FAITH BIBLE CHURCH - www.faithbiblechurch.net

SERIES: THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, WEEK 27

TITLE: WAR AND FAMINE

TEXT: REVELATION 6:3-6

INTRODUCTION: (1) IT IS AN AMAZING THING THAT HUMAN BEINGS, CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD, SHOULD BECOME SO BLINDED WITH HATE OR LUST OR GREED OR AMBITION OR ENVY THAT THEY SHOULD SEEK TO KILL OTHER HUMAN BEINGS MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.

* YET THE VERY FIRST MAN BORN IN THE WORLD SLEW HIS BROTHER AND MEN HAVE FOLLOWED IN THE WAY OF CAIN EVER SINCE.

** FROM THE BARBARIANS OF GENGHIS KHAN, TO THE SOPHISTICATED BUTCHERS OF NAZI GERMANY AND RED CHINA AND STALINIST RUSSIA IN THE QUOTE ENLIGHTENED TWENTIETH CENTURY, HAVE MURDERED MILLIONS.

*** AND THE GENOCIDES IN UGANDA, THE SUDAN, IRAQ UNDER SADAAM HUSSEIN, NORTH KOREA AND YUGOSLAVIA AND OTHER NATIONS, CONTINUES THE SAME PATTERN.

**** ADD TO THAT WAR IN GENERAL IN THE LAST CENTURY ALL OVER OUR WORLD HAS LED TO THE DEATH OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.

(2) BEYOND THAT, EVERYONE REMOTELY AWARE OF GLOBAL EVENTS IN THE LAST DECADES OF THE 20TH CENTURY KNOWS THAT WARFARE HAS LED TO FAMINE AND STARVATION.

* IN FACT SINCE 1983, A COMBINATION OF CIVIL WAR AND FAMINE HAS TAKEN THE LIVES OF MORE THAN 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY OF SUDAN ALONE.

** AND MILLIONS IN SUDAN ARE CURRENTLY FACING STARVATION.

*** WAR AND FAMINE GO HAND IN HAND. WAR MANY TIMES LEADS TO FAMINE AND DEVASTATION AND STARVATION.

**** NOW MOST AMERICANS KNOW NOTHING ABOUT FAMINE, EXCEPT IF THEY TRAVEL OR HAVE READ ABOUT IT OR WATCHED SOMETHING ABOUT IT ON T.V.

3. WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY OF ABUNDANCE AND WE CONSUME HUGE AMOUNTS OF FOOD.

* AND THE VARIETY OF FOODS WE EAT ARE INCREDIBLE.

** GO TO A BUFFET AND IT’S ASTOUNDING HOW MANY KINDS OF FOOD ARE AVAILABLE FOR ONE MEAL.

*** AND OF COURSE AS CHRISTIANS, IT SEEMS THAT FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP GO HAND IN HAND.

**** I MEAN WE GET TOGETHER AND WE EAT, AND I’M NOT SUGGESTING A BAN ON THAT TODAY, I WOULD BE LYING IF I TOLD YOU I DIDN’T ENJOY IT.

4. BUT MY POINT IS WE HAVE ABUNDANCE, VARIETY, GOOD AND BAD FOODS.

* WELL, THERE IS COMING A DAY, WHEN ABUNDANCE WILL NOT BE THE NORM, IN FACT THERE IS COMING A DAY WHEN THERE WILL BE FAMINE WORLDWIDE WHICH CERTAINLY INCLUDES AMERICA.

** AND THE ECONOMIC EFFECT ALONE WILL BE DEVASTATING BEYOND THE HUNGER AND STARVATION AND NOT HAVING ENOUGH FOOD TO FEED YOUR FAMILY.

*** I MEAN ECONOMICALLY THINK OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE EMPLOYED BY THE FOOD INDUSTRY IN OUR NATION FROM FARMERS TO RESTAURANTS, FROM SUPERMARKETS TO PEOPLE WHO SELL FOOD.

**** I MEAN FAMINE WILL BE CATASTROPHIC BOTH IN IT’S HUNGER AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS.

5. FAMINE IS COMING. AND IT CAN COME QUICKLY THROUGH WAR. AND IN OUR TEXT TODAY WAR WILL BRING THE RESULT OF FAMINE ONE DAY IN THE TRIBULATION.

