Fourth Seal "Death and Hades" Man's Two Enemies (Rev. 6:7-8)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 05/09/2005

 

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  Death & Hades

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Revelations 6: 7-8

 

            Message of the verse:  “7  When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, ‘Come.’  8  I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.”

            This is the forth horse and rider that have been identified and it seems interesting that the four living beings have been the ones to tell these riders to come and to do what they are told to do upon the earth.

            Death and Hades are spoken of in verse 8 and they are two enemies of mankind and it is Jesus Christ who had come to conquer both of these enemies, yet there are many who do not believe this and have rejected it forever and the result of this will be when they die they will not be in the presence of the Lord.  Revelations 1:18 shows that Jesus Christ has the keys to both death and Hades:  “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,

and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.”  (Rev. 1:17b-18).  In the last part of this book both will be cast into hell.  Rev. 20:14 “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.”

            The last part of verse eight tells how death and Hades will accomplish their task and that is by killing one-fourth of the population upon the earth with the sword and with famine and pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  This is a sobering message from verse eight, and it will really happen in the future, yet it has already happened on a smaller version throughout history, and is even happening today in places like the Sudan and in the middle-east.  I believe that one of the major themes that flow through the book of Revelations is that God is upon His throne in heaven and therefore He is the One who is in charge, and that gives comfort to those who know Him and especially those who are going through a hard time.

 

The Word of God has been challenging to my heart as I have read it this morning. 

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to always remember that God is upon His throne and is therefore in control of all things.

 

Memory verse for the week:  Ephesians 6: 10-12

 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.