The Day of Wrath

Revelation 6:9-17

Immanuel – 3/6/22

For the second time John has been caught up in the spirit and is shown visions brimming with symbols. And from John’s place in time, these symbols are of things that have already taken place, of present realities, and of things still to come; for the one behind such revelation is the Almighty, the one who is and who was and who is to come (Revelation 1:8).

In chapters 4 and 5 of this second vision, John sees worship as God created it to be. He sees a scroll in the right hand of God, written on front and on back and sealed with seven seals – a symbol of the new covenant. The only one in all creation worthy to take the scroll and release its glorious contents upon the earth is the Lamb who was slain, the Lion of the tribe of Judah!

But before the scroll can be opened the seals must be broken; and in chapter 6 Christ begins to break the seals. Each seal is a summary of events found within the scroll. With the breaking of the first four seals comes four horsemen; bringing with them victorious conquest, war, famine, and death.

Christ is the victorious white rider, establishing the kingdom of God – the kingdom of the new covenant. As He – with all authority in heaven and on earth – establishes the new covenant, the old covenant passes away (Hebrews 8:13). So also do all who insist upon adhering to the old covenant system. They fall under the covenantal curses as God’s wrath is poured out upon them, symbolized in the four horsemen.

As Paul writes:

What if God, desiring to show His wrath and to make known His power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of His glory for vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory – even us whom He has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? As indeed He says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people’ and her who was not my beloved I will call ‘beloved.’” “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”

-Romans 9:22-26

The four horsemen rode and God’s wrath was spent during the war between the Jews and the Romans; climaxing at the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70 AD. Those were the days of vengeance, the last days, the days that John is prophetically and symbolically seeing in Revelation.

At this point it is important to note that the scroll’s seven seals are divided into a set of four and a set of three. We saw the same denomination of sets (of four and three) in the chiastic structure of the seven churches – which I showed you when we began chapter 2. We will see the same denomination of four and three with the seven trumpets; and, finally, with the seven triumphant promises in chapters 19-22.

Again, the seven seals are divided into a set of four and three. It’s pretty obvious to see. There are the first four – the horsemen of the apocalypse – and then there are the other three.

The first four seals were opened in rapid succession, and each was related to the other. The four riders are judgements that summarize the curses coming upon apostate Israel for covenant unfaithfulness. The fifth and sixth seals, which we are looking at today, are something like a call and response. The seventh seal brings fulfillment to what the other seals foretell; for released with the seventh seal are the seven awful trumpet judgements.

But today we consider the fifth and sixth seals, and judgements that are coming upon Jerusalem in a different kind of way.

Purpose

Identify the apocalyptic and symbolic images John is seeing.

How do they connect with us today?

Read Revelation 6:9-17

With the opening of the fifth seal, were are given a bit of a respite from the horrors of the first four. Let’s remember that John’s vision is taking place before the throne of God. But it is not just God’s throne room – the characters present, the various elements, the descriptions, the worship – all of it is a symbolic picture of a heavenly temple.

Again, we are not meant to think of these things literally, as if there is a literal temple in heaven. But these are symbols, meant to show us things far greater than actual physical elements.

In this symbolic vision, God’s throne is akin to the Holy of Holies – the center of all divine authority and creaturely worship. In verse 9 we see another element from the temple.

Read vs 9

The Altar

To our 21st century thinking, it certainly seems strange for the souls of the slain to be located under the altar; but to the first century Jewish reader it would have made complete sense. For if they had been to the earthly temple, they would have seen for themselves what happens on and around the altar.

Before a sacrifice was burnt upon the altar, it was drained of its blood; and that blood was then applied to two places.

The priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense before the Lord that is in the tent of meeting, and all the rest of the blood of the bull shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting. -Leviticus 4:7

In this passage the tent of meeting is the tabernacle, the forerunner of the temple. The exact same ritual was practiced in the temple. The sacrificial victim has some of its blood placed upon the altar of incense. In Revelation 5:8 we saw incense representing the prayers of the saints: and in chapter 6 we are hearing the saints pray. The rest of the blood is poured out at the base of the altar of burnt offerings.

And listen to what else Leviticus has to say about this blood.

The life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.

-Leviticus 17:11

The blood of the sacrifice was always symbolic of life. An animal’s life for the sinner’s life. And that blood ran down the altar and gathered at its base, pooling underneath its bulk – right where we see the souls of the slain located in Revelation 6.