* BECAUSE OF THAT I’VE SIMPLY TITLED MY MESSAGE TODAY: “WAR AND FAMINE” AS WE STUDY THE 2’D AND THIRD SEAL JUDGMENTS THAT COME AS A RESULT OF GOD’S JUDGMENT UPON THE EARTH.

** AND OUR OUTLINE TODAY WILL BE SIMPLY, NO. 1 THE SECOND SEAL – THE RED HORSE, VV. 3&4; AND NO. 2 THE THIRD SEAL – THE BLACK HORSE, VV. 5&6.

*** AND WITH THAT OUTLINE AND THOSE INTRODUCTION THOUGHTS IN MIND LOOK AT REVELATION 6:3 PLEASE, WHERE WE’LL START TO SEE OUR FIRST POINT THIS MORNING, THE SECOND SEAL – THE RED HORSE.

I. THE SECOND SEAL – THE RED HORSE, (READ V. 3)

A. NOW IF YOU RECALL, THE RIDER OF THE FIRST HORSE, MOST LIKELY ANTI-CHRIST, RODE OUT ON A WHITE HORSE AND BROUGHT A FALSE PEACE TO THE EARTH.

* HE LIT. CONQUERED THE WORLD WITHOUT FIRING A SHOT AS HE RODE OUT WITH A BOW AND NO ARROWS.

** HIS CROWN TO RULE WAS LIT. HANDED TO HIM AS HE COMES WITH HIS LIES TO BRING WHAT EVERYBODY WANTS, WORLD PEACE.

*** AND THIS DECEIVER, THIS FALSE CHRIST LIT. PULLS IT OFF FOR A TIME.

**** BUT UNDER SEAL NO. 2, THIS FALSE PEACE ENDS AND WAR FOLLOWS.

1. NOW CHRIST OPENS THIS SECOND SEAL IN V. 3. THE HE OF V. 3 IS THE LAMB WHO BROKE OPEN THE 1ST SEAL IN V. 1.

* FOR IN REVELATION 5:1-7, CHRIST RECEIVED FROM GOD THE FATHER A SCROLL, A SCROLL BOOK, SEALED WITH SEVEN SEALS.

** AND CHRIST THE LAMB WAS THE ONLY ONE IN THE UNIVERSE WORTHY TO OPEN THIS BOOK OR SCROLL.

*** NOW THIS SCROLL CONTAINED THE TITLE DEED TO THE EARTH.

**** BUT UNLIKE A NORMAL TITLE DEED, IT DID NOT CONTAIN A DESCRIPTION OF CHRIST’S INHERITANCE, BUT RATHER DETAILS IN HOW HE WILL CARRY OUT HIS RECLAIMING OF WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY HIS, THE EARTH.

2. NOW SPECIFICALLY, BEGINNING IN REVELATION CHAPTER 6, THE SCROLL IS UNROLLED AND IT’S SEALS BROKEN.

* AND THE UNROLLING OF THE SCROLL MARKS THE BEGINNING OF GOD’S WRATH AND JUDGMENT ON REBELLIOUS MANKIND AS THE LORD JESUS TAKES BACK THE EARTH FROM THE USURPER, THE GOD OF THIS WORLD, SATAN.

** NOW AS EACH SEAL IS OPENED IN JOHN’S VISION, WHAT IS WRITTEN ON THE SCROLL IS NOT READ, BUT SEEN, AND UNFOLDS AND PLAYS OUT IN FRONT OF JOHN’S EYES.

*** AND IN EACH OF THE FIRST FOUR SEALS, THE 4 LIVING CREATURES, TALKED ABOUT IN REVELATION CHAPTERS 4&5, WHO ARE CHERUBIM OR SERAPHIM, OR AN EXALTED ORDER OF ANGELS, ARE INVOLVED IN MAKING THE ANNOUNCEMENT, IN GIVING THE SUMMONS FOR THE 4 HORSEMEN TO COME OUT.

