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Unveiling the Symbolism in Revelation
Chapter 6
Chapter 6 is a continuation of the second vision. The throne is in the very center of this impressive, moving vision that dominates the sky. The Lamb, having been proclaimed worthy, proceeds to break the seals. An illuminating vision follows after the breaking of each seal, each one being part of the second vision. The seals need to be broken in progression, one by one, before the complete scroll can be read.
As we follow through the breaking of the seals, we need to understand that this is not a record of any particular time in history. These are things that happen when the Lamb, the Christ, becomes Lord in our life - the things that happen when Christ rules in us. So we are not looking for dates; nor do we try to fit in certain events that have happened historically. We are seeing principles in the form of visions. These things happen in His people at any time and anywhere when Christ becomes Lord in their life.
This scroll describes the process of redemption in us. Wherever and whenever the resurrected Lord is proclaimed as the ruler, certain things inevitably begin to happen. That's why this book is a blessing to everyone who reads it. It isn't only for this people or that people - it is for ALL people, wherever they happen to be. The principles in this book are always applicable.
"Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, `Come.'" (v.1)
Let's remember that the seals symbolize the things that are keeping us earthbound. Our carnal thinking and fleshly desires keep us from receiving the light of the gospel. They keep us from seeing the meaning of this symbolism. After the Lamb breaks a seal, one of the four living creatures, who symbolizes the very life that God is, sounds forth with a message that needs to be heeded.
When the first seal was broken, the thunderous voice of the first living creature said, "Come." Come and receive illumination! What does the voice of thunder symbolize? When the people were gathered around Mt. Sinai, they heard thunder before God spoke. Job 37:5 says, "God thunders with His voice wondrously." When God spoke to Jesus in John 12:28-29, the people heard thunder. Only Jesus understood the words. So we see that thunder is associated with God speaking.
The breaking of this seal removed a barrier, and John saw a white horse galloping into view. "I looked, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to Him, and He went out conquering and to conquer." (v.2)
To understand what is happening, we have to disregard the headings the translators have inserted in the various editions of the Bible. Some even have the audacity to say, "First Seal - the False Christ." The code used to interpret Revelation has to be consistent. The rider of the white horse has to be the same in this chapter as he is in chapter 19. Neither the rider nor the white horse can have different interpretations at different times. The rider is clearly identified in chapter 19 as He who is called Faithful and True, the Word of God, and King of kings and Lord of lords. And we know that is our Lord Jesus Christ!
A horse symbolizes strength, vitality and fearlessness. In ancient times, horses were specifically used in war and by messengers. In Zechariah 6:2-5, the four colored horses symbolize the four spirits of heaven; they came after they had stood before the Lord. They first received a message from the Lord, and then they came to accomplish the specific purpose for which they were sent.
In this vision the color of the horse symbolizes the type of message that Christ brings to us. White symbolizes cleanness and purity. In 1 Peter 1:15 we read, "...like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior, because it is written, `You shall be holy, for I am holy'.'" He comes to cleanse us from all the impurities of the flesh! Every bit of self-life has to be overcome! He comes to take away all that brings us hurt and injury in order to give us eternal well being! The horse and the rider are one in purpose!
The rider had a bow. Although the type of bow is not specified, we naturally think of a bow that shoots arrows. Psalm 45:4-5 gives us a beautiful picture of this. "And in Your majesty ride on victoriously, for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness...Your arrows are sharp; the peoples fall under You; Your arrows are in the heart of the King's enemies." The purpose of these arrows, these words, is to bring truth, meekness and righteousness, so that all lies and unrighteousness are done away with!
Whenever God's arrows find their place in us, we are convicted of some form of unrighteousness. They bring conviction and repentance - just like they did to Saul of Tarsus. Saul was told that it would be hard for him to kick against the goads. Goads are sharp-pointed sticks used in driving oxen. The point of an arrow is much like the point of a goad; it's much the same imagery. But after the initial pain and surprise of God's arrows, we are guided into the right path, and it's beautiful!
