February 3 - The Fourth Seal

February 3 – The Fourth Seal
Revelation 6:7-8

When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

The Lamb opens the fourth seal, the fourth creature says “Come” and a pale horse stands before John.

The Greek word that is used for pale is ‘chloros.’ I think of chloroform, Clorox. The pale green color is similar to that of a corpse. William Barclay says it is like a face blanched in terror.

This rider carries nothing, but is given a name – Death and has a companion named Hades. They killed using four items – sword, famine, plague and wild beasts.

Ezekiel 14:21 tells us that God will bring four dreadful judgments: sword, famine, wild beasts and plague, against Jerusalem.

Our God is a God who never forgets His promises or His warnings.

Back to Leviticus 26:21-26. God tells His people that if they remain hostile to Him, He will punish them by multiplying their afflictions seven times over, He will send wild animals against them, He will bring the sword to avenge the breaking of the covenant, He will send a plague and bring famine.

He reminds us over and over that His discipline is brought because of His holiness (see the number seven here?)

Sometimes it is difficult for us to imagine the God that we’ve come to know bringing judgment. But, when the final days come, all chance for mercy will be over. He will judge an unrepentant world.

The opening of this scroll is more profound than our minds can begin to comprehend. Until this time, God has pursued every avenue as He attempts to draw us to Him. This passage in Revelation signifies that this is finished.

Is all hope gone?

How has God pursued you throughout your life? Even when we are unrepentant, His forgiveness offers us second, third, fourth chances. Hope is the reason for this letter to the churches. Hope is the reason God invited John into the throne room. We have had these words for 2000 years. God is still continuing to offer us hope.