3. AND THE 2’D LIVING CREATURE MAKES THE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE 2’D HORSEMEN TO COME FORTH AFTER CHRIST BREAKS THE 2’D SEAL IN V. 3 WHICH LEADS US TO V. 4. LOOK AT V. 4 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 4. NOW IMMEDIATELY ANOTHER HORSE WITH A RIDER COMES FORTH AS A RESULT OF THE SUMMONS TO COME FROM THE 2’D LIVING CREATURE IN V. 3.

* AND THE COLOR OF THIS HORSE IS RED, LIT. BRIGHT RED, FIERY RED.

** NOW RED, THE COLOR OF THE DRAGON WHICH IS SATAN IN REVELATION 12:3, AND HERE IT DEPICTS FRESH BLOOD SPILLED IN BATTLE.

*** BRIGHT RED DEPICTS BLOOD, IT DEPICTS BLOODSHED AND DEATH AS A RESULT OF WAR, OF THE HOLOCAUST OF WAR.

**** AND WE KNOW THAT WAR IS THE CONTEXT HERE FOR THIS RIDER IS GRANTED THE POWER TO TAKE PEACE FROM THE EARTH IN V. 4, AND THAT MEN SHOULD SLAY EACH OTHER, AND A GREAT SWORD IS GIVEN THIS RIDER.

1. NOW THE PICTURE HERE IS NOT PRETTY, PEACE ENDS, WAR FOLLOWS.

* MEN SLAY EACH OTHER, AND THE GREEK WORD SLAY LIT. MEANS TO SLAUGHTER, TO KILL EACH OTHER, TO BUTCHER, TO PUT TO DEATH BY VIOLENCE, TO MORTALLY WOUND.

** AND THE GREAT SWORD HERE IS WHAT WAS CALLED A MACHAIRA. THAT’S THE GREEK WORD THAT IS TRANSLATED SWORD.

*** AND THIS SWORD REFERS TO THE SHORT, STABBING SWORD THAT A ROMAN SOLDIER CARRIED INTO BATTLE, A SYMBOL OF MIGHT THROUGHOUT THE ROMAN EMPIRE, AND TO THE CONQUERED, A SYMBOL OF VIOLENCE AND DEATH.

**** AND NOTICE THE ADJECTIVE GREAT IS BEFORE THE WORD SWORD, THE GREEK WORD MEGAS FROM WHICH WE GET OUR WORD MEGA.

2. AND THE SWORD IS GREAT HERE TO DESCRIBE THE EXTENT OF THE WAR. MANY ARE GOING TO DIE WITH WARS MOST LIKELY ALL OVER THE EARTH.

* FOR NOTICE AS YOUR LOOK BACK TO V. 4, THE WORD EARTH IS USED, ONE OF IT’S SIX USES IN REVELATION CHAPTER 6.

** PEACE WAS TAKEN FROM THE EARTH. AND THIS IS THE EARTH IN GENERAL, NOT SOME LIMITED PART OF IT SUCH AS PALESTINE OR THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

*** THE IMPACT OF THESE SEALS IS WORLDWIDE, NOT LOCAL.

**** SO THE BIRTH PAINS BEGIN FOUND IN MATTHEW 24 AND MARK 13 AND LUKE 21. WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS AND NATION RISING UP AGAINST NATION AND KINGDOM AGAINST KINGDOM.

3. BUT NOTICE IN THE MIDST OF ALL THIS DEATH, BLOODSHED, VIOLENCE AND WAR, THAT GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE AND HIS PLAN IS UNFOLDING (COMFORT IN THE MIDST OF ALL OF THIS).

* FOR LOOK BACK AT V. 4 ONE MORE TIME. TO THE RIDER OF THIS HORSE, IN MY OPINION, THE ANTI-CHRIST, TO HIM WHO SAT ON THIS HORSE IT WAS GRANTED OR POWER WAS LIT. GIVEN TO HIM AS ALSO THE GREAT SWORD WAS GIVEN TO HIM.

