Strauss-' Comments
SECTION 16

Text: Revelation 6:3-4

3 And when he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, Come. 4 And another horse came forth, a red horse: and to him that sat thereon it was given to take peace from the earth, and that they should slay one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

Initial Questions Revelation 6:3-4

1.

The opening of the second seal revealed what - Revelation 6:4?

2.

Who gave the rider permission to take peace from the earth - Revelation 6:4?

3.

What does the great sword symbolize?

Revelation 6:3

The second seal was opened and the second living creature commanded that John come in order to see the content of the second seal.

Revelation 6:4

War is the content of this seal. And another horse went forth, a red horse (horse implied but not in text - the horse was flame colored - purros from pur - fire) and to the one sitting on it was given (edothç - 1 aor. ind. pass. the pass. voice - means that someone else give or permitted him to take peace from the earth, and the aor. tense means that this power was given in a single act) to him to take peace out of (ek) the earth and in order that, (or for the purpose thatanother hina clause) they shall slay one another - (reciprocal killingeach other), and a great sword was given (passive voice) to him. The word translated sword (machaira) is used in the Septuagint for the sacrificial knife used by Abraham (see Genesis 22:6; Genesis 22:10).

This condition of war is probably a precursor to Harmagedon (chp. 16). Jesus-' great discourse on the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world in Matthew 24:1-51 will provide much insight for this section of The Revelation. James speaks of the ultimate source of war (chp. Revelation 5:1 ff). Ours is an age when war has become normal. What does this say of the spiritual foundations of western civilization? Who is involved in this war mentioned in this verse - Church against world, or nation against nation?

Note: War and Peace are two dominate themes in 20th century thought. The prophet of Israel taunted You cry Peace - Peace, when there is no Peace. Men still cry peace, and we are participating in a most precarious peace. Shall evil or righteousness prevail? The Revelation was written to give the answer that righteousness shall prevail over persecution, pain, and war, because God in Christ won the victory over darkness. This is one of the central reasons for the resurgent relevance of The Revelation in our day. It is a book for times of crisis. (See Pedersen's monumental work on Israel, Oxford University Press for an excellent analysis of the concept of peace in the O.T.)

Christ is the righteousness of God! The root of the Hebrew term for righteousness means three things: (1) righteous one; (2) innocent one; (3) victorious one. Christ's victory stands in marked contrast to the grotesque, barbaric Greek understanding of victory. There shall be no Peace upon the face of the earth until the Prince of Peace reigns in every mortal heart. Peace cannot be brought about by a One World Government! If men want ultimate Peace, it is to be found in the wholeness of the holiness of God in Christ.

Review Questions

See Revelation 6:12-17.

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