These have been slain not for an atonement of any kind, but for their testimony. They have faithfully proclaimed God’s word; and for such a proclamation they were cut down. And I believe these souls are more than new covenant Christians, but also God’s faithful from the earliest of days – all slain for their faith, all of them slain unjustly. I’ll show you why I think these are old and new covenant saints in a bit.

Read vs 10

Perhaps you’ve imagined a Christian martyr dying in serenity, giving up their life in a transcendently peaceful state. Certainly some do. Acts 7 describes Stephen dying in such a way. Indeed, it is an honor to give yourself, even to death, as an offering unto Christ.

None-the-less, human emotions are complex. I imagine there are moments of fear for the pain of death, uncertainty in resolve, and a deep anger towards the injustice of it all. And how much hotter would that anger burn if it is not your life unjustly taken, but the life of a loved one.

The Avenger

The anger for injustice doesn’t end in the death of the innocent. Such righteous anger burns at the very heart of heaven, like flames from the altar. The saints cry out for God’s justice, and this is no prayer of joy.

Notice how they are convinced that God will bring justice. This testifies, once more, to the saint’s faithfulness to the word of God; for they know that justice lies in the Almighty’s sovereign hands.

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” -Romans 12:19

Only the one who is holy and true, who is absolutely righteous and knows all things, is in a position to be the Avenger. His justice knows no mistakes and is dispensed with perfect equity. To this Sovereign Lord the saints make their holy appeal for justice, that their blood might be avenged, and righteous wrath brought to the wicked.

But once more let us remember that this is symbolic. There are not actual people being held beneath some heavenly altar. These symbols show to us that God does not forget the sacrifices His people make and the prayers they send up. The spilling of innocent blood and the prayers of the saints constantly ring in the ears of God; just as it was from the very first spilling of innocent blood.

When Cain killed his brother, Abel, God confronted Cain with these words:

And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground.” -Genesis 4:10

Innocent blood cries to God for vengeance. In the symbolic picture of Revelation 6, the cries rise to God like holy prayers for justice.

Again, we find the Greek word “ge” in this verse. A word that is better translated as land, rather than earth. For the judgements of the four horsemen were curses for covenant unfaithfulness, and these curses were coming upon the land of Israel. So also does this call for justice regard the land of Israel. The saints are praying against the injustices of apostate Israel: the righteous appeal for vengeance is itself a judgment against Israel.

And we find that the prayers of the slain harmonize perfectly with Jesus’ prophetic words spoken to Israel’s religious leaders.

“I send to you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on [the land], from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.” -Matthew 23:34-36

The souls beneath the altar do not just symbolize those that died after Jesus, but the righteous who were martyred before. Again we see that the souls beneath the altar symbolize old and new covenant saints.

And Jesus condemned that wicked and perverse generation for the shedding of such blood. They would be held accountable. But it wasn’t just Jesus’ condemnation. They asked for it.

For when the Jews pressed Pilate to crucify Jesus, they cried out:

His blood be on us and on our children. -Matthew 27:25

Only hardened hearts could make such a demand. Yes, the reckoning for innocent blood would come upon them and their children. For the shedding of Christ’s own blood, for those martyred for the testimony of Jesus, and for all the righteous blood spilled since the days of Abel; God’s wrath was stirred against that generation of Israel, and soon it would be poured out.

But the time of accounting had not quite arrived. The accumulation of innocent blood was very near to the brim, but it was not yet full.

Read vs 11

The Persecuted

The slain are given white robes, the same robes worn by the 24 elders, the same robes promised by Jesus.

“To the one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.” -Revelation 3:5

These have overcome. Their faith held fast, even in the face of death. And because they gave up their life for the word of God, they will live forever. Just as Jesus promised:

“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.” -Mark 8:35

They are given their white robes and they are told to wait. It is not yet time. More faithful will perish at the hands of apostate Israel. Just as we saw in Christ’s messages to the seven churches, more persecutions were coming from those who worshipped at the synagogue of Satan.

Jesus said to the church in Smyrna, “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the Devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” -Revelation 2:10

Does that not mean that God has ordained some of the saints for martyrdom? Does He not ordain our persecutions? Yes, He ordains our every trial and the exact manner and moment of our death. Whether death comes by sword or stroke, may we be faithful unto our last breath.