** NOW WHO GRANTED THIS? WHO GAVE THIS RIDER THIS POWER AND THIS GREAT SWORD?

*** THE ANSWER IS GOD ALMIGHTY HIMSELF. THIS RIDER IS AN AGENT APPOINTED BY GOD. ALL THIS IS UNDER GOD’S SOVEREIGN CONTROL.

**** AND CONTRARY TO THE TEACHING OF SOME, THE JUDGMENTS OF THIS TIME DO NOT REFLECT THE WRATH OF MEN OR THE WRATH OR POWER OF SATAN, BUT THE HOLY PURE WRATH OF GOD POURED OUT ON A SINFUL WORLD.

4. AND IT MAY APPEAR AT THIS TIME THAT THINGS ARE OUT OF CONTROL, AND IT MAY APPEAR AT TIMES IN OUR LIVES THAT THINGS ARE OUT OF CONTROL, BUT MY GOD REIGNS AND IS SEATED ON HIS THRONE AND HIS HOLY PURPOSES WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED.

* AND BELIEVER TAKE REFUGE IN THAT TRUTH AND RUN TO IT AND GOD’S THRONE WHEN IT APPEARS OUR WORLD OR OUR WORLDS ARE FALLING APART.

** THE LORD REIGNS, NOT SATAN, NOT MAN, BUT OUR SOVEREIGN GOD!

*** BUT I MUST MOVE ON, SO LOOK AT V. 5 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL START TO SEE OUR 2’D POINT TODAY, THE THIRD SEAL.

II. THE THIRD SEAL – THE BLACK HORSE, (READ V. 5)

A. NOW AS CHRIST BREAKS OPEN THE 3’D SEAL, THE VOICE OF THIS THIRD LIVING CREATURE CALLS FORTH THE THIRD HORSE AND IT’S RIDER.

* AND AS JOHN SEES ALL OF THIS UNFOLD, HE SEES A BLACK HORSE COME FORTH.

** AND THE COLOR BLACK DENOTES A TIME OF LAMENTATION AND MOURNING.

*** AND EVEN IN OUR CULTURE THE COLOR BLACK IS WORN AT TIMES BY A WIDOW AT A FUNERAL, OR BY LOVED ONES WHO HAVE LOST A LOVED ONE.

**** AND HERE IN REVELATION 6:5 IT DENOTES DEARTH AND FAMINE.

1. IN FACT IN THE KJV IN LAMENTATIONS 5:10, THE COLOR BLACK IS CONNECTED TO FAMINE WHERE IT SAYS: “OUR SKIN WAS BLACK LIKE AN OVEN BECAUSE OF THE TERRIBLE FAMINE.”

* AND WE KNOW THAT FAMINE IS THE CONTEXT HERE IN REVELATION 6:5 FOR THE RIDER OF THE HORSE IS HOLDING “A PAIR OF SCALES IN HIS HAND.”

** AND THE SCALES COMMUNICATE THAT FOOD WILL BE MEASURED OUT, WEIGHED OUT, EVEN RATIONED BECAUSE OF IT’S SCARCITY.

*** CAREFUL MEASURING IS THE IMPLICATION FROM THE SCALES, THE WEIGHT OF FOOD IS MEASURED OR WEIGHED OUT IN TIMES OF SHORTAGE, BREAD IS SOLD BY WEIGHT AND MOST LIKELY INDICATES A TIME OF WORLD-WIDE RATIONING.

**** AND THE CONNECTION TO THE SECOND SEAL IS WAR BRINGS ABOUT FAMINE, FOR MANY TIMES FAMINE FOLLOWS WAR, THEY GO HAND IN HAND.

2. PEOPLE WILL STAND IN LINE TO GET FOOD MUCH LIKE THEY DID DURING THE DEPRESSION IN THE U.S., IN EUROPE AFTER WORLD WAR II, AS THEY DID IN RUSSIA AFTER THE IRON CURTAIN CAME DOWN AND AS THEY DO IN WAR TORN NATIONS TODAY.

* AND THIS FAMINE WILL BE GREAT, FOR NOTICE WHAT THE VOICE SAYS IN V. 6. LOOK AT V. 6 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 6. NOW I BELIEVE THE VOICE THAT IS TALKED ABOUT HERE IS GOD’S, THE ONE WHO IS ON THE THRONE.

