Living Room Study

Revelation 6

“When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!”  Then another horse went out, a fiery red one, and its horseman was empowered to take peace from the earth, so that people would slaughter one another.  And a large sword was given to him.”  The Revelation 6:3-4

Several years ago, someone in my family researched our “roots”.  For as far back as we can search, someone in my family has been at war.  In the 1700’s, the Wiggins’ fought in the American Revolution.  In the late 1800’s, they fought in the Civil war.  They fought in WWII, and my dad recently retired as a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force.

Today, the world is at war again.  I recently led music for the Marine recruits at Camp Pendleton and many of them did what seems impossible for a Marine: They surrendered.  That is, they surrendered their lives to Jesus’ command. 

Many religious scholars speculate these are the last days.  Perhaps, you’ve wondered if things could get worse.  Well, they can get worse and they will.

The Bible speaks of a time coming, when the Lord will command that peace be taken from the earth.  It won’t be momentarily suspended, or diminished to only reside in remote communities.  Peace will be completely taken away.  People will slaughter each other.  This is not the kind of slaughter that pits political opponents.  It is that kind of desperate mayhem, the likes of which we caught just a glimpse of, in post-Katrina, New Orleans.  Complete chaos.

After the rapture of the church, the Lord will withdraw His Spirit from the earth.  All mankind will be so completely and selfishly unrestrained, that they lose control.  As bad as modern Islamic terrorism may seem, God’s Spirit still restrains mankind, in general. 

This present World is comprised of mostly simple, hard working people who just want to earn a living, raise a family, and live in peace.  The Holy Spirit’s message to the World is that there is hope…in Jesus.  Without the Spirit’s message hope, even the simplest of men will resort to unthinkable evil.  In 1 Thessalonians 5: 3, Paul states that when people say “Peace and safety”, then sudden destruction will come. 

Friends, know that while there is a general “peace” in the World today, it won’t always be so.  Furthermore, there is no true Shalom, aside from the Grace & Mercy of God, through a saving relationship with His Son. 

Blessings.

Steve Wiggins