Since we are dealing with symbolism, and the bow is not identified, it can also symbolize a rainbow. The rainbow is the first bow mentioned in the scriptures, and it is a covenant. A covenant is His word, and His word is a two-edged sword. Guns and bombs conquer by force, but they do not bring about an internal change. However, Christ conquers with His word, and changes us internally! This process continues until His death to sin becomes ours experientially, and we are conformed to His image. Only then can we live in purity and righteousness!
The rider is also given a crown. This is a crown given by God; it is not the crown of thorns that people pressed into the head of Jesus. This crown symbolizes government and authority, and is only worn by those whose thinking comes from God. In Matt. 28:18 Jesus said, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." His authority is all-inclusive - it begins in heaven and reaches down to all the earth! All must know that the Lamb reigns, and that He is King of kings and Lord of lords! All must know that He is Lord in every area of their life! His word searches our hearts and shows us where the ego with its fleshly desires is still reigning. All must be brought under Christ's Lordship!
The horse and rider have become one unit with one objective. What a beautiful picture of Christ going forth to conquer with a covenant and kingly authority to rule! He rides into the nitty-gritty of our life and shows us areas that are not submitted to Him. He rides victoriously! He will continue His conquest until we come into the fullness of His life and love, and bring forth a revelation of the Christ within us!
"And when He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, `Come'. And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him." (vv. 3-4)
The opening of the second seal begins with another invitation to come and receive illumination. And into this life-giving drama gallops a red horse. More illumination intensifies the process. The word red is translated from the Greek PURRHOS, meaning fiery red. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a baptism of fire. "He (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." (Matt. 3:11) Fire is needed for purification. From the Latin PURUS come words like pure, purify and purification. "Our God is a consuming fire," for He consumes all our dross and all our chaff that we may be formed into His image!
Notice that it states, "and it was granted to take peace from the earth." It was granted means the rider was given permission. In Matt. 10:34 Jesus said, "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." He brings division. Our allegiance to Christ separates us from those who do not follow Him! Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace, yet He brought a sword! "The word of God is a living and active sword." (Heb.4:12) His word illumines our darkness, and the carnal man wars against the truth that Christ is! This brings persecution.
Becoming a Christian usually means persecution in one form or another. Though we don't like persecution, it is necessary for the growth and development of Christian character. In communist countries and others, loss of property and jobs, imprisonment, torture and even death may result! The rights of Christians as citizens are taken away. They can't buy or sell when people discover that they are Christians. Their families disown them and their jobs are taken away.
At the present time we only see a modified form of this in America. After we receive the gospel, people who used to like us, begin to hate us. We wonder what on earth has happened! If we move on in Christ, most of our persecution will come from Christians who want to remain in their traditions. They slay us with words. Jesus also experienced this. His rejection from the religious hierarchy was so severe that it led to His death on the cross. God wants us to know that the persecution that follows because of our acceptance of the gospel, is granted by God. So those who read this book will be blessed to know God is in control!
"And a great sword was given to him." The Greek word here indicates a short sword. If your Bible has the heading "The Second Seal - War," just disregard it! Wars were not fought with a short sword; they were fought with a great big sword - with the sword mentioned in verse 8. The short one had different uses. It's the same word that is used of the two-edged sword in Heb. 4:12. It comes to take away the peace in our earth. It invades our self-realm, and cuts away all our fleshly desires. This is a spiritual circumcision - the circumcision of the heart. The things we used to enjoy no longer fascinate us. This is necessary so that our joy and peace can be brought onto a higher level. We now find our contentment in Christ!
The red horse is followed by a black horse. "When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, `Come'.' I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand." (v.5)
Black symbolizes the dark times in our lives. Here our focus is on the dark times in our life, for they bring balance to us. When God created, "There was evening and there was morning, one day." Out of the darkness God brought light! He included the darkness in the formation of a day. In God's day there is only light, but for us there is still darkness in it. Out of the darkness He brings light! Joy comes in the morning!
