No Hiding Place

Revelation Chapter 6 

Scripture: 

And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 

Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?” (Rev. 6:1, 15-17) 

Observation: 

There is so much about this chapter that I don't understand and can't unpack for you.  (Even the commentaries contradict themselves) I have all sorts of questions myself like: When this is supposed to happen exactly? I don't know.  What order is it supposed to happen in?  I don't know.  Do all of these calamities happen in one day or over the course of years?  I don't know. What scroll are all these seals attached to?  I don't know.  Is this for all the world or only unbelievers?  I don't know. 

There are a few things that I do know though.   

First: It's Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who is opening the seals on this scroll.  And even though it's wrapped up in mystery, Jesus testified to this time coming and spoke of it while he was in human form in the gospels of Mark 13:24-27; Mat. 24:29-31and in Luke 21:25-27   

Second: The bible is replete with reminders for us not to seek revenge on our own, but to give the right to repay to The Lord.  In this way the door of judgment can  to stay open long enough for people to repent and be saved... but it has a time limit on it.  Here are passages that foretell it. 

Deut. 32:34-36 'Is it not laid up in store with Me, Sealed up in My treasuries? 'Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, In due time their foot will slip; For the day of their calamity is near, And the impending things are hastening upon them.' "For the LORD will vindicate His people, And will have compassion on His servants, When He sees that their strength is gone, And there is none remaining, bond or free.… 

Romans 12:19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.  Hebrews 10:30 For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people."  

So, because there is so much symbolism contained in each of these seals as they are broken and poured out on the earth, and I just don't understand all of what John spoke of, it would be foolish for me to parse them for you.  I only know that it's going to be end-of-the-world bad as all those judgments that have been sealed up (held back and waiting) are released and the new heaven and the new earth are created from it's ashes.   

Application: 

Repent and be saved!  Jesus had some hard truth-claims that he made about himself you may need to wrestle with Him about.  Find someone to help you talk through what they are. Look closely at the objects your beliefs are attached to.  Jesus said he was the way, the truth and the life, and that no one can come to the father (God) except through him.                                              

Have you already done this?  Then be intentional and  take as many as you can to heaven with you!  Initiate the conversations that lead to the eternal questions.     

When God's wrath is poured out, even kings, presidents, rulers and common people like you and me will be calling out to the rocks to hide them.  For all those who thought Jesus was a wimp for forgiving - that God was impotent to the travesties enacted throughout the ages, they should read the last book.  Then they will understand His great compassion in waiting for us to come to know Him.  Because that day will be terrible. 

Prayer: 

Lord, I feel like I am guilty of living so much in the moment that I forget how the story ends.  None of what we work and strive for here on earth is meant to last.  It has an expiration date.  And yet, I find that I am caught up in the tyranny of my everyday -investing in this world instead of the one to come.  Lord, provide me with more opportunities to reach out and share the gospel.  Amen.