Believe it or not

We come to chapter 6 of the Book of Revelation. And this is thus far the scariest vision in the Book. Here, we see Jesus opening the seven seals one by one. The opening of each seal triggers a new event. The scroll represents a covenant document, something that contains the "terms" of a contract. The covenant is like a contract. But it also isn't. A contract involves the exchange of goods and services. But a covenant involves forging relationships within two parties. We can think of the difference between the two like the difference between prostitution and marriage – one concerns the use of the body (goods and service) while the other is a two-way promise to love and care for each other for life.

That's also why breaking a covenant, as demonstrated a number of times in the scriptures, breaking a covenant has a far greater consequence. In a covenant, the two parties would tear up an animal, and each party would stand between the torn animal, in the pool of blood and swear his or her terms. The underlying message being, "may what happened to this animal also happen to me if I refuse to keep my word". Why we as Christians should feel loved is because we broke our promise, but God, the other party in the covenant, took the punishment for us. Now, Jesus with His death, has given us a new, everlasting covenant. He is the slain Lamb in which we stand and make our covenant promises.

Which brings us the effects as Jesus opens each seal on the scroll. After each of the first four seals, John sees four horsemen, which seem to bring terror. They represent conquest (white), bloodshed (red), famine (black) and death (pale, or green). They represent God's divine judgment. We should not be surprised at all, since, from the very start, over and over again, we've been given warnings about turning away from God.

This is not something God wants for us. It is merely a natural consequence for refusing God. It would be similar to refusal to eat. Our bodies are made to survive with consumption of food. Without it would eventually lead to misery and suffering. Our souls are made to survive with communion with God. Without that communion, we would eventually experience suffering and misery. Moses, long before Jesus, warned Israel of the consequences if they broke the covenant and became unfaithful to God (indeed, if they treated their covenant as a mere contract for goods, if they treated their marriage like prostitution). Jesus Himself repeats warning after warning during His ministry. Most strikingly, what is described in Revelation 6 resembles strikingly what Jesus spoke about Jerusalem in three Gospels (Mathew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21) – all warnings containing war, international struggle, famine, pestilence, persecution, earthquake and the reduction of creation to it's bare.

This will not affect those who are faithful. The fifth seal reveals the faithful martyrs who gave their lives for the sake of the Gospel. They, instead, are given white garments for their righteous deeds. They are told to wait a little longer because the full number of martyrs had not been reached (v 11).

The sixth seal reveals an earthquake; here the sun, the moon, the stars and the sky also shatter. Even through the earthquakes we've had on earth, none involved the destruction of these elements. To me, it's a sign that this is not to be taken literally. Since the sun, the moon, the stars and the sky were ways of telling time, could it be a symbolic way of warning us that our time will be up eventually? The image of the fig tree definitely reminds me of Jesus' cursing of the fig tree. He was referring to the "fruitlessness" of Israel, but could it not be talking about us in our Christian lives too? Perhaps we are to ask ourselves if our lives have been fruitful. The sixth seal also reveals great men of power hiding in caves and the rocks of the mountains and they'd ask the mountains to fall on them to hide them from God – exactly what Jesus said in Luke's Gospel (23:30)

So far, the image is quite terrifying. But I think, rather than looking at this as a literal picture of the end of our world, I am more inclined to reading this as something that has already happened. The language indicates that these are things that would take place soon. Further, all the signs, read in context of all the historical documents, correspond to the fall of Jerusalem's temple in AD70. Several records (I have to admit I've not read them myself) show that each sign had already been fulfilled. Like the letters to the seven churches then, I think it would make sense to read Revelation in a light that it affected directly to the people of those days. Of course, some would beg to differ, and would prefer to see this as something still to come. Either way, we are to take this as a warning. Whatever you believe of this, the fact is you are alive as you read this, and you thus have a choice to make.

Coincidentally, as God would have it, Jo and I met a few friends for Sunday brunch yesterday, and one of them, whom I was sitting with, brought up a recent picture on CNN footage where apparently an image of a green horse appeared in the midst of civil unrest. In the footage, the green horse appeared in the midst of the people for a brief moment, and it galloped into the sky. As it disappears, an explosion happens. First of all, I must admit it did look like a green horse. On the other hand, it looked to me like an effect of a strong light squinting on the camera, causing the image to appear for the brief moment. But I can understand if someone chose to believe it was a sign.

This friend, then, was quite puzzled. He's Buddhist, but seemed quite troubled that this vision of a green horse was something "predicted" in the Bible. I shared with him that I don't think it's something to be taken literally, that through the years, we've seen people maximising the effects of the imagery and planting ideas of the end of the world in people's heads. I feel there's a danger of taking everything literally. To some, it could point to an attitude of not caring for those around you, or not even thinking of changing our lives for the better (whether in terms of health or morality). We know that's not what God wants – equally as much He's always said we won't know when it will come, and thus the warnings to always be on guard. That, I shared with the friend, would be the best way to take this: be prepared.

That being said, I found it troubling myself, that this Buddhist friend – and I'm sure many other non-Christians – would be so disturbed by the image. In my mind, you either believe the image you saw, or you don't. If you believe that one "prediction", you ought to then take the whole Bible seriously. If that Bible gave you the consequence, then that’s also where you should find the remedy. And you know, we would find the remedy if we looked into the Bible – particularly in the Gospels. We cannot say I don't believe in this Bible thing, and yet believe in this one catastrophic "preditction". That would be unreasonable and illogical.

I asked the friend, "Let's say your feeling is right; what would you do about it?" "There's nothing I can do about it" was his reply. "But there is something you can do; not to stop the world if you think it's going to end. But if you believe this part of the Bible, maybe you should consider the prospects of investigating further and see what this Bible offers as a possible solution. You either believe this part of the Bible, and take the rest of it seriously, or, if you don't want to accept what the god of this Bible offers, don't trouble yourself with this worry." He genuinely looked a little disturbed about the green horse, and I think God could be using that image to tug his heart. If this, or any other images from Revelation disturbs someone you know (maybe you), I would recommend looking into the Gospels and following Jesus' advice to stand prepared, to repent.

For me, the CNN footage is a mere coincidence – a clash of lights and glass. Does it mean that all is well and we should proceed as per normal? Does the Book in general mean nothing but a piece of the past for us then? Of course not! It would be silly for us to accept that, and not repent ourselves. After all, everything that has happened to others in the past, we take for ourselves and resolve not to fall into the same pits. The message is clear. We must keep our covenant promises as family.

The seventh seal is not revealed in chapter 6; it looks like there must be a reason for a delay. In the spirit of walking through the book, I suppose it would be right for me to think about that when it comes. In the mean time, I feel almost a sense of suspense. Six seals, without the last, represents an incompleteness, just as the number 6 would mean. I suppose it’s a good time then, for me to consider, these things so far, before the last seal is broken. It's maybe where you and I ought to take time out, and consider our lives. Have we lived up to the covenant? What needs to change?

The call to conversion is clear. God's judgment will come one day; all who give their lives up for Him will be given a crown and a white garment. All who turn away and reject Him will face judgment. If even the kings and men of power would run and hide, then nobody can escape. Every one of us will be called upon to answer for each of our actions. Let us not have to hide in our guilt and call to the mountains and rocks to "fall on us and hide us from the face of [God]". They are right: "Who can stand before it?" (v 17) is the question. No one, unless we stand with Jesus.