THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE AND THE BLOOD MOON
Today’s Reading: Revelation 6
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The moon over a northern Ontario lake. Today’s chapter refers to the moon turning blood red (6:12).
Key Verses: Revelation 6:12b, 16-17
The moon became like blood… And said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”
Jim and Kathy Cantelon write today’s 100 Words segment (originally published in Crossroads’ “Day Unto Day” devotional series)…
The Lamb opens the first seal, releasing the first of seven plagues upon the earth. The imagery of the first four is powerfully vivid: horses of different colours and their riders, all symbolizing war and its tragic results. A white horse appears, its crowned rider holding a bow, and he rides out to conquer (probably representing an invader). Then a red horse follows, whose rider holds a large sword and the power to take peace from the earth. Next, a black horse, its rider holding scales in his hand, enters. This rider announces an exorbitant price for wheat, indicating famine prices, the sorrowful result of war. The fourth is a pale horse, ridden by Death itself, symbolizing the disease and casualties of war and famine.
The fifth seal reveals the multitudes slain in war because of their “testimony” (verse 9). They call loudly for vengeance and are told to be patient.
The opening of the sixth seal introduces ominous cosmic disaster: a great earthquake, a blackened sun, a blood-red moon, falling stars, and a vanishing sky (verses 12-14). Every human being on earth is so terrified that all of them seek sudden death…not for fear of the disasters but for fear of Him who precipitates them: the One “who sits on the throne…and the Lamb.” The issue is not the apparent anger of nature. The issue is the very real wrath of the Father and the Lamb at all unrighteousness and injustice. The “great day of their wrath has come,” and in light of their judgments and man’s accountability, “who can stand?”
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
In the Day Unto Day eight-book series, Norma-Jean and I (David) wrote the prayers for each day of that two-year journey. This was our prayer to go with the Revelation 6 reading…We invite everyone reading this to pray with us. “Lord, we realize that You are a God of perfect love, but also perfect justice, and You punish all sin. We repent of all sin and evil in our lives and ask that we will be cleansed through the shed blood of Your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
At almost 80 I have many memories of fulfilling God’s call on my life. For example, I was almost 25 years old (June 1961) and was asked by Rev. George Ewald to conduct a week of evangelistic services in Lennoxville, Quebec. As far as I can recall, there were no people in attendance the first evening who were not already believers in Jesus. I prayed about this fervently. The next morning I did something which might bring disapproval from some reading this. I went into Sherbrooke to the store that sells suits and clerical garb to priests, and I purchased a clerical collar. I already had a black suit. That afternoon and every afternoon for the week, I was decked out in my high collar and knocked on doors throughout Lennoxville. At least the people knew I was not a JW or a Mormon. I was invited often into the homes and sometimes was sitting on the living room couch before they knew why I was there. “Please come in, Father.” I have not worn clerical symbols over the years except on unusual occasions. My Father always wore his high collar, so I was comfortable as an ordained minister wearing one. Night after night new faces were seen in the congregation, and quite a few made first-time decisions to give their lives to Christ.
Yours to fulfill the final Words of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels, and yours believing that I would be the most selfish person on earth if I kept the Good News of Jesus to myself!,
David
P.S. Below is picture of two other helpers I had that week in Lennoxville…Caspar and Jasper. At about 4 p.m. with their help, I would play my trumpet standing on the sidewalk while the children were heading home from school, and I’d give them a note to take home to their parents, inviting the kids to come to the church at 5 p.m. I guaranteed the parents that the children would be home by 6 p.m. Many parents came to the church with their children and some invited Jesus into their hearts. I’m aware this all sounds crazy to many modern ears, but I’m convinced Jesus approved, and I know Rev. Ewald approved.
Ron took this picture when I spoke to the Crossroads staff in Chapel a while back. Caspar and Jasper would help me play the trumpet seen on the podium along with my Loyalist’s hat. There are lots of ways to have fun while sharing Jesus with children!
I love it. you are so right. children do enjoy humor and vivid ways of hearing and seeing what is being expressed to them.
Nothing can keep us from loving You, Lord, Jesus. We follow in Your path and spread the Word so others come to know and claim You and Your Glory. Thank you, David, for your example; nice photo! Blessings dearest saints, in the Lord. Special prayers to those who are feeling weary and lonely; there are wonderful days ahead, coming!
“The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.”
