way that aligns with God's justice?

Day 2: The Role of Jesus in Divine Judgment
Jesus, the Lamb of God, is central to the vision of Revelation. He opens the seals, unleashing God's judgment upon the world. This duality of Jesus as both the loving shepherd and the executor of divine wrath challenges our simplistic views of His nature and calls us to a more nuanced understanding of His role in God's plan. Jesus' role in divine judgment is a reminder that His love and justice are inseparable, and we are called to embrace this full picture of His character. [06:48]

Revelation 5:5-6 (ESV): "And one of the elders said to me, 'Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.' And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth."

Reflection: How does understanding Jesus as both the loving shepherd and the executor of divine wrath change your perception of Him? What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with this multifaceted Savior?

Day 3: The Symbolism of the Four Horsemen
The Four Horsemen represent different aspects of God's judgment: war, violence, economic disparity, and famine. These symbols are not just historical or future events but ongoing realities that reflect human sin and divine justice. Understanding these symbols helps us grasp the depth and complexity of God's judgment. The Four Horsemen serve as a powerful reminder of the consequences of sin and the pervasive nature of God's justice throughout history and into the present. [09:06]

Zechariah 6:1-3 (ESV): "Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains. And the mountains were mountains of bronze. The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, the third white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses—all of them strong."

Reflection: Reflect on the ongoing realities of war, violence, economic disparity, and famine in your own community. How can you be an agent of God's justice in addressing these issues?

Day 4: The Marking of the 144,000
The marking of the 144,000 from the twelve tribes of Israel symbolizes God's protection and the fulfillment of His promises. This act takes us back to the story of Exodus and the Passover, reminding us of God's faithfulness and the continuity of His covenant throughout history. The 144,000 serve as a testament to God's unwavering commitment to His people and His promises, offering us assurance of His protection and faithfulness. [16:49]

Ezekiel 9:4 (ESV): "And the Lord said to him, 'Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.'"

Reflection: How does the symbolism of the 144,000 and God's protection impact your understanding of His promises? In what ways can you trust in God's faithfulness in your own life today?

Day 5: The Ultimate Fulfillment of God's Vision
The vision of a great multitude from every nation, clothed in white robes and holding palm branches, symbolizes the ultimate fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham. This final vision challenges us to embrace the full scope of God's revelation, trusting that His ultimate vision will be realized in His time. It is a call to live in hope and faith, knowing that God's promises will come to fruition and that we are part of His grand plan. [19:42]

Revelation 7:9-10 (ESV): "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!'"

Reflection: How does the vision of a great multitude from every nation inspire you to live out your faith? What steps can you take to contribute to the fulfillment of God's vision in your community?

Quotes

### Quotes for outreach

1. "I get it. I understand that most people come to this church, many, many churches, not just in our denomination, but across the Christian landscape. They come to church Sunday morning and they want to hear a message of God's love. They want to know that God is with them. They want to know that Christ is the personification of God's love." [01:49] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The book of Revelation is a, an exploration of what God's judgment truly means. And it is, it is hard and it is heavy. It is complicated and it's powerful. Because here's the thing about the text that you just heard, that we just shared together. We've already talked about the text of Revelation. We've already talked about the text of Revelation." [04:52] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "You have to decide what part of this Christian Bible you're really going to embrace. Are you ready to fully embrace what, what is the full revelation of God in our scriptures? If all you want to do is focus on the love thy neighbor, that's a beautiful sentiment. I get it, but you can't just turn your back on this, this incredible vision, this incredible moment that ends our Bible." [21:45] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for members

1. "Well, the problem with sort of avoiding this subject and not talking about it is that we don't really want to talk about it. And I'm starting to think this actually in a more concerted way. I think it calls into the integrity of our. If we're not really prepared to look at the fullness of scripture, if we avoid entire books because we don't really kind of understand them or we don't like them, we're making a very selfish decision about what our view, our worldview will be of the Christian, through the Christian lens." [03:26] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The first judgment is pretty awful. It is the war horse between conquering and conquered people. Well, the sad thing about this white horse is that it's depicted as having the bowman on it. So that's the soldier with the bow and arrow. Well, here's an interesting little tidbit for you. At this time in history, the only real authority that was standing up pushing back against Roman empire from the East was the Parthians." [09:06] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "And then this red horse comes with with the very notion of taking peace from earth itself this red horse represents all those things that we've been talking about in the past and we've been talking about in the past and we've we do to each other all the hatred the violence the manipulation the exploitation not only as individuals but as nations that red horse is an God's judgment on us." [09:06] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The sixth seal is that seal of indictment against the powerful, the rich, the kings that one stands on its own we don't need to go into too much detail anticipating the seventh seal why seven represents god the seventh seal but something amazing happens first and this is really important because it's kind of get lost and glossed over and it's been so badly manipulated and distorted by by pastors and ministers even this last week i was reading stories coming out of out of a pastor who runs one of these really large churches in the states who was was quoting this text about the another prophetic it's all happening now the end of times is happening now and he quotes from this this passage see something happens here the mark of the seal i want you to understand what this is the mark of the seal so an angel intervenes we've got all these horsemen we've got this terrible things happening and then there's this interlude everything stops and god will lead all of mankind and i'll speak for the good of science God's vision into this moment, as is directed by the angels, is to mark 144,000." [14:45] (88 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "The lion of Judah, the lamb of God, fully. Connected, but connected with the power of God's judgment in place. Folks, this is where you kind of have to make some decisions. And I, I leave this to each and every one of you. You have to decide what part of this Christian Bible you're really going to embrace. Are you ready to fully embrace what, what is the full revelation of God in our scriptures? If all you want to do is focus on the love thy neighbor, that's a beautiful sentiment. I get it, but you can't just turn your back on this, this incredible vision, this incredible moment that ends our Bible." [21:45] (64 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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