Darkness brings sifting. Peter had to be sifted - the lumps are the things that don't belong; these are taken out through sifting. That is why the offering to God was to be of "fine flour". No other grain and no foreign objects were to be included. Only fine sifted flour could be brought as an offering to God.
Balance comes with these dark times. We need dark times to bring balance into our lives. In Jesus we see the balanced life! His gentleness and compassion never became weakness, His love never became lust, His firmness never became arrogance, and His peacefulness never became indifference.
Belshazzar, the king, was weighed in the balances and was found deficient. In our darkness we realize our need of light! Christ has come to be our light, our life, our sufficiency, our truth, our wisdom and our righteousness! Let's remember that this is how the process of redemption is worked out in us! He is able to save us to the uttermost; He is able to free us from all our self-adoration - from all the lusting that is inherent in the self-life!
"And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, `A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not damage the oil and the wine'.'" (v.6)
A denarius was a day's wage. So for one day's wage one man could buy enough to feed himself. A quart of wheat would just about feed you for a day. Or if you wanted more, you could buy three quarts of barley for a denarius. Barley wasn't as fine as wheat. You could feed three people for a day's wage if necessary. The oil and the wine were the luxury items. There is enough of everything if you have the money to buy it. That's not famine!
Now let's look at the symbolism. The feasts that the Israelites were to celebrate give us light on this subject. Wheat always symbolizes Passover, and barley, Pentecost; the oil symbolizes the anointing, the wine symbolizes revelation of the word of God; and a denarius, one day's wage. A wage represents self-effort. So what are we warned against? We are warned against trying to earn spiritual food through intellectual pursuit and self-endeavor. All self-effort hurts the anointing and the revelation of who Christ is! Spirituality is received by revelation - by listening to the Spirit, believing Him and obeying Him. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness.
In spite of God's clear directives, leaders are continually admonishing us to apply self-effort. We are strongly advised to try to do better, to be more zealous and to work harder. This is self-effort. Jesus said that the work of God consists of believing in Him. (Jn. 6:29) Many of those who are anointed and gifted, misuse them as a power-play for their own benefit and advantage. The word anointing is translated from the Greek, CHRISTOS. Christ in us is the anointing! So all who are in Christ, are equal. When people rank themselves higher than others because of their anointing or gifting, they are rejecting the revelation of who Christ is in all of us. Those who only interpret the scriptures in the natural realm, and scoff at those who are receiving spiritual revelation, are harming the oil and the wine! The black horse rides to do away with all these evils in our lives!
The black horse was followed by an ashen horse. "When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, `Come'. 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." (v. 8)
John looked and beheld a further revelation of God's wonderful redemption by seeing an ashen horse. The word 'ashen" comes from the Greek CHLOROS, meaning pale green or faintly colored. The Logos Library System equates this greenish color as being verdant, i.e. dun-colored. Green symbolizes life. A greenish horse - a little life, but not much. Though it looks like life, it really isn't, because the rider's name is Death. Hades, or the grave, accompanies him as a disciple accompanies his teacher. That which is dead has to be put away; it needs to be buried.
Romans 8:6 tells us that the carnal mind is death. Every carnal mind is death and therefore needs to be buried. Nothing is allowed to remain. Notice that this horse's commission is to the fourth part of the earth. This tells us that the previous three horses have accomplished their purpose for our redemption. However, the victory over the natural mind is not fully complete until the ashen horse and rider have accomplished their work. Their work is the final blow to the mind's control over us. This control is the most difficult to overcome, but God knows exactly how to achieve its death.
This death does not refer to the death of the physical body. Just as Christ died to sin, so we have to die to sin! We dislike the thought of death, but death is necessary to bring forth life! The grain of wheat has to die to generate life. In Hebrews 2:14 we read that Christ Himself had to die that "through death (He) might render powerless him who had the power of death." When we are dead to sin, sin has lost its power over us!
