April 1, 2023
When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.” Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword. Revelation 6:3-4
Bloodshed! The fiery red horse and its rider show us that the gospel divides. Some accept it and others reject it. While its acceptance brings inner peace, its rejection results in a loss of peace. The pure gospel message that rode mightily into the world was followed by persecution. The red horse corresponds to the church at Smyrna, which was terribly persecuted. Their obedient faithfulness was a showcase for the world to see Jesus as their first love! Those at Ephesus who had returned to their first love (Revelation 2:5) had a winning influence far beyond their city.
Moving through the stream of time, we come to Smyrna. Persecution was accompanied by poverty. This foreshadows the buying and selling sanctions that are yet to come against God’s true followers (see Revelation 13:17). Jesus’ letter to the early church at Smyrna was for much-needed encouragement. “You are rich” He said! (2:9) Jesus told them not to fear the tribulation that was to come, specifying its length: “ten days” (2:10). Indeed, the Roman Emperor Diocletian imposed severely acute persecutions against God’s people from 303-313AD.*
It is a fact that those who reject the offer of transformation that Jesus brings become angry with those who accept the offer. This phenomenon was clearly demonstrated between the first two brothers born into the world. The younger, Abel, chose to worship God in the prescribed way. Looking ahead toward Jesus in faith, he brought a lamb, trusting in the merits of the blood of the slain Lamb to come. This lesson of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8) is essential for salvation. But Cain brought an offering of his own choice. God lovingly warned Cain (see Genesis 4:7). Cain ignored this warning, and the murder of his brother is history—and prophecy! The attitude of rebellion toward God resulted in an absence of peace in Cain’s life, as it does in the lives of countless millions who reject God’s authority. God gave Cain a broad window of opportunity to repent, but Cain chose to continue in his rebellion.
Beloved, if you love Jesus supremely, your inner peace is secure. His message to Smyrna did not gloss over what they were soon to face! Take heart and remain true to Him as you are reminded that the advancement of His kingdom may temporarily seem unattractive, compounded by the fact that our cunning enemy specializes in making sin appear especially attractive. But as you live for Jesus, your peace, joy, and hope for the future—the real, lasting future—will not only abound, but will spill over into the lives of others. Expansion of God’s Kingdom happens in spite of the red horse and its rider who still ride over the earth to this very day…
Jesus said: “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.” Matthew 10:34
*day-year principle in prophecy is shown in Numbers 14:34, Ezekiel 4:6, Luke 13:32