Revelation Kgroup Study notes Lesson # 12 I. Lesson Theme & Main Rev. Passage: The four Horsemen of the Apocalypse Revelation 6. 1-8 The First Four Seals of the Trib. II. Lesson Outline & Main Points: The First 4 Seals are the Horsemen of the Apocalypse Warren W. Wiersbe The horse imagery is probably related to the vision described in Zechariah 1:7 17. Horses represent God s activity on earth, the forces He uses to accomplish His divine purposes. The center of His program is Israel, particularly the city of Jerusalem. I. First Seal the Anti-christ - Rev. 6.1-2 Fruchtenbaum To fully understand the person and the activities of the Antichrist, he needs to be viewed within the framework of the counterfeit trinity. According to Revelation 13, an unholy trinity will be set up in the Great Tribulation. Satan will play the role of the counterfeit father. For just as the true Father gave all His authority to the Son, Satan will give all his authority to the Antichrist. The False Prophet will play the role of the counterfeit holy spirit. 1) Where does the Antichrist come from? Daniel 9:26 Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a
flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. Fruchtenbaum Since the Antichrist must be of the same nationality as the people who destroyed the city and the Temple, it is this verse that shows that the Antichrist will be a Gentile of Roman origin. 2) A Blasphemer Daniel 11:36 37 Then the king will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done. 37 He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the desire of women, nor will he show regard for any other god; for he will magnify himself above them all. 3) The Beast with 10 horns the antichrist being one of the 10 that uproots 3 Daniel 7:8 While I was contemplating the horns, behold, another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were pulled out by the roots before it; and behold, this horn possessed eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth uttering great boasts. 4) The beast out of the sea humanity empowered by Satan 2 Thessalonians 2:9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders Revelation 13:1ff And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea
And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. 5) Rev. 13.3 the antichrist has a wound to his head, recovers and is worshiped by those on the earth 3 I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; 6) Rev. 13.8 reveals that the Antichrist will have authority over the nations for a time all will worship him, those who are not saved. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. 7) Will set himself in the temple of God in the middle of the Trib and claim to be God, receiving worship from the nations 2 Thessalonians 2:3 10 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. II. Second Seal War - Rev. 6.3-4 1) During the beginning of the Tribulation War will break out. 2) The false peace that led up to the signing of the Covenant by the Anti-christ with Israel will now erupt into worldwide war 3) Peace will be taken from the earth
4) Many will die 5) A great sword speaking of the sword Roman soldiers would use in battle, was given 6) The reason it emphasizes the greatness of the sword is due the amount of war that takes place III. Third Seal Famine - Rev. 6.5-6 1) A rider on the black horse is now given power in order to cause famine to occur. 2) The scales represent the measuring of food which will be severely lacking 3) A quart of wheat is hardly enough for anyone to be sustained much less a family 4) Barley will be more abundant though hardly barley was often used to feed animals due to its lack of quality 5) Oil and Wine were not to be damaged, unlike the food sources. o This seems to indicate God s mercy in the midst of this horrible famine where oil and wine can be used for medicinal purposes as well as purifying purposes. John MacArthur The average worker s salary will barely provide enough food for himself for each day and not enough to feed his family. Those with families will be able to purchase three quarts of barley for a denarius. That will provide food for their families, but barley was low in nutritional value and often fed to livestock.
IV. Fourth Seal Death - Rev. 6.-8 1) Ashen color is akin to a corpse Death now follows due to the War & Famine. 2) Hades following after death simply gives the picture of people dying and being thrown into Hades which is where unbelieve go to await the final judgment 3) 1/4 th of humanity dies today s population would be @ 1.5 billion people 4) How do they die? Sword speaking of war an increase and additional to the 2 nd Seal Famine intensified from the 3d seal Pestilence disease now spreads due to the amount of death Rats bubonic plague Ebola virus Bird flu, swine flu etc Epidemic virus s and disease due to the lack of food etc, immune systems are incapable of fending off the virus s which now spread Wild beasts The fear of man is removed and the wild beasts now begin to kill mankind Ezekiel 14:21 For thus says the Lord God, How much more when I send My four severe judgments against Jerusalem: sword, famine, wild beasts and plague to cut off man and beast from it!
III. Relevant Scripture Passages: See inline notes IV. Application Points and Questions: The coming wrath of God upon the world is devastating. 1. How are we yielded to the Lord in service? 2. Are we ready to give an account for the hope we have in Christ? 3. Are we living our lives in Christ in such a way where people are coming to us asking about the hope we have? 4. How is God using us to proclaim, to testify, about His goodness to both believers (encouragement) and unbelievers (witnessing) alike? V. Helpful Resources & Quotes: See inline