“REVELATION: DOES IT DESCRIBE OUR DAYS?” SERIES
#11: “Chapters Eight through Eleven” (Part One)
INTRO:
Hendriksen notes:
“Twice, before our wondering gaze, the panorama of the history of the church
has been unrolled. We saw the Lampstands and the Son of Man moving about among
them. We heard his voice of tender admonition, earnest reproof, and generous
promise. In seven beautiful epistles he seemed to be drawing nearer and near to us
until we saw him standing at the very door and knocking. Then, just as we yearned for
the full realization of his promise to come in and sup with us, the vision ceased. Yet, its
imprint upon our soul is indelible. Through the bitterest tears we see our Savior, very
near unto us, full of tender love and sustaining power. We see him as the light of the
world. That light is shining through us: the churches are the lampstands, chapters 1-3.
Again, the ages turned backward in their flight . . . to the very moment of our
Lord’s ascension. With wide-eyed wonder we beheld a door standing open in heaven.
Peering through this portal we saw a Throne out of which proceeded flashes of
lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. The surrounding heavenly beings were
acknowledging in grateful anthems the sovereignty of the One whose countenance
remained concealed behind the flashing luster of the diamond and the fiery red of the
sardius. Suddenly we witnessed that central event, namely the coronation of Jesus,
who took the scroll out of the right hand of the Throne-Occupant. We heard an elder
saying: ‘Weep not; behold the lion . . . of Judah has conquered.’
“Consequently, we were not at all surprised when, with the opening of the first
seal, we saw that same Jesus going forth conquering and to conquer. But this rider
upon the white horse is ever followed by the rider upon the red horse: wherever our
Lord Jesus begins to wield his spiritual scepter, Satan begins to brandish his sword.
The seals describe the persecution of the church by the world. Not only persecution,
but every form of trial and tribulation. In the vision of the souls underneath the altar we
received the assurance that the slaughter of the saints will not remain unavenged.
Although the final and complete retribution is reserved for the great day of Jehovah,
even now the seals of persecution are again and again followed by the trumpets of
judgment. But before these trumpets are introduced, the Church Militant is sealed
against all harm. Finally, we saw the Church Triumphant that has come out of the great
tribulation and forever rejoices in the immediate and glorious presence of the Lamb,
chapters 4-7. Now all is ready for the trumpets of judgment” (pp. 139-140).