Death entered this world as a negative thing. Then Christ came and used the negative to free us from death. He uses death to free us from death. For example, the death of the grain of wheat becomes the basis for new life to spring up. When we are dead to sin, sin can no longer fascinate us, and we are freed from our bondage to sin. Our death to sin is the foundation for being freed from sin. Just trying to get rid of a certain sin is not enough; we need to die to the desire or fascination that we have for it. The sins that still cling to us show us that our ego has not lost all its power over us. Only our death to our ego or self can bring us into the fullness of Christ's life! Death to sin frees us from every form of fascination we used to have for sin.
When Jesus was tempted to yield to the desires of the flesh, He used the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, to overcome the temptation. Overcoming temptation is the process by which we die to sin. Jesus died to every desire of the flesh. Read Romans 6:2-14, and recognize the importance of our death to sin!
The horseman of the ashen horse was given authority to get rid of the carnal mind's deceptive authority and power over us, and to use whatever means necessary to do the job. One of the things he did was to bring enemies into our lives - enemies who used the sword that was used in warfare. What a battle takes place because our natural mind wants to remain in control!
To do away with the control of the natural mind we need both famine and pestilence, because both produce death. A famine symbolizes intense hunger because our natural need for food is not being satisfied. When difficult times come in our spiritual walk, we tend to blame the enemy, but God has us in this situation so we hunger afresh for Him. We need to have a hunger for Christ that is only satisfied with an intimate relationship with Him - not merely messages about Him. He is the truth, and only truth can satisfy us! Only when we have that intense hunger for Christ that is symbolized by famine, will we be able to overcome every thought and every imagination that is not from Him!
"And by the wild beasts of the earth." Paul said that he fought with wild beasts - meaning those who were opposed to his teaching. The wild beast of the earth is the carnal nature of man. The Greek THERION is translated beast (singular) in all the other references in Revelation, and should also be translated in the singular here. It is the carnal nature within humanity that rises up against the mind of Christ within believers. We need every form of opposition to make sure that our reliance is on the Lord and not on our own resources!
As these troubles are experienced, Christians are to know that this is happening because the Lamb is breaking the seals. He is working out His purpose in our lives in the midst of a world of sin. He is changing us into His image! As His will is being worked out in our lives, we begin to understand the purpose of all the difficulties we encounter when the scroll is opened and unscrolled. The Lamb has control! These principles unlock the mystery of God's dealings with us.
"When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained." (v.9)
The imagery here is very vivid - the souls are under the altar. Where is this altar? We know that there is no need for an altar in heaven. If we picture this altar like the altar we have in churches, we have a wrong image of this scene. In the tabernacle there were two altars - the brazen altar and the altar of incense. The altar under discussion is the brazen altar where the animals were killed, for no blood was ever shed on the altar of incense. This brazen altar had a grating of bronze so that the blood could run down underneath the altar. In Lev. 17 the correct translation says that the soul is in the blood. John saw that the souls of those who had been slain were underneath the altar.
These are the people who have been slain or sacrificed because of the word of God. We are to know that if we preach the truth, we will be slain - we will become a sacrifice. People will say evil things about us and slay us with words and with demeaning attitudes. Those who proclaim truth and live it, have to be dead to every form of evil! This portrays our death to sin. These are people who are not led by the dictates of man, but by the still small voice of the Holy Spirit!
"And they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" (v.10)
Let's remember that this is the fifth seal - and five is the number of grace. Here we see people who have become a living sacrifice, yet it almost sounds as though they can hardly wait until God pours out His wrath on the evildoers. That does not sound Christ-like, does it? Yet we can identify with that, can't we? If this is our attitude it shows that we still need more grace worked into us! We may have a lot of grace in some areas but not in others. How we need to come into a full submission to Him and to His timing! However, what are the people under the altar really saying?
This scene does not take place in heaven. It portrays what takes place on earth when we proclaim the truth. The fact that these people are under the altar, yet crying out with a loud voice, tells us that they are a living sacrifice! Romans 12:1 tells us that we are to present our bodies to Him as a living sacrifice.
