Revelation 6
October 31, 2022
“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.” (v9-11)
After the Four Horsemen are introduced, representing ‘Conquest’, ‘War’, ‘Famine’, and ‘Death’ - we are given a glimpse of the martyred saints in Heaven. They are calling on God for justice, asking Him to bring an end to the evil and suffering in the world. And God’s response is to tell them to “wait a little longer” (v11). In other words, there will be suffering that continues to mark life in this world, but it won’t last forever. There is a point in time when suffering will be over, when the Kingdom of God comes in fullness.
Father, I praise You that there is a shelf life to the evil, pain and suffering that marks this present world. And I thank You that there is an eternal Kingdom coming that is so glorious, it will make the temporal suffering of this life seem like a mere blip on the radar screen of human history. Help me to keep in mind that You are sovereignly overseeing all of the affairs of this world, especially when things seem to be spinning out of control. Grow in me a deeper trust in Your providential care over the world and over my very life.
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