Though He ordains the unjust death of the righteous, the unjust must still reckon with their Creator. Every drop of blood spilt for the sake of Christ and His gospel, the Almighty will avenge. For just as Christ’s life is our life, and our death was His death; so also are our persecutions His persecutions. When we are unjustly treated for righteousness sake, it is as if Christ is unjustly treated. For when the Father sees the Son being unjustly treated, then who can stand before His wrath?

And in creation-shattering response, following the persecution of the saints and their holy prayers, comes a storm of apocalyptic fury. He comes! He comes for the wicked!

Read vs 12-17

De-Creation

The prayers of the slain and the demand for justice have a mighty and terrible result. What we have just read is apocalyptic language of de-creation. The whole created order is being undone. This follows Jesus’ prophetic pattern: after tribulation comes de-creation.

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” -Matthew 24:29

Again, this is language of de-creation; but it is symbolic and apocalyptic. It does not literally mean that God is bringing the world to an end. For the same sort of apocalyptic language is used throughout the Old Testament referring to divine visitations through the judgements of God.

A judgement prophesied against Babylon:

“Behold, the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy sinners from it. For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light.” -Isaiah 13:9-10

Or how about this prophesy against Egypt:

“When I blot you out, I will cover the heavens and make their stars dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give its light. All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over you, and put darkness on your land, declares the Lord God.”

-Ezekiel 32:7-8

Such language of de-creation is not about the destruction of the earth, just as God did not destroy the world when judgements came to Babylon or Egypt. This apocalyptic language is about God coming in judgement. The world is not ending, but de-creation is being brought to wicked nations.

And all of these elements have different apocalyptic and symbolic meanings.

Earthquakes = Visitation from God – vs 12

Judges 5:5, Psalm 60:2, Joel 3:16, Nahum 1:5-6

The mention of earthquakes signals that God is about to visit, the Day of the Lord is imminent, holy vengeance is about to break upon the land. And this time, the God that comes is Jesus Christ Himself, coming on the clouds of judgement.

Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all the tribes of the [land] will wail on account of Him. Even so. Amen.

-Revelation 1:7

Sun, Moon, Stars = Nations, Rulers, Governments, Religious Systems – vs 12

Genesis 37:9-11, Deuteronomy 4:19, Isaiah 34:1-5, Daniel 12:3

The sun, moon, and stars going dark or turning to blood signal the de-creating of the geopolitical systems of Israel. Like a weapon in the hand of Christ, Rome will bring its destruction. Its religious leaders will be annihilated. The Jewish religious system will forever fall at the felling of the temple.

Fig Tree = Israel – vs 13

Jeremiah 8:13, Hosea 9:10, Joel 1:7, Matthew 21:18-22

The fig tree, so often used to symbolize Israel, is cursed. It bears no fruit of righteousness and has become a withered abomination. As John the Baptist said, “Even now the axe is laid to the root (Matthew 3:10).”

Mountain = Jerusalem/God’s Dwelling Place – vs 14

Psalm 68:15-16, Ezekiel 20:40, Zechariah 4:7, Matthew 21:21

Everywhere the Old Testament refers to Jerusalem as God’s holy mountain. It was where His temple proudly stood. But like Revelation 6:14 says, that mountain is about to be removed from its place. The mountain is removed to make way for a new covenant and spiritual reality.

“Believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father…But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” -John 4:21,23-24

This sheds a whole new light on a passage widely abused.

“Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” -Matthew 21:21-22

I certainly don’t have time to exposit all these words from Christ, but I can say it is not about having enough faith to perform miracles. When Jesus said these words He was standing before the temple mount with His disciples. He had just been speaking about the corruption of the Jewish system, that it was cursed, and that through faith it would be removed and thrown into the sea.

Do you know that the sea is a Biblical, symbolic image of the nations, of the Gentiles? Indeed, the sea has swallowed the mountain in two ways. First by the Roman hordes, making Jerusalem a desolation. Secondly, the mountain no longer holds significance for worship; but through faith anyone can be located anywhere among the nations and worship the Father in spirit and in truth.

By faith the holy mountain moves, with the movements of the church!