In Rev. 12:12 we read that there are three levels where people dwell: in the heavens (Christians who are living in the mind of Christ); on the earth (Christians who are still being ruled by their natural mind); and in the sea (the multitudes who have no knowledge of God). We need to understand that the carnal mind is always opposed to the spiritual mind! So the ones under the altar are the Christians who are living out of the mind of Christ, and they are being put to death (sacrificed) by the Christians who are still ruled by their carnal mind and by the multitudes who have no knowledge of God.
This was exemplified in the life of Jesus Christ. He lived truth and spoke truth, yet how the religious establishment hated Him! The brightness of His truth outshone their legalities. Their hate was only satisfied by the most inhuman death possible! Hate has no compassion. Similarly, all who speak truth will be hated. It has nothing to do with us; it is the Christ in us whom they hate.
"How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" The question is not "Will You?" but "When". A profound truth is involved in this question. God must judge evil because He is good! His goodness requires justice! If God smiled at sin, He would not be holy and just. It is man's misguided ego that makes him think he can get away with his sinful acts. Lies have become his truth!
Judgment is necessary so that humanity can be redeemed. God's judgments are always redemptive. His judgments are based on truth; they are necessary, for otherwise humanity would not recognize the error of its ways. So the question is, "How long, O Lord?" How long will it be until humanity recognizes that the Lamb is truly the ruler? How long will it be until humanity recognizes that sin does not have the last word?
In the Old Testament's account of King Saul's activities, the beastly nature of humanity is exemplified by Doeg, the Edomite. After King Saul was told that the priests had helped David to escape, he ordered the soldiers to kill the priests. When they refused to do so, Doeg volunteered his services. He mercilessly killed 85 priests and butchered all who lived in the city of Nob, the city of the priests - women, children, infants, oxen, donkeys and sheep! Only one priest, Abiathar, escaped.
When David heard about this terrible tragedy, he wrote Psalm 52, and asked, "Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man?" He didn't say, "God, why did you allow this to happen?" The thought uppermost in his mind was, "How does man expect to get away with all this wickedness? How can he be so foolish?" David knew God would judge him. "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. (Rom. 12:19) Knowing and believing this truth can save us from a lot of bitterness, resentment, and desire for revenge!
Newspapers, books, radio and television are filled with the frightening unrighteous deeds of our society and of our governments. And our hearts cry out, "How long, O Lord, until the world will know that the Lamb is reigning?" Knowing that vengeance belongs to the Lord, we can honestly pray, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do," and we can also appeal to God that righteousness and justice may prevail.
"And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also." (v.11)
White robes, representing the righteousness of Jesus Christ, were given to all who were under the altar. The fact that they were under the altar means that they had already submitted to being sacrificed. Just as Jesus willingly gave His life to be sacrificed, so should we! God has a plan, and everything is subject to that plan. When the time was fulfilled, God sent His Son, and when the time is fulfilled, the revelation of Christ's righteous reign will take place. This is the message the Lord is giving us.
"I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sack cloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places." (vv.12-14)
Six is the number of man. Man was formed on the sixth day; the seventh day was a day of rest. So the sixth day is a workday, but it brings us to the seventh day, the day of rest. The opening of the sixth seal sets off a great earthquake! Earthquakes bring change; there was an earthquake when Jesus died, and one when He was resurrected! These two earthquakes (two being the number of witness) were a witness that the old order was passing away and a new order was being established!
These shakings are necessary to loose us from our old order. The power that traditions have exerted over us, has to be removed! All our bondage to the earthly realm has to be broken! We need to cast down every imagination and every thought that would keep us from being obedient to Christ!
After a great earthquake it was as though there was a sudden complete eclipse of the sun, the full moon turned into the color of blood, and the whole starry heavens caved in! Then the whole sky split apart, and it was rolled up like a scroll! What a monumental, overwhelming vision John saw! Obviously this is not literal. It just couldn't be! Many of the stars are much bigger than the earth, so how could they fall to the earth? How could any life survive such a cataclysmic event?
