Permitted Judgment
(Rev 6:1-8)
Rev 6:4 implies that the Judgment has started under Gods permission. As each seal of the scroll was broken, different symbols of trial and suffering appeared, which represent things that can happen through all ages rather than mere symbols of future. God wants us to return to him through our woes. What are they like?
1. Theres the judgment of being bent on conquest. The first woe is the coming of a conqueror. It is caused by the first living creatures command, 'Come!' to the rider of a white horse. White stands for victory and the horse and bow stand for war. The rider of the white horse refers to a conqueror. He has power and competence and looks clean and even holy like Jesus. We tend to have a soft spot on good appearance. The best model of this craze is Joseph, the governor of Egypt. The complete opposite figure is Judah, who slept with his daughter in law. However, Jesus came to us as Judahs descendant. He is was a forefather of the chief tribe of the Israelites who as a role model shows us that we are 100 percent sinners whether we accept it or not. Yet we have a craze for the worldly conqueror. This craze brings us fear. Its the starting point of our woes. The craze for conquest is the feature of the worldly victors like Lamech, who sang The Song of the Sword. Even Christians focus on God as the Lord of victory. All winners owe their victory to their opponents, the losers. This craze for conquest brings about wars, famine, and death. It is the source of woes. Therefore, our Rome is the agent of Gods judgment for us. Actually, God permitted our Rome its victory in order to train us to deal with the craze, which binds us with its chain of egoism. God wants us to understand that wed better stay in the boundary of Gods permission, throwing away our craze for the Roman conquerors. No one can encounter the Lord on earth, as Judah did, without going through a tough life
2. Theres the judgment of losing peace. The second woe comes at the calling of the second living creature that looks like an ox. The focus falls on the rider of a red horse. His mission is getting rid of peace on earth. The red representing blood refers to war and the victory of Christs blood. Thus God trains us through war and victory. The phrase 'slay each other' in verse 4 depicts the destructive nature of evil caused by the craze for conquest. Jesus said, 'I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.'(Mt.10:34). He also said to his disciples before sending them to the world that they would be hated and persecuted by the world, including the members of their own household, who seek their life. In order for the gospel to take root in our family, our peace should be broken. That is, our temporary peace needs to be broken for the sake of the essential peace of being united in faith. By chasing temporary peace, we obsess over our family, expecting too much and getting angry to the level of our expectations. In the worldly gatherings where we dont look at our sinful nature or repentance, people are ready to show their true colors, seething with the anger triggered by the incidents that happen to them. God permits the incidents. God wants us to give us true peace by taking our temporary peace away.
3. Theres the judgment of famine. When the third seal of the scroll was broken, the living creature that looked like a man said, 'Come!' calling to the rider of a black horse, holding a scale in his hand. The scale, a tool of weighing represents a severe famine. After losing our peace, we get anxious, selfish, and reluctant to share with others, driving ourselves to worse famine. Then having pity on us, God set the limitation on our suffering. He allows us a quart of wheat, three quarts of barley, and some olive oil and wine for us to survive. He wants us to return to him through suffering we can bear. The famine must happen to us for Jesus Christ to be enthroned within us as the lord of our life. God uproots, tears down, destroys and overthrows before he builds up and plants. (Jer 1:10). Crucifixion precedes resurrection. We need to accept our famine as an incident that God has permitted.
4. The only solution to these woes is the Lamb. The Lamb starts his judgment. He is also the one who wraps it up. The Lamb, who was slain for us is the Lord of our new life. We are the ones who dwell in the grace of the Lamb whether dead or alive. Thats why we can be bold enough to face this ferocious world. The Lamb doesnt give us everything we want. But he provides us with what he thinks we need.
Heres my testimony. I used to be a so-called good girl, who majored in piano. I made a great achievement on my own through intense practices. I didnt know that this was the beginning of the woes in my life. After marriage, I was caught in the prison of my family in law, not knowing why I needed to be the prey of their contempt. I totally lost my peace as I had no one to console me. The hatred I faced was far from the Lamb. Then God visited me where I fell as a helpless wretch, suffering from the famine of marital unhappiness. Even though I had been a daughter of a poor household, I was full of self-confidence, thinking that I could make my own way. Thus my pride was so deep and wide that God had to bind me. I recognized my reality, a chaser of money! I dumped my mothers QT notes, not recognizing her faith! No wonder that I was ignored by my family in law! I was in Gods providence. Without divorcing my husband, I was able to bring him and my mother in law to God. Thus God drove me to become what I am. May God bless us all to accept our famine and follow Jesus, believing that he is the only solution to our eternal life.
'I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.' (Rev. 6:2)