* FOR THE VOICE COMES FROM THE CENTER OF WHERE THE 4 LIVING CREATURES WERE.

** AND WHERE WERE THEY? WELL IN REVELATION 4:6 IT SAYS: “AND BEFORE THE THRONE THERE WAS SOMETHING LIKE A SEA OF GLASS, LIKE CRYSTAL; AND IN THE CENTER AND AROUND THE THRONE, FOUR LIVING CREATURES FULL OF EYES IN FRONT AND BEHIND.”

*** AND THE ONE WHO IS SITTING ON THE THRONE IN REVELATION 4 IS NONE OTHER THAN GOD ALMIGHTY!

**** AND IT APPEARS HE SPEAKS HERE TO SHOW US THAT THE FAMINE IS A DIRECT JUDGMENT FROM HIM.

1. NOW SPECIFICALLY THIS VOICE COMMUNICATES GREAT FAMINE.

* FOR AT THIS TIME A QUART OF WHEAT IS SOLD FOR A DENARIUS. AND WHEAT WAS AND IS AN ESSENTIAL GRAIN IN MAKING BREAD AND OTHER STAPLES. IT WAS A MAIN FOOD OF THE ANCIENT WORLD.

** NOW A QUART OF WHEAT WAS ENOUGH WHEAT TO PROVIDE ONE MEAL FOR ONE PERSON OF MODERATE APPETITE.

*** AND BASICALLY WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS ENOUGH FOOD TO SUSTAIN AN AVERAGE PERSON FOR A DAY. AND SOME WOULD SAY BARELY ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN ONE PERSON.

**** NOW ONE QUART OF WHEAT AT THIS TIME WILL COST A DENARIUS, WHICH MOST SCHOLARS AGREE WAS THE WAGE FOR A WORKING PERSON FOR ONE DAY.

2. NOW PUT THIS PICTURE IN YOUR MIND, THE IMPLICATION IS A DAY’S WAGE FOR A DAY’S FOOD.

* THE COST OF BREAD OR WHEAT WILL BE SO INFLATED BY FAMINE THAT IT WILL COST ALL THAT YOU MAKE FOR ONE DAY’S WAGES TO FEED YOURSELF AND NO ONE ELSE, JUST ONE PERSON.

** AND THAT’S WHY BARLEY IS MENTIONED NEXT. FOR THE VOICE FROM THE THRONE SAYS: “AND THREE QUARTS OF BARLEY FOR A DENARIUS.”

*** NOW WE AR TOLD THAT BARLEY IS MUCH LOWER IN NUTRITIONAL VALUE AND IN THAT DAY WAS COMMONLY FED TO LIVESTOCK.

**** SO BARLEY WHICH IS CHEAPER AND LESS DESIRED AND LESS NUTRITIONAL WILL SELL FOR LESS.

3. FOR A DAY’S WAGE WITH BARLEY, YOU CAN BUY FOOD FOR 3 PEOPLE. SO A FAMILY OF THREE CAN BE FED IN THAT DAY WITH WAGES RECEIVED FOR ONE DAY’S WORK.

* NOW WHAT IF YOU HAVE A FAMILY OF FOUR OR FIVE OR LARGER? NO ENOUGH FOOD TO SURVIVE, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO STARVE IN TIME.

** AND GET THIS, IT GETS WORSE. FOR SOME SAY OIL AND WINE WERE LUXURIES IN THAT DAY, AND THE IDEA IS THE RICH WILLS TILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD THOSE LUXURIES, AS THE OIL AND WINE ARE NOT HARMED, THEY ARE NOT DAMAGED, THEY ARE NOT AS SCARCE.

*** BUT FROM MY STUDY IT APPEARS TO ME THAT OIL AND WINE WERE NECESSITIES IN THAT DAY.

**** FOR OLIVE OIL AND WINE WERE USED IN THE PREPARATION AND COOKING OF FOOD, AS WELL AS THE PURIFICATION OF WATER IN THAT DAY WITH WINE.

