When there is no place to Hide

Read Revelation 6.

"He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him." (John 1:11)  There is coming a day when all will know Him and every knee will bow in submission to Jesus (Philippians 2:9-11).  In preparation of the appearance of the Creator and Owner of this world, there will be some painful days for those who rebel against Him.

The Lamb of God alone is worthy to take the scroll and unleash judgments upon the world.    The scroll has seven sections and each one is separately sealed.  With the breaking of the first seal, the time referred to as The Great Tribulation will begin.  While all nations shall experience His wrath, a primary target of this seven-year period is to bring Israel to accept Jesus as their Messiah.  "Alas!  That day is so great there is none like it; it is a time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it." (Jeremiah 30:7)

The first four seals release what is often called the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.  The rider on a white horse appears to be a good and powerful ruler.  But instead of bringing peace, this one will only be out to conquer.  The second rider will throw the world into unimaginable war and death.  The rider of the black horse follows the war with world-wide famine.  The fourth will bring death by "pestilence and wild beasts" to kill 25% of the world's population.

Meanwhile, what good thing will God be doing?  Though the word "church" does not appear after chapter three, in some manner people will be receiving the good news of Jesus.  Many will die as martyrs for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.  Once killed, their spirits will ascend to the throne of God to cry out for justice.  But verse 11 indicates that there will be even more martyrs to come.

The sixth seal needs little explanation.  The prophets (Joel 2:30-31, Isaiah 13:9-11) predicted these events centuries before Christ was born.  Those unbelievers remaining on earth would rather die than face anymore of the wrath of God.  The question at the end of the chapter says it all.  "Who can stand" against almighty God and His judgments?  The answer is "No one."

That is why faith in Jesus is called good news.  Those who personally receive Jesus as their Savior and Lord need never fear the wrath of God.  He saves us from our sin and the judgment to come.  He is our hiding place of safety against that day.  "Enter into the rock and hide in the dust from before the terror of the LORD, and from the splendor of his majesty.  The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day." (Isaiah 2:10-11)