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.
Revelation 6:3-4
As I was sitting one afternoon talking with my parents the conversation turned to where we are in our world today. I shared with my parents that it was easy to convince yourself that things were possibly not that bad (as in end times bad) when we looked at our own little place in this world.
When you are living within a moment you don’t realize how much things are changing or the depth of that change. It’s kind of like when your kids go from baby to preteen in a year…
When it’s happening before you a little bit every day the change slips right on by you. It’s not until you take the time to step back and look at it from a distance and with an objective perspective that you are shocked by how much change has taken place right under your nose.
Our world has changed and is changing.
Being a 37 year old woman I often wonder whether things are really as bad as they appear or is it just that I pay more attention now. I can ponder how scary the world is becoming, yet I also know that it could be much worse… or is it just that I have become desensitized with the rest of the world as sin gradually and effectively rots away the core of society. The destruction of the family, kids killing kids, unrest growing all over the world even within the borders of our own nation. These were the thoughts I was pondering last week… and today the headlines read of the beheading of a woman in Oklahoma.
Man Beheads Woman Stabs Another
As I read the article my mind immediately went to the book of Revelation:
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.
Revelation 6:3-4
Now I am not about to get into a pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib discussion… to me that is all irrelevant. All that is relevant is that I believe that Jesus is the Christ and He is my personal Lord and Savior. As to how long He delays His coming or as to how much suffering I will face as His before He calls me home… that’s in His hands regardless of my or anyone else’s tribulation opinion.
All I know is that Jesus said birth pangs would let us know that the time was drawing close (Matthew 24) and well the contractions are coming pretty darn close together and they are indeed growing harder and stronger.
When we look at the verse in the book of Revelation we see that it was granted this one that rides in on this red horse to take peace from the earth. This word for peace is eiréné and it means peace of mind, a state of national tranquility; exemption from the rage and havoc of war
I don’t know about you but I don’t see a world that is filled with people who have peace of mind. I shared with my parents and my husband again tonight that I never go anywhere in a public crowded place that I do not set a mental plan in place as to what I would do and where I would go should something crazy happen. Attending an event with peace of mind is virtually non existent. I am no where near living in fear… but I am living in be alert and ready.
Notice what was given the rider… a sword. But not the long soldier sword. This sword in the Greek is machaira and it means máχaira – properly, a slaughter-knife; a short sword or dagger mainly used for stabbing; (figuratively) an instrument for exacting retribution.
In our recent day, does this not sound familiar?
Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:9-14