Jesus said, “Ask in prayer, and you will receive.” Ask that the mountain be thrown down and it will be done. Isn’t that what we are seeing in Revelation 6? The holy martyrs are asking for vengeance, that judgement come upon the wicked that have unjustly killed them. And in response, God forever removes the mountain from its place.

Look at Revelation 6:15. There you see every person bound to the mountain, from its most powerful heavenly bodies to its most humble fig leaves – from rich and powerful to humble slave – all will face the wrath of the Lamb.

And when the wrath comes, they will scramble to the mountains looking for a hiding place, hoping the rocks would fall upon them. This is, again, an apocalyptic image from the Old Testament symbolizing the shame and the curse of the people.

[Israel] itself shall be carried to Assyria as tribute to the great king. Ephraim shall be put to shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his idol. Samaria’s king shall perish like a twig on the face of the waters. The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed. Thorn and thistle shall grow up on their altars, and they shall say to the mountains, “Cover us,” and to the hills, “Fall on us.” -Hosea 10:6-8

Who can stand His indignation? Who can endure the heat of His anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by Him.

-Nahum 1:6

Those that thought they were the people of God are not, theirs is the shame and the curse of covenant disobedience. Like fools they think they mountains might hide them from the wrath of God, but they cannot see that this great rock has already spelled their doom.

“Have you never read the Scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes.’? Therefore, I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” -Matthew 21:42-44

For their many injustices, for their spilling of innocent blood, for their rejection and murder of the Messiah; Israel was being excommunicated. Now a new people is brought into communion with God; not by the blood of bulls, but by the blood of Christ. We who were not a people, are now His chosen.

But you [church] are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of the darkness and into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

-1 Peter 2:9-10

Yes, as the old covenant is de-created, and the Jewish system forever crumbles, a new covenant is established. And where there was de-creation, there is now new creation.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. -2 Corinthians 5:17

For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. -Galatians 6:15

“Do not marvel that I say to you, ‘You must be born again.’” -John 3:7

It is important to note that the opening of the sixth seal is not the de-creation of Israel. That will begin with the seventh seal; for when the seventh seal is broken, the seven trumpet judgement are released. Those trumpets will sound the judgements causing the walls of Israel, and every stone of her temple, to come crumbling down.

The de-creation language of the sixth seal is more of an apocalyptic declaration, a preparation for what is to come with the seventh seal and the seven trumpets. Just as God announced apocalyptic judgements upon Egypt and Babylon before their destruction, here He is announcing apocalyptic judgement upon Israel before Jerusalem and her lands are made an utter desolation.

And this apocalyptic de-creation language is a declaration of one more thing. That God sees the persecutions of His people, He hears their cries for justice, and He responds. And His response is furious, like a raging bear that tears apart the ones who have harmed her cubs.

Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. The Lord roars from Zion, and utters His voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth quake. But the Lord is a refuge to His people, a stronghold to the people of Israel. -Joel 3:14-16

Yes, when God comes there is judgement and there is salvation. If you try to save your life now, you will lose it. But if you lose your life for Christ’s sake, and the gospel’s, you will save it.

This is no call to go out and find a way to become a martyr. That is not what Jesus asks of us. He asks us to take up our cross and deny ourselves (Mark 8:34), to offer our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1), to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus (1 Peter 2:5).

Do you know how we do these things? Not by getting ourselves killed. Rather, like Jesus, we give of our lives to others. We sacrifice ourselves for the sake of others. We freely offer our time, our resources, our attention, our care, our hospitality. For when we love the least of these, we love Christ.

Oh, and let us love Christ will all that we are; because He sacrificed Himself for our sake. He died for us while we were His enemies, in order that we could be saved. There is no greater love than this!

Brothers and sisters, we love Christ through loving others: not in order to be saved. We were saved so that we could love. This is our new nature. This is what new creation looks like: loving the least of these, and giving of ourselves, that Christ might receive all the honor and praise! Think of it: the more you love people the more praise Jesus gets!

And whether our death comes by sword or stroke, may we be faithful unto our last breath. Then we shall be called overcomers and be given robes of white and crowns of life everlasting!

But let us not lose the other massive application of today’s text. When there is injustice, especially when it is persecution of Christians, then let us add our voices to Revelation’s holy prayer. Let us, day and night, ask God to vindicate His people and avenge the spilling of innocent blood. When we hear of Christians dying for the faith – our brothers and sisters – may we be deeply grieved and ask God to shake the earth once more.