4. THE OLIVE OIL WOULD BE USED NOT ONLY FOR COOKING, BUT ALSO FOR LIGHTING, USED FOR LAMPS, AND EVEN WASHING (EQUIVALENT TO SOAP) AND HEALING OF WOUNDS AS AN OINTMENT.

* AND WITH THE ABSENCE OF GOOD DRINKING WATER, NATURAL FERMENTED WINE WAS USED WITH MEALS.

** AND THE POINT HERE IS, THE BLOW TO PEOPLE HERE IS, THAT WHILE THESE THINGS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME, THEY HAVE TO BE SACRIFICED TO SURVIVE.

*** THERE IS NO MONEY TO BUY THESE THINGS, IT TAKES EVERYTHING YOU HAVE TO EAT. ONLY THE BARE NECESSITY OF FOOD CAN BE PURCHASED AND THAT WILL NOT BE ENOUGH FOR A LARGE FAMILY.

**** AND THEN ADD ON NO MONEY TO LIVE ON FOR YOUR HOME, UTILITIES, CLOTHES, ETC. AND IT ADDS UP TO A TERRIBLE TIME WORLDWIDE.

5. AND CERTAINLY CHAOS, RIOTS, STEALING, LOOTING AND BEDLAM WILL FOLLOW. THIS IS NOT A PRETTY PICTURE.

IN WRAP UP: (1) 4 QUICK APPLICATIONS.

* NO. 1 THE REPETITIOUS THEME THAT GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE CONTINUES TO SURFACE WHICH TELLS ME WE NEED TO BE REMINDED OF THE TRUTH OF GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY OFTEN.

** AND THAT WONDERFUL TRUTH WILL GIVE US PEACE IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM WHEN APPLIED. GOD IS IN CONTROL IN THE TRIBULATION AS HE IS NOW. REST IN THAT DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

*** NO. 2 WE LIVE IN A LAND WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF FOOD AT THIS TIME. BE REMINDED OF THAT BLESSING AND GIVE THANKS FROM THE HEART WHEN YOU EAT.

**** AND NOT JUST AT DINNER TIME, BUT WHENEVER YOU EAT, THANKING THE LORD FOR EACH BITE SHOULD FLOW FROM YOUR HEART, NOT A VAIN REPETITION PRAYER, OR LORD BLESS THIS MESS, OR BUDDHA BLESS THE FOODA, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

(2) GIVE THANKS FROM A TRULY GRATEFUL HEART, OUR DAILY BREAD AND MORE COMES FROM THE HAND OF GOD, SO LET’S BE THANKFUL, READ I TIMOTHY 4:1-4.

* NO. 3 AND THIS TIES INTO NO. 2. WE IN AMERICA HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH GREAT RESOURCES FROM THE LORD AND AS GOOD STEWARDS WE NEED TO GIVE AND USE OUR RESOURCES FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.

** I MEAN BELOVED, THE REST OF THE WORLD ON THE WHOLE DOES NOT LIVE LIKE US. AND GOD HAS GIVEN US WHAT WE HAVE TO USE FOR HIM. WHERE WE LIVE, IF WE HAVE A CAR AND MONEY.

*** MAY WE BE FAITHFUL STEWARDS FOR HIM, HONORING HIM WITH OUR SUBSTANCE AND SEEKING HIM FIRST AND NOT BEING SELFISH WHILE WE HAVE WHAT WE HAVE.

**** READ PROVERBS 3:9 AND MATTHEW 6:33.

(3) BELOVED, LET US USE OUR RESOURCES FOR HIM. MAY WE BE FAITHFUL.

* AND LAST OF ALL NO. 4. THE FUTURE IS NOT VERY BRIGHT FOR THOSE THAT DO NOT TRULY KNOW JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR LORD AND SAVIOR.

** AND IT’S BECAUSE OF SIN THAT GOING TO JUDGE THE WORLD ONE DAY, AND IT’S BECAUSE OF SIN THAT WE ARE SEPARATED FROM GOD.

*** AND OUR GREATEST NEED IS THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN THROUGH SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH CHRIST.

**** IF YOU DO NOT KNOW HIM, TURN TO HIM IN REPENTANT FAITH TODAY!