Revelation 6:1-2 – I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.
In Revelation 1:19 John was told to “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.” We now move to the “what will take place later.”
First let us look back to Revelation 5:9-10 “And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”” The above is from the NIV. The ESV is similar, using “ransomed” rather than purchased. However, notice that the NKJV translates what the NIV translates “because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation” as “For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” Let’s focus in on what NKJV translates “have redeemed us to God.” The NIV and ESV translation translations leave out the very personal “us.” While I am not being critical of the NIV and ESV (I am not qualified to be so) it does cause wonder if the “us” in the NKJV version should be in there. So, checking I find that word hēmas (transliteration), meaning “us, we, our” is in the original language. This “us” is a big thing. If we use the NKJV, with the “us” in there it sheds a deeper light into an important meaning. Looking at the NKJV Revelation 5:9-10 it reads “ And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”” Reading the NIV and ESV, Revelation 5:8 seems to bring us to believe that the “they” of V9 should be interpreted as the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders as the ones who are singing the “new song.” The NIV and ESV seems to lead us that four living creatures and the twenty-four elders are singing about what Jesus has done for the church, but one may gather that the these two groups are singing about a separate group that is not present (except of course, that the twenty-four elders would also be part of that group). The us would not include the four living creatures because they are angelic beings who have no need for redemption. So the four living creatures would not sing this new song. So, we should not gather from V8 that included with those singing the new song are the four living creatures. So then, who is this group that is singing the new song? By staying with the NKJV that includes the “us,” it is clear who is singing the new song. What group of people have been redeemed by the slain blood of Jesus? What redeemed group has come from every language? Whom has the Lamb of God made to be priests and kings to or God? Whom shall reign with Jesus? Of course, that is the Body of Christ, it is only, yes only, the Bride of Christ that can sing this song (Romans 5:9, Revelation 12:11, John 3:15, Matthew 28:19, 1 Peter 2:9). None other can. This is vitally important in our understanding of End Times.
Where was John transported to be given this revelation? It was the throne room of God. He is among angels, He is in the presence of God. Where is this “new song” being sung? It is in heaven. So if this song is being sung in heaven, then those singing it are in heaven. So the Bride of Christ is in heaven at this point in time. What point in time is then being related? The next verses, 3 and 4, we see that the second seal broken and the end times horrors are now being set loose. The time of the greatest tribulation the world has even seen is next being loosed upon the earth. Before the second seal is broken, we see from Revelation 5:9-10 that we, the Bride of Christ, are safe in heaven. Praise the Lord!
The “us” in Revelation 5:9-10 is vital. It shows where the Body of Christ is before the horrors, before the second seal is broken. Family, we are in heaven. At this time, I want to note that I believe in pre-tribulation rapture. This verse is but one that backs up what I believe. But I want to say that there are many good brothers and sisters who believe that the church is raptured at a later date. I love and respect them, I just don’t share that opinion. What is written above is part of why I have the opinion that I do. Also, please remember that what is being sent out in these emails is from my morning devotion time. That is all. So I am not going to thoroughly look at the doctrine of pre, mid, or post tribulation rapture. We are only traveling through the book of Revelationy. What comes will come naturally as progression is made through the book.
“I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!”” The Lamb of God, Jesus, opens the first seal. Immediately afterward one of the four creatures says in a thunderous voice “Come!” Again NKJV includes an additional command that is in the original language. NKJV translates “Come and see.” The “see” is important. If the booming command just said “Come” then it would be easy to think that the command is to the horse and rider of the next verse. If the better translation is “Come and see,” then the command would be to John. “Come and see” is more appropriate as we see, that John did indeed come and look, as commanded.
“See” has more meaning then a casual observer. John is being told to see, experience and understand what is happening. We are wise to spiritually see what is being revealed and to allow the Spirit of God to bring understanding to us.
Family, as so many of our hymns and songs relate, and of course, as the Word of God tells us, we are loved and protected by God. We see that God protects us from the worst seven years in the history of mankind. Years so bad that if God did not step in and cut it short, it would be the end of all life on earth (Matthew 24:22). That does not mean that Christians should expect an “out” to End Times trouble. We must consider that we are in the End Times. The times of woe that is being described in the book of Revelation will not suddenly happen without a leading up to it. The times will not go from wonderful to horrible. There is a time when commitment to God that weakens among many (Matthew 24:10, 1 Timothy 4:1, Matthew 24:11, 2 Timothy 4:3-4). The world, though always opposed to us, will become more bold in their opposition to Lord and His saints. Expect persecution to increase. Expect that the Church of Jesus Christ will increasingly become anathema to unsaved world (Matthew 24:9). Their “live and let live” motto that the world falsely espouses as their own, will have the cover of the lie pulled back as the hatred for the church will grow. The world will no longer allow, without repercussions, the church to believe the Word of God that calls their immoral life styles sin (2 Timothy 4:3). We know the Lord told us we will have tribulation on earth (John 16:33). We know that the Word of God states that a time will come when those who have Christians killed will actually think that they are doing a thing that is pleasing to God (John 16:2). Yet, we are not afraid! The same God who loves, protects, provides and keeps us now, is the same God who will be loving, protecting, providing and keeping us then. The Word of God guaranteed us that He is good and that He loves us (Psalm 34:8, 1 John 4:16). That will never change. Circumstances and times do not dictate truth. Truth is God and His Word. Let us commit to knowing beyond all other things that God is good and that He loves us. Let us be saturated by His Word so that when the end times come the Holy Spirit will bring the Word alive us and we shall be sustained. We are not alone, and we never shall be. Jesus promised us that (Matthew 28:20). But Family, let us not deceive ourselves, we shall go through increasingly hard times to be a Christian. Christians never have had a pass from tribulations, small and big. The first century Christians endured great persecution and trials and so will the End Times Christians. But it is not by our might or power that we are sustained, it is wholly by our God Zechariah 4:6. He will keep us. Let’s keep our eyes on Him and remember EGBOK…Everythings Gonna Be Okay for us. Why is that so, because God says so! Amen and amen!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.