What does this catastrophic event symbolize? The sun, moon and stars give us our natural light, so they represent natural knowledge. Suddenly all confidence in man's natural thinking and ability caves in! The stars falling from heaven symbolize the fact that the trusted leaders have failed. They have fallen from their lofty positions! No one has the answer - the sun, the great luminary, has turned black! The moon looks like blood - the only light they have points to a bloody ending!
The stars fall "as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind." Why this comparison? The fig tree symbolizes Israel, and Israel foreshadows the church. The unripe figs that are cast down by a mighty wind are the ones that do not come to maturity. God sends this wind so that a sifting can take place.
We believe this comparison is given so we will understand that this illustrates a spiritual condition. The church has been trying to produce spiritual fruit from natural knowledge. This does not work. God sends a mighty wind and an earthquake to cast down to earth the fruit that will never mature because it does not have its source in the Spirit. Things happen so that our great religious and gifted church leaders fall from our heavens. Self-effort can never bring us true righteousness, neither are Christians promised freedom from sufferings. Christ did not teach material riches or escapism from suffering for Christians! This book is about overcomers!
These cataclysmic events are to teach us about spiritual realities! We all need to be loosed from our natural thinking! Often it takes some great disasters to cause us to see our need. Paul said that he counted all natural knowledge of spiritual realities as rubbish. He did not try to salvage what God says is worthless, and neither should we.
A great stirring is taking place. Humanity loves its traditions and routines! Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to stop a tradition? For example, the Christmas tradition? People get angry and fight over traditions. In our spiritual growth we have to let go of our old traditions that are not in Christ! The soul may love the glitter and the excitement of these pleasure-filled traditions. It does not realize that catering to them stunts spiritual growth. So God sends us some earth-shaking experiences that we may grow and develop and bear good fruit.
"Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, `Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come; and who is able to stand?'" (vv.15-17)
Again, this is not a literal event, for if mountains and rocks would fall on people they would be killed. So let's look at the message it is conveying. The fact that they want to hide from the presence of the One who sits on the throne, gives us the clue. Those who are hiding have a wrong image of God. After Adam sinned, his image of God changed. Formerly he had enjoyed the presence of God, but after he sinned, he hid from God. Adam was now afraid of God because his relationship with God had changed. Instead of repenting of his disobedience and crying out to God for mercy, he hid. Those who hide from God do not want to repent. Instead, they cry out to the mountains (world powers) and the rocks (the foundational beliefs of man) to help them.
The natural thinking of the church system has a distorted image of God. It describes Him as a monster who is out to get you, and if you do not obey Him perfectly, He will endlessly torture you in hell. They have not perceived nor received the message of His love - of a love so great that He gave His beloved Son to die for a humanity that hated Him! If they would know Him they would believe in Him, and they would not hide from Him!
People have various ways of hiding from God. Some become so engrossed in the things of this world that they do not have time to think about God. Others hide in the pleasures and works of this world; they hide in their humanity; they get buried in their jobs, sports, business, politics, homes, and in good works. Anything that will help them to either forget about God or enhance their own righteousness will do!
They are hiding from the wrath of the Lamb. Have you ever seen an angry lamb? The two things don't go together. The word WRATH is translated from the Greek word ORGE meaning desire or passion. The Lamb's passion and desire is that all might be saved! It is not His desire to put them into a physical burning fire - nor will He do it. The only fire He puts us in, is a spiritual fire that burns away the dross and impurities. He wants to save us and deliver us from all evil. All His judgments are redemptive in purpose!
"The great day of their wrath has come." Here we see a progression. Instead of a singular Lamb filled with passion, we see plurality. The great day of their passion has come - that is, the great day of the passion of the corporate Christ has come. That day is today! Day is light, and today is the day of repentance and reconciliation! Who can stand in that day? The dead cannot stand; only those who are alive in Christ can stand.
Let God give you a revelation of His work in you! All ties to the carnal mind have to be broken! If you don't want to repent, you will want to preserve self, you will be among those who are hiding in the caves - in the deep dark recesses of the carnal mind. Christ is the truth, and truth takes us out of all the lies and deception which have ruled us in the past! He is our redemption! Praise God for His wondrous passion to get us into life!