Ps 119:130, NIV
Closer – Bethel Live (Worship song with Lyrics) 2012 Album
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTUWO636_-c
Your ‘ publicity tactics’ , do not seem crazy to me David. They Holy Spirit inspired you to ‘ COLLAR ‘ some attendees. I did some ‘crazy’ things as a twenty year old, sometimes on my own and sometimes under the auspices of theBfitish Methodist Church. As a newly born again Christian from a non- Christian background, I personally distributed tracts ( obtained from Canada by mail ) to every household in my UK town. I held ‘one man’ open air meetings in the centre
of town with my accordion, and voice and porstble P.A. system , and ‘canvassed ‘ the people lined up for entrance to the Bingo Halls. By all means reach some !
Good for you David for using novel approaches that peaked people’s interest. I’m sure that took a lot of courage. The people who accepted Jesus wouldn’t be thinking you were foolish!
Jesus’ ascension—his physical return to heaven—is mentioned briefly in Luke 24 and Mark 16. The most complete account of Jesus’ final days on earth is found in Acts 1:
Before he was taken up, working in the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus instructed the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed them that he was alive with many convincing proofs. He appeared to them over a period of forty days, speaking to them about God’s kingdom. While they were eating together, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father had promised. He said, “This is what you heard from me: John baptized with water, but in only a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
As a result, those who had gathered together asked Jesus, “Lord, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now?”
Jesus replied, “It isn’t for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority. Rather, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
After Jesus said these things, as they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going away and as they were staring toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood next to them. They said, “Galileans, why are you standing here, looking toward heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you saw him go into heaven.” — Acts 1:1-11 (CEB)
Matthew’s account doesn’t describe Jesus’ ascension, but does contain this memorable final charge to his followers:
Jesus came near and spoke to them, “I’ve received all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.” —Matthew 28:16-20 (CEB)
From Katie Hall’s blog, “Go and Make Disciples”, May 9, 2013,
https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2013/05/go-and-make-disciples-remembering-jesus-ascension/
Thanks for including that, Rob; very much appreciated the reading and reminder of Jesus’ ascension after 40 days following His resurrection. Bless you!
I visited my childhood church recently (attended many, many, years ago)! I spoke to a woman who greeted me and she asked if I was visiting in the area. I explained that while I was in the area (far from where I live now), I thought I would like to visit. She asked me about my time there as a “young” child. I told her of a lesson the kindergarten teacher taught and she was amazed that it stayed with me. It was a lesson about choosing Jesus and showing Satan as he truly is – a lying, cheating murderer. She had a beautifully wrapped “present” which was the type of gift Satan would present. Inside was an old change purse with a hole in it and no money! The lady was amazed.
Amen, Doreen!
Hi David,
As a volunteer hospital chaplain, I purposely wore shorts on visits to help folk feel more at ease. Until one day, a Roman Catholic deacon in his clerical collar walked with me down a long corridor to the elevator. All along the way, staff and visitors alike were greeting him while on other trips alone down the same hall I was totally ignored. From that day, I have worn my collar and had similar encounters to his that have led to requests to visit patients, for prayer, etc. We often joked about it afterward. He is now retired and I think I am the lone clergy who wears a collar, but it sure opens doors as you say. I don’t know how much longer I will be allowed to do it. Pastors new to the hospital are evidently being asked not to mention Jesus so they won’t ‘offend’ anyone. I’m still merrily ‘offending’, in obedience to Him. Carol and I still thrive on memories of our Israel trip with you and Norma Jean 18 months ago. My cross from the ship’s museum on the Sea of Galilee is a great ice-breaker both at the hospital and elsewhere. God bless you and yours.
Love it too. Held a DVBS in my community for ten summers outside the church in the old one room school building which was used as the community hall. It reached out to all children in the community who did not go to the local Camp and there was a good attendance. Rev. George Ewald was a real blessing to us all at Bible School. Thank you for sharing all this today David. God bless you friends!
I prayed your prayer for today Pastor Mainse.
Thankyou Lord Jesus for the continuation of this blog.
May it bless all who read it and those who are transformed by hearing
the Word of God, in Jesus Holy Name, Amen!!
Praise God Almighty in whom we trust!!
How special Rev. David that you are still as zealous for saving souls and perhaps even more so as you were in those days; using your God given creative mind for that purpose daily, as evident in this daily manna!!!
My God continue to inspire you through each day of your life. How blessed you are to have Norma-Jean and your children to love and support you in all your do.
That is a most spectacular photo Reynold, thank you David for posting it.
The manner in which Jim and Kathy Cantelon interpret Reveletions of Jesus, in a simplified way that gives clarity to its content. Thank you for posting their comments.
Looking forward to the day when THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (JESUS) COMES RIDING ON HIS WHITE, HORSE, with His saints following
David, your creative methods methods of reaching people were not crazy. They were used by a young man eager to get the Gospel to as many as possible? Obviously